Colby or Pitzer

College Search & Selection
1

I just received work that I was taken off the waitlist at Pitzer College! It originally was one of my top choices but I have committed to Colby College and really like both schools! However after committing to Colby I have fallen in love with it and can totally see myself there. I have only heard good things about both schools and I was wondering what you guys thought about them? What would you do if in this situation? Any comments would be appreciated!

Colby Pros:
Great and growing reputation
Great academics
Really awesome new president and head of admissions
Big & pretty campus
Very friendly and happy student body
Great study abroad and research opportunities
Amazing on campus food options
Skiing!! (and many other outdoor pursuits)
Much closer to home (easier travel back and fourth)

Colby Cons:
Very long cold/winters
Town isn’t great
Not California (and very rural)

Pitzer Pros:
Perfect Weather
Great academics (not as highly ranked yet slightly more selective than Colby)
Amazing campus
Many more options for majors (70 vs 40 @ Colby)
Many outlets and resources at other Claremont schools
Really nice dorms
Generally great facilities
Much more urban
Offers a much different and exciting experience for me in California (New Englander my whole life!)

Pitzer Cons:
Poor career development office
Extremely liberal student body (A little too PC for me)
Very young school (est. 1963)
Much harder and more expensive travel

2

From a native Texan who moved to Maine as an adult, I can tell you that winter is the favorite season of a lot of people here. It’s so beautiful! I would not count that as a negative. And you’re right, the skiing is good. You would be less than an hour and a half from Sugarloaf, which is a nice resort. My husband and I are celebrating 30 years in Maine this year. I am really glad we moved here. :slight_smile:

3

As a native New Hampshirite, I can say different people have very different opinions of winter. I’m not a huge fan, because I don’t like the cold and the snow loses some of its appeal when the plows cover it in dirt all along the roads. For me, personally, cold weather wouldn’t really be a con, but warm weather would definitely be a pro.