Occidental College
- Inside Scoop

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Inside Scoop

Quick Stats

School Slang
  • The Cooler: Another name for the Tiger Cooler, the coffeehouse/hangout located in Samuelson Pavilion.
  • The Fountain/Star Trek Fountain: Refers to the famous fountain at the entrance to the College.
  • Hell mornings: Any morning where you have to wake up for the dreaded 8:30 a.m. class.
  • The Marketplace: The main eating establishment at Oxy, located in the Johnson Student Center.
  • Oxy: The most important campus slang. Never call it Occidental, everyone will think you know nothing about the school.
  • Oxy Grapevine: The famous Oxy gossip network that everyone is a part of.
  • RA: Resident advisors, students who monitor and take care of the other students in their dorm.
  • Stewie Beach: Popular place on the upper side of campus where people hang out, tan, and play volleyball, Frisbee, or other games.
  • TT Time: The time after 9 p.m. when every place to eat is closed but the famous Taco Trucks.
Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming To School
  • Always get to know your professors, and try not to be shy- ask them for help!
  • Be nice to your RAs.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask any question that pops into your mind.
  • Don’t worry about your prerequisites right away, especially if you haven’t decided on a major. Take classes that interest you, then worry about core requirements.
  • Get a routine down early or you’ll won't sleep right all semester.
  • It’s okay not to have a major picked out right away.
Tips to Succeed
  • Don’t wait for things to come to you; they never will.
  • Eat well.
  • Get a lot of sleep.
  • Get involved with anything that interests you.
  • Go to as many orientation events as possible. You’ll learn a lot and meet new people.
  • It’s okay to admit you’re wrong.
  • It’s okay to defend yourself when you think you’re right.
  • Know your limits.
  • Talk to your professors as much as possible.
  • Try new things! If it scares you, do it twice!
See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

Occidental Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Inside Scoop at Occidental College

mariana0127

History '12

5.0
A+

Community

There is a great sense of community that sets us apart from other schools. A lot of commitment to making sure we have clear after college goals.

Nov 28, 2011

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Inside Scoop at Occidental College

sutcher

Economics '11

4.6
A

Setting

Great mix of on and off campus life. Directly in the middle of a great city with plenty of things to do both on and off campus. Plethora of stimulating and interesting academic programs such as our own on-campus investing team: the Blythe Fund.

Jan 13, 2011

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Inside Scoop at Occidental College

oxy2014

International Studies and Government '14

4.6
A

If You Want Small and Urban, Oxy's Perfect

Most of Oxy's biggest advantages and greatest detriments come from the fact that it is small and in L.A. The size allows access to professors that is unmatched in any bigger school and because Oxy is solely undergraduates, it is the undergrads that do the research. The academics here are challenging but if you feel yourself falling behind your professors are there to help you. In the same way, one of my favorite parts about Oxy is the intense feeling of community. Maybe it's the sunny Californian weather, but even with exams and papers and grants to do people here are happy. Granted, I'm a fairly outgoing person, but everywhere I go on campus I find someone I know. Still, the smallness has its drawbacks as you constantly run into your various hookups from the weekends past in the Marketplace or the library. Additionally, there are parties here every weekend if you want them, but we definitely don't have the social scene of say...USC. But people don't come to Oxy for the parties. The location is great...if you have a car. Eagle Rock itself is sort of lacking in things to do,but it has AMAZING food. But pretty much everything else requires a drive. But within an hour or so you can find yourself at the beach, in the mountains, or at Disneyland and Oxy professors take advantage of this.

Nov 28, 2010

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User rating for Occidental College - Inside Scoop is 4.6 out of 5 based on 4 user reviews.

Facts

Traditions
  • : Oxy has a long-standing tradition of throwing someone into the fountain for their birthday. Many people get together and plan the kidnapping and transportation of the victim, and it’s considered a large compliment to the person being thrown in when there are a lot of people there to do it. When they do find the person on his or her birthday, they capture them, drive or walk them down to the fountain, and throw them into two feet of water.
  • : At the end of every semester, freshmen congregate to burn their papers from their core classes.
  • : Sex on the Beach is a long-standing tradition. For over 20 years, the Residence Life staff of Stewart Cleland Hall puts on the party, usually with help from others on the upper side of campus. Sex on the Beach was named one of the 10 best college parties by Playboy magazine and continues to this day.
Urban Legends There are supposedly ghosts in both the library and Newcomb Hall. The ones in the library are said to have scared one student who was trapped in the library after it closed so badly that his hair went white and he lost his vision.

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