<p>Hello all, so im currently deciding which college to go to so i was wondering if you could all give me the pros and cons of attending Occidental. Im choosing between Oxy and Smith. Is one of them considered more prestigious or better or are they regarded at the same level? (my parebts want to know...haha)</p>
<p>Oxy students: how often do you go to places in LA, or do you usually stay in on the weekends?</p>
<p>Hello, it looks like no one else has answered, so I’ll give it a shot from a parent’s perspective! In terms of comparing Oxy and Smith, they seem so different that it really seems like you need to think about what you want in a college. </p>
<p>Do you prefer co-ed or all women? Do you want southern CA or western MA? I don’t know where you are from – do you like winter? My son goes to UMass Amherst, so I know what it’s like up there. This past winter was very mild, but the winter before was very snowy and cold. Snow can be fun, but it can also be a pain to get around in. The spring tends to come late, and can be damp. Oxy, of course, is pretty lovely in terms of weather. That is one reason my daughter chose it – we live in NJ, and she is thoroughly sick of cold and grey and slush. </p>
<p>Northampton is a fun town, but of course it’s small, and not close to any big cities. There are lots of small music venues, though, and restaurants. But if you want a big-city vibe, you won’t get it there. In terms of prestige, that just wasn’t a huge concern for us – certainly Smith and Oxy are both good schools. It’s really a personal matter of fit, I would think. Certainly there are tons of rankings you can find that will tell you comparisons.</p>
<p>I will certainly say that I’m pleased with Oxy, and my D seems very happy there. The classes are interesting, although quite challenging, and she has enjoyed her CSPs. She has made good friends there, and is looking forward to going to Coachella with a group of them.</p>
<p>If you want to get off campus, it is hard without a car, which is why we decided to lease her one out there. That is one advantage Smith has – there is an extensive bus system between Amherst and Northampton, and in LA the public transportation sucks. But there are Zipcars, or lots of students with cars, so you can usually get a ride. My D likes to explore, so I know she goes into LA, and out to the beaches on the weekends. There are usually events on campus, so you can stay there, but it is fun to have LA to go to when you want.</p>
<p>From my viewpoint, I find Oxy friendly and responsive so far. If I’ve called with any questions or concerns, they are always very nice about it, although I haven’t really had to communicate with them much, since so far so good! If you think Oxy is a good fit for you, then I think you will be happy with it. The profs are good, the students are friendly, and the campus is gorgeous!</p>