This is a small liberal arts school and I mean that in the best way possible. How good of a school is Occidental College? I have felt extremely supported in my time at Oxy and have found different communities for my hobbies, cultural affinity spaces, and other interests. ", "People are really passionate about their extracurricular activities and internships" at Occidental, where most students are "busy from dawn to dusk, and loving it." I transferred to Oxy my sophomore year after attending a much larger state school closer to where I grew up. Tier 1 = Universal or core instruction. Situated on a 120-acre residential campus in the heart of Los Angeles, Occidental integrates the liberal arts with the cultural and intellectual resources of a global city. About 77% of Oxy students receive financial aid. Indeed, as one junior succinctly states, the career development support is fantastic. Undergrads really appreciate that Oxy runs a robust internship program, one in which they can earn course credit. As a sophomore, my experience at Oxy has been great! I wouldn't want or expect to be partying all the time, but my social experience at Occidental has been uniquely dull. Oxy's biology program has excellent professors and curriculum. 2 (Glendale Freeway) going toward Glendale. in my personal opinion the college will be predominantly made up of these demographics in the near future which may be good for them. CA Privacy Notice | #37 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie). I have been awarded substantial financial aid, I am getting a good education and I am thankful for that. The party scene is definitely subpar compared to large universities with lots of greek life, but the LA nightlife is some of the best in the country. This college has been claimed by the college or a college representative. Professors have interesting and diverse research projects available for undergrads to participate in and gain valuable research experience. (approximately one mile). Occidental College is an amazing college with professors that care about the students and are willing to engage with students outside of office hours and after classes. One downside is the campus is full of hills, so not very accessible for physically disabled students. A high-touch, personalized classroom experience is the signature of an Occidental liberal arts education. The Occidental campus is located in the suburban neighborhood of Eagle Rock, 8 miles from downtown Los Angeles. Located in Brooklyn, this private college specializing in art and design has an undergraduate enrollment of more than 3,500 students and an acceptance rate of 57%, per Niche. If it is underpriced it receives a good or excellent value. Turn right and continue for 4 traffic lights to Westdale Ave. I loved Oxy from the second I got there. ", "Oxy is a great place! The second highest-rated college in Minnesota, Macalester College has flown the United Nations flag over its campus since 1950 to show the institution's commitment to "world peace and understanding," per Niche. Receive University of California, Santa Barbara is the 15th best public college in the nation, according to Niche. The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees. How do I prepare for a Solutions Architect interview? It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,159 (fall 2021), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 100 acres. Beautiful campus, small and easy to get around. The faculty and staff "really encourage students to take a proactive role in their education," giving them the freedom to "experiment with a wide range of courses." They all seem to really care about your education.". Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert. Niche, a data analytics website, ranked the most liberal colleges, based on student reviews of the campus community. Share: Prior to 2008, Occidental was best known in many circles as an academic "hidden gem" (and as a popular film location). Wesleyan University, a private school in Middletown, is Niche's best liberal arts college in Connecticut. I went to most of my classes very excited to learn from incredible professors. If you meet Occidental Colleges requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application, you have a great shot at getting in. Lastly, according to PayScale.com, the median starting salary for recent Oxy graduates is $66,900, and 56 percent of students report taking away a great deal of meaning from their job. You can compare up to 25 schools at a time. A junior at Emerson College in Boston wrote on Niche that the "classes are extremely cool and come in a very liberal variety. Not being from LA originally, I found it a little difficult to get off campus and experience the city, mostly because I didnt have access to a car for much of my time as a student. Bowdoin College, located in Brunswick, Maine, is rated by Niche as the second-best liberal arts college in the nation. such as dots (for spaces) or arrows (for tab characters) in Outlook. We loved meeting and connecting with admitted students and their families. A sophomore at Pace University in New York wrote on Niche that the school "is a great place to meet new friends from all over the place.". #tbt #allinforoxy #occidentalcollege #admittedstudentsday #experienceoccidental, Niche requires Javascript to work correctly. Outside of athletics, I had countless amazing experiences with professors. a personalized ranking provided by U.S. News College I did not live on campus so that left me somewhat disconnected and I would recommend staying on campus if you can afford it. I still live there and realize there were so many places I never went to or knew about as a student. See where this school lands in our other rankings to get a bigger picture of the institution's offerings. About Occidental College Occidental College is a private, co-educational liberal arts institution with an enrollment of 2,000 undergraduate students. Oxy is a great place if you are looking for a really small, close knit school experience. Below are some pros and cons. This college has been claimed by the college or a college representative. Learn how to explore all of your options. - (Essential) Minimum Qualifications. As an athlete, food is an extremely important aspect of my life. applicants who fell within the 25th and 75th ". Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college. I also had a great experience with Oxy professors. Learn how to explore all of your options. . The course selection is always interesting and it is so easy to get the classes you want. Occidental College is an amazing college with professors that care about the students and are willing to engage with students outside of office hours and after classes. The one thing I would be wary of is committing for sports, the coaches tend to over-recruit and end up cutting many players, as has happened to many of my friends. The least expensive place we suggest is also the closest to campus: Welcome Inn (1840 West Colorado Blvd., 323-256-1673). 6-year graduation rate of students who received a Pell Grant (2.5%), 6-year graduation rate of students who did not receive a Pell Grant (2.5%). Is Occidental College a good school in the U.S.? In the classroom, Oxy professors "find ways to connect the lectures to the real world," and many are "very willing to have students help them with their research," providing valuable hands-on experience to undergraduates. The campus was much like his school in Honolulu, with gentle slopes and flowering landscapes. I am so glad I took a chance and transferred! These peeping toms are not students, they are grown men who make their way on to campus time after time, and administration fails to take any action. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this private university is rated as the top college in Illinois. But the sense of community here is lacking. This hotel has a full health club, exercise room, pool and jacuzzi. My experience at Occidental college has been extremely varied. This made me work hard and always attend class. The charts provide a snapshot of UCLAs standing in these rankings vis--vis other top-tier research universities, both public and private. The campus can feel kind of sequestered, located in a residential area and often referred to as the Oxy bubble. nocterne99 October 2, 2016, 8:58pm #1. Read more about how we rank schools. Located in Manhattan, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice is Niche's ninth highest-rated public university in the state of New York. A private college located in Red Hook, New York, Bard College has an acceptance rate of 58%, while alumni earn an average starting salary of nearly $29,000, says Niche. Students who get into Occidental College score in the top 9 percent of all SAT test takers.. From downtown L.A., take I-110 N. (Harbor Freeway). Situated on a 120-acre residential campus 8 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Occidental College fully integrates the liberal arts and sciences with the cultural and intellectual resources of a global city. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. First off, the owner must be at least 24 years old when the bond is issued, and you have to cash the bonds and pay for education in the same tax year in which you're claiming the exclusion. Occidental is a founding member of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and its 21 varsity sports teams compete in NCAA Division III. In my first year at Occidental College I had a very enjoyable experience. The average GPA at Occidental College is 3.64. Not the well-rounded experience I was hoping for. Food is very good but they should reach out to make the surrounding restaurants involved in meal plans. Occidental College is an expensive place to attend school. Occidental is reinventing the liberal arts and sciences for a new generation of problem solvers, creators and thinkers. Get ahead of the curve with our SAT/ACT test prep. This private college, located in Yonkers, New York, offers only one major: liberal arts and humanities. I can't recommend this college but could see it appealing to the type of student who craves this type of culture. Preferred Qualifications Oxy is a place for creative, hard-working, curious students to explore their current passions, as well as discover new ones. of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes. Occidental College in Los Angeles is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast, so it should come as no surprise that it . The finanicial aid is good for all schools with middlebury and slu having the best. 126 of 1,528. 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Scripps College was founded in 1926 and the school enrolls around 1,116 students per year, which includes 1,095 undergrad students. Freshmen must live on campus, and they are allowed to have cars. Burbank Airport is 10 miles from campus. According to Niche, the University of San Francisco is the best-located college in California. Occidental College was founded in 1887 and the school currently enrolls around 1,965 students per year, which includes 1,965 undergrad students. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/, 2023 TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC. that either they cut, they downsized, or are nearly impossible to do. This school does not have enough reviews yet. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,964 (fall 2021), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 120 acres. reported by the institution of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join. In addition to the community I built around athletics, the communal dorm allowed me to create other friendships as well! Occidental College was founded on April 20, 1887, by a group of Presbyterian clergy, missionaries, and laymen, including James George Bell, Lyman Stewart, and Thomas Bard.The cornerstone of the school's first building was laid in September 1887 in the Boyle Heights now East Los Angeles neighborhood of Los Angeles. For a school of Oxy's size and price, the admin is really lacking and when they are engaged, it is always a negative and condescending encounter. Throwback to two weeks ago when The Daniels visited Occidental to talk about their work with Alum Zak Stoltz 10 on the acclaimed film Everything Everywhere All At Once!! March 22, 2020 / 10:12 PM Best Colleges for Computer Science in America. it's nice however that the vast majority of the students who attend identify this way and have a college that encourages and supports it. LA and Oxy is definitely the perfect place if you're looking for a small school in a big city. When I mention that I'm planning on leaving the school, the most common response I get is "yeah, I've been thinking about that too." It is pretty isolated from LA itself and you need to have a car on campus or else you probably won't be able to get out much and explore. Even more students compete on the schools sports teams, the orange and black Tigers, which are members of the NCAA Division III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. *Total price is determined by multiplying average annual cost by time to graduate. Oxy is everything you'd expect from a small, liberal arts college in an urban area; what makes the college special is the community and environment of care that the students bring. Though they take academics seriously, "people at Oxy are concerned with much, much more than their education. Turn left onto Westdale and follow it to Campus Rd. My family ended up having to pay $10k for an extra semester due to an oversight on the school's part and the administration has not been remotely apologetic but continues to cause confusion. The campus culture is extremely liberal, and both for better and for worse you will most likely be surrounded by many like-minded people. Pictured is a campaign rally for John Kerry, the Democratic nominee in the 2004 presidential election. - (Essential) Be an ambassador of Occidental Athletics and its core values. It's an education that is distinctly Oxy. Law School Scholarship Databank: a list of over 800 scholarship opportunities for those applying to law school. I went to most of my classes very excited to learn from incredible professors. My overall experience at Oxy has been very positive. They claim to offer majors and programs (kinesiology, Arabic, engineering 3-2 program, etc.) An MBA might not be worth your time. Overall, classes are interesting, professors have been kind/understanding, and there are a lot of cool events to attend that are set up by different departments/student clubs. The campus can feel kind of sequestered, located in a residential area and often referred to as the Oxy bubble. Allegheny College, a private Christian college in Meadville, Pennsylvania, has an acceptance rate of 68%, says Niche. Occidental's economics courses do a good job of preparing students who are interested in a career in business, and they do so within the liberal arts tradition. Campus housing available for all unmarried students regardless of year, Criminal Offenses -- On-Campus Student Housing Facility, Criminal Offenses -- Noncampus Building or Property, Unlock these and 13 other Occidental College Student Body data points with U.S. News College Compass, Unlock these and 8 other Housing & Residence Halls at Occidental College data points with U.S. News College Compass, Unlock these and 7 other Sports at Occidental College data points with U.S. News College Compass, Unlock these and 11 other Clubs & Organizations at Occidental College data points with U.S. News College Compass. Downtown LA is brimming with opportunities for college students: internships, dining, nightlife and more. Based on class setting of student enrollment. Please remove a school before adding another. There are also opportunities to get out into the community and give back which is wonderful. Greek Life at Oxy is small. The student-faculty ratio at Occidental College is 9:1, and the school has 67.5% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. ", "My college was small; all of my professors knew me by name. Receive The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education rankings listed Occidental at No.2018-09-17 The most liberal college in America, as ranked by Niche, is Mills College in Oakland, California. Image Credit: By The Port of Authority under License. ", "I was trained by some highly intelligent professors. I am a varsity swimmer and loved my experience as a D3 athlete. I say this is the worst thing about Occidental because . ", "Firstly as a biology major, I would like to comment on Occidental's biology track. By taking your time before you apply to a historically black college, transferring to another school can be avoided. I guess you get what you pay for in that regard. Also available, Westin Hotel (191 North Los Robles, Pasadena, 626-792-2727). Data provided by U.S. News College Compass Users. Dorms suck if you dont have AC but thats just a few of them, a lot of them are very nice places to live. Compass and find out. Experts advise prospective Read tips on grants, scholarships, loans and more. Overall, I was satisfied with my time as an Oxy student and I would recommend the school to anyone who is looking to attend college in a city and also has interest in the liberal arts model. On campus, "there are frequently guest speakers, dialogues, and workshops," and on the weekends, the school organizes "dances, trivia nights, movie screenings, fashion shows, concerts, food tastings, beer gardens, and many other events." Whittier College is a private institution. The dining halls food is great, and much better than many other colleges'. ; turn left at the end of the off ramp onto Eagle Rock Blvd. Undergraduate data are based on the 2021 school year. They are amazing but our administration on the other hand.. Please, See Rankings for Best K-12 Schools & Districts, Read more about how we calculate our rankings. When Broadway merges with Colorado Blvd., continue on Colorado Blvd. STEM experience is horrible. Look your professors up before you take the class. The food is amazing 4/7 days of the week and above average on weekends, there are also usually a lot of great student involvement activities happening around campus every week. Located in South Hadley, Massachusetts, Mount Holyoke College is Niche's fifth highest-rated women's college in the nation. According to Niche, the University of San Francisco is the best-located college in California. It's not fun, it's not intellectually fulfilling, and it's certainly not worth the $80+/year you're paying for it. Please. Living in Los Angeles was fun, but I don't think I took enough advantage of it while I was a student. Arrests -- Noncampus Building or Property, Arrests -- On-Campus Student Housing Facility. Its an education that is distinctly Oxy. Occidental College is ranked #2,195 out of 2,223 for value nationwide. This got better my junior year when I started taking more classes specific to my major, and spending time with people I had more in common with. Someone who doesnt like small liberal schools. Really great people and a lot of cool opportunities for research and internships. Take Colorado Blvd. Off campus, "house parties are a huge source of fun on the weekends," as are "music shows, bars, and clubs" in surrounding L.A. (This takes into account average financial aid and may not apply to you if you have further scholarships, grant or aid provided to you.). Ask for Occidental College's special rate). Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota is rated by Niche as the fifth-best liberal arts college in America. Situated on a 120-acre residential campus 8 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Occidental College fully integrates the liberal arts and sciences with the cultural and intellectual resources of a global city. Click here to submit your review. The professors are super supportive and understanding, and everyone has a chance to participate in class. 134) heading west, exit at Colorado Blvd. Occidental College is really just a huge garden, Throwback Thursday to Experience Occidental last Friday! Women make up more than halfof the student population. I would suggest making sure that the field you are pursuing is one of the focused degrees for this school or you may end up paying more than you should for a degree that doesn't pay off. My friends and I can take a very short walk to York, where the restaurants are delicious and the stores are delightful. This apartment is located at 3130 Occidental Dr #3152-017, Sacramento, CA. As a rising sophomore, my first year at Oxy has been very interesting. There is also a sense of community among students. The school could work in its diversity, especially because of how much they promote it. Please remove a school before adding another. The living spaces have been pretty good, and the food is either really good or alright. Every issue I have had with housing, financial aid, etc have been left unresolved or met with hostility. I've had friends who came here to study a specific major, only to find that it's no longer offered. Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors. students and their We offer 45 majors, minors and programs across the arts, humanities and sciences as well as countless opportunities for independent research, internships, and other experiential learning. of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want. Average Private Loan: $5284. Parking on campus is free with a permit, and about two-thirds of students bring cars. Personally, I found the social scene to be fairly cliquey, especially freshman year. When it comes to parties, the alcohol policy is "strict" (even students of legal age are "forbidden from drinking in their dorms"), so most campus get-togethers are small and subdued. There were 4 music majors the year I graduated, so we all became very close and helped each other with our senior projects. ", School Has Formal Sustainability Committee, % food budget spent on local/organic food, Free Or Reduced Price Transit Passes And/Or Free Campus Shuttle, Incentives Or Programs To Encourage Employees To Live Close To Campus, Indoor And Secure Bike Storage, Shower Facilities, And Lockers For Bicycle Commuters, Reduced Parking Fees For Car And Van Poolers, School Adopted A Policy Prohibiting Idling, School Offers A Telecommute Program For Employees, Personal computer included in tuition for each student, Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors, Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL), Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study), Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: USC, Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: UCLA, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. percentile. What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school? Occidental has a handful of social sororities and fraternities, a gender neutral organization and a multicultural sorority. Lots of smoke in mirrors and wild goose chases. Get more details on what Oxy financial aid you may qualify for. Occidental College is the oldest liberal arts college on the West Coast.2022-01-28. Students further augment their coursework through numerous extracurricular and off-campus opportunities, including study abroad, academic conferences, and the school's popular "UN internship program." 136 of 766. 134) heading east, go through Glendale to the Harvey Dr. exit. 44 in U.S. News' annual rankings, receives four-star ratings for academics and quality of life from Fiske, and ratings of 90 for academics and 95 for financial aid from Princeton Review. Total number of bachelor's degree programs offered online or through distance education. Lots of internship/research opportunities due to being in LA. Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%. I participated in varsity sports during all 4 years, which connected me with new, lifelong friends. I do not expect any school to be able to fix all students' issues or cater to their every need, but at such a small school I did expect more care/respect from administration. Discover the schools, companies, and neighborhoods that are right for you. Clubs and intramural sports, "from quidditch to women's rugby," are popular across campus, and "Greek life is getting bigger and bigger every year." Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of data and reviews. We then compare the average total cost to other schools of a similar quality to determine value. campus security and/or law enforcement authorities, not necessarily Ithaca College, located in the Finger Lakes region of New York, rates as the 316th best college in the United States of America, according to Niche. Not only can students earn academic credit for many of the internships arranged through the career services office, but it also provides them with invaluable insight into potential career tracks. "Courses are challenging," but Oxy "professors want to see you succeed," and the favorably low student-to-faculty ratio means "there are plenty of opportunities to get extra help on the tough material." Only you know for sure, but College Factual's value analysis can help answer that question. I've enjoyed the relationships I've made, everyone is very friendly and there are a lot of communities of different hobbies and interests. The College is located in the Northeast section of Los Angeles, in the community of Eagle Rock between the cities of Glendale and Pasadena. Rated the best public university in Oregon by Niche, the University of Oregon has nearly 18,000 undergraduate students currently enrolled. Not very outgoing; smart in one particular field. Total number of certificate degree programs offered online or through distance education. At this school, 78% of the students live. All of my professors cared about me as a person and student. If you can complete your degree faster than that you will save money. With more than 40 majors and minors, one-of-a-kind programs like the Kahane United Nations Program and Campaign Semester and our emphasis on research through the Undergraduate Research Center and senior comprehensives, Occidental lays the groundwork for a compelling intellectual adventure. Your . I was completely undecided on what I wanted to study when I first started college, and Oxy was a good place for me to try different things before choosing a major. This property has 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom and approximately 651 sqft of floor space. The school has also various peer-supported tutoring programs to allow you to get the help that you need from chemistry problem sets to essay writing advice. Occidental College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,964 (fall 2021), This means the school is very selective. On days when I was not swimming or in school, I enjoyed the surrounding area. Occidental is reinventing the liberal arts and sciences for a new generation of problem solvers, creators and thinkers. You can't beat having the "intimacy of a small college with Los Angeles as your backyard," and students love the fact that Oxy is "not isolated from the surrounding community like many other college campuses." In its yearly rankings, College Factual analyzes over 2,000 colleges and universities to determine which ones are the best in a variety of categories, such as overall value, quality, diversity, which schools are the best for each major, and much more.. Occidental College was awarded 123 badges in the 2023 rankings. Discover the schools, companies, and neighborhoods that are right for you. Pictured is a campaign rally for Obama on the college's campus. Is an Oxy degree worth it? Former President Barack Obama attended Occidental for two years before transferring to Columbia University. Northeastern University, located in Boston, has a graduation rate of 87%, while alumni earn an average starting salary of more than $54,000 per year, according to Niche. The study abroad program at Occidental is also really comprehensive for how small of a school it is. This school is what it is: a small bubble of privileged fake-woke kids that don't need to work because their parents are happily footing the $77,000/year bill. The only good thing about this school is our faculty. It's a school very much geared towards humanities kids. In sports, Occidental College is part of the NCAA III. Additionally, the opportunities here are tremendous there are always emails for new internships or jobs to apply to as well as fellowships. Your Chance -- Occidental College Application Deadline First-Year Applications are Due Jan 10 Transfer Applications are Due Apr 1