College Prowler: Occidental College

Occidental, or "Oxy," as we all call it, is a wonderful school that I am very proud to go to. However, it is not a school for everyone. I came upon Oxy almost by accident, and it was really just luck that the school fit me so well. I knew very little about what kind of school it was, what kind of community existed on campus, or even what questions to ask about it. Even after visiting the campus and taking the tour, I realized very quickly that all I had to base my decision on was a 40-minute impression of the campus led by people doing everything they could to sell me on the school. Doing probably the stupidest thing in my life, I relied on my instincts, rolled the dice, and chose to come here anyway-I was very, very lucky.

Ethan Ambabo, Author

Not sure a campus tour should be the basis of your college decision? Get the real deal on Oxy from the experts: the students.

Here are some fun facts about Occidental:

Occidental has one of the largest international study abroad programs in the country, which has recently had an increase in its budget to allow for even more students to study abroad.

The school also has an extensive summer research program that allows students to work on self-chosen research projects with faculty throughout the summer while supplying them with room and board. This project has also recently received another $1.5 million from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Occidental has one of the most diverse campuses in the world, with acceptance rates of minorities that are far higher than the national average.

Occidental is part of a consortium of schools including the Art Center of Pasadena and the California Institute of Technology.

Occidental has a tradition of community service that dates back to the mid-1960s, when the College's Community Literacy Center and one of the country's first Upward Bound programs were established. Community-based learning is now a central part of Occidental's curriculum.

Find out if Occidental truly has something for you, straight from the students' mouths.

Visiting campus isn't enough.

Read our Occidental College guide and discover what it feels like to be on campus for 4 years.

Discover if Occidental is Right For You.