My daughter just got into Occidental and we’re wondering if others can weigh in on the experience there for students interested in pre med and the biology or life science fields in general. What are the strengths and weaknesses of their science programs? Which is the strongest department? Are there opportunities for internships in hospitals and research? What about the Marine Biology program – we’re on the East Coast, so it seems like going to Oxy would provide a unique opportunity to study that, if she’s interested.
If she is interested in medical school, I know that there is a concern about weeding out students and GPA. Is there grade deflation at Oxy? Do they weed out students interested in medical school to keep their stats high?
I can answer from a parents perspective. My daughter is a freshman and is pre-med (she will likely be a bio-chem major). It has been an awesome experience thus far. Oxy has a 90% acceptance rate to medical school for their pre-med students! I’ve watched how she has done verses her friend who is a pre-med major at a large state school. There are pros and cons to it. The class sizes are WAY smaller than a large university (16 students in her chem class vs. 400 at a UC) and the professor will stop to address any questions. Oxy also seems to foster a sense of competition only against yourself. It’s actually quite collaborative. The large UC’s are VERY cut throat. Additionally, my daughter is taught by her professors, not a TA and will have opportunities to do research work with them. Oxy also provides excellent opportunities for internships (although she’s going to wait until next year). I would say some of the drawbacks are that the hard sciences make up a very small part of Oxy and, in order to excel, most pre-med majors need a lot of self-discipline. I am sure all majors are hard in their own way but I’ve heard my daughter state at least twice about how so many people go out and party not he weekends and, when you have O-Chem, that just isn’t happening unless you want your grades to tank. I don’t feel there is grade deflation. My daughter took almost all AP classes in high school and only got one B. She’s working her tail off to get A’s and B’s at Oxy but she has even gotten a B- which has never happened before. It’s hard…not easy. She’s even said there are some kids she knows who are transferring out because it was more challenging than they anticipated.
I’m a freshman here – classes at Oxy are quite challenging, but if you put in the work and surround yourself with a supportive study group, you can make it happen
There is definitely grade deflation, but Oxy has a great record with medical schools. Also, Oxy owns a couple of boats and has the Vantuna Research Group (http://www.oxy.edu/vantuna-research-group), which does marine bio research and has an accredited diver training program. I have friends in the Marine Bio intro class and it sounds like a lot of fun – they constantly go on field trips to aquariums and the beach (I’m quite envious!)
@Michpadams thanks so much. It sounds like there may be some grade deflation if your previously straight-A student is working her tail off to get As and Bs and got a B-, no? I love the idea of small classes for these hard science classes, though. I would think it’s easier to keep focus and do well than in a big lecture class, and to feel free to ask for assistance/clarification from professors. Is she happy? @dhume98 The Vantuna Research Group sounds awesome – thank you for that info. Do you know any pre-med students, and how are they faring? Do you find it hard to focus on studies in what sounds like such a fun environment?
@mnemom Vantuna is great – but I think it’s tailored more towards people interested in becoming marine biologists (rather than pursuing a pre-med career, and presumably becoming a doctor or something similar), and so many of the Vantuna alumni end up working on Oxy vessels. But pre-med is quite tough, and I’m not sure if all the students are having that much fun (unless they really enjoy the concepts they are learning). I don’t have the patience nor the dedication to pursue something like that, but I greatly respect my peers who do (they have to slough it out in college and then in med school, residency, etc.!). However, the biology department at Oxy is excellent – dozens of students do summer research every year, there’s a modern biosciences building and a Costa Rica residency program, and the school spends millions on life science research (mainly bio) every year. I believe Oxy has one of the best bio departments of the top LACs.
@dhume98 In terms of intensity, the physics major probably takes the prize. Bio and biochemistry majors work hard, but I think physics major slog harder than everyone else. The physics major at Oxy is the most extensive major (16 classes required) and demands an incredible amount of time and dedication.
Just so you know, and I’m not disputing anything that was said about marine bio at Oxy - but Oxy is not near the beach. Sounds like they find their way there often enough, but Oxy is pretty far inland - like 45 minutes to an hour plus - and I don’t imagine students spend a whole lotta time at the ocean. Maybe not a big deal, just wanted to throw that in the mix.
@jesse’sgirl Oxy has several Vantuna Research Group trucks that the students & faculty use to commute to LA, Long Beach, and SD beaches. They also go down to Baja Cali now and then.
