<p>S2 is planning to apply to Oxy and I am wondering what the intellectual climate is on campus. S1 is at UChicago where it is very intellectually intense and challenging. I am wondering if S2 would find a somewhat similar environment? Is there a continuation of argument and inquiry outside of class? Are courses demanding? Do those who attend feel challenged?</p>
<p>I am an OXY grad. It is a so-so school. Not terribly intellectual at all. No comparison to Chicago. The area around the campus is blighted- if you go a mile or so south you are in Highland Park which is gang-banger city. While I was there a clerk at the AM-PM at the bottom of the hill from OXY was shot to death in a robbery. Yuo have to go pretty far- Pasadena- to reach any kind of decent area.</p>
<p>They try had there- I went because I was poor and they gave me a full ride. On the other hand, if you want to go to med or law school and do well there, you will get in. We had 2 guys go to Harvard Law from my class, and all my friends who were pre med made it.</p>
<p>So— that is the scoop on it. Eagle Rock, and LA in gerneral, is a pretty crappy place to live.</p>
<p>Thanks for the appraisal.</p>
<p>I am a current student, and I could not disagree more with the previous poster. I regularly discuss my studies with other students outside of class. Just last Friday while on our way to a event he and I argued in the car about that day’s material in our psycholinguistics class. Classes are very demanding, I feel challenged in all of my classes. I also can go to my professors ample office hours and discuss topics that interested me in class that day, and they will talk further about them with me. This is a situation where you get out what you put in. If you pick courses that interest you then you will work hard and be challenged and want to discuss studies with others. If you do not engage in the class then of course you will not get much out of it.</p>
<p>As for Eagle Rock, I personally quite like the area. Yes, it’s Los Angeles, so it’s not the safest city in the world. However, I feel comfortable walking alone to houses off campus at night (I’m a girl, by the way) as long as it is not too far. And when I don’t feel comfortable, Campus Safety provides Safety Escorts so that students don’t have to walk somewhere alone. On Friday nights there is the Eagle Rock Farmer’s Market, with fresh fruit, vegetable, and honey stands, clothes, food being barbecued or otherwise prepared, including food I’ve never heard of in my life. Some Saturdays I walk to the supermarket and stop at the fruit stands on the way and get delicious cut up fruit spiced with chili powder and lime. We just had the Eagle Rock Music Festival just a few blocks from our campus with tons of bands and stuff to do. And if you are considering bars, within walking distance on York there are at least three bars for nightlife. All of that without even leaving a mile radius. Even without a car the school organizes the Bengal Bus and gives free rides to Old Town Pasadena, Dodger games, days out in Hollywood, the beach, China Town, and many other places. If you want to get out of LA, San Francisco is a popular destination for fall break, San Diego is only 2-3 hours away, and lots of people go to Cancun for spring break. There is plenty to do, and if someone is bored in Los Angeles, I would think the problem would be with them, not with the city. And once you add in that we live in pretty much a perpetual summer, it’s hard to find something to dislike. </p>
<p>On campus, there are dances, movie screenings, guest speakers, trivia nights, concerts (we just had Gym Class Heroes play last week), cultural weeks with special presentations, and lots and lots of free food at various events. </p>
<p>I’m a senior, and overall I love Oxy. No, it’s not perfect, but I feel that the picture that 404Jeff painted of Occidental and Los Angeles is incredibly unfair. And if you are trying to get into grad school, it’s a great undergraduate college to attend.</p>
<p>My daughter is an Oxy freshman, and just about every communication I get from her could be summed up as “Yay Oxy!” She’s interested & challenged in her classes, she has a rich & varied social life even though she was painfully shy in high school, and she’s finding that there are student organizations for just about every extracurricular passion she could want to pursue. She is ridiculously happy there. </p>
<p>She has expressed no great fears about the neighborhood. Granted, she and her friends travel in a pack, but they’re girls and they’ve been out at 2 a.m. looking for taco trucks, so obviously they aren’t feeling too nervous. Yes, it’s a big city; yes, there are neighborhoods you ought to steer well clear of, and caution about personal safety is warranted. But that’d be the case in Boston, New York, D.C. or Chicago, too.</p>
<p>And Old Pasadena isn’t “pretty far”–it’s minutes away by car, and Oxy regularly runs a free Bengal Bus there and many L.A. destinations too. Lots of students have cars, so it seems to be no problem to find somebody who can drive a group to the beach or out for sushi or to concerts, or to San Francisco on a break (all of which my daughter has done in her first 2 months). You’d have to really work at being bored there.</p>
<p>I think the atmosphere might be more laid-back than UChicago, but that’s partly just hte west-coast vibe. And the previous poster is right, to a large extent you get out of it what you put in, wherever you go to college.</p>
<p>Edited to add: Also, I notice that Jeff is not exactly a recent grad; judging by the birthdate on his profile, he went there about 30 years ago. Any more recent grads want to chime in?</p>
<p>Lunitari: Thank you for your thoughtfull reply. S2 really liked the school when he visited. It is high on his list, and it looks like it will remain so.</p>
<p>Hello, my dad is an Oxy alum and while I was accepted to Oxy, I ultimately decided on another school. However, I’d like to share my experience when I visited Occidental. My dad and I arrived at Oxy in the morning and we decided not to do the traditional Admissions Talk–> Campus Tour route. Rather, my dad walked me through the buildings where he took classes and introduced me to some professors who taught him! The professors were really warm, accommodating and spoke to me quite a bit. In our discussions, more time was spent getting to know me as a person rather than which colleges I was applying to etc. I was invited to sit in on an game theory class. It was truly an eye-opening experience for me. The professor who was teaching the class was teaching through a board game! Because the class was so small, everyone got in on the act and I participated as well. The Oxy kids were very warm and welcoming and I fit in the class seamlessly.</p>
<p>This is just a small story but I think it tells a lot about Occidental College. It is truly a fine institution and I’ll say that it IS NOT lacking in the intellectual department. Kids are definitely bright and many go on to do great things. Oxy is a school that is a fantastic stepping stone to success. It was tough for me to turn Oxy down but I’d recommend it to anyone who is thinking of applying. I hope this helps.</p>
<p>This very good to hear. Thank you thrillergirl7 & jums89.</p>
<p>No worries. Also, one thing I’d like to add is that Oxy really does keep in close contact with its alums. My dad receives a lot of mail from Oxy and recently attended his Class’s 25th Reunion. I feel this contact is important because it always makes you feel connected to the school somehow.</p>
<p>Lunitari</p>
<p>I grew up in Altadena and certainly know where Old Town is. I was shopping there when all there was were thrift shops and boarded up buildings.</p>
<p>It is about 7 minutes from campus to the 134/210, then 8-10 minutes - 4 exits to Fair Oaks, then 5 minutes to Old Town, so 20-25 minutes. “pretty far” vs. “minutes”- who knows but it is not around the corner and certainly a markedly different neighborhood.</p>
<p>Thriller Girl</p>
<p>I really do think you should reconsider your attitude toward wandering around at night and bar hopping on York Blvd. Seriously-</p>
<p>Re the current state of affairs and crime:</p>
<p>I got online with LAPD. The area has a high incidence of property crimes, burglaries, grand theft auto, auto burglaries, aggravated assaults, robbery from person and several violent- (weapons and injury) robberies</p>
<p>In the last month, the last 30 DAYS, within 3/4 of a mile of OXY the following crimes were reported, these with a *** are on campus or within a few blocks.</p>
<p>35 felonies in 30 days. Misdemeanors are not reported in crime stats…eg drug possession, petty theft, domestic assault, drunk in public, DUI etc.</p>
<p>11-4 2200 blk Yosemite violent robbery
10-30 2600 Colorado robbery
10-31 4600 westdale grand theft auto
11-2 4400 york blvd theft from person</p>
<p>10-28 4300 Eagle rock Blvd violent robbery
10-27 4700 Eagle ROck Blvd Burglary
10-23 Eagle Rock & Colorado grand theft auto
<strong>10-22 4600 Alumni Auto burglary
10-23 5100 Almadon violent robbery
*<em>10-24 4700 Ellenwood aggravated assault
*</em>10-15 1500 Hazelwood auto burglary
*<em>10-17 4900 Stratford grand theft auto
10-22 1400 N Ave 47 grand theft auto
*</em>10-15 7500 Woodrow theft from person- robbery
10-17 5400 York Blvd burglary
10-21 5400 York Blvd grand theft auto
10-10 1600 N Ave 46 theft
10-9 5200 Stratford grand theft auto
10-13 5600 Fallston grand theft auto
10-12 1500 N Ave 46 auto burglary
10-13 2300 Merton burglary
*</strong><strong>on campus</strong> 1600 Campus Road Theft from person (robbery)
*<em>10-13 4500 Corliss grand theft auto
10-1 4600 York grand theft auto
</em> 10-5 Eagle Rock and York robbery- violent
** 10-7 4300 York auto burglary
10-2 1000 N Ave 51 Burglary
10-1 5500 York Aggravated assault
10-7 4100 York auto burglary
**<em>10-6 2600 Ridge Road grand theft auto
*</em>9-25 2000 Ridgeview auto burglary
10-1 4600 York grand theft auto
9-28 4400 Eagle ROck Blvd auto burglary
***9-30 5000 Coringa burglary
9-28 1700 Yosemitie burglary</p>
<p>Hey 404jeff, welcome to a big city. Seriously, I don’t know what you have against Oxy, but you evidently hold some sort of grudge against the school to be on a college discussion board badmouthing it years after you have graduated. Serious crime happens all around the world, especially in big cities. I’m not going to let that keep me from going out. I’m not an idiot, I don’t go out on my own at 2 AM, but traveling in groups is totally fine. If everyone avoided everything that wasn’t 100% safe we would never do anything. I have a feeling you are just going to post back with more of the same, so all I really have to say here is to prospective students: Come to the campus, get a feel for the area and if an urban city area is what you want. If it’s not, then Oxy isn’t for you. But if it is, it is a great school in a great town. I love my neighbors. I have nothing against them for being “Hispanic working class”, which evidently is a bad thing according to 404jeff. Be smart, go out in groups, don’t carry obvious valuables and keep your wits about you. Oxy is a great place, and I hope that no one is being turned off to the school because it’s in Los Angeles.</p>
<p>To 404jeff: It is curious that you have decided to ■■■■■ this college website and post very inflammatory comments about your alma mater (“so-so school; not terribly intellectual at all”). Obviously, your experience there was not a happy one and you spend a great amount of time bashing Oxy and the surrounding Eagle Rock neighborhood. Occidental’s reputation as a strong liberal arts college won’t be shaken by one bitter grad, fortunately. I live in West Pasadena right off Colorado Boulevard and less than 3/4 mile from Eagle Rock. By the way, the nearest exit off the freeway from Eagle Rock is NOT 4 exits away at Fair Oaks. It is San Rafael, which is only ONE exit beyond the Figueroa exit. Less than 5 minutes. I strongly disagree with your negative comments about the city. It is not blighted. You can serve up all of the scary crime statistics from LAPD that you want to deter prospective students from attending. Have you ever visited the area surrounding Yale University and NYU?? I have. Why don’t you check out their crime statistics? That doesn’t deter students from attending . The AM/PM incident occurred decades ago, since you are now approaching 50 years of age. I am also an SC grad and I had no problems during my 4 years when I lived off campus. My oldest daughter is currently attending SC and is not “afraid” of the working class surroundings there. Likewise, my younger daughter loves OXY and wants to apply. Fortunately, neither she nor I will be swayed by your one-sided statements.
I assume you no longer live in LA County since you state that “it is a pretty crappy place to live.” Unbelievable.</p>
<p>S2 and I visited and liked the school and the surrounding neighborhood. Oxy has risen to one of S2 top choices. He has the numbers to consider an Ivy, we visited some, but he prefers Oxy so he is not bothering to apply. He has decided to limit his applications, with some exceptions, to the southern CA area.</p>
<p>That is wonderful news. I wish your son all of the best!</p>
<p>Just checked in-</p>
<p>To all who replied- I am not bitter- I am realistic- it seems like several of you have drunk the Kool-Aid and will defend Oxy to the last, but really …it is at best a mediocre school in a crappy area.</p>
<p>Yes, Yale is in a crappy area, so is Columbia, and so is SC, but they are all better schools than Oxy</p>
<p>The issue is not about “being afraid” or anti- Hispanic- it is about telling it like it is. If you hang out there and feel comfortable and it is your groove, then great, but is is a dumpy area, and your defense of it says more about you and where you came from then it does about an objective view of the area.</p>
<p>I am glad you all are so happy with the place- but answer me this, if is really is as great as you say, why is it consistently ranked as a second tier liberal arts college?</p>
<p>Your constant refrain on this blog is becoming very tiring: eg, that Oxy’s location is in a “dumpy area”, that it is a “mediocre school”. That is your singular opinion, which you are entitled to. Others disagree. Your opinion is hardly “objective”. Move on.</p>
<p>D2 is at oxy as I post this on an overnight trip visiting with the girls water polo team. Oxy is one of the top schools on her list. D1 is at UofC–started there as an undergrad in 2001, completed her masters there and is now “abd” toward her doctorate in Slavic Languages. Eagle Rock is a pretty tame environment compared to Hyde Park and its surrounding south Chicago neighborhoods. But D1 loves Hyde Park and south end Chicago and if the jobs turn up there for her post-grad in a year or two when she’s done, she will stay with no hesitation. She loves and thrives in the unparalleled intellectual environment at UofC. That’s the UofC niche. UofC, of course, isn’t for everyone–which is why we have choices. As I recall learning when D2 first toured oxy last year as a high school junior, oxy was founded to be the west coast intellectual answer to Princeton by some rather bright Princeton and other ivy school profs who thought the west coast was lacking (aha, Stanford, are you listening?) such an institution–in a pretty spectacular climate and setting. The good news for D2 is that oxy is here and now–and does provide a fine environment for a quality undergrad education. She is anxiously awaiting word if she is accepted, like many others following these posts. This dad will be very, very happy if she does get accepted, and decides to attend, and I will be very comfortable with her there. Final note: my son is a senior at Lewis & Clark in Portland–to graduate in a couple of months. He loved oxy and Eagle Rock in particular. L&C is a better fit for him–mostly for the music scene in Portland which is very important for him and what he perceived as the different character of students attending L&C vs. oxy, but he loved Eagle Rock–which was by no means a negative for him. Heck, he thinks the local neighborhood of L&C (bordering Lake Oswego, one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the U.S.) is stultifying… The best advice I’ve seen on all the posts is that each student needs to find the school that best fits them. The “feel” hits them pretty quickly–but feedback from students and others is important–and all needs to be tested by the exchanges I’ve noted here. Negative comments are as important as the positive–especially when both are countered by others’ observations. Then, through a bit of sifting, a more complete picture emerges.</p>
<p>flydad: Interesting parallels. S1 is also at Chicago and lives in Hyde Park. He loves both for the very same reasons you describe. S2 did not want to attend Chicago and did not apply. He too is waiting for Oxy results and I too would be quite happy if he were to attend.</p>
<p>Oxy was higher on his list a few months ago. One thing they have not done was to keep in contact with the applicants the way other schools have. One school in particular has made an extraordinary effort to communicate, even to the point of sending him a birthday card. The interesting effect was to spur his further investigation of the school and its programs. That school has now risen to the top of his list though it is not “ranked” as high as other schools to which he has been admitted. I am asking that her not make a decision until he hears from Oxy and has a chance to visit again. We will see.</p>
<p>Interesting that these parallels to UofC are being made for Oxy. UofC is one of the top tier major research universities in this country. Good to hear.</p>
<p>RAM,</p>
<p>u said u went to USC…and I’m hoping to transfer there so do you suggest i go to occidental over loyola marymount or pepperdine or does it not really matter? it seems like occidental is more demanding and challenging, so i’d have a better chance. but just note that i haven’t got my admission letter yet nor have i seen the campus.</p>