Current CMC student answering questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z Claremont McKenna College
21

<p>crouton (or anyone else), I was wondering how much weight CMC gives SAT subject test scores (should I submit them at all? I'll be taking them in Dec, so I'll have to submit them without seeing my scores beforehand... I have no idea how well I'll do). </p>

<p>Also, my SAT scores are substantially lower than my ACT scores. I've taken the SATs twice with a 1960 1st time and 2080 2nd time, while my ACT score is 33 composite. For best admissions consideration, should I only submit my ACT score (or should I submit both)? Is there a less likely chance that I'll be admitted if I only submit my ACT score instead of my SAT score? Thanks</p>

22

<p>I would submit the ACT</p>

23

<p>i was messing around on the couselor o matic at princeton review's site and got cmc as a match school. up until then i only had eyes for pomona. now i'm panning outward a bit. how is cmc better than pomona? is the campus feel the same? how do the attitudes differ?
and most importantly, are your dorms as good?</p>

24

<p>When it comes to the Claremont Consortium, "how is ____ better than ____" is never a question that needs asking. Even more so than with other schools, choosing between multiple Claremonts comes down to fit (and in some--though not all--cases, little else). </p>

<p>The campus atmospheres at CMC and Pomona are very different. The campuses differ in size and appearance, for one thing. The two schools are often seen as the most "interchangeable" among the Claremonts, but they still attract very different student bodies. The social scenes are different. The interests of students differ widely. The GE requirements are quite different. CMC tends to participate a bit more in the Consortium, but Pomona tends to offer more on-campus amenities (both of these have their own ups and downs). I would suggest a visit to both campuses (and if possible, an overnight on one or the other, preferably on a Thursday night so that you can walk around and get an idea of the different social scenes as well as the daytime atmospheres).</p>

<p>The "Pomona vs. CMC" characterization that's often given is that Pomona is a bit more theoretical/scholarly while CMC feels more practical/professional. There are significant exceptions to this generalization, but it's probably still a decent jumping-off point for your research.</p>

<p>Regarding dorms, my experience is that I haven't seen as many "very desirable" rooms on CMC, but nor have I seen as many "very undesirable" ones. There's a bit less variety, in general, which can work for or against you, depending on what your lottery number is ;) I do recall CMC being on the "Dorms Like Palaces" list pretty recently (though I could be mistaken).</p>

<p>There have been a number of threads on this topic. They can get messy, but they're probably still worth searching for. Remember that if both schools end up appealing to you, it's completely normal to apply to both.</p>

<p>Here are a few places to start: </p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=334064%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=334064&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=168255%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=168255&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Good luck :)</p>

25

<p>How can I show my interest in CMC? Do I have to go to the on campus days because I have no money to visit...</p>

26

<p>Also, what are the rates of acceptance for EDII, and RD? I heard that acceptance rates for EDII are really low..
Do you think I'd have a better chance if I applied RD versus EDII? Sorry for double posting. Thanks in advanced!</p>

27

<p>Overall ED acceptance rate (regardless of option I or II)
~30%
Overall RD acceptance rate
~22%</p>

28

<p>onilawliet - i think those numbers are old. seeing as how cmcs acceptance rate was 16%, and both those number are higher, it seems impossible that those are correct. </p>

<p>hyper - cmc makes no preference on applicants who apply ed or rd. there is no difference in your chance of getting in. the reason that there will be a discrepancy is in the candidate that applies. typically more qualified applicants apply ed as opposed to rd, because anyone really can apply rd (with the common app its just one more school and not much more work on the application).</p>

<p>to show interest, call admissions and ask for more info or pamphlets. in ur app write about how you cant afford to visit but are still wildly interested in CMC. also, i believe CMC will cover 300 dollars of traveling cost, so if it wont cost you much more than that you might want to consider it.</p>

29

<p>If CMC is actually willing to cover $300 in travel costs for any prospective student who asks, then wow! But I couldn't find anything on the school's website to back that up. I could certainly be wrong, but the $300-to-visit sounds like a misunderstanding to me (esp. because I know that not all of the Claremonts offer that, so it seems like it could be an "abused" privilege).</p>

<p>(I'm very happy to be mistaken on this. I hope someone posts if they know for sure. Just trying to keep hopes reasonable.)</p>

30

<p>So I did some research...</p>

<p>Not every student can call up and ask for travel-money. It is on a one-on-one basis. If the student is accepted and is serious about the school he or she can call the Director of Fin Aid and speak to them about coming out to the campus. But, there are many conditions for this to happen. But yes, there is money for this to occur. </p>

<p>Also, there are many PROGRAMS that provide this kind of money for students to check out the school-- there are academic programs that students will be flown here for the weekend and check out the school. There are also other programs that CMC is affiliated with and through that program, CMC brings tons of students to campus free-of-cost. There are also programs that bring students of minority status to CMC. These programs cover more than $300 a student!</p>

<p>All these programs are not on the website. If you are in need, contact the fin aid office and speak to them. They will make no decisions without talking to you and figuring out your situation. Yes, CMC has a lot of money. But they aren't going to throw it away to every perspective student who wants to travel to a school and hang out there for a weekend.</p>

31

<p>Crouton - I'm a prospective CMC student (a white male) for fall of next year, as a freshman applicant. What do you think my chances are?</p>

<p>2130 SAT (760CR, 660M, 710WR)
SATII's - 680 on Math I, 650 on Chemistry
GPA - 3.6 unweighted, 4.3 weighted.
3 AP classes, 8 honors classes
Senior year schedule: AP Art History, AP English, Physics Honors, Calculus Honors, Spanish, and a few other religion and gym classes.
I go to a very large and competitive catholic school in Queens, New York</p>

<p>I'm also a QuestBridge finalist with the possibility of a full scholarship to CMC! (QuestBridge</a> Home Page if you're interested in knowing more about the program) </p>

<p>I've demonstrated a pretty good mix of extra-extracurriculars with two varsity sports for three years, im an editor for yearbook, a member of national honor society, a member of my school's optimate society (honor roll), and i'm the vice-president of ski and snowboard club, i'm a peer-councelor (for incoming freshmen) and a tutor as well for 4 subjects. i've also had brief involvement with political science club, rock club, and fransiscan youth movement (a community service project at my school) in the past few years, but nothing major. </p>

<p>I feel like my stats are kinda weak. Do you think i have a good shot for RD? I'm also a good writer. My essays are unique are about my trip to Australia with my father and my grandfather a few years ago, drumming, which is one of my personal activities, and i wrote an essay about Pericles for the CMC suppliment. </p>

<p>How do i stack up?</p>

32

<p>College Confidential might be a somewhat anonymous and an easier place to ask questions, but the admission office has an ask-a-student form online if you have any questions about the college, yourself, or anything else a current student can answer.</p>

<p>Ask</a> a Student, Admission, Claremont McKenna College</p>

<p>(You can also e-mail me if you'd like, as i don't check these forums. I'm a sophomore at CMC)</p>

33

<p>moose - i would say that your stats would be the somewhat stronger point of your application - nothing in your ECs really set you apart though. Your SAT and GPA probably put you in range, but your ECs arent really helping you. write good essays and youll have a decent chance... id probably say slight reach-reachish</p>

<p>and geltoorch is right - itll also be very helpful to use the CMC site</p>

34

<p>what do you mean by slight reach? do you think i have over a 50% chance?</p>

35

<p>Based on recent data from the two schools' dean of students offices (e.g., number of alcohol-related trips to the emergency room), there is far more drinking at Pomona than at CMC.</p>

36

<p>Very interesting. Where did you find that information?</p>

37

<p>emoose - slight reach i would say is much less than 50% - probably in the 30 range</p>

<p>cdad - that statistic is quite misleading. Just because Pomona kids have more alcohol related trips to the emergency room does NOT mean that Pomona necessarily has more drinking on its campus. I would instead argue that it shows that CMC's policy towards alcohol is far more effective than Pomona's in ensuring the safety and security of their students. </p>

<p>CMC is very lenient on alcohol. The rule is basically that if it is in a red cup they do not care. Consequently, drinking is out in the open in a safer environment. Camp sec or RAs may even be at the parties making sure that nothing is getting too crazy and out of hand. Conversely, at schools like Pomona where the school is very strict about alcohol, students tend to binge drink behind closed doors, something that is much less safe and much more conducive to the reported trips to the ER. </p>

<p>If that data shows anything it is not that CMC kids drink less, it is that they drink smarter.</p>

38

<p>Hey! Thanks for making this board for us prospies who are eager to hear if we have a chance at getting into CMC.</p>

<p>Here's the stuff about me: </p>

<p>I go to a BIG public school (Class size close to 1000, Go Arcadia!)
No ranking</p>

<p>My GPA: 3.63 unweighted (not sure about weighted, but i guess around 4.0) </p>

<h1>of challenging classes: 7 APs, 6 Honors</h1>

<p>SAT Reasoning: 800 Math, 700 Writing, 660 C/R (2160 Total)
SAT Subject Tests: (All of them, even the one i forgot to cancel T_T) Chemistry 650, Physics 570 (big mistake), Math 2c 790, Chinese 750</p>

<p>EC's: Auxilary/Winterguard for 4 years ( I am now the captain of this 55 person team, very prestigious program at our school as we placed 3rd in world championships at dayton, OH two years running), Top Concert Band for all the 3 possible years (i'm also participating in the winds section for orchestra this year), a Music Mentor (for students at middle schools who want help with their instrument), Senior Men and Women (elite senior organization that does a lot of community service as well as service for the school, I am the secretary) Leo Club (i am an officer as well); I am very involved in my church as i play piano, lead sunday school for the kids, and do community service with them. </p>

<p>Awards: National Merit Commended Student, National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, AP Scholar</p>

<p>Colorguard Merits: Bronze Medalist at WGI Championships in the Scholastic World division, participant in the inaugural parade for Bush in 2005 (Grand Champion too!), participant in the Rose Parade 2008, Winter Guard Association of So. Cal. Gold Medalists in World Class division.
(this is the activity that takes up the bulk of my time (over 20hours a week) </p>

<p>I had an interview on Monday at CMC and it lasted about 45 minutes. I really feel that i got across to the senior interviewer that although i tackle on several activities, i am passionate and committed to every single thing. I also really showed my knowledge and connection to CMC as it is my first choice school. </p>

<p>I have two teacher recs, one counselor, and an extra rec from my guard instructors (as i feel they know me well) </p>

<p>My mom's a single mom, no one in my family has gone to college. </p>

<p>That's all. :)
Thanks!</p>

39

<p>Sounds like you have a really good shot. Your ECs sound very interesting and unique. I hope you wrote essays on some of those things....</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

40

<p>thanks! i'm trying to be confident >.<
but it's hard considering out of the 20 people who applied from my school last year, no one got in.</p>

<p>i hope my interest and knowledge about cmc will help me as well</p>