Occidental College supplemental essays, 2026-27
Occidental College lists one supplemental question for 2026-27 (0 required). One is a "why this school" question, which is the one prompt you cannot reuse from another application.
The prompt
In the order the school lists them. A limit appears only where the school prints one.
Why are you applying to Occidental? Why do you think Occidental is the right place for you to pursue your interests?
What it asks for: why this school.
Source: Occidental College, read October 24, 2026. Confirm the prompts in your application before you submit.
Write them in My Schools
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Add Occidental College to My Schools and these prompts appear in your Essays tab beside the Common App personal statement, with autosave and version history. The prompt reuse map (Advanced) shows which of your drafts can answer which prompt across your whole list.
Questions
1. Why are you applying to Occidental? Why do you think Occidental is the right place for you to pursue your interests? (250 words)
Short answer: 250 words.
These prompts ask about why this school. The why-this-school answer must be written for this school. Answers about a community, a challenge or an activity often adapt from drafts for other schools; My Schools maps which of your drafts fits which prompt.
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