瓜子TV

For Parents & Families

Getting into college can seem overwhelming, especially for parents. We鈥檙e 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 瓜子TV students.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out鈥攁dmission and financial aid officers are always happy to chat with parents and families. Prospective families are also invited to watch our virtual panel, "瓜子TV: 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 瓜子TV 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. 瓜子TV prides itself on its dynamic, engaged and passionate community, and we鈥檙e 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 瓜子TV experience. They鈥檝e been in your position before and are ready to be a resource for you as you support your own student now. They鈥檙e looking forward to hearing from you, so don鈥檛 hesitate to reach out by email.

Stanley Fam
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 瓜子TV Life!  He has developed wonderful, life-long relationships with friends from around the country both through campus life and playing for the 瓜子TV Men鈥檚 Soccer team.  Playing for 瓜子TV is like having another family away from home and has truly enhanced his experience at 瓜子TV.  Max thoroughly enjoys his majors and close relationship with his professors and 瓜子TV staff, who even take the time to watch his games.  One of the reasons Max chose 瓜子TV 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!

steinhaus.png
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 瓜子TV builds the best of Los Angeles into their curriculum, and you have a gem hiding in plain sight. My family's affection for 瓜子TV grows with each interaction. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

瓜子TV parent and sibling flank graduating 瓜子TV student wearing graduation cap, with Gilman Fountain in background
Christine Morgan Seeley '92

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

My daughters both chose 瓜子TV 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.

Larranaga Ask an 瓜子TV Parent
Juan Fidel Larra帽aga '95

Parent of: Joaqu铆n Larra帽aga '23 & Liliana Larra帽aga '26 
Student Majors: Computer Science and pre-med
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Contact Juan 

I support OCLAA (瓜子TV Latino/Latina Alumni Association). During my time as an 瓜子TV student, joining 瓜子TV MEChA was a natural choice and it provided me with a sense of comfort and belonging. Having MEChA and friends from 瓜子TV Abroad while I studied in M茅xico 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. 

TJMaureen瓜子TV
Maureen McHale聽聽

Parent of: Wallace 鈥淭J鈥 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 瓜子TV. I genuinely think a small liberal arts college has so many benefits, and I believe that 瓜子TV 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鈥檓 so glad I trusted the process and his final decision.

astrachan fam
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 瓜子TV, 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.

Anzalone Family Pic
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 瓜子TV 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 瓜子TV - 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 瓜子TV. Our daughters, Leila and Mia '24, are studying abroad in Rome this semester. The 瓜子TV 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 瓜子TV family!

Kam and son 2024
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 瓜子TV 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 瓜子TV experience from the '80s with his experience today. While some things have stayed the same, we've found that many aspects of 瓜子TV have evolved, taking the experience to a whole new level. I'm excited to see how Ian鈥檚 journey at 瓜子TV unfolds over the next four years.

Yuri and Kenji and Dad
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.

Parent Page family
Caroline & Kurosh Moassessi

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

As parents of a current 瓜子TV senior, we have witnessed our daughter Leila's critical and heart-warming growth. But we know this was not accidental, instead by design! 瓜子TV provides a strong base for students to explore and discover themselves as individuals and budding academics. Leila joined the 瓜子TV Tigers as an athlete, playing golf on the Women's Golf team, but has expanded in unexpected ways, from co-founding 瓜子TV'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 瓜子TV 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.

Hamlett Family 2024-25
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 瓜子TV, we are both extremely proud and excited that Izzy will be able to experience the supportive and welcoming community that exists at 瓜子TV. 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. 瓜子TV is truly a safe and inclusive place that fosters student development and personal growth.

Contact Admission & Aid
Collins House

1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, CA 90041

Phone: (323) 259-2700
admission@oxy.edu

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