When considering life after Olney, students look for numerous qualities in a potential college: academic offerings and reputation, educational philosophy, location, size, aesthetics, student organizations, athletic programs, diversity, affordability, and the intangible feeling of “rightness” when stepping foot on campus. For many, choosing the right school is the biggest decision they have ever faced. As such, the college selection process is taken very seriously at Olney Friends School.
While we offer a full college counseling program on campus, we also make every possible effort to accommodate students wishing to visit their prospective schools.
On Monday, five students traveled to Oberlin, Ohio, with Micah Brownstein, the school’s Dean of Students, to tour Oberlin College. In addition to being the first college or university in the United States to regularly admit females and black students alongside white males, Oberlin also graduates more future PhD recipients than any other baccalaureate college in the country.
Seniors Liarucha Zahnke-Basuki, Maddie Allen, Julian Fahl-Matlack and Julian Sun shared their Oberlin experiences, which you can read below (scroll left or right on a photo to read the other stories). You can also view our recent college acceptances to see where Olney students matriculate after graduation.
Liarucha Zahnke-Basuki
Senior
The Oberlin trip was an entertaining experience. The Conservatory is a really lovely building and music from orchestras and solo musicians flowed from practice rooms as I walked across campus. The academic program at Oberlin seems to not only be interesting but rewarding and exciting. Talking to the people who work there helped to strengthen my positive outlook on my future college life.
Maddie Allen
Senior
The Oberlin trip was an excellent opportunity that is definitely unique to Olney. At my last school, college visits were not common and more than often we were just given a college presentation. During this trip, not only was I able to experience an entire day participating in the college’s functions, I also was able to explore the outer town and it’s shops. It’s a really quaint and “homey” campus and town. I really enjoyed the record shop (Hanson’s records), especially. Very cool people. The people at the college were brilliant as well. The admissions representatives who spoke to us were charismatic and interesting, and I had a very enjoyable conversation with them. They were very dedicated to helping us learn about our opportunities. The trip left me feeling that I would have a good experience if I choose to go to Oberlin.
Julian Fahl-Matlack
Senior
I visited Oberlin because I’m looking for an education at a small, liberal arts college, preferably close to home so I can be in contact with my parents. Out of the schools I’ve looked at in Ohio, Oberlin seemed the best because they have an advanced music conservatory, along with some strong science programs. That ties in well with my intended major, which is Chemistry. There was also a really pleasant atmosphere on campus and everyone seemed willing to help you and they were always smiling. I really enjoyed it.
Julian Sun
Senior
I was familiar with Oberlin’s music conservatory because I had gone there before and I knew some of the professors already. Peter Slowik (the Robert W. Wheeler Professor of Viola) was the director of the Credo music camp I attended. There’s also Gregory Folkerson (Professor of Violin) who was at another music camp I attended this past summer at New York University. Even though I have gone to music camps there for three years, I really enjoyed the trip because I learned new things about the school, especially about some of the buildings and programs they offer. For example, they had this one building (the Living Machine) that had a bunch of big tubes with plants in them that would filter out the bad water. It was really interesting.
