I don’t recommend SLO for humanities or social sciences because it doesn’t have a reputation in those areas, but then if you like the location and students at SLO you might not like the scene at Occidental. Historically poli sci at Oxy has been good, and it will have more pull in grad school applications. LA does not have to be a factor. Occidental is kind of tucked away in a place called Eagle Rock and you can have a campus experience with minimal LA contact. The campus does not blend into the city. You have to drive out to spend time doing things in LA. Still, I do think you are right to think about size and where you might feel more comfortable, especially since some people do not want to be at a LAC. Oxy is great for those who want a LAC experience with access to a city, but it’s not for all.