OccidentalCOLLEGE

of Los Angeles

for The World

Founded in 1887, Occidental College is one of the oldest colleges in southern

California. A private, coeducational, liberal arts institution with an enrollment

of 2,102 students, the College offers a unique combination of interdisciplinary

study, undergraduate research, community-based learning, and multicultural

perspectives. We hope the information and insights shared on the following

pages will entice you to explore further.

Oxy, as we are affectionately called, is not only in

Los Angeles, we are of Los Angeles. Our campus is

located on a wooded hillside eight miles northeast

of downtown in the community of Eagle Rock,

giving our students a suburban home just minutes

from the vibrant urban center of an international

city. In many ways, the College utilizes Los

Angeles and southern California as an extended

classroom. The Urban and Environmental Policy

Institute, Center for Community-Based Learning,

Film and Media Studies Program, and Cultural

Studies Seminars are just some examples of the

intersection between our curriculum and location.

If one wants to understand the value of the liberal arts, one need look no further than the stunning careers of Occidental’s two most famous students: Jack Kemp and Barack Obama. Both men dedicated their lives to public service. Both men were profoundly shaped by books and ideas—the taste for which was first acquired at Occidental.

– Occidental College President Jonathan Veitch

“

“

The vitality and diversity of Los Angeles

stimulates our students’ intellectual curiosity

and freedom, important products of a liberal

arts education.

Whether you are interested in politics, arts,

science, finance, public service or more, a

liberal arts education can be your best possible

preparation. The ability to learn how to learn, to

think critically, to communicate well, and to adapt

to change are vital for the world in which

we live. This is why students from around the

globe choose Occidental.

welcome to OccidentalCOLLEGE

welcome to

BArACk OBAmA 1979

…it is this spirit of engagement with a wider world that has always set Occidental College and its alumni apart. – Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles

“ “

academic life

At Oxy, students typically combine classroom

learning with field work, independent research,

internships, and off-campus study. How do they

navigate their experience? Faculty advisors are

assigned to students when they first arrive on

campus, and the Advising Center works closely

with students during their first two years. A dose

of curiosity and a penchant for adventure certainly

enhances the process.

The Core Program provides the intellectual

foundation for Occidental’s commitment to

excellence, equity, service, and community.

The first-year Cultural Studies Program

seminars comprise the centerpiece of the Core,

with their emphasis on writing, research, and

analysis. In addition, students participate in the

study of culture as embodied in the arts, sciences,

social sciences, and humanities with the ultimate

goal of developing “global literacy.” Students can

select a major in one of 29 programs, double

major, declare a minor, or pursue a self-designed

Independent Pattern of Study. Furthermore,

qualified students may cross-register at the nearby

California Institute of Technology and Art Center

College of Design. Also, all Oxy students are required

to complete “Senior Comps,” a comprehensive

examination or project in their chosen major.

American StudiesArt History and the Visual Arts Emphases: -Film and Media Studies -History of Art -Studio ArtBiochemistryBiology Emphases: - Cell and Molecular

Biology -Environmental Biology -Marine BiologyChemistry Chinese Studies

Classical Studies (minor only)

Cognitive Science Emphases: -Bioscience -Computation -Philosophy -PsychologyCritical Theory and Social Justice Diplomacy and World AffairsEast Asian StudiesEconomics Emphases: - Economics for Business

and Management -Mathematical Economics

Education (minor only)

English and Comparative Literary Studies French StudiesGeology Emphasis: -Environmental ScienceGerman Studies (minor only)

Group LanguageHistory Japanese StudiesKinesiology Latin American Studies (minor only)

MathematicsMusic

Philosophy PhysicsPoliticsPsychologyReligious Studies Russian Studies (minor only)

SociologySpanish StudiesTheater Urban and Environmental Policy

Academic Majors and Minors

maida Salkanovic ’13 As one of Oxy’s UWC Davis Scholars, Maida values the breadth of academic opportunities at the College. She’s currently pursuing a double major in psychology and group languages and names faculty from departments as varied as theater and German among her favorites. “It’s difficult to choose just one professor because all of them have been great, and I’m incredibly grateful for the knowledge, insights, and care they provided me with,” shares the native of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Topics in Culture Dialogue Series Hosted by Oxy’s International Programs Office, this interactive forum fosters in-depth discussion of issues related to cross-cultural adjustment. recent topics include: Race, Gender, and Sexuality Abroad; What is Cultural Immersion?; Global Nomads: When More than One Country is Home; and Crossing Cultures and the Arts.

research and collaboration

At Oxy, our small size fosters lasting relationships

between students and faculty. Professors regularly

share their experiences, time, and resources

to nurture students’ intellectual development.

Together, they establish an academic environment

that is simultaneously rigorous and collaborative.

“…small by choice, not by chance…” – Remsen Bird, former Occidental College

president, 1921–1945

Research is a fundamental part of an Occidental

education. Supported by the Undergraduate

Research Center (URC), research projects flourish

in every academic department. Funding up to

300 students throughout the academic year and

summer, the URC values innovative work that

fosters close faculty-students relationships.

“In our program, students work closely over

an extended time period in a mentor-protégé

relationship with individual faculty members

to investigate original research questions,”

says Chris Craney, professor of chemistry and

research mentor.

The 10-week Summer Research Program is a core

component of Oxy students’ research experience.

The program allows students to work side-by-side

with a faculty mentor, participate in weekly small-

group meetings, make a formal presentation, and

often have their work published. Earlier this year, 28

Oxy students presented their research findings at the

National Conference on Undergraduate Research,

more than UCLA, MIT, and Yale combined.

Additionally, Occidental maintains the highly

distinctive Richter Scholarship that enables

students to pursue fully-funded independent work

outside the U.S. during the summer. Hundreds

of Occidental students have benefitted from the

program by conducting projects in countries

ranging from Australia to Zambia.

Lik Hui Lim ’13 Drawn to Occidental by its location and diverse student body, Lik Hui boasts an eclectic group of best friends who hail from Korea, Gambia, Oklahoma, Milwaukee, and New York. While this native of Hong Kong found the diversity he was seeking, he also discovered much more.

“Occidental College provides students with the opportunities to study with some of the best professors in the nation, which leads to further achievements and success in life,” says Lik Hui. He points to his relationship with Wellington Chan, Occidental’s National Endowment for the Humanities Distinguished Professor of the Humanities emeritus. The internationally recognized economic historian not only taught Lik Hui in class but also mentored him in other aspects of life. In the spring, Lik Hui will intern at an accounting firm where he will gain hands-on experience in corporate taxes and finance. His future plans include earning an MBA degree and working in the field of management consulting or investment banking.

As an international student from Ethiopia, I wanted to attend a school that

would make me feel like I was at my “home away from home.” Occidental’s

small class sizes, close-knit student body, and great undergraduate research

resources were major factors behind my decision to attend the College. Oxy’s

location was also a major draw. Coming to the U.S. for the first time, I

wanted to be in a big city like Los Angeles where I would have access to other

social and educational resources. The generous scholarship I received also

made it possible to attend Oxy.

Oxy gave me everything I needed to prepare for

medical school. I had caring and

knowledgeable professors who I worked with closely to do well in my classes.

The small class sizes allowed me to work cooperatively with other students

and learn from them. Outside of the classroom, through the Undergraduate

Research Center, I was able to do research for two summers. I also had an

opportunity to take part in an international research project my junior year. My

advisor helped me tremendously in preparing research proposals and by mentoring

me throughout my time at Occidental. My time at Oxy was full of great memories. I was fortunate to work as the

international students’ liaison for three years which I enjoyed immensely, and I

was also the president of the International Students Organization. I played on

the soccer team my junior year, served on the advisory board for th

e Dean of

Students, and was as an alumni ambassador for Oxy. Most of all, I appreciate

the great friends I made and the close relationships I had with faculty and

staff with whom I still keep in contact.

If your experience is anything like mine, you will have a great time at Oxy. You

will receive an excellent education from professors who are deeply invested

in your success. You will be able to engage in various research and leadership

opportunities that will help you realize your strengths and explore new goals.

You will meet great people and make best friends. You will have fun and mature

as a person. Oxy, definitely, as I would like to call it, will be your “home away

from home”. – Hailu Tilahun, OXY ‘08

Harvard University Medical School ‘14

student life

With nearly 80 percent of all students living on

campus, Oxy’s residence halls serve as the center

of educational, cultural, and social activities.

Rangeview, the newest and largest residence, has

space for 274 students and boasts an underground

parking garage as well as a fitness center and

classrooms. The smallest of the 13 residential options

is Berkus House which is home to 27 women.

Wherever they live on campus, students look forward

to their weekly “hall spreads” as a welcome study

break and time to interact with fellow residents.

Hungry? Oxy offers several options to meet your

dietary needs and culinary preferences. The

Marketplace is the College’s primary dining facility and

offers food stations serving grilled entrees, stir-fried

dishes, deli specials, wood-fired pizza, made-to-order

pasta, and a salad bar. Vegetarian, vegan, and organic

options are always available. The nearby Tiger Cooler

is a favorite spot for lunch, late-night snacks, or just

hanging out between classes. The student-run Green

Bean Coffee Lounge is a popular gathering place

with plenty of caffeine, pastries, and even Saturday

morning cartoons. For a change of pace, students

can enjoy a banquet-style Saturday night dinner on

the second-story courtyard of Rangeview.

Before academic life officially begins at Oxy,

international students move in early and attend

activities hosted by the International Programs Office.

This provides a friendly venue for international

students to get acquainted and complete immigration

paperwork. Orientation for all new students begins

two days later and includes advisor meetings, class

registration, residence hall gatherings, and Los

Angeles excursions like Oxy night at a Dodgers

baseball game.

Once the school year begins, Oxy students engage

in a variety of clubs, athletics, and performing arts

groups, and regularly venture into the surrounding

neighborhoods of Eagle Rock, Pasadena, and Los

Angeles. Unlike other liberal arts colleges, Occidental

offers its students access to an incredible variety

of international communities within five minutes of

campus. The food, language, history, and culture

of nations from around the world abound in Los

Angeles, and form a rich setting for our students’

social and intellectual lives. Oxy currently has over 100 organizations and clubs including:

• Biology Club • Buddhist Meditation Club • Dance Production • Futbol Club • Future Business Leaders • Hillel • International Student Organization • InterVarsity Christian Fellowship • KOXY Radio • Occidental Ski and Snowboard Club • Rotaract Club • Social Change Club

mwahaki king ’12 fondly remembers the International Student Welcome BBQ she attended soon after arriving at Oxy. She values the friendships she formed with students who came from different countries yet shared and understood the major transition she was making by moving to America. “Being at school a few days early was tremendously beneficial in terms of logistics and jetlag,” she adds. Now, Mwahaki, who was raised in both England and Jamaica, is active in numerous cultural organizations and recently organized a campus-wide dance featuring popular music from around the world. As vice president of the International Students Organization, Mwahaki also plans excursions to cultural events and ethnic restaurants in Los Angeles that highlight the city’s diversity.

“Occidental students out-perform applicants from other colleges. Graduate schools and employers continually inform me that our students’ ability to think critically helps them excel early on the job and in graduate studies. multicultural competencies, outstanding written and oral communication skills, and critical thinking—these are our students’ strengths; these are what define Occidental’s liberal arts education.” – Valerie Savior ’85, director, Career Development Center

Rather than a question left unanswered for four years, “Life after

Oxy?” is a dynamic concept explored by students throughout

their time on campus. The College helps students build skills,

acquire knowledge, and experience vocational pathways through

an array of services. Beginning in their first year, students join

professionally related clubs, attend workshops, and meet with

Career Development Center (CDC) staff to consider career

choices. The CDC offers programs year-round, including interview

and resume-writing workshops, on- and off-campus internship

placement, job recruitment, graduate school information sessions,

and several alumni networking events. Naturally, students rely on

their professors’ advice and professional connections as well.

The College ranks among the top 10 percent of liberal arts

colleges whose graduates have earned PhDs. Since 1980, more

than 630 graduates have attended medical and dental school.

Many others choose law, business, public policy, and education,

attending programs at internationally recognized institutions such

as Columbia, UCLA, Stanford, USC, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and

the University of Chicago.

life after Oxy

Recent Internship Examples

• City of Hope • DreamWorks • Fox Sports News • The Getty Art Institute • Huntington Medical

Research Institute • The Mark Taper Forum

• Merrill Lynch• Morgan Stanley• Nestle• Paramount Pictures• Roche Pharmaceuticals• Ticketmaster• UCLA Medical Center

U.S. President Barack Obama ’83 invited

Roger Boesche, Occidental’s Arthur G. Coons

Distinguished Professor in the History of Ideas,

to the White House last year. “He announced

to the room that ‘Professor Boesche taught me

everything I know about politics.’ And then he

added with a laugh, ‘But he gave a me a ‘B’

on a paper!’” recalls Boesche. The two laughed

and reminisced before Obama offered these

parting words to his former professor:

“You’re a great teacher and an inspiration.”

admission and financial aid

Applying to OccidentalOccidental is committed to admitting and enrolling

a highly qualified and diverse student body. To

that end, the admission committee evaluates each

applicant individually and holisitcally, taking into

account the various educational systems world-wide.

International students in the Class of 2014 came

from 15 different countries as far as Botswana and

as near as Canada. For all applicants, academic

preparation is paramount. We will closely examine

your transcript, focusing on your performance and

course rigor. We also give serious consideration

to personal qualities such as motivation, curiosity,

leadership ability, and distinctive talents. Your

personal statement, extracurricular activities, and

letters of recommendation offer us insight into

these areas.

Whether you are applying as a first-year or transfer

student, the following materials must be submitted

by the appropriate application deadline along with a

non-refundable application processing fee of $60*:

• Common Application

• Occidental College Supplement to the Common Application

• SAT I or ACT scores (waived for transfer applicants who graduated from high school more than five years ago)

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if your native language is not English (waived for students receiving a score of 600 or higher on the SAT I Critical Reading section)

• Certification of Finances Form (required of all international applicants regardless of whether they will apply for financial aid or not; a bank statement alone is not sufficient)

* All international students living outside the U.S. must pay by money order. Students for whom the fee is a significant financial burden may submit a fee waiver form or a letter from a school official explaining the hardship.

For more than 90 years, students from around the world have come to study at

Occidental. International students are an essential part of the College’s dynamic

community. Any student who currently does not have U.S. citizenship or permanent

residency status (green card) is considered an international applicant.

Please visit http://www.oxy.edu/x10379.xml for the College’s complete and most current application requirements.

Application Deadlines and Fees

First-year Applicants Due Date Decision Mailed Early Decision I * November 15 Mid-December Early Decision II* January 3 Early February Regular Decision January 10 Late March

Transfer Applicants Regular Decision March 15

* Early Decision is a binding commitment under

which applicants agree to enroll at Occidental

upon their admission to the College. International

students applying for financial aid may not apply

through an Early Decision process as we will

need to review all applications prior to awarding

international student scholarships.

Financial Aid for International StudentsFinancial aid and scholarships are available for a

limited number of international students. Need-

based aid amounts vary according to each student’s

financial situation, but may cover up to the full

cost of an Occidental education. Scholarships are

awarded according to both merit and financial

need, and are given to those students who have

demonstrated a balance of outstanding academic

achievement and extra-curricular engagement

throughout high school.

If you would like to be considered for financial aid,

please complete the International Student Financial

Aid Application (ISFA) and explain any unusual

financial circumstances in the space provided on

the Certification of Finances (COF). Both forms are

available at our international applicant website,

http://www.oxy.edu/x10379.xml, and should be

submitted to the Office of Admission.

Contact us:Occidental CollegeOffice of Admission1600 Campus RoadLos Angeles, CA 90041(323) 259-2700 phone(323) 341-4875 faxwww.oxy.edu

International admission coordinator:

Laura Tokuza, Assistant Dean of Admissiontokuza@oxy.edu

Approximate Costs (based on 2010-2011)

Tuition and Fees $40,939

Room and Board $11,360

Books and Supplies $1,116

Total: $53,415

Oxy at a Glance• Founded in 1887• Motto: Occidens Proximus Orienti (The West is Nearest the East)• 2,102 students• 57% women, 43% men• Origin of students:

42 states, the District of Columbia, and 26 foreign countries• Full-time faculty: 170• Student-faculty ratio: 10:1• Average class size: 16• Academic majors and minors: 34• Students living on campus: 80%• Varsity athletic teams: 21• Clubs and student organizations: 101

OccidentalCOLLEGEwww.oxy.edu

2010 –11