I love oxy!

Introduction
Choose Occidental College if you'd like a small, close-knit campus, with a very politically active and talented student body. Oxy students are very vocal about their opinions, and the newly formed major in "Critical Theory and Social Justice" reflects this.
Stay away if you are insensitive about race, sexuality, or class issues.

Campus Life and Social Life
Being a smaller campus, Occidental makes up for it with school-sponsered parties almost every weekend. Some of the campus favorites are "Sex on the Beach," "Winter Formal," and "Casino Night". There is always something cool happening on campus such as speakers, visiting musicians, sports games, religious services (various), and off-campus house parties, as well as all of Los Angeles! Advertisement
Academics
Occidental is known especially for its strong Diplomacy and World Affairs program that sends several students to the United Nations for Internships during their senior year. The science programs including Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry and also very strong programs and a high percentage of pre-med students are accepted to medical school.

The Music Dept, although small, has amazing faculty and one of the nation's best choirs, the Occidental Glee Club. The choir has sung at the American Choral Directors Association (Western Division), and travels internationally and all over the U.S.

In terms of the professors, most are friendly and available for office hours. Basically, don't expect to get away with bad study habits: the teachers usually grade for participation and if you don't do your homework or come to class, they will notice and guilt-trip you. The close contact with professors (95% of classes are taught by people with PhD's), really helps with grad school recommendations. At Occidental, many students are easily able to get involved with research (which is also heavily encouraged)/

Student Body
The student body is extremely diverse (ethnically, economically, religiously, culturally). I think that there are definitely some cliques, but its easy at Occidental College to cross those boundaries and learn different views and lifestyles. I would say that people here are pretty open minded and liberal.
The more onservative students may have a difficult time fitting in here

In Closing...
Occidental College has been an amazing experience.