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Applications to Occidental Set New Record - Again

As of February 7, Occidental had received 4,121 applications, up 15 percent from the record total of 3,574 at the same time last year. Compared to the same date five years ago, the number of first-year students seeking admission to Occidental has soared 133 percent.

“In my 30-year admission career, I’ve never seen anything like this – anywhere,” said Bill Tingley, vice president of admission and financial aid, whose resume includes stints at Stanford, Whitman and Pitzer colleges, and UC Santa Cruz.

“I’m often asked why. I think it’s because more and more students have recognized that Oxy is truly distinctive. It combines the advantages of a small residential liberal arts college -- superb faculty, a demanding curriculum, a diverse student body from 44 states and 26 countries -- with the extraordinary resources of one of the world’s great cities,” Tingley said.

Based on the buzz among college counselors at high schools across the country, the Wall Street Journal and the Kaplan/Newsweek “How to Get Into College” guide both named Occidental as one of the country’s hottest colleges last fall.

Transfer student applications for fall 2002 are not due until March 15. Transfer applications have increased 41 percent over the past five years, and admission officials said they expect that upward trend to continue.

Last year, 47 percent of those who applied were offered admission -- what was believed to be the lowest admit rate ever at Occidental. Approximately 445 slots are open for the Class of 2006.

In addition to SAT scores and senior class ranking, Occidental’s holistic approach assesses other indications of academic promise, from the rigor of the student applicant’s academic program and teacher recommendations to the contributions the applicant can make to life outside the classroom and in the community.