<p>Despite an apparent disadvantage in per-student spending, Occidental is one of the most generous LACs in the country with student-research stipends.</p>
<p>Given all the higher ed variables, and the range of elements included in the measure, higher per-student spending does not necessarily equal a better education or student experience.</p>
<p>Another thread that's devolved into an endowment size contest. With the usual suspects.</p>
<p>Oxy's a quality school that offers a great education. It doesn't have the rear car window status of some schools on this board that have the most vocal, and often times elitist, posters/supporters. Isn't that what most of the posts on here are really about?</p>
<p>It's a great school.</p>
<p>Other than Pomona and Harvey Mudd, few on the East Coast have ever heard of any of the other Clarement Colleges, but they've heard of Oxy.</p>
<p>No Kelly, it is not ONLY about endowment size; it is about selectivity which can be objectively measured and a few other subjective matters. There are differences between Oxy and the Claremont schools. My point was and still is that an astute parent should be able to ascertain those differences without too many difficulties. This can go a long way about debunking some myths such as the ones related to the superior need based financial aid available at Oxy and the inflated SAT scores. </p>
<p>As far as being "heard of" ... that is the usual plight of almost every LAC in the country, especially outside its geographical scope. However, I believe that, when it comes to the appropriate circles where KNOWING the school is more important than merely "HAVING HEARD" of it, your conclusion is hardly supported by evidence, except for mere anedoctal references. After all, not every school can be named after a brand of petroleum or miracle detergent and compete with Colgate for brand recognition! :D</p>
<p>If we are doing to devolve to derogaton based on college names--I would say in Oxy's defense that I am fairly sure it was named by the Princetonian founders as an "occidental" (as in the original cartographical meaning of "western") college because they were wanting to bring west a kind of education then more available in the east ("oriental") </p>
<p>The petroleum company and the nicknamed soap product came along later and probably have no alum connection......</p>
<p>I think Xiggi was joking about the Occidental/Colgate name brand recognition.</p>
<p>Yes, I was indeed joking. I assumed it would be obvious to most that Occidental was founded about 40 years before the humble start of Occidental Petroleum. If not, the reference to Colgate should have given it away, as Colgate was founded in the early 1800s. Of course, Colgate toothpaste is older than Occidental College AND Occidental Petroleum. :) <------- Smiling smilie included!</p>
<p>So, what are the appropriate circles, and why is it important that they, KNOW rather than merely HAVE HEARD of certain places? What makes someone appropriate and in the know?</p>
<p>Okay, let me rephrase:</p>
<p>Other than Pomona and Harvey Mudd, few on the East Coast KNOW of any of the other Clarement Colleges, but they KNOW of Oxy.</p>
<p>As for evidence, I bet if you handed a survey out to high school seniors and their parents out here, the results would support my anecdotal references. Claremont McKenna, Scripps, and Pitzer would draw long, very long, blank stares from even highly educated people out here. True what you say about LACs in general, but those three, out here, suffer more from that problem. That doesn't make them bad schools, it just makes them hidden gems.</p>
<p>FresnoMom
Check Studentsreview.</p>
<p>Actually CMC is becoming more amd more known to the general public as it rises. I have noone at CMC so I am not being biased. Many actually know of CMC and have not heard of Pomona. It is the grad schools and employees that matter. Many well-educated people know of schools in their radar. Occidental is certainly gaining in recognition but no more so then CMC or Scripps. The school is still very small , though excellent and the Claremonts have the benefit of the consortium . I would personally have been thrilled if my D picked Occidental . Just my .02 worth</p>
<p>Quote:
Simply one of the most well-rounded colleges you will ever find. Academics are excellent and challenging, and professors are always willing to help during their office hours. Student body is great for a private college (Friendly, highly diverse, and most people aren't arrogant or stuck up like at most private institutions). The school prides itself on this greatly. Campus has a beautiful, spanish style flair to its archetecture, sort of like Stanford.
Social Life at Oxy is pretty good for a small college. Residence Halls are nice and well-maintained, with rooms going from small to spacious (Newcomb Hall). Each weekend, the college throws some kind of campus-wide party that many people on campus go to (Ex. Halloween, Toga Night, Splatter, Love on the Beach). Other than this, people usually hang with their buddies and get drunk (although campus safety really tries to clamp down on this). L.A. is a great place to have fun as a college student, just bring or find someone who has a car since you can't go far without one. However, the college has what's called a Bengal Bus, which can take you to a couple of places (Old town Pasadena, Glendale Galleria, and occaisonally Universal City Walk). Burbank, Santa Monica, Hollywood, UCLA, and USC are also great places to hang out. Lastly, don't feel pressured into joining a fraternity or sorority, since only 10% of the students here are involved in Greek Life. </p>
<p>The only complaint I have about Oxy is the issues regarding the administration. Some students have complained about a lack of funding for clubs, and the athletic facilities on campus are mediocre, with the exception of the track and football field, both of which are execellent. To give the administration credit, they are building a new olympic size pool, a new residence hall, and eventually a new a fitness Center (The current weight room is god awful). Part of the problem is that the college is trying to recover from near bankrupcy about 6 or 7 years ago, due to the controversy associated with diversifying the school (The old, WASPY, racist alumni from the 50's, 60's, and 70's weren't too happy about this), and at the same time spending a lot of money to upgrade the campus. In a way, I can't really blame them for trying to pocket as much money as possible. Also, the college tries to hard to push their political agenda on the students. The ideas of diversity and multiculturism are literally shoved down our throats, and the P.C. atmosphere of the campus can seem stifling at times (and I'm even saying this as a democrat). Conservative views aren't really accepted, so the conservatives on campus are quiet for the most part. If you can get by these two minor issues, you'll be ok.
Campus dining is pretty good. We usually have a good selection of food, and the pasta bar at the Marketplace is excellent. The only problem with Campus dining is the inflexibility of hours on the weekends for the market place and tiger cooler (If you miss dinner, you may have to go off campus to eat). There are some good fast food spots in Eagle Rock, and the resturaunts are ok too.
Another thing to add: The music and choral programs here are also top notch. Our glee club is considered one of the best in the entire country. The football team and basketball teams here are excellent, both making the elite 8 in their respective sports the past 2 years. </p>
<p>Overall, Oxy has a bright future ahead of it. I can definately see this college as being ranked in the top 20 or 25 liberal arts colleges over the next 10 to 15 years. If you're considering to apply to places like UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Pomona college, Claremont Mckenna College, or the Ivies, apply here. You won't be disappointed by the educaion you get here, and you might even get a nice merit scholorship, which definately makes it worth it to come here.</p>
<p>Does negotiating work?</p>
<p>Negotiating does work, but only under particular circumstances. But at schools like Oxy, they want to make sure that their nets yield the best class possible, and sometimes, that means sweetening the packages for certain students. It should be noted that negotiation will not work for the Ivy league/State Colleges, because these schools tend to give fin aid based solely on need, but athletes are the exception to the rule. I know that Oxy will give serious money to the best students or the most financially needy, but once in a blue moon, the fin aid office creates a package that may not meet the needs of a student. So, if you feel that you will endure extreme financial hardship with the current package offered and Oxy truly is your first choice, I would kindly approach the fin aid office to discuss the possibility of increasing the amount. Keep in mind that if any thing occurs that significantly impacts your family's financial situation, contact the school immediately, and they will revise the aid offer. </p>
<p>There's one caveat though. If you want to negotiate, you have to be a competative student. This means that other top schools want you, too. Your chances for increasing your aid will jump ten fold if you were admitted into an Ivy league, or top 25 University/College. If you are a borderline admit w/o other offers, it becomes much more difficult. </p>
<p>So if you believe that Oxy's fin aid package is the only thing keeping you from committing and you genuinely need that increase in aid, bring your other offers (Ivy League/Top 25) along with lots of enthusiasm with you during open house. Who knows, an adjustment could be made in your favor.</p>
<p>Quote from the site</p>
<p>The Sciences at Occidental
If youre a scientist or are thinking about medicine, the professors at Occidental will not only give you a rigorous education, theyll give you the support you need. You really get something special there.
(Cullen Taniguchi 98, Rhodes Scholar, M.D./Ph.D. student, Harvard University)</p>
<p>We are in the top 10 percent of private undergraduate institutions whose alumni receive doctorates in the sciences. Our students consistently fare well in competitions for fellowships and scholarships and go on to attend some of the top graduate schools in science and medicine.</p>
<p>Over the past decade, our science students have won 12 NSF Graduate Fellowships, 21 Goldwater Scholarships, and eight Beckman Scholarships.
Over the past 20 years, we have sent 570 graduates to medical or dental school.
Our alumni now attend graduate programs at Caltech, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Berkeley, and Stanford.</p>
<p>Ironically, even though Oxy is in LA and Pomona more suburban, the intensity of smog can be worse in Claremont because of how being further inland and in relation to the mountains affects microclimates. It can be bad in both places realistically--but my experience (growing up in southern California and attending Oxy) is that you were better off closer to the coast. I also agree with the previous post about student access. Oxy has always done a fairly good job of having a transport system that helps students without cars have access to the city and surrounds.</p>
<p>"The archetecture is strictly spanish style."</p>
<p>No. You have no understanding of architecture.
There are doric columns for the theatre and corrinthian columns in other parts of the campus that I saw. There is a great greek influence in many of the edifices. Is there spanish, yes, but it is in no way strictly spanish architecture. </p>
<p>I am sorry I had to catch you on that, but one of the reasons I found Oxy to be such a beautiful campus was the greek influence found in the campus.</p>