occidental college international brochure
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Brochure for prospective international students or U.S. citizens who live abroadTRANSCRIPT
OccidentalCOLLEGE
of Los Angeles
for The World
Founded in 1887, Occidental College is one of the oldest colleges in southern
California. A private, coeducational, liberal arts institution with an enrollment
of 2,102 students, the College offers a unique combination of interdisciplinary
study, undergraduate research, community-based learning, and multicultural
perspectives. We hope the information and insights shared on the following
pages will entice you to explore further.
Oxy, as we are affectionately called, is not only in
Los Angeles, we are of Los Angeles. Our campus is
located on a wooded hillside eight miles northeast
of downtown in the community of Eagle Rock,
giving our students a suburban home just minutes
from the vibrant urban center of an international
city. In many ways, the College utilizes Los
Angeles and southern California as an extended
classroom. The Urban and Environmental Policy
Institute, Center for Community-Based Learning,
Film and Media Studies Program, and Cultural
Studies Seminars are just some examples of the
intersection between our curriculum and location.
If one wants to understand the value of the liberal arts, one need look no further than the stunning careers of Occidental’s two most famous students: Jack Kemp and Barack Obama. Both men dedicated their lives to public service. Both men were profoundly shaped by books and ideas—the taste for which was first acquired at Occidental.
– Occidental College President Jonathan Veitch
“
“
The vitality and diversity of Los Angeles
stimulates our students’ intellectual curiosity
and freedom, important products of a liberal
arts education.
Whether you are interested in politics, arts,
science, finance, public service or more, a
liberal arts education can be your best possible
preparation. The ability to learn how to learn, to
think critically, to communicate well, and to adapt
to change are vital for the world in which
we live. This is why students from around the
globe choose Occidental.
welcome to OccidentalCOLLEGE
welcome to
BArACk OBAmA 1979
…it is this spirit of engagement with a wider world that has always set Occidental College and its alumni apart. – Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles
“ “
academic life
At Oxy, students typically combine classroom
learning with field work, independent research,
internships, and off-campus study. How do they
navigate their experience? Faculty advisors are
assigned to students when they first arrive on
campus, and the Advising Center works closely
with students during their first two years. A dose
of curiosity and a penchant for adventure certainly
enhances the process.
The Core Program provides the intellectual
foundation for Occidental’s commitment to
excellence, equity, service, and community.
The first-year Cultural Studies Program
seminars comprise the centerpiece of the Core,
with their emphasis on writing, research, and
analysis. In addition, students participate in the
study of culture as embodied in the arts, sciences,
social sciences, and humanities with the ultimate
goal of developing “global literacy.” Students can
select a major in one of 29 programs, double
major, declare a minor, or pursue a self-designed
Independent Pattern of Study. Furthermore,
qualified students may cross-register at the nearby
California Institute of Technology and Art Center
College of Design. Also, all Oxy students are required
to complete “Senior Comps,” a comprehensive
examination or project in their chosen major.
American StudiesArt History and the Visual Arts Emphases: -Film and Media Studies -History of Art -Studio ArtBiochemistryBiology Emphases: - Cell and Molecular
Biology -Environmental Biology -Marine BiologyChemistry Chinese Studies
Classical Studies (minor only)
Cognitive Science Emphases: -Bioscience -Computation -Philosophy -PsychologyCritical Theory and Social Justice Diplomacy and World AffairsEast Asian StudiesEconomics Emphases: - Economics for Business
and Management -Mathematical Economics
Education (minor only)
English and Comparative Literary Studies French StudiesGeology Emphasis: -Environmental ScienceGerman Studies (minor only)
Group LanguageHistory Japanese StudiesKinesiology Latin American Studies (minor only)
MathematicsMusic
Philosophy PhysicsPoliticsPsychologyReligious Studies Russian Studies (minor only)
SociologySpanish StudiesTheater Urban and Environmental Policy
Academic Majors and Minors
maida Salkanovic ’13 As one of Oxy’s UWC Davis Scholars, Maida values the breadth of academic opportunities at the College. She’s currently pursuing a double major in psychology and group languages and names faculty from departments as varied as theater and German among her favorites. “It’s difficult to choose just one professor because all of them have been great, and I’m incredibly grateful for the knowledge, insights, and care they provided me with,” shares the native of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Topics in Culture Dialogue Series Hosted by Oxy’s International Programs Office, this interactive forum fosters in-depth discussion of issues related to cross-cultural adjustment. recent topics include: Race, Gender, and Sexuality Abroad; What is Cultural Immersion?; Global Nomads: When More than One Country is Home; and Crossing Cultures and the Arts.
research and collaboration
At Oxy, our small size fosters lasting relationships
between students and faculty. Professors regularly
share their experiences, time, and resources
to nurture students’ intellectual development.
Together, they establish an academic environment
that is simultaneously rigorous and collaborative.
“…small by choice, not by chance…” – Remsen Bird, former Occidental College
president, 1921–1945
Research is a fundamental part of an Occidental
education. Supported by the Undergraduate
Research Center (URC), research projects flourish
in every academic department. Funding up to
300 students throughout the academic year and
summer, the URC values innovative work that
fosters close faculty-students relationships.
“In our program, students work closely over
an extended time period in a mentor-protégé
relationship with individual faculty members
to investigate original research questions,”
says Chris Craney, professor of chemistry and
research mentor.
The 10-week Summer Research Program is a core
component of Oxy students’ research experience.
The program allows students to work side-by-side
with a faculty mentor, participate in weekly small-
group meetings, make a formal presentation, and
often have their work published. Earlier this year, 28
Oxy students presented their research findings at the
National Conference on Undergraduate Research,
more than UCLA, MIT, and Yale combined.
Additionally, Occidental maintains the highly
distinctive Richter Scholarship that enables
students to pursue fully-funded independent work
outside the U.S. during the summer. Hundreds
of Occidental students have benefitted from the
program by conducting projects in countries
ranging from Australia to Zambia.
Lik Hui Lim ’13 Drawn to Occidental by its location and diverse student body, Lik Hui boasts an eclectic group of best friends who hail from Korea, Gambia, Oklahoma, Milwaukee, and New York. While this native of Hong Kong found the diversity he was seeking, he also discovered much more.
“Occidental College provides students with the opportunities to study with some of the best professors in the nation, which leads to further achievements and success in life,” says Lik Hui. He points to his relationship with Wellington Chan, Occidental’s National Endowment for the Humanities Distinguished Professor of the Humanities emeritus. The internationally recognized economic historian not only taught Lik Hui in class but also mentored him in other aspects of life. In the spring, Lik Hui will intern at an accounting firm where he will gain hands-on experience in corporate taxes and finance. His future plans include earning an MBA degree and working in the field of management consulting or investment banking.
As an international student from Ethiopia, I wanted to attend a school that
would make me feel like I was at my “home away from home.” Occidental’s
small class sizes, close-knit student body, and great undergraduate research
resources were major factors behind my decision to attend the College. Oxy’s
location was also a major draw. Coming to the U.S. for the first time, I
wanted to be in a big city like Los Angeles where I would have access to other
social and educational resources. The generous scholarship I received also
made it possible to attend Oxy.
Oxy gave me everything I needed to prepare for
medical school. I had caring and
knowledgeable professors who I worked with closely to do well in my classes.
The small class sizes allowed me to work cooperatively with other students
and learn from them. Outside of the classroom, through the Undergraduate
Research Center, I was able to do research for two summers. I also had an
opportunity to take part in an international research project my junior year. My
advisor helped me tremendously in preparing research proposals and by mentoring
me throughout my time at Occidental. My time at Oxy was full of great memories. I was fortunate to work as the
international students’ liaison for three years which I enjoyed immensely, and I
was also the president of the International Students Organization. I played on
the soccer team my junior year, served on the advisory board for th
e Dean of
Students, and was as an alumni ambassador for Oxy. Most of all, I appreciate
the great friends I made and the close relationships I had with faculty and
staff with whom I still keep in contact.
If your experience is anything like mine, you will have a great time at Oxy. You
will receive an excellent education from professors who are deeply invested
in your success. You will be able to engage in various research and leadership
opportunities that will help you realize your strengths and explore new goals.
You will meet great people and make best friends. You will have fun and mature
as a person. Oxy, definitely, as I would like to call it, will be your “home away
from home”. – Hailu Tilahun, OXY ‘08
Harvard University Medical School ‘14
student life
With nearly 80 percent of all students living on
campus, Oxy’s residence halls serve as the center
of educational, cultural, and social activities.
Rangeview, the newest and largest residence, has
space for 274 students and boasts an underground
parking garage as well as a fitness center and
classrooms. The smallest of the 13 residential options
is Berkus House which is home to 27 women.
Wherever they live on campus, students look forward
to their weekly “hall spreads” as a welcome study
break and time to interact with fellow residents.
Hungry? Oxy offers several options to meet your
dietary needs and culinary preferences. The
Marketplace is the College’s primary dining facility and
offers food stations serving grilled entrees, stir-fried
dishes, deli specials, wood-fired pizza, made-to-order
pasta, and a salad bar. Vegetarian, vegan, and organic
options are always available. The nearby Tiger Cooler
is a favorite spot for lunch, late-night snacks, or just
hanging out between classes. The student-run Green
Bean Coffee Lounge is a popular gathering place
with plenty of caffeine, pastries, and even Saturday
morning cartoons. For a change of pace, students
can enjoy a banquet-style Saturday night dinner on
the second-story courtyard of Rangeview.
Before academic life officially begins at Oxy,
international students move in early and attend
activities hosted by the International Programs Office.
This provides a friendly venue for international
students to get acquainted and complete immigration
paperwork. Orientation for all new students begins
two days later and includes advisor meetings, class
registration, residence hall gatherings, and Los
Angeles excursions like Oxy night at a Dodgers
baseball game.
Once the school year begins, Oxy students engage
in a variety of clubs, athletics, and performing arts
groups, and regularly venture into the surrounding
neighborhoods of Eagle Rock, Pasadena, and Los
Angeles. Unlike other liberal arts colleges, Occidental
offers its students access to an incredible variety
of international communities within five minutes of
campus. The food, language, history, and culture
of nations from around the world abound in Los
Angeles, and form a rich setting for our students’
social and intellectual lives. Oxy currently has over 100 organizations and clubs including:
• Biology Club • Buddhist Meditation Club • Dance Production • Futbol Club • Future Business Leaders • Hillel • International Student Organization • InterVarsity Christian Fellowship • KOXY Radio • Occidental Ski and Snowboard Club • Rotaract Club • Social Change Club
mwahaki king ’12 fondly remembers the International Student Welcome BBQ she attended soon after arriving at Oxy. She values the friendships she formed with students who came from different countries yet shared and understood the major transition she was making by moving to America. “Being at school a few days early was tremendously beneficial in terms of logistics and jetlag,” she adds. Now, Mwahaki, who was raised in both England and Jamaica, is active in numerous cultural organizations and recently organized a campus-wide dance featuring popular music from around the world. As vice president of the International Students Organization, Mwahaki also plans excursions to cultural events and ethnic restaurants in Los Angeles that highlight the city’s diversity.
“Occidental students out-perform applicants from other colleges. Graduate schools and employers continually inform me that our students’ ability to think critically helps them excel early on the job and in graduate studies. multicultural competencies, outstanding written and oral communication skills, and critical thinking—these are our students’ strengths; these are what define Occidental’s liberal arts education.” – Valerie Savior ’85, director, Career Development Center
Rather than a question left unanswered for four years, “Life after
Oxy?” is a dynamic concept explored by students throughout
their time on campus. The College helps students build skills,
acquire knowledge, and experience vocational pathways through
an array of services. Beginning in their first year, students join
professionally related clubs, attend workshops, and meet with
Career Development Center (CDC) staff to consider career
choices. The CDC offers programs year-round, including interview
and resume-writing workshops, on- and off-campus internship
placement, job recruitment, graduate school information sessions,
and several alumni networking events. Naturally, students rely on
their professors’ advice and professional connections as well.
The College ranks among the top 10 percent of liberal arts
colleges whose graduates have earned PhDs. Since 1980, more
than 630 graduates have attended medical and dental school.
Many others choose law, business, public policy, and education,
attending programs at internationally recognized institutions such
as Columbia, UCLA, Stanford, USC, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and
the University of Chicago.
life after Oxy
Recent Internship Examples
• City of Hope • DreamWorks • Fox Sports News • The Getty Art Institute • Huntington Medical
Research Institute • The Mark Taper Forum
• Merrill Lynch• Morgan Stanley• Nestle• Paramount Pictures• Roche Pharmaceuticals• Ticketmaster• UCLA Medical Center
U.S. President Barack Obama ’83 invited
Roger Boesche, Occidental’s Arthur G. Coons
Distinguished Professor in the History of Ideas,
to the White House last year. “He announced
to the room that ‘Professor Boesche taught me
everything I know about politics.’ And then he
added with a laugh, ‘But he gave a me a ‘B’
on a paper!’” recalls Boesche. The two laughed
and reminisced before Obama offered these
parting words to his former professor:
“You’re a great teacher and an inspiration.”
admission and financial aid
Applying to OccidentalOccidental is committed to admitting and enrolling
a highly qualified and diverse student body. To
that end, the admission committee evaluates each
applicant individually and holisitcally, taking into
account the various educational systems world-wide.
International students in the Class of 2014 came
from 15 different countries as far as Botswana and
as near as Canada. For all applicants, academic
preparation is paramount. We will closely examine
your transcript, focusing on your performance and
course rigor. We also give serious consideration
to personal qualities such as motivation, curiosity,
leadership ability, and distinctive talents. Your
personal statement, extracurricular activities, and
letters of recommendation offer us insight into
these areas.
Whether you are applying as a first-year or transfer
student, the following materials must be submitted
by the appropriate application deadline along with a
non-refundable application processing fee of $60*:
• Common Application
• Occidental College Supplement to the Common Application
• SAT I or ACT scores (waived for transfer applicants who graduated from high school more than five years ago)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if your native language is not English (waived for students receiving a score of 600 or higher on the SAT I Critical Reading section)
• Certification of Finances Form (required of all international applicants regardless of whether they will apply for financial aid or not; a bank statement alone is not sufficient)
* All international students living outside the U.S. must pay by money order. Students for whom the fee is a significant financial burden may submit a fee waiver form or a letter from a school official explaining the hardship.
For more than 90 years, students from around the world have come to study at
Occidental. International students are an essential part of the College’s dynamic
community. Any student who currently does not have U.S. citizenship or permanent
residency status (green card) is considered an international applicant.
Please visit http://www.oxy.edu/x10379.xml for the College’s complete and most current application requirements.
Application Deadlines and Fees
First-year Applicants Due Date Decision Mailed Early Decision I * November 15 Mid-December Early Decision II* January 3 Early February Regular Decision January 10 Late March
Transfer Applicants Regular Decision March 15
* Early Decision is a binding commitment under
which applicants agree to enroll at Occidental
upon their admission to the College. International
students applying for financial aid may not apply
through an Early Decision process as we will
need to review all applications prior to awarding
international student scholarships.
Financial Aid for International StudentsFinancial aid and scholarships are available for a
limited number of international students. Need-
based aid amounts vary according to each student’s
financial situation, but may cover up to the full
cost of an Occidental education. Scholarships are
awarded according to both merit and financial
need, and are given to those students who have
demonstrated a balance of outstanding academic
achievement and extra-curricular engagement
throughout high school.
If you would like to be considered for financial aid,
please complete the International Student Financial
Aid Application (ISFA) and explain any unusual
financial circumstances in the space provided on
the Certification of Finances (COF). Both forms are
available at our international applicant website,
http://www.oxy.edu/x10379.xml, and should be
submitted to the Office of Admission.
Contact us:Occidental CollegeOffice of Admission1600 Campus RoadLos Angeles, CA 90041(323) 259-2700 phone(323) 341-4875 faxwww.oxy.edu
International admission coordinator:
Laura Tokuza, Assistant Dean of [email protected]
Approximate Costs (based on 2010-2011)
Tuition and Fees $40,939
Room and Board $11,360
Books and Supplies $1,116
Total: $53,415
Oxy at a Glance• Founded in 1887• Motto: Occidens Proximus Orienti (The West is Nearest the East)• 2,102 students• 57% women, 43% men• Origin of students:
42 states, the District of Columbia, and 26 foreign countries• Full-time faculty: 170• Student-faculty ratio: 10:1• Average class size: 16• Academic majors and minors: 34• Students living on campus: 80%• Varsity athletic teams: 21• Clubs and student organizations: 101
OccidentalCOLLEGEwww.oxy.edu
2010 –11