Oberlin College
- Local Atmosphere

Safe College Town

Oberlin is a quaint, small college town. You won't find bars and night clubs everywhere. There is one bar called 'The Feve' and that is where most people go to for a drink. Otherwise, students will have their own events like sledding on lunch trays in the winter, and going shopping if you have a car. There isn't much that Oberlin offers, but it is a safe place to be, and you get very attached to the intimate atmosphere.

Better Than You'd Think

there's plenty to do around campus. surprisingly good food, a thrift store, a place where you can go pet kittens, a great new cafe etc. oberlin isn't a huge town, but it definitely feels like enough.

Lots to Do, but a Definite Small Town Feel

Because Oberlin is a fairly well-known and well-regarded school, especially in the music and political realms, we attract a lot of great speakers, events, and musical acts. Student groups also put on a lot of shows. There are usually 2+ events that I want to go to on weekends, and that's aside from parties, movies, and other activities with friends. If Oberlin is your scene (if you like quirky musicians and controversial speakers), then you won't be bored.

All that being said, it's a SMALL TOWN and if you're looking for a NYC-like bustle, this is not the place for you. The town itself only has about 5,000 residents and is surrounded by corn fields. It's generally quite safe and townies are generally fond of students (though sometimes a little confused by us). There are lots of cute, fun, small town events such as a dog show in the fall, the "big parade" in the spring, and a family fair in the summer. The Ohio countryside is very pretty, especially in the fall, and there's apple picking and other quaint activities. Cleveland is about 30-45 minutes away but most people go there only rarely--but concerts and art museums can be a fun escape.