How to strengthen your Occidental application

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What Occidental weights most

Occidental weights demonstrated interest and genuine engagement with its LA location and liberal arts mission heavily—they're not just looking for high stats, but for applicants who understand what a 3,000-student LAC offers versus a larger research university. The Diplomacy and World Affairs program is a genuine differentiator that attracts internationally-minded students, but Occidental also values community-oriented applicants and those who show intellectual curiosity across disciplines; they're less prestige-obsessed than peer schools and more interested in whether you'll actually *use* their resources (proximity to LA's NGOs, UN offices, cultural institutions, and diverse communities).

Supplemental essay strategy

Use Occidental's "Why Us" to demonstrate specific familiarity with campus culture and programs—mention the Diplomacy curriculum by name if relevant, but don't make that a requirement; instead, connect your intellectual interests to concrete LA-area opportunities (internships, research centers, community partnerships) that only Occidental's location enables. Avoid generic LAC language; instead, show you've researched faculty, clubs, or initiatives that align with your actual goals, and be honest about why a mid-sized, residential liberal arts school in LA fits your trajectory better than alternatives.

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Where to focus next

If you only have time for one thing this month, do this:

1. Read 2 admitted-student essays from Occidental (search official admissions site or Reddit r/oxy). Notice the level of specificity — that's the bar.
2. Write the ‘why this school’ supplement first, before anything else. If you can't fill 250 words with school-specific reasons, pick a different school.
3. Find one current student to ask about their experience — admissions offices often connect prospective applicants with current students. The follow-up email becomes specific essay material.