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.

Laura (Westman) Canavan '88

Parent of: Reed Canavan '23
Student Major: Urban and Environmental Policy
Hometown: Petaluma, CA
Contact Laura

Being an Oxy parent is like coming home for me since I also attended Oxy and graduated in 1988. It has been such a joy to experience the college through my son's eyes now and watch him build the friendships and bonds that I did when I was there. Io Triumphe!

Emory Oeding

Parent of: Sam Oeding '23
Student Majors: Economics
Hometown: Portland, OR
Contact Emory

Oxy has an amazingly warm and welcoming vibe, students are known and supported both in and out of the classroom, and the faculty are passionate, thoughtful and caring. Sam loves it!

Stephanie Steinhaus

Parent of: Mia Steinhaus-Shinkman '23
Student Major: 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
Student Majors: Computer Science
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. I also participated in rugby, which was a good opportunity for me to be fit and to practice football and track skills that I'd harnered in high school. Having MEChA and friends from Oxy Abroad while I studied in México provided me with a natural network of friends as well. I have fond memories of living on campus and making new, lasting friendships.

Sarah Streitz

Parent of: Neython Lec Streitz '23
Student Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Bloomington, MN
Contact Sarah

Neython loves the diversity of the campus, the small class sizes (all of his classes have been smaller than his high school classes), and especially playing on the Oxy Men's Soccer team. He often shares what he is learning or poses a thought provoking question that makes me feel as though I am also an Oxy student.

Amy Gammill

Parent of: James Gammill '23
Student Major: Economics
Hometown: Shorewood, MN
Contact Amy

Oxy is a rich assembly of thoughtful people who clearly want to contribute to the betterment of the world, and hold fast to doing what is right even when it’s difficult. And from our first campus visit, James and I felt wrapped in the “warm fuzzies” and friendliness of the students and staff.

Grey Staples '86

Parent of: Emmy Staples '22
Student Major: Psychology
Hometown: Mendota Heights, MN
Contact Grey

As a parent, we have truly enjoyed how Oxy and the Oxy community have enriched Emmy’s life. The close relationships with other students, staff, and professors the school fosters have nurtured her development and helped orient her to life after Oxy. That Oxy is an enclave, nestled within the larger LA environment, has only added to the available experiences and opportunities. Oxy was a great choice.

Dianne & Vincent Ventresca

Parents of: Benjamin Ventresca '22
Student Major: Economics
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Contact Diane
Contact Vincent

When our son, Benjamin, toured the campus, he remembered the students all seemed happy, and he felt at home immediately. Occidental’s beautiful campus is small enough to feel intimate but large enough to feel sprawling. Benjamin made new friends quickly by hanging out in the quad and throwing a frisbee; lounging on blankets and eating together in the MP (The Marketplace.). It’s this sense of community that has made us proud to be an Oxy family.

Peter & Jill Anzalone

Parents of: Matthew Anzalone '22, Leila Anzalone '24, and Mia Anzalone '24
Student Major: Matthew, Economics major, Japanese minor. Leila and Mia, Undeclared.
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!

Paul Sachs

Parent of: Samuel Sachs '21 & Nathan Sachs '23
Student Major: Sam, Geology major. Nathan, Diplomacy & World Affairs major.
Hometown: Tacoma, WA
Contact Paul

Our family has had two young men attend Occidental College. We were very impressed with the research opportunities when our oldest son, Sam began in the fall of 2017. Sam became a Geology major and did research with his professor in the summer of 2018 in Iceland. He continued to work on that research throughout his Oxy career. Students can find research with many professors at Occidental College. Sam graduated Occidental College with a degree in Geology and he began a masters of landscape architecture at the University of Washington in the fall of 2022. The work that Sam did with the geology department at Occidental College enabled him to have a better understanding of the coursework for landscape architecture.

Nathan, our youngest son, began studying at Occidental in the fall of 2019. He is having an incredible experience and is a Diplomacy and world affairs major. Nathan‘s time at Occidental has been colored by the Covid pandemic. We were very impressed with how Occidental handled Covid and kept the students learning with the many restrictions that occurred. Nathan deferred studying abroad until the first semester of his senior year. Occidental College made sure that he was able to study abroad even though it was not in his third year. Our family is so happy that both boys chose to attend Occidental College.

Paula Ramey-Perez

Parent of: Isabel C Perez, '23
Student Major: Biology Pre-Med, Spanish minor
Hometown: Austin, TX
Contact Paula

I am a happy Oxy parent because Isabel found the perfect educational fit for her undergraduate education. Oxy provides a well-rounded education in a dynamic environment that is diverse, supportive, and collaborative. Isabel has had the honor of working in the pathogenesis lab for the second year and talks passionately about the experience strengthening her critical thinking abilities, problem solving skills and more importantly solidified Isabel’s passion for STEM. I have watched her self-confidence bloom and I am grateful Isabel has had access at the undergraduate level for the research opportunity and amazing professors.

Oxy Families: Prospective Parent Panel

Current Oxy parents answer questions from prospective families about how their students are supported at Oxy and share ways that they engage with the Oxy community as family members of a Tiger.

For Parents & Families

Ask an Oxy Parent

Oxy Families: Prospective Parent Panel

Follow Oxy:

Popular Search