Occidental is highly selective in the admission of students.
The Committee on Admission seeks students with strong academic preparation and personal characteristics which demonstrate motivation, accomplishment, involvement, energy and commitment. The majority of students admitted to the College rank in the upper 15 percent of their high school classes. Rigor of coursework, grades, writing, test scores, recommendations, and extracurricular activities are all taken into consideration in selecting the freshman class. While there is no specific requirement for the high school course of study, it is expected that applicants will have taken four or five academic subjects each year, including advanced or honors courses when available. Students interested in science or engineering should include both chemistry and physics.