If you are planning on applying to Occidental College, the deadline for Fall 2023 admissions is January 10 and the fee for the application is $70.
Students who submit their applications to Occidental College for fall semester should anticipate a decision by March 25.
The following is an overiew of some of Occidental College's admissions stats.
Occidental College 2022 | Admissions Statistics |
---|---|
Mean Unweighted GPA | 3.6 |
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class | 54% |
Admissions Test Policy | Not optional and are considered |
Applicants Who Submit SATs | 29% |
Applicants Who Submit ACTs | 22% |
Waitlist | Yes |
These are the application deadlines for Occidental College.
Application Type | Offered | Application Deadline | Notification Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
Early Decision I | Yes | November 15 | December 15 |
Early Decision II | Yes | January 10 | February 15 |
Early Action | No | –– | –– |
Regular Decision | Yes | January 1 | March 25 |
Occidental College offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.
🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 15 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 15.
🗓️ Early Decision II applications are due January 10. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before February 15.
The early decision acceptance rate at Occidental College is 59%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 38%. In 2022, Occidental College admitted 209 of the 356 students who applied early decision.
Some students apply to college early to boost their chances of getting in. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of being admitted, since it demonstrates your interest in a school.
➡️ See a list of some competetive colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.
It is very difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.
Occidental College has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.
Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are they consider most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that put the most emphasis on the admissions factors where you're strong.
Wondering what factors are considered by Occidental College during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.
Admissions Factor | Level |
---|---|
Academic GPA | Very Important |
Application Essay | Very Important |
Rigor of Secondary School Record | Very Important |
Character/Personal Qualities | Important |
Class Rank | Important |
Work Experience | Important |
Extracurricular Activities | Important |
Volunteer Work | Important |
Alumni/ae Relations | Considered |
Geographical Residence | Considered |
Level of Applicant's Interest | Considered |
First Generation | Considered |
Interview | Considered |
Racial/Ethnic Status | Considered |
Recommendation(s) | Considered |
Talent/Ability | Considered |
Standardized Test Scores | Considered |
Make sure to check with Occidental College for more information on admission factors.
To apply to Occidental College, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with Occidental College's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.
Area | Required | Recommended | Required for Some | Details (If Any) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Interview | √ | |||
Transcript(S) of College Record | ||||
Standardized Test Scores | ||||
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S) | ||||
Letter(s) of Recommendation | 2 | |||
Written Essay or Personal Statement | √ | |||
Transcript of High School Record | √ |
Students admitted to Occidental College have an average unweighted GPA of 3.6.
Out of all students that were admitted, 25% submitted a class rank. At Occidental College 54% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 90% were in the top 25% and 98% were in the top 50%.
At Occidental College, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.
GPA | Percent of Students |
---|---|
4.0 GPA | 6% |
3.75 and 3.99 | 36% |
3.50 and 3.74 | 30% |
3.25 and 3.49 | 18% |
3.00 and 3.24 | 8% |
2.50 and 2.9 | 2% |
2.00 and 2.49 | –– |
This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.
Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Occidental College directly.
About GPAs
Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.
An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.
Occidental College looks at standardized tests scores during the admissions process.
Occidental College is not test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.
In 2022, 29% of Occidental College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 22% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.
To be competitive with other Occidental College applicants, you should aim to earn between 1350 and 1470 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Occidental College 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1470 and 25% of scored lower than 1350, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.
On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Occidental College students scored 750 or higher and 75% of students scored 670 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Occidental College students scored 740 or higher, and 75% scored a 670 or higher.
To be most competitive at Occidental College, you should strive to earn between 30 and 33 on the ACT.
An ACT score of 33 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Occidental College's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 33, and three out of four students scored lower than 33 on the ACT.
A 30 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Occidental College students. Only one out of every four students scored below 30.
Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.
For transfer students, it is very difficult to get admitted to Occidental College.
For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is April 1. Applicants should hear back by May 31.
Transfer students can enroll in Occidental College during the following terms:
• Fall Term
• Spring Term
Can I defer my acceptance to Occidental College?
✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Occidental College.
Does Occidental College accept transfer credits?
✅ Occidental College accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.
Does Occidental College accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?
✅ Occidental College accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.
Do I have to submit test scores to Occidental College?
✅ Occidental College is not test optional. You must submit test scores as part of the application.
What is Occidental College's acceptance rate?
✅ Occidental College's acceptance rate is 38%.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at Occidental College?
✅ Occidental College's early decision acceptance rate was 59% in 2021.
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Admission Difficulty
How hard is it to get into Occidental College? Occidental College is a very selective institution. The Occidental College acceptance rate is 38%. This means that the institution accepts 38 out of every 100 applicants.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Occidental College is Jan 10.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Occidental College is Apr 1.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
33 and Above
30 to 33
30 and Less
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)
At Occidental College, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.63. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.
Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
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