As high school seniors finalize college decisions this spring, Occidental’s admissions team is reviewing a record 7,904 applications to build the class of 2030, according to Vice President of Enrollment in the Office of Admission Maricela Martinez. The college has a target enrollment of 535 students, Martinez said.
This admissions cycle comes as Occidental deals with an estimated 15 percent dip in enrollment for the class of 2029. In a May 2025 message to the campus community, Occidental President Tom Stritikus wrote that the significantly smaller incoming class reflects enrollment trends affecting private liberal arts colleges nationwide.
Martinez said recruitment begins long before applications arrive.
“I feel honored to be part of the team that represents Occidental to high schools and students across the country and across the world,” Martinez said. “It takes years to recruit and enroll a class.”
Martinez said students begin exploring colleges at different points in high school — some start as sophomores, while others learn about Occidental during their senior year.
“Our job is to help students and families understand a liberal arts education, distinguish Occidental from other institutions of higher education and encourage students to explore and learn more about our academic offerings and community,” Martinez said via email.
Martinez said the college’s broader mission shapes enrollment goals.
“Our goal each year is driven in part by Occidental’s mission to ‘provide a gifted and diverse group of students’ with the highest quality education,” Martinez said via email.
According to Martinez, as the committee reviews applications, it evaluates how students might contribute across campus — in classrooms, residence halls and extracurricular spaces.
“We look for students with intellectual curiosity that we believe will thrive in a liberal arts setting, students who would engage in our undergraduate research, contribute to our musical ensembles, participate in our varsity sports, start a new club, join the student government, etc.,” Martinez said via email.
According to Martinez, institutional needs can also influence decisions. One year, the college may prioritize recruiting more athletes. Another year, a department may seek more musicians. Martinez said those considerations inform the process but are not the sole factor.
“In the end, our hope each year is to bring together a group of students that will thrive and flourish in our community,” Martinez said via email.
Martinez said two qualities that consistently stand out are curiosity and the desire to engage with a diverse, tightly-knit community.
Although Occidental received its largest applicant pool to date, Martinez said the number of college-bound high school seniors is declining nationally. At the same time, students are applying to more institutions than in previous years.
“Twenty years ago, students may have applied to 5-7 colleges,” Martinez said via email. “Today, students are applying to 20+ colleges.”
Martinez said campus visits can play a key role in students’ decision-making.
“We often hear from students that even a small interaction on campus can leave a lasting impression, sometimes impactful enough to shape their decision to attend Occidental,” Martinez said via email.
According to Martinez, recruitment is not limited to the admissions office.
“Every member of the Oxy community has a role in recruiting the next generation of Occidental students,” Martinez said via email.
According to Senior Manager of Digital Communications Jasmine Teran, while admissions officers evaluate applications and host admitted students, the Marketing and Communications team works to ensure prospective students encounter Occidental long before arriving in Eagle Rock.
Teran said prospective students often begin researching colleges online.
“We know that beyond the viewbook and a campus tour, prospective students are likely doing their own research on YouTube, Reddit, Instagram and other social media sites,” Teran said via email.
Teran said her strategy focuses on highlighting student life across platforms.
“I want to make sure that I’m actively highlighting different aspects of the student experience in a variety of ways on those platforms, from irreverent trends and ‘fit-checks’ on TikTok to long-form Week in the Life videos on YouTube, as well as photos of events and campus life on Instagram,” Teran said via email.
Teran said peer-to-peer communication online is also very important for recruitment and that students tend to trust other students more than institutional voices.
“It’s my job to meet them where they’re at, but I’m also aware that my voice as an Occidental employee doesn’t carry the same weight as a current student who goes here,” Teran said via email.
Vice President for Institutional Advancement Melissa Mount said choosing Occidental means joining a broader network that extends beyond graduation.
“Oxy is a community that truly invests in your success, not just while you are a student, but for life,” Mount said via email.
Mount said alumni serve as mentors, internship hosts and volunteers, helping create opportunities for current students and graduates.
“Prospective students should know that when you choose Oxy, you are not just choosing a college,” Mount said via email. “You are joining a lifelong community that stays connected and believes in your potential, invests in your growth and inspires you to make a meaningful difference in the world.”
Contact Zumyna Kabir at kabir@oxy.edu
