<p>Pomona's application says that applicants are strongly encouraged to respond to one of the following prompts:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>What experience in high school has mattered most to you? How do you see this experience influencing your decision-making in college?</p></li>
<li><p>Although it may appear to the contrary, we do know that people have a life beyond what they do to get into college. Tell us about an experience you have had outside of your formal classroom and extracurricular activities that was just plain fun and why.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It doesn't say whether we can submit both. Are we allowed to?</p>
<p>I swear I'm not being an overachiever, and I think that both issues are important to address in my application. It also shouldn't be extraordinarily long because both responses combined would be about 700-800 words, and my common app essay is also fairly short, being under 600 words.</p>
<p>The admissions officers will be reading hundreds of essays, so you should ask yourself whether it would excite them or disappoint them to see an extra essay added to that pile. If they suggest writing about one of the prompts, I would take them at their word.</p>
<p>I was thinking along those lines but they could be interpreted as suggesting to write about AT LEAST one of the prompts.</p>
<p>Furthermore, Pomona says this on their website:</p>
<p>" It is extremely important for applicants to ensure their applications and supporting papers present an accurate reflection of academic and personal traits for the Admissions Committee consideration. We urge students to evaluate their own materials and consider how to provide full information to our staff. For example, where the high school transcript does not indicate the quality of academic work (i.e., pass/no credit or ungraded courses), the applicant should submit other evidence for the Committee."</p>