My week at Steens Mountain Running Camp was the most physically challenging of my life. The camp is well known in running circles for its tough conditions and brutal challenges. Typically, I am a cautious person and prefer observing before participating. Unfortunately for me, driving eight hours into Southern Oregon to watch the first session of camp was not an option. Signing up involved a bit of risk, courage, and a lot of peer pressure. I eventually did it, though...

Occidental is a perfect fit for me academically and socially. Academically, there are fantastic professors, a strong economics program, and an exclusive United Nations internship, but the opportunities for undergraduate research are most enticing. When I first noticed Oxy’s strong emphasis on undergraduate research I was a little unsure due to my lack of enthusiasm in high school for assigned research projects. I do not enjoy research projects now, why would I in college? At Oxy, however, the access...

I am a cautious person by nature, and do not readily believe things without a little investigation. One habit that exemplifies this trait is my tendency to reply to statements with a surprised and high pitched “Really?” My friends were the first to point out this verbal mannerism of mine and soon I started catching myself whenever I said it. As I kept noticing this reflex I grew less and less fond of it. I began to think I sounded...

Try hard to find summer internships. It doesn't have to be in the field you are most interested in,...

The typical student at Occidental (Oxy) is socially aware, open-minded,...

The single most helpful resource of my college admissions process was my private college counselor, Eric Delahoy. Eric was immensely helpful...

My GPA and SAT scores were middle-of-the-road in Oxy's applicant pool, but I believe what made me stand out were my application essays. I spent countless hours editing and...

Occidental's locations and culture were the two most appealing aspects to me. The location is hard to beat, Oxy is located in East Los Angles, nestled between Downtown and Pasadena. There are ample opportunities for internships in LA as well...