My son is considering Occidental and would like to then apply to Medical School. At some universities it is very difficult to earn high grades while at others it is relatively easy with a reasonable amount of effort. What about Oxy?
My daughter has the same goal in mind. We personally feel Oxy is a good choice. I think it’s rigorous but fair. I’ve been warned by someone who taught at one of the top UC’s that the learning environment is cut throat and not too collaborative, unlike Oxy.
Hi there! I’m a current first-year at Oxy so I can tell you about my experience so far at the school.
In my opinion, there are a few major factors that influence how well you do at the college.
- The rigor of your high school.
- How hard you worked in high school.
- How hard you will work in college.
- Number & Type of classes you’re taking
If you put in the work, time and effort, you can do really well. Now it won’t be easy, particularly if you plan on going to medical school, but the work is definitely manageable. If you need tutoring, any help with homework or studying, or someone to edit or help you with your essay, the CAE (Center for Academic Excellence) can help you with anything you need in order to succeed at the college. Professors and students are happy to meet and work with you if you do need any additional help.
I think Michpadams comment fits, “it’s rigorous but fair”.
What is your son’s intended major? Our daughter is a sophomore and physics major. The program is quite rigorous and can be a gpa killer. Physics majors have the lowest gpa on campus.
That said, my daughter’s opinion is that of @ayammaya00: it really depends on what kind of student your son is and how hard he’s willing to work. Our D is busy with her sorority, a few clubs, an intramural sport, has a job and is an RA. Her gpa is fairly decent for a physics major.
He is thinking of majoring in kinesiology. Any opinions on where that falls in the gpa spectrum?
Sorry, no. But the STEM classes tend to be rigorous.