<p>Just wondering if anyone could weigh-in on the differences between Pomona and the other Claremonts schools since they all seem so similar and there is so much mixing between all of the programs and students. Any ideas as to which of the colleges have the best science programs would be great too.</p>
<p>The best science programs are at Pomona and Harvey Mudd (more engineering heavy). Pomona also offers more types of science (such as environmental… etc…).</p>
<p>Mudd is hard core science and engineering. A Mudd class is generally harder than the equivalent at Pomona or Joint Science (For example,someone I knew failed a required Mudd physics class twice before passing it at Pomona. Admittedly, it may just have been that it was his 3rd time through). The population at Mudd is overall much nerdier than those at the other colleges, which some people see as a good thing but others as something awful.</p>
<p>Pomona is like a university on a smaller scale. They offer way more course selection than any of the other Claremonts, so even if you’re at another school you will probably end up taking a class at Pomona, especially if you’re taking a language class. Pomona is a great school all around, so naturally its science department is pretty decent, and it does offer more types than Mudd. But I think you could graduate with a BA instead of a BS (not sure about this), which to some people looks like softer science (which doesn’t matter if you’re looking at environmental, because it IS a soft science, but Chemistry or Physics it might be different). To graduate with a Chemistry degree approved by the ACS from Pomona you have to make sure to take a certain course (1), whereas if you manage to graduate with a Mudd degree you will be accredited no matter what. Basically, only 4.1% of Pomona students graduate with degrees in the sciences (3), whereas nearly everyone at Mudd is graduating with something sciency, so one would expect that Mudd would have more of a focus on science. </p>
<p>Most Mudders have one major, because one is more than enough to keep them busy. From what I’ve seen, it is much more feasible to double major at Pomona. So if you’re looking for a really in-depth, well respected degree in a specific field, Mudd would probably be a better choice. If you want a science double major, it might be better to do this at Pomona. (I could be totally wrong about this though, especially since Mudd has a huge science core requirement)</p>
<p>Scripps is a women’s college. This does NOT mean that the students are crazy or feminist at all. It does mean that the administration gets offended really easily (much more easily than most of the students), and feminist/gender issues will show up in almost any class taught on campus (particularly humanities). You can take science at Scripps through the Joint Science Program.</p>
<p>Pitzer is full of artsy, environmentally friendly people with wild dreams of how they are going to change the world. There is almost no structure to their programs of study - they can pretty much choose to do whatever they want as long as they can explain how it ties together. One of my friends knows someone at Pitzer who is majoring in “The Sky”. </p>
<p>I honestly don’t know much about CMC. This school parties the most, though that doesn’t mean that their parties are actually any good (my Mudd bias is kicking in). I haven’t met very many nice people from here…I dunno…I don’t really know much beyond the stereotype, because Mudders simply to not interact with CMCers all that often.</p>
<p>(1)[Pomona</a> College - Chemistry Department<a href=“2”>/url</a> [url=<a href=“http://www.hmc.edu/academicsclinicresearch/academicdepartments/chemistry/quickfacts1/intro.html]Introduction”>http://www.hmc.edu/academicsclinicresearch/academicdepartments/chemistry/quickfacts1/intro.html]Introduction</a> to the Department of Chemistry<a href=“3”>/url</a>[url=<a href=“http://www.pomona.edu/Welcome/AboutPomona/FactsAndFigures.shtml]Pomona”>http://www.pomona.edu/Welcome/AboutPomona/FactsAndFigures.shtml]Pomona</a> College : Welcome : About Pomona : Facts and Figures](<a href=“http://www.chemistry.pomona.edu/curriculum/major.shtml]Pomona”>http://www.chemistry.pomona.edu/curriculum/major.shtml)</p>
<p>Pomona is your “classic” liberal arts college with the broadest range of majors of the Claremont Schools. It is the highest ranked of the schools by most surveys. It also has the largest endowment (about 1.5 billion for 1500 studens which is quite extraordinary). Quite a liberal student body for the most part. And for whatever it is worth, simply a beautiful campus/amazing facilities. Xlnt financial aid.</p>
<p>Scripps is an all women’s school. Much smaller enrollment than Pomona and limited majors. But, as with all of the Claremont schools there is a great deal of cross-enrollment from school to school. Small but beautiful campus.</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd is flat out for the sciences and related fields and if it matters to you, one of the ugliest college campuses you’ll ever see.</p>
<p>CMC is viewed as having the most conservative student body of the 5 schools. Very directed toward economics, international relations and related fields. Rather career orientated educational approach for a liberal arts school. Their seems to be a pervasive attitude of being in competition with Pomona which is not really returned by the Pomona student body, which doesn’t seem to care so much about such things. You’ll find alot more “Cole Hann” at CMC and alot more Birkenstocks at Pomona. Very good financial aid at CMC.</p>
<p>Pitzer is very small student body, rather limited in majors/course of study. Very liberal bent. Founded in the 60’s and still that “Woodstock” feel. Alot of bucks for not so much educational “bang”, but a school on the rise. Horrible financial aid.</p>
<p>Thank you for the very helpful shoe analogy, bullwinkle. It does make me wonder, though, what do Pitzer students wear? I assume they’re vegan-certified shoes of some sort, probably without a brand name :)</p>
<p>Let’s not forget flip-flops at Pomona and elsewhere! :)</p>
<p>Following the stereotype, Pitzer students would wear vegan shoes that “just happen to be made by Hugo Boss.” I have a friend who left Pitzer because she was fed up with the hypocrisy of rich students not caring about the school’s mission of social justice.</p>
<p>Following up on the above theory - what if you are a rich kid - not totally into social justice per say, you just want some exposure and the thought behind it as well as other ways of thinking about things (Poly Sci Major) and are really more central than left. Would you say then, that Pitzer would actually be a good “back door” fit?</p>
<p>this is somewhat unrealated, but which of the claremont schools would be best for history?</p>
<p>D majored in Latin American Studies which is located in the history department. She thought it was an excellent department that offered a diverse array of courses. Plus, I believe she got a grant through the department to help fund her summer travel to Chile to do research on her senior thesis.</p>
<p>in the summer of 2009 grants in all fields were reduced by about 33% and am guessing that they will be reduced more in the future due to the difficult economic times</p>
<p>My daughter received excellent FA from Pitzer! She is not attending however, for a few of the reasons mentioned above…she does however adore the campus and CA weather.</p>