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Fall 2025 Entry | Admitted Students
- When is the deposit deadline? Can I ask for an extension?
- What if I want to defer my admission or take a gap year?
- Can I request more financial aid? Can I appeal my financial aid award?
- Can I request additional merit awards? Will Occidental match my merit awards from another school?
Fall 2025 Students
When is the deposit deadline? Can I ask for an extension?
The deadline to secure a spot at Occidental for Regular Decision applicants is May 1, 2025.
Students who are still working with the Office of Financial Aid on need-based assistance may request additional time by submitting an Admitted Student Reply Deadline Extension Request. These extension requests are granted on a case-by-case basis. Students must submit all required financial aid documents and need-based appeals prior to requesting an extension request, otherwise extension requests will be denied.
What if I want to defer my admission or take a gap year?
To request to defer your admission, fill out the Gap Year Request Form. Deferral requests must be granted by the Office of Admission, who will review the requests and notify students in writing. Please note that you must commit to the College before requesting a gap year, via the Admitted Student Reply Form.
Deferrals are granted for one year only. Two years may be granted in special circumstances, such as national military or religious service. First-year students are required to reconfirm their intention to enroll for fall 2026 in February (2026). Instructions on how to reconfirm will be sent via email.
Can I request more financial aid? Can I appeal my financial aid award?
Occidental College is committed to meeting 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need of its students. Due to this commitment, the majority of Occidental’s financial aid budget is allocated to need-based grants. When family financial situations change, families can submit an appeal letter to the director of financial aid and, upon review, may be eligible for more need-based grants.
Families can submit their appeal letters here. Please note that appeals are only granted to families who have documented changes in their financial status from what was reported in the FAFSA and CSS Profile. You typically must provide supporting documentation for your appeal letter. Additional information about what kind of supporting documentation is necessary for your appeal, and what types of appeals are honored, is available on our special circumstances page.
This appeals process is exclusively for families whose information has changed in regard to their need-based financial aid award. Students are considered for merit-based awards at the time of admission. Decisions regarding merit-based scholarships are final and there is no appeals process for merit-based awards.
Can I request additional merit awards? Will Occidental match my merit awards from another school?
There is no appeals process for merit-based awards. Occidental's merit-based awards are made independently of merit scholarships awarded at other institutions. Students are considered for merit-based awards at the time of admission. All decisions regarding merit-based scholarships are final.