For Parents & Families

Getting into college can seem overwhelming, especially for parents. We’re here to reassure you.

You've been a huge part of your child's journey and supportive in countless ways. While it's ultimately up to your child to take ownership of the college process, getting into and affording college may bring up questions for the whole family.

Learn more about our application process and financial aid to begin answering those questions. You can also see what programs and resources are available to the parents and family members of current Oxy students.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out—admission and financial aid officers are always happy to chat with parents and families. Prospective families are also invited to watch our virtual panel, "Occidental College: An Introduction for the Parents & Families of Prospective Students," led by our Senior Associate Dean of Admission & Director of Volunteer Relations and Campus Visit Experiences, Courtney Stricklin Burgan '03! See below.

Ask an Oxy Parent

The college search process is not just about choosing a place to study, it's about the relationships that your student will build during their four years on campus. Oxy prides itself on its dynamic, engaged and passionate community, and we’re excited to introduce you to some of our most engaged parent volunteers.

Each of the parents below has made themselves available to connect with prospective family members and candidly answer any questions you might have about the Oxy experience. They’ve been in your position before and are ready to be a resource for you as you support your own student now. They’re looking forward to hearing from you, so don’t hesitate to reach out by email.

Nick & Heather Stanley

Parents of: Max Stanley '25
Student Majors: Diplomacy & World Affairs and Economics
Hometown: Savannah, GA
Contact Heather

Max has loved every aspect of Oxy Life! He has developed wonderful, life-long relationships with friends from around the country both through campus life and playing for the Oxy Men’s Soccer team. Playing for Oxy is like having another family away from home and has truly enhanced his experience at Oxy. Max thoroughly enjoys his majors and close relationship with his professors and Oxy staff, who even take the time to watch his games. One of the reasons Max chose Oxy was due to its prestigious, academic reputation and as a duel major, he has found it both fulfilling and challenging. Additionally, living in LA has enriched his experience with opportunities for surfing, adventure, culture and future careers. Occidental is the whole package. Go Tigers!

Stephanie Steinhaus

Parent of: Mia Steinhaus-Shinkman '23
Student Majors: Economics & Computer Science
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Contact Stephanie

Occidental is nimble, warm, rigorous, diverse, creative and transparent. The Yiddish word haimish comes to mind, meaning essentially "something that offers a warm and cozy feeling." Add to that the ways in which Oxy builds the best of Los Angeles into their curriculum, and you have a gem hiding in plain sight. My family's affection for Oxy grows with each interaction. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Oxy parent and sibling flank graduating Oxy student wearing graduation cap, with Gilman Fountain in background

Christine Morgan Seeley '92

Parent of: Madeleine Seeley ’21 & Gabrielle Seeley ‘24
Student Majors: Madeleine, Psychology major, Sociology minor. Gabrielle, Cognitive Science
Hometown: Bellevue, WA
Contact Christine

My daughters both chose Oxy for the small class sizes, accessibility of professors and the welcoming campus community. They love the benefits of a small school with the many opportunities that the vibrant, diverse city of Los Angeles offers.

Juan Fidel Larrañaga '95

Parent of: Joaquín Larrañaga '23 & Liliana Larrañaga '26
Student Majors: Computer Science and pre-med
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Contact Juan

I support OCLAA (Occidental College Latino/Latina Alumni Association). During my time as an Oxy student, joining Oxy MEChA was a natural choice and it provided me with a sense of comfort and belonging. Having MEChA and friends from Oxy Abroad while I studied in México provided me with a natural network of friends. I fondly remember living on campus and making new, lasting friendships. I worked at the old Cooler and the library. I also participated in rugby. My major was Math.

Maureen McHale

Parent of: Wallace “TJ” Hastings '27
Student major: Biology
Student minor: Urban & Environmental Policy
Hometown: Pacific Palisades, CA
Contact Maureen

My son has had a great first semester at Oxy. I genuinely think a small liberal arts college has so many benefits, and I believe that Oxy is a treasure here in LA. I say this as a UCLA alum and USC employee and as a parent whose child originally thought he wanted a big school but by the end of the search eventually realized that he preferred a smaller school. I’m so glad I trusted the process and his final decision.

Meghan & Isaac-Daniel Astrachan

Parents of: Aidhan Farley Astrachan '25
Student major: Theatre
Hometown: New York City
Contact Meghan & Isaac-Daniel

Aidhan is enjoying his time at Oxy, in and out of the classroom. He has made a great group of friends that we also enjoy hanging out with. Happy child = happy parents.

Peter & Jill Anzalone

Parents of: Matthew Anzalone '22, Leila Anzalone '24, and Mia Anzalone '24
Student Major: Matthew, Economics with a minor in Japanese; Leila, Critical Theory & Social Justice; Mia, Sociology.
Hometown: Kailua, Hawaii
Contact Peter
Contact Jill

Having three kids at Oxy at the same time, we feel like we've gotten to know the school well over the last few years. Our son, Matthew '22, just graduated in May. He was offered a job with Cambridge Associates in San Francisco during the fall before he graduated, and we feel a lot has to do with his experiences at Oxy - from the academic curricula, playing on the men's soccer team, being involved with the Hawaii Club and especially the close relationships he formed with peers and professors at the school. All of these experiences resulted in tremendous growth over his 4 years at Oxy. Our daughters, Leila and Mia '24, are studying abroad in Rome this semester. The Oxy International Programs Office has been so organized, and their transition to their study abroad program has been smooth and worry free, from academics, housing and even internships while in Rome (Mia is at an art gallery/museum, and Leila is at an international law firm). Last year was their first year on campus because of Covid, and it was so easy for them to get involved and active in campus life, with Leila working at the Writing Center and Mia at the newspaper. We've been so happy to be an Oxy family!

Kam Mar-Havill '84

Parent of: Ian Havill '28
Student major: Computer Science
Hometown: Rowland Heights, CA
Contact Kam

Both Ian and I were drawn to Oxy for its beautiful campus, intimate class sizes, and the opportunity to build strong relationships with both faculty and peers. We also loved its peaceful atmosphere and the vibrant array of community programs and activities, along with exciting opportunities like study abroad, research and internships. I was surprised and thrilled when Ian chose to follow in my footsteps. We've already started comparing my Oxy experience from the '80s with his experience today. While some things have stayed the same, we've found that many aspects of Oxy have evolved, taking the experience to a whole new level. I'm excited to see how Ian’s journey at Oxy unfolds over the next four years.

Yuri Takenaka

Parent of: Kenji Lordan '28
Student major: Undeclared
Hometown: Pepperell, MA
Contact Yuri

With so many wonderful opportunities across the country, our son had a strong desire to study in California where he would be exposed to new cultures and experiences. Although the road to selecting a college felt long, we are happy that our child expressed an interest in Occidental so early and ultimately selected the college that best fit his personality. We feel that Occidental provided different ways to experience the campus. We are grateful that we could connect via webinars, meet with alumni, visit the campus, and talk with parents in VISTA. From the time he stepped on campus, we have observed our son engage in his education, pursue interests outside the classroom, and build relationships and friendships in a short period of time.

Caroline & Kurosh Moassessi

Parents of: Leila Moassessi '25
Student Major: Diplomacy & World Affairs
Hometown: Reno, NV
Contact Caroline

As parents of a current Oxy senior, we have witnessed our daughter Leila's critical and heart-warming growth. But we know this was not accidental, instead by design! Oxy provides a strong base for students to explore and discover themselves as individuals and budding academics. Leila joined the Oxy Tigers as an athlete, playing golf on the Women's Golf team, but has expanded in unexpected ways, from co-founding Oxy's K-Tigers K-pop Dance club to currently co-leading the Middle Eastern and North African Students Association. We are in awe of how engaging and accessible Leila's professors have been in advising, guiding her, and encouraging her academic and interpersonal growth. She enjoys her on-campus job as a Senior Office Assistant and Event Coordinator at the Center for Community-Based Learning and professors as much as her friend group - well, maybe they are a close second! She has grown from a curious first-year student to a young woman engaging in leadership with an exciting job awaiting her upon graduation. We are beyond grateful for all Oxy has offered our daughter since these experiences and her education will carry her through her college gap year job before graduate school and all the years to come.

Jeremy Hamlett and Araceli Naranjo Hamlett '99

Parents of: Isabel Hamlett '28
Student Major: Biology
Hometown: Alhambra, CA
Contact

Considering that Araceli is a proud alum, and that Jeremy is a proud former employee at Oxy, we are both extremely proud and excited that Izzy will be able to experience the supportive and welcoming community that exists at Oxy. We know these years will be formative, special, and rewarding for her! Even in these few short months, we have seen the growth and development in Izzy. Oxy is truly a safe and inclusive place that fosters student development and personal growth.

For Parents & Families

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