All Roads Month Winds Down

Prospies Take Advantage of Extended All Roads

This year prospective students had a full month to check out Oberlin during April's All Roads Lead to Oberlin. The event, which usually lasts one or two weeks, will end tomorrow, wrapping up a four-week stretch for admitted students and their families.

The Admissions Office decided to extend this event in an effort to accommodate the needs of its admitted students and their families. The month-long All Roads enables individuals to make the trip to Oberlin who might not have had the freedom or flexibility to come during one designated week. Additionally, the extended event alleviates the potential conflicts created by similar functions at competing colleges, which are sometimes held on the same date. Prompted by staff response as well as feedback from the College community, the Admissions Office decided to ready itself for visitors all month.

Pamela Stawasz, Assistant Director of Admissions, describes All Roads as a time for prospective students to experience a real taste of Oberlin. "We wanted prospies to come and see Oberlin as it really is. Obies tend not to like pre-packaged events. They want to explore on their own and feel like they're getting the real deal," she said.

The visitors are given a thick folder packed with a full listing of classes and campus events. Admissions organizers of All Roads encouraged different student organizations to give them as much information as possible so that the visitors would have ample opportunity to see what goes on at Oberlin. They are free, but not required, to partake in any of these activities. Stawasz said, "Feedback so far has been very positive, and people have enjoyed exploring at their own pace."

Senior Associate Director of Admissions Paul Marthers explained that All Roads is the first time that a lot of the visitors are seeing Oberlin. He said, "A high percentage of Oberlin applicants, especially students from either coast, haven't been here until April, which is a difference from Oberlin's East Coast competitors."

A month full of visitors creates a large amount of work for the Admissions staff, including students who work there. Senior Intern Erica Seager described giving a 25-persontour last Friday, while another tour of the same size was also being led. Yet, even if the amount of visitors at times seemed overwhelming, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. "So many students and parents have told me how friendly the students here are," Seager said. She agreed that students have gone out of their way to answer the questions of prospective students, talking after classes, showing them around campus and offering help in any way possible.

"It makes me happy that we're so nice to our visitors. It makes a big difference. People get a positive impression of the school from interactions with Oberlin students," said Seager.

May 1 is the deadline for admitted students to confirm or decline their acceptance to attend Oberlin. While the change might not be immediately noticeable, Oberlin will become slightly smaller. "This has been the most selective year since the late '80s. The acceptance rate is just under 50 percent," said Marthers. The school is gradually looking to return to its 2,750 students from its current 2,900.

Another trend that may become noticeable is the rise in the number of students who defer their acceptance. This appears to be a growing trend among high school students who opt for a year abroad or pursue other ventures before beginning college. Proving its name to be true, All Roads produced a sizable turnout this month of students who were accepted early, those deciding by May 1, students who will defer for a year and even dedicated wait-listers claiming Oberlin as their top choice.