What are some colleges that are similar to Pomona? with
small class sizes
research opportunities
strong molecular biology and psychology departments
strong community
LGBTQ+ resources
value collaboration
not super competitive
Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!
Swarthmore is a good choice for the LAC area with strong STEM programs as well, but is super competitive.
For less competitive choices, I’d suggest looking at Reed College (Oregon)
You could also look at Occidental.
Williams and the other New England LACs are also good matches. Williams is a little larger and has the number #1 ranking.
Unfortunately the OP is looking for colleges which are not super competitive, and Williams is about as competitive as they come.
@Snowglobes Maybe Macalaster or Bucknell. Actually, it may be worth your while to look at Whitman College.
@MWolf has good suggestions. I especially like Macalester and Whitman.
Are you looking for safety colleges to get into that are like Pomona, or just more that are similar? Assuming that you are looking for somewhat less selective schools than Pomona, I will mention some that might work.
I notice you are interested in Smith and Vassar. What about Mt. Holyoke? Clark U has a great psych department, is very LGBTQ friendly and fits your criteria. Skidmore fits the bill. Oberlin is well known for being LGBTQ friendly. Colby and Bates are pretty selective, but fit your criteria. Of the ones I mentioned, Clark and Mt. Holyoke would be safeties most likely, but show interest.
Carleton fits these criteria really well, and Davidson is also a good fit.
Based on your stated criteria more so than on a direct similarity to Pomona, look into Reed, Pitzer (with Keck), Wesleyan, Bryn Mawr and Mount Holyoke.
I’m biased b/c I’m going here, but Brown, although a research university and not a LAC, is perfect for students who want the freedom of the Open Curriculum (virtually no requirements, except for 2 writing designated courses offered in a variety of fields,) and an environment focused more on learning than on getting grades (no +/-, no curves in intro stem courses unlike some other schools etc.) You also have the ability to S/NC, or Pass/Fail, any class: which is great for those electives you want to explore but don’t want to be scared of getting a bad grade in.
I’m happy to answer any questions regarding why I chose Brown or about the admissions process.
Hope that helps! Good luck with admissions! 
Thank you for all the responses!
Just to clarify by “not supper competitve” I was refering to the environment of the school (like not too focused on GPAs and more focused on learning) instead of how selective the school’s admissions process is.
I would also like a school that doesn’t have much grade deflation
Actually, although a very selective school, the students at Williams are very non competitive with each other, which is what I think @SnowGlobes is asking about. Pomona and Williams are very similar in terms of the non competitiveness combined with outstanding teaching and research opportunities, STEM departments.
^Ditto, Wesleyan and Brown. You want a college with a healthy mix of STEM and performing arts majors. I would particularly look at things like theater and dance attendance. IOW, I’d question whether there is much to do besides the usual study hard/party hard mentality common to so many elite colleges.
Thanks for the clarification. Because admissions to Pomona is about as competitive as any place in the country with an 8% acceptance rate.
What you are describing in terms of de-emphasis on grades and GPA describes Reed College to a T. On all of your criteria. It also has basically ZERO grade inflation over the years. So much so that this they actually have a special note that they include with every transcript:
However, this aspect of Reed, if interpreted in a relative sense, may not appeal to the OP, who would prefer a college “that doesn’t have much grade deflation.”
Molecular biology is a pre-med magnet, so you should expect some level of pre-med competition for grades/GPA in that major/courses, due to the very high GPA needed to have any realistic chance of admission to medical school.
Ah, competitive in that way. Most good LACs have those teaching and research, but from what I know, you’re right in that the students at Pomona and Williams have many similarities.
I assume the OP actually meant “grade inflation”. Grade deflation would mean grades and GPAs FALLING over time, which I don’t think exists at any college in the country. At least not that I’m aware of. There is probably not a school in the US that: “has much grade deflation”
Carleton & Bowdoin. Midwest schools. Women’s colleges.
As an aside regarding the Claremonts, those interested in weather may want to view this weekend’s forecast, which predicts a high temperature for the area of 111°.