After completing almost a year and a half at Oberlin, I have learned a lot about the Oberlin community. As someone who was filled with anxiety about college during my senior year of high school (and even before that), I understand many of the fears and worries that come with committing to a school. So, in order to (hopefully) help alleviate some of the anxieties that you may have about Oberlin, I have compiled a list of things I wish I had known before coming here.
1. You Are Not The Only Person Who Doesn’t Know Their Major or Career Path (And It’s Okay If It Changes)
In high school, I remember feeling like everyone had their entire life planned out. They knew their major, had a career path in mind, and were already passionate about their choices. Personally, I had no idea what I wanted to major in, and it made me feel like I was a step behind.
After spending a year at Oberlin, I learned that many people don’t know their major during their first year, and even those who do often change it as they explore different subjects. Oberlin encourages this exploration, and it’s perfectly fine to take your time finding what excites you. You’re not behind. You’re just beginning your journey.
2. Social Media Only Shows Part of the Picture
Before coming to Oberlin, as many incoming college students are, I was obsessed with stalking Oberlin students on social media. Especially the Class of 2027 Instagram page where incoming students would post pictures and a little bio about themselves. It was a fun way to see who my future classmates were and get a feel for Oberlin life. While social media is a great resource for getting a glimpse of student life, it only shows a fraction of the community.
Oberlin is far more diverse than what you’ll see online. There are so many students who won’t post on Instagram or be active on social media, so I wouldn’t rely too heavily on it. The people and interests that you see on social media will not be representative of all of the diverse students and personalities you will meet once you arrive on campus.
3. You Don’t Have to Be Best Friends With Your Roommate
Living with a roommate was a big topic of conversation that occurred surrounding college in my high school. Some people prefer going into college with a random roommate and others prefer to choose their roommate. For both of these types of people, I think there can be pressure to be best friends with your roommate. However, you do not need to be best friends or even close friends for your living situation to work out. As someone who was not best friends with my first-year roommate, I was still happy with my living arrangement because we respected each other's space. Focus on building a comfortable and communicative relationship, and let friendships develop naturally if they are meant to.
4. The Importance of Community
One thing that will make a big difference in your college experience is finding at least one community that makes you feel supported, like you belong, and where you feel excited to be (outside of academics). And I encourage you to not stick to familiar spaces. Explore new communities that are different from the ones that you found in high school.
One unexpected community I have found is Oberlin College Taiko (OCT). I never expected to be part of a taiko group before college, mainly because I had never even heard of taiko before I came to Oberlin. There are countless clubs and organizations at Oberlin that you might not even know exist, but they’ll welcome you with open arms.
5. The Significance of Campus Jobs and Internships
Before coming to Oberlin, thinking about campus jobs seemed overwhelming. However, my campus jobs have enriched my experience here and have made me feel more connected to the Oberlin community. I never imagined that I would spend hours of my week tutoring elementary school students or hosting game nights at the local retirement community. Whether you’re tutoring, working at the library, or organizing community events, campus jobs are a great way to help you grow and contribute to the community.
Oberlin is a place where you’ll learn and grow, both academically and personally. These are just a few things I wish I’d known before starting my journey here, and I hope they help you feel more prepared and less anxious. College is a time for exploration, so embrace it.
