I have narrowed my choices down to Pomona and UVA, which are so different that I feel like I can barely compare them. I would be majoring in politics or public policy and I feel like I am the kind of person who could enjoy a big school or small school social scene. I love Pomona’s small class sizes, but I’m worried about lack of name recognition amongst employers and grad schools and maybe feeling isolated/claustrophobic/bored at a school that small. I love UVA’s campus and location, but am worried about how intense greek life seems there and having really big classes and not knowing my professors at all. Everyone I talk to who goes to either school loves it there and wants me to go to their school, so I’m really struggling to choose! The deadline is rapidly approaching and just thought I would ask the internet’s opinion, why not. I really appreciate any and all input.
Grad schools will definitely know Pomona. What career field are you thinking about, if you know?
Have you visited both?
One piece of advice I’d give is to look closely at the course requirements. Open a spreadsheet and enter all the required courses for each school and required courses for your potential major at each school.
You have excellent choices. Congratulations!
Pomona is one of the best schools in the country. I’m certain, although mainstream America does not know the names of top LACs, most hiring managers do know it. Grad schools certainly are well aware of Pomona.
The Claremont consortium can’t be beat.
If you wish to choose UVA, you will receive a fine education, but don’t dismiss Pomona because you fear it doesn’t have name recognition.
Echoing what others have said, grad schools and law schools are quite aware of Pomona. Their placement rate at top graduate programs and law schools is very impressive. The school “feels” bigger than most folks think, as it’s part of the Claremont schools (5Cs undergrad, 2Cs grad) There must be nearly 8,000 students on the Claremont Campuses in a one mile square area. There is always something to do, a talk, or performance to see, another dining hall to eat at, at one of these colleges. Some students who major in politics/public policy take a few classes in these subjects at the neighboring college, Claremont-McKenna (CMC), or other classes at the other colleges (Scripps, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer) When Pomona kids have free time they can also take the Metrolink train to Los Angeles. The train station is a short walk from the underclass dorms. It takes about 55 minutes by train to go from the Claremont train station to Union Station in Los Angeles. There are often student discounts for this ride. Once in LA, the city has pretty good public transit to where ever you want to go, Santa Monica beach for example. Pomona also offers quite a few trips around SoCal for its students. Oh yes, one big thing at Pomona is the Orientation Adventure when you start college. https://www.pomona.edu/new-students/orientation/orientation-adventure/oa-trips You can take one of 11 trips, to Yosemite, surfing, the beach, community service, etc, before you start college.
Sounds like you have some nice choices. My D is a first year at UVA. She absolutely loves it and has met some really amazing people. She is involved in greek life. She did find the pledging process a little stressful, but everything has worked out. You don’t have to be involved in greek life to have an active social life.
Academically, it is a challenging school. Most of the students are very bright and ambitious, although not cutthroat. For politics and public policy, you can’t beat the connections and proximity to DC. Hey, and it didn’t hurt to be a first year at UVA when they won a national championship.
Tough choice between very different schools. Good Luck!!!
“I love Pomona’s small class sizes, but I’m worried about lack of name recognition amongst employers and grad schools…”
Pomona is highly recognized among employers and grad schools. Although the ranking chart – “Top 50 Feeder Schools” (to elite grad schools) – shown in the following link isn’t the latest, these things tend to be relevant still today. You can do your own research and you’ll always find Pomona on such lists.
“…and maybe feeling isolated/claustrophobic/bored at a school that small.”
Are you aware that Pomona is a part of the consortium that’s made up of 5 highly selective undergraduate colleges (“5Cs”) and 2 grad schools, all together collectively known as “7Cs”?
For “politics or public policy”, I suspect that the University of Virginia is the better choice due to higher number & variety of course offerings plus the presence of on campus grad schools. More clubs & more political activism.
But both are great options.
Rather than say one college is the better choice, how about each college has different strengths in these areas. By the way Pomona (& the Claremont colleges) are at the top end of college political activism.
Hi! I have two First Years at UVA. Neither of the guys drinks or is involved in Greek life. Both are very much enjoying their government and political science classes, and it looks quite likely that one (or both) will apply for the undergraduate Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, which you should check out. (The other is considering the Commerce school as well.)
While I’m happy my sons are doing well in their coursework, what really stands out for me about their experience is how easy it was for them to get involved on Grounds. Both write for the school paper, one does improv, both participate in club and intramural sports, one is involved in filmmaking, they work as volunteer coaches for a youth team, and they’ve enjoyed more than their fair share of Division I football, basketball and other sports. Beyond that, they and their cohort have hosted game nights, gone to the speakers’ series and comedy clubs, checked out the latest Marvel movie, taken hikes on Skyline drive, taken day trips to amusement parks, gone apple picking, played pick-up Spikeball, gone to arts festivals and farmers’ markets, and just wandered the Corner in search of smoothies, wings and sushi. You have two really great choices, but I just wanted to assure you that there’s many students who find excellent ways to enjoy themselves outside of Greek life. Good luck!!
Pomona has all the advantages of a small LAC, all of the advantages of a small college, because of the Consortium. The Claremont Colleges also have the Keck Joint Science department, which is a department that functions the same way as that for a research university, including having graduate students and full blown research projects.
So, while UVA is an excellent university, for somebody who loves small classes, and the LAC vibe, Pomona cannot be beat.
Also think about location…
where do you live vs. your college? How easy will it be to travel home?
Will being nearer to Wash DC be of interest to you because of public policy and possible interships?
are you a basketball fan?