<p>Hi! I am a high school student, do you know the average HS GPA/SAT requirements to get accepted? I am an out of state student. Also, does this school have a big party scene on campus? Are parties hard to come across? Thank you!</p>
<p>@cassie1896 These were the stats for the class of 2016, according to Oxy’s website.
Median unweighted GPA: 3.67
Middle 50% SAT: 1840-2070
Median SAT: 1960 (CR-650, M-650, W-660)
Middle 50% ACT: 28-32
Median ACT: 30</p>
<p>I got in this year (class of 2017) and these were my stats:
Unweighted GPA: 4.3 (on a 5.0 scale)
Weighted GPA: 4.96 (6.0 scale)
SAT: 1880 (CR-600, M-680, W-600)</p>
<p>I also have a question for Sarah- do you know anything about the 3/2 program with Caltech? I’m planning on applying for it after my freshman year but I heard they only take 5 kids 
Do you know how many kids apply for it and how hard it is to get in? If you don’t know anything about it, have you taken any physics classes at Oxy (specifically 106 and 110), and if so were they difficult?</p>
<p>Hi! I can speak briefly about the “party” scene at Oxy. We aren’t a huge party school (like big state schools, for example). Oxy does throw dances multiple times each semester that are really fun and highly attended by students. Separate school clubs and organizations (sororities and fraternities, for example) throw their own socials / parties. Aside from that, you will without a doubt find many social gatherings during your time here. I have never found a lack of something fun to do during my Oxy experience!</p>
<p>is there a portal to check the status of our admissions? (for transfers)</p>
<p>How feasible is double majoring at Oxy? I pretty much fell in love with my AP Government class this year and I’m kinda considering adding in either Politics or Government to my original major choice… I know it’ll be more work, but do a lot of people double-major at Oxy?</p>
<p>Here’s a question that you might answer for all the new students. I’m a freshmen and Oxy, and my classes have been terrible. The teachers are remote, they aren’t helpful (one of them told me that I wasn’t doing the reading when I asked for help – he didn’t know me, didn’t care to, but was arrogant beyond belief), and you can’t get into the classes that you want and need because they fill up immediately. I’ve never met my academic advisor; he has office hours once a week. During fall semester, I had a class during his office hours. This semester, I don’t care. So my question is:</p>
<p>Will it get better? If so, when? </p>
<p>The weather is great. And the campus is pretty.</p>
<p>skrodt - I am so happy to read your comment. That confirmed my S’s decision even though as much I would prefer for him to stay in CA. He strongly felt the lack of support during his only ONE overnight stay at Oxy - Admin. & one particular department. The only positive comment he had was his host did a remarkable job.</p>
<p>@skrodt That concerns me… I’ve already committed to Oxy. I thought that since it’s a small school the teachers would be helpful to students. What is your major? Maybe students in different majors have better teachers. Do you know other kids there who have the same issues?</p>
<p>@skrodt, that concerns me too. Right now Occidental is my top choice and I am planning on committing next week. Are other students having a disapointing experience with their teachers/administrators?</p>
<p>@frisebichon I was a little turned off by your statement “I am so happy to read your comment”. Just be happy for your son’s choice. Do you really need affirmation from another kids negative experience?</p>
<p>When will transfer students receive admission notification?</p>
<p>Skrodt has only one post. Not sure how much credibility to give his/her post? DK is committed to Oxy and in the admission process has had a great experience with visits and department chairs and profs and attending classes. Happily looking to 4 years at Oxy! I hope some current students come on CC and help refute the negative post by skrodt.</p>
<p>@lalalandmachine
A substantial group of students double major at Oxy. I personally know someone doubling in Biology and Art History and another student doing Cognitive Science and Theater. It is definitely difficult, but also doable. The hardest part, I think, would be doing two senior comprehensive projects, which are required for any major. Oxy does not allow you to combine your projects, so you would have to complete two of them. But many students do it and feel it was worth all of the hard work :)</p>
<p>I would like to address the comment made by @skrodt.</p>
<p>I personally have had the complete opposite experience at Oxy. I am a senior and have had the most remarkable experiences with my professors, advisers, and administrators. It is entirely possible that one professor and/or one administrator has tainted this student’s experience with Occidental. There are bad eggs at every institution, but I would say that the majority experience of students here are positive ones.</p>
<p>For example, I have a professor this semester who agreed to be the academic adviser for my senior thesis project even though it was a last minute addition to his schedule that he would not be paid for. He selflessly dedicated his time and efforts to helping me without pay.</p>
<p>I have never had an issue seeking help from a professor or administrator and everyone I’ve encountered has been more than happy to do what they can for me. </p>
<p>Small classes sizes, intimate departments, close mentorship with professors - these are all things you can expect at Oxy. </p>
<p>To quickly address this student’s comment on class registration - it is true that first-years do not register for classes first at Oxy, but this is true of almost every institution in the US. As you progress through your career at Oxy, it is easier and easier to get the classes you want because the school understands that Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors need to fulfill their major and core requirements. Additionally, if you cannot immediately register for a class, it is inexplicably easy to email a professor about adding their full class and be subsequently admitted. Every time I have been unable to enroll in a class I want, I have emailed the professor and been happily admitted by them. This is one of many examples of how Oxy professors demonstrate their commitment helping students. If @skrodt has been unable to get the classes he/she wants, he/she is probably not being proactive in his/her education.</p>
<p>But he/she is correct in saying that the campus is beautiful and the weather is wonderful :)</p>
<p>By the way @skrodt, I would love to help you figure out how to improve your Oxy experience. The number for the Advising Center on campus is 323-259-1341, or you can visit them in North Trailer “C”. </p>
<p>If you’d rather not go to the administration for help switching advisers or talking about issues with professors, I as a fellow student would be happy to chat with you about your options. There’s no need for the bad experiences you’ve had here to continue and there are many, many ways to resolve them. Feel free to reach out to me at <a href=“mailto:gross@oxy.edu”>gross@oxy.edu</a></p>
<p>Thank you SarahSterling!</p>
<p>I feel like I should comment here as I have some perspective on Oxy. My daughter is a Freshman this year. Regarding skrodt’s comment about overcrowding or not being able to meet with advisors I think that is not accurate. It is true that classes fill up. My daughter couldn’t take Spanish so she switched to French. She didn’t get her first choice for her CSP so she settled for her third. But bottomline she got all the classes she needed and had a full schedule both semesters. She has had wonderful professors and some she isn’t so crazy about. But every one of them was available to her whenever she needed to talk to them.</p>
<p>I also don’t understand about not being able to talk to an adviser. My daughter has talked to her adviser twice, both times before she registered for her classes to go over her schedule. I think it is a matter of making time. </p>
<p>What my daughter has found out and I think is a good lesson for all college Freshman is that you are not coddled at Oxy but the effort you put out is rewarded. Advisers don’t knock on your dorm door begging to talk to you, but they are available if you take the time to make an appointment. Professors get to know you if you make the effort to know them. Not all classes are 15 students - there are 40 students in my daughters Discrete Math class, but that is because there are limited number of classes available. When my daughter registered for her math class 1st semester it was filled but she sent an email to the professor and was admitted immediately.</p>
<p>My daughter is learning some life lessons at Oxy. She is learning that being away from home is hard. She is learning that it takes effort to be part of a community. She is being forced out of her comfort zone of the happy life she had at home. She did theatre all through high school (performing in over 15 plays) but she didn’t make the musical at Oxy. She is learning that there are many others as smart and talented as she is.
Has it all been roses and sunshine? No. But it has been a learning & growing experience and what makes Oxy unique is also what limits it. Oxy is small - just 2000 students. This means not as much of everything. But everything is there, just on a smaller scale.</p>
<p>My daughter has made some great friends at Oxy and already has plans next year to do a triple with two of them. She is in the choir, take a dance class and a singing class and most importantly is creeping out of her comfort zone to try some new things.</p>
<p>I’ve talked to many parents who all agree that Freshman year is tough and the adjustment is much harder for some than others. But every single person I have ever talked to who went to Oxy or had kids go there has said that they loved the experience.</p>
<p>Thanks so much ahnelk for this post. It is very helpful and reassuring!</p>
<p>Hi! Soooo It’s a bit early for me to be researching so much on colleges considering I’m a sophomore in high school, but I want to get ahead of the game. I’ve looked at the Occidental website and I fell in love with the college. However, I live in Connecticut. I was wondering what YOU think about Occidental? How are the teachers, the students, the community as a whole. I want to know if moving from Connecticut to LA would be a good decision?</p>
<p>Hi Sarah, if you are still answering questions I would appreciate some input. My son is close to picking Oxy. (only a few days left to decide). After reading a lot online and asking questions from present students at admittance day last week could you tell us a little about the forced 3 in a dorm? Oxy is one of the higher priced private liberal arts schools that we have looked at so I was very surprised when I learned that there are 3 freshman in the size of double room. (ONe student said the rooms for 3 are bigger but another student said no they are the size of a doubleroom.) </p>
<p>Also have read that students have difficulty getting their first and second choices of classes. One of the reasons that we did not consider the UC’s which he got into a few good ones, is that we have heard how difficult it is to get classes at a UC and so we assumed this wouldn’t be a problem for any classman at Occidental. Can you talk about this?
Thanks</p>