<p>about UCDC - i'm almost positive CMC has a semester in Washington program as well.</p>
<p>re: GPA at CMC vs. UCLA --</p>
<p>I honestly don't know if grad school adcoms adjust for this, but the average GPA at CMC is probably on quarter grade higher (o.25) at CMC than UCLA. Check out this grade inflation website:</p>
<p>recenttrendsindschools2.gif</a> (image)</p>
<p>Here you will note that of the two acceptable surrogates (UCB and Pomona), Pomona's average gpa is 0.25 higher than Berkeley's.</p>
<p>I have seen elsewhere that UCB and UCLA have very similar mean GPAs... both about 3.25.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, turn the equation and look at it from a different angle. I would bet that a given student, if cloned and sent to both schools, would emerge with the identical gpa. The CMC student at 3.5 would be at the 50th % of the graduating class, whereas the 3.5 from UCLA would be 75% from a less competitive cohort... I write 'less competive' based on 25/75 SAT averages, where the difference between the two schools on a 1600 scale is over 80 points, or about 50 points if the "superscoring" advantage of CMC's test reporting is removed..</p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses.Apparently my financial aid letter was just mailed out today so I’ll have to wait and see. However, my efc is 0 so I’m hoping for a generous amount of aid. </p>
<p>CMC does a semester in Washington… similiar to the UCDC program. i’ve actually never heard of UCDC until this thread! </p>
<p>DunninLA… so do you mean that I’d be viewed as more competitive if i attend UCLA? My teacher told me that as long as i graduate summa cum laude from UCLA, and have a killer LSAT score, I can easily get into a top ten law school. However, isn’t CMC a feeder school for law school? </p>
<p>I am also waitlisted at Pomona College… but CMC would probably be stronger for law school?</p>
<p>im kind of in a similar spot. but i have money at the lac (oberlin) and none at the uc (cal) but i live like five minutes from the claremonts (which is why i didnt apply lol) and while it has the small school feeling clearly youre also part of a consortium which gives you all those resources and can make it feel larger too. you cant go wrong there its a great environment. claremont isnt too bad either :)</p>
<p>Hmm. What about the drinking culture at Claremont? I’ve heard it described as being like the bar at Cheers. 
i don’t drink. i dont’ plan on drinking…</p>
<p>I think you should definitely go to UCLA. I actually hold a very high regard for the Claremont Colleges, but here’s my reasoning:</p>
<p>UCLA social science departments are actually really strong (we have one of the top-15 undergrad poli sci depts., and our geography department has more Guggenheim Fellows than any other university in the nation. History is also really popular here). The CAPP Quarter in Washington ([UCLA</a> CAPPP Quarter in Washington Program](<a href=“http://www.cappp.ucla.edu/quarterinwashington/index.asp]UCLA”>http://www.cappp.ucla.edu/quarterinwashington/index.asp)) is a really popular and quite prestigious program to participate in; one of my friends interned for Senator Boxer and scored inauguration tickets through her. If you’re interested in studying or interning abroad, UCLA has one of the top-10 ranked study abroad participation rates in the country. I know people call UCLA “impersonal,” but I don’t think those people are quite familiar with the school. People here really do care about one another, and most of the professors work hard to accommodate their students. UCLA is actually more undergrad-oriented than grad school-oriented, and there are multiple programs and courses in place specifically for freshmen (clusters, fiat lux’s, etc). Plus, the atmosphere is really one you just don’t want to pass up. The spirit that’s alive during Beat SC Week, Spring Sing, etc., is just one that’s hard to describe until you’ve experienced it…but something only a big school rich in tradition can provide. </p>
<p>Hope you join us in fall '09!</p>
<p>our val went to pomona last year. i was in his dorm and they had like 20+ bottle of alcohol behind his door. but it was all his roommate’s lol. it is what you make of it you can choose to or not to but he said there is quite a bit of people who do from what he says. but there are different options and things to do down there besides drink dont worry</p>
<p>OP – I think adcoms will view the two schools in similar light. They are equally prestigious (to adcoms).</p>
<p>So, your decision really boils down to which TYPE of school you like… large research unviersity, in an exciting part of LA, or LAC in a quiet suburb. Will you feel swallowed up by UCLA? You see nobody can answer that for you… it’s all a matter of how you personally relate to the world… your style.</p>
<p>Hmm. I’ll be doing an overnight program at UCLA for Regents Scholar, and also going to CMC’s Admit Day. Hopefully that’ll let me decide… but right now I am leaning towards CMC.
Thanks for all the advice/support. The drinking culture was a big part of why I am rather hesitant about CMC…however, for LA, I’ve heard that it’s very competitive and I’m not sure if I like the idea of a being graded on a curve, etc.</p>
<p>Just got FA package from CMC. While very generous… it still comes up a couple thousand short. :/</p>
<p>Could I call them and ask them to recalculate my FA package as I’m a national merit scholar (I haven’t notified them of this yet)?</p>
<p>Yea, a LOT of people drink in the Claremont colleges.</p>
<p>“a couple thousand” is definitely worth choosing CMC over UCLA</p>
<p>If i was POMONA then I would say go there, but UCLA over CMC in my book.</p>
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<p>I agree. They will take care of you at CMC (and the school can hold its own…I know someone who turned down Harvard to go to CMC this year).</p>
<p>Where did you e nd up, Darling, and how did you like it? My D has similar dilemma.</p>
<p>OP goes to Stanford and is graduating this year, 2013. Looks like he/she turned down both of those colleges, a full ride at UCLA and a good deal at Claremont…</p>
<p>Definitely tell them of your NMS scholar status and ask if that will make a difference in the FA. </p>
<p>I’m a huge CMC fan myself. The opportunities within the consortium are awesome. I would not call it a party school, because you have to be bright to get in. It looks like they have a substance free dorm.</p>
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<p>Stanford is generous with financial aid as well, so the OP probably got a very good deal there.</p>