<p>The line between pomona and claremont mckenna is so fuzzy. Sure the broshures say the academic emphasis differs. But if a student was there, what's the distinction? Anyone?</p>
<p>claremont is said to be more preppy</p>
<p>I go to CMC and I would disagree that CMC is more preppy. In fact, I would consider Pomona to be more preppy. Yesterday, a Pomona girl said that Pomona tends to have more people who are weird and in their own world. I have not actually noticed that either. Just a random list of my own observations... CMC students tend to care more about partying than any given Pomona kid... This is a stereotype and has PLENTY of exceptions. CMC students tend to care a lot about getting rich and getting far with a large emphasis on govt and econ. In reality, all of these have plenty of exceptions (one of my closest friends is a french-philosophy dual major who could not care less about money). Claremont does typically have more athletes. Pomona students are more artsy. In reality, there are few students that just would not fit in at one school if they fit in at the other. The difference is the feel of the student body around you. I would highly recommend coming to the school and getting a feel of it for yourself.</p>
<p>Calling one school more preppy than the other can also depend on your definition of preppy. You can find exceptions to the rule at both schools, but generally speaking, CMC has more of an emphasis on leadership either in the public sphere (politics, IR) or corporate (economics, management). Pomona probably does have a more arty/intellectual student body (don't get mad, I'm married to a CMC'er who is brilliant, but not so interested in reading literary criticism, for example!) The sad news about Peter Drucker's passing is likely to get much more than passing notice at CMC, but Pomona students, on the whole, will not have any idea of his importance. You really have to visit both campuses to see which suits you better.</p>
<p>Long story short: you're going to get a good education at any of the 5Cs. don't worry about minute differences. if anything, find the place that has the easiest/least restrictive GE rquirements so you can follow your interests morea easily.</p>
<p>Academically? For gov/econ, as anyone says, CMC is a good focus. This is true, but there are plenty of excellent offerings all over the 5Cs. I'm doing a concentration on postcommunist europe, which has put me in classes at all five colleges in order to get what I need. We have a good gov department, of course, but it's mostly domestic politics. Since i'm not a straussian, there's probably three professors in the deparment i'd want to deal with, though.</p>
<p>That said, we have a really killer history department that IMO is the best on any of the colleges.</p>
<p>Stereotypical obnoxious CMCers are boring, boorish frat types that don't have any intellectual curiosity beyond what gets them to six figures. (it doesn't take much.)</p>
<p>Stereotypical obnoxious Pomona students are sheltered, privileged, pretentious and incredibly arrogant about their ranking vis a vis other claremont schools.</p>
<p>Whichever one you prefer to deal with when you encounter annoying people, I recommend. But if you get into both, here's the order in which i'd put decisions through.
1st) If you're not completely loaded, go to the school that offers you the best finaid package next year. (I think pomona is a bit meaner in the long term. I know at CMC we have an usually awesome financial aid and dean of students administration that have really been helpful to me as a low-income student. From anecdotal experiences, Pomona's finaid people are less pleasant.)
2) If you are completely loaded and you get into both, go to Pomona. The increased name recognition and ranking gives you more respect for career/grad schools. The one exception is for i-banking and consulting, where CMC and Pomona both have good reputations. (CMC is slightly better).
3) Personality concerns.</p>
<p>wow i heard that in cmc people have a lot of fiestas and parties + smoking and some drugs </p>
<p>alcohol is payed by the school! agh?!</p>
<p>Both are great schools and you can't go wrong with either but I disagree re: fin aid. The folks in fin aid at Pomona are wonderful . My S initially got a little more money at CMC but Pomona gladly matched it and worked with him.
Depends on your major. Spend a night on each campus to get a feel for fit.</p>