Every path to Occidental is unique. We鈥檙e excited to spotlight a few of our students as they reflect on their journeys in choosing 瓜子TV! And remember, you can always connect with current students on our Ask a Student webpage. Io Triumphe!
鈥湽献覶V is interested in what will make you stand out.鈥
I chose 瓜子TV because I was looking for a new sense of community. Though I鈥檝e only been at 瓜子TV for around six months, I have found a multitude of communities through athletics, clubs, academics, and in my friend groups. When I was looking for colleges, I knew I wanted a liberal arts college that had a varsity water polo team and was on the west coast. As I started to learn more about 瓜子TV, I fell in love with the tight-knit community, the beautiful campus and, most importantly, the brand new pool. Conversations that I had with my coach, a psychology professor, and numerous students, really helped me gain a sense of just how willing the 瓜子TV community is to support and guide you through any endeavor.
I applied to 瓜子TV as an Early Decision I applicant which was the best decision I made. 瓜子TV is interested in what will make you stand out from other people, whether it鈥檚 a super cool hobby or just a fun talent you have. I鈥檓 so sure that I made the right decision to come here. 瓜子TV has provided me with the community that I鈥檝e always sought, and has grown to become a place I call home. 瓜子TV blew my expectations away and has really taught me a lot鈥攏ot just academically, but also about life.
- Koko Butcher 鈥25, Aiea, Hawaii
鈥淭he sense of connectedness I felt to the student body was special.鈥
I found 瓜子TV in the fall semester of my senior year of high school after showing my list of schools to a college counselor. Based on what I was searching for鈥 a small California school with access to a larger city鈥 my counselor suggested I apply to 瓜子TV. Upon visiting the campus, the sense of connection I felt to the student body despite not yet being committed to the school was special and what ultimately sold me on my choice to attend. In addition to the excellent academic culture with amazing professors and engaging classes, 瓜子TV offered me a crucial community that helped me adjust in my move across the country for college.
Kamea鈥 22 with the volleyball team
Reflecting back on my experience now as a college senior, I am incredibly grateful for my four years at 瓜子TV and feel well prepared for whatever the future may have in store for me. I鈥檝e met some of my best friends and made some of my favorite memories while in college, but I think the thing I am most thankful for was the connections and guidance I鈥檝e received from my professors. Best of luck and enjoy the college process, it goes by faster than you realize!
-Kamea Quetti-Hall 鈥22, Pittsfield, MA
鈥淚 was hoping to find a collaborative, rather than a competitive academic atmosphere.鈥
I knew a couple of things going into the college application process. The factors that helped me narrow my search included location, weather, size, the type of school, the community, and overall atmosphere. Coming from San Francisco, I wanted to venture beyond the wet fog and bask in some sunshine and warmth. I focused on Southern California and particularly around Los Angeles because I was hoping to study and live in a large, urban city to which I had already been accustomed. As the youngest in my family, I had also followed along through both of my older siblings鈥 journeys at smaller liberal arts colleges and I thought that I would do best in a similar environment.
Knowing my learning style and preference for smaller, interactive classes where I could engage with my peers and professors, I wanted an intimate learning environment with access to academic and professional mentors. I was also hoping to find a collaborative, rather than a competitive academic atmosphere where I could see myself participating in study groups and finding community through working on homework together with peers. This narrowed down my search to a collection of about ten small, liberal arts colleges and universities in Southern California.
I watched all the Youtube videos that I could find about 瓜子TV, searched many of the pages of the extensive parts of the website, and visited 瓜子TV in the spring of my junior year of high school. I signed up for an interview with a recent graduate who shared that Dance Pro and Peer Health Exchange may be opportunities of interest if I attended. When I came to 瓜子TV in April for Admitted Students Weekend, I was able to sit in on a class that I found particularly interesting and engaging. The instructor was Professor of Politics Regina Freer, who is now teaching one of my current courses, 鈥淐ommunity Planning and Politics Practicum.鈥 (I would highly recommend Professor Freer to any student attending 瓜子TV, even if you are not planning on a politics major!)
Nathan Tam and friend Marissa hiking in Arches National Park, UT
After shadowing Professor Freer's class, my mom and I decided to make the trek up to the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute on Upper Campus. I was interested in the catchy department name and wanted to learn more about the major to see if I鈥檇 be a good fit for the program. I remember walking into the quiet house in the early afternoon and asking Sylvia Chico (one of the nicest people you will ever meet) if there was a professor available that I would be able to speak to about the Urban and Environmental Policy (UEP) major. She called Associate Professor Martha Matsuoka down from her office upstairs and my mom and I sat with her for half an hour chatting about the content of the program and the type of students that fit into it. I initially went into the college application process thinking that I wanted to be a politics major, but after this short conversation with Professor Matsuoka, I was drawn to and compelled by the UEP program.
Once on campus, I enrolled in Professor Matsuoka鈥檚 UEP 101 course entitled 鈥淓nvironment and Society鈥 and declared my major that first semester at 瓜子TV. Professor Matsuoka is now my advisor and we regularly meet about everything from planning my UEP Senior Comprehensive research topic, post-瓜子TV plans, what shows we鈥檙e currently watching, or our weekly tai chi class with a few other students. I am very grateful to be at 瓜子TV and have found people within the community who I鈥檝e developed deep relationships with!
-Nathan Tam 鈥23, San Francisco, CA
鈥淭he People I鈥檝e met at 瓜子TV are interesting, dynamic, and want to change the world for the better.鈥
My college admissions process, like most high school students', was confusing, taxing, and stressful. I was frustrated with how unnecessarily difficult it was to navigate the Common App and the various application websites for different schools. I ended up applying to 17 schools, and I felt drained after submitting my last application, in addition to handling my rigorous course load and extracurriculars. Being a California native, I felt it necessary to apply to one CSU school and three UCs, but I also applied to several liberal arts colleges around the country, including 瓜子TV. I had learned about 瓜子TV from my high school counselor, who suggested that I might like a smaller college experience. I applied to 瓜子TV Regular Decision, and I knew after visiting I wanted to go to a school like Occidental: a small liberal arts college with a commitment to equity and inclusion. During my tour, our guide sold me on the experiences she'd had at 瓜子TV and made me feel like I could see myself on campus, and find like-minded people who I could learn well with.
Like most Class of 2020 grads, I felt shortchanged by my senior year, and even after getting into 瓜子TV, which was my top choice, I knew that COVID would have a permanent effect on my college experience, which was devastating. As acceptances and rejections started rolling in, I thought about what I wanted my college experience to feel like, especially considering the unique circumstances of the pandemic. After being admitted to 瓜子TV, I accepted my offer and began planning my first year. I spent my first year of college at home, working full-time, and learning virtually. Although I wasn't on campus, I did feel like I was being integrated into a new community. My professors took on the difficult task of helping us feel at home in a virtual environment, and I didn't feel shortchanged by my academic endeavors, as my professors bent over backwards to accommodate the unique circumstances of each student.
Since coming to campus, I've felt like 瓜子TV has changed my worldview academically and opened my eyes to the possibilities of what a career in international relations could look like. The people I've met at 瓜子TV, including faculty, staff, and amongst the student body, are interesting and dynamic folks who want to change the world for the better, and they inspire me everyday. Although I expected to be happy on 瓜子TV's campus, I truly love my college experience and am so glad I chose to be a Tiger.
-Julia Henry 鈥24, Laguna Beach, CA
Julia 鈥24 and friends on the JSC Academic quad