For international student Sam, Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s top-ranked academics, access to a major city, and a meaningful experience at an Occidental reception in China helped confirm that Â鶹ÊÓƵ was the right choice for him.
Sam Zheng
Hometown: Hangzhou, China
Major: Sociology
Minor: Public Health
What were some of the things you were looking for in a college and how did you first learn about Â鶹ÊÓƵ?
I was looking for a small community where professors would know students personally, and where my friends would live on campus. At the same time, I wanted to study in a place where I could enjoy everyday life outside the classroom. To me, learning isn’t just about academics, but also exploring the city and meeting with different people. I first learned about Â鶹ÊÓƵ while doing school research on Niche, seeing a liberal arts college in Los Angeles immediately caught my attention. It felt like Â鶹ÊÓƵ would be a perfect place for me to find a close-knit community in a global city.
I remember one of the admissions officers flew to Shanghai to host a reception for our admitted students and families. Also, the President of Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Tom Stritikus, personally came to another welcome party for incoming Chinese students. Those moments made me feel that international students were not only recruited but also seen as valued members of the community.
Describe the moment when you knew Occidental was your final choice. What are the reasons you decided to enroll?
I was deciding between Â鶹ÊÓƵ and a large public university in California. As an international student the merit scholarship I received from Â鶹ÊÓƵ brought the cost of attendance much closer to that of a public university. This allowed me to focus not only on tuition, but also on the kind of college experience and community I wanted.
What eventually convinced me to enroll was the academic freedom at Â鶹ÊÓƵ. The flexibility to explore different disciplines gave me confidence that I could discover my interests naturally rather than rushing to be locked into a specific path.
I remember one of the admissions officers flew to Shanghai to host a reception for our admitted students and families. Also, the President of Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Tom Stritikus, personally came to another welcome party for incoming Chinese students. Those moments made me feel that international students were not only recruited but also seen as valued members of the community.
What misconception did you have about Occidental when you applied?
What surprised me most was how welcoming and inclusive Â鶹ÊÓƵ is. Before arriving, I knew lots of liberal arts colleges, including Â鶹ÊÓƵ, have very low percentages of international students. As someone who never lived in the U.S before, I wondered how difficult it would be to fully adapt here. However, in reality, I found all students are really friendly, and my international background rarely limited the opportunities available to me on campus. Moreover, the international programs office even gave us additional support and helped me connect smoothly with the other international students and the wider Â鶹ÊÓƵ community.
What would you tell a student who is considering Occidental right now?
Every school has its own strengths, and the best choice depends on what matters most to you. Take time to think about your own priorities rather than purely comparing rankings. Once you know what you are looking for, don’t be afraid to trust yourself. Attending an open house, joining a campus tour, or just talking with current students are all the best ways to understand whether a college truly feels like your place.