<p>Looking at the course catalog, I was surprised at how few history profs and courses they have. Anyone with experience on this? Do the other Clarmonts make up for it?</p>
<p>Hi, there,</p>
<p>I counted 15 faculty members on the History Department's website. D is majoring in Latin American Studies, and at least two of the professors focus on that field. She's also taken an Asian History course (with Prof. Y-a-m-a-s-h-i-t-a, or it would get asterisked, who's great) and cross-registered at Scripps for another history course that wasn't offered at Pomona. But I would say that Pomona's history department is superb. Feel free to PM me if you'd like.</p>
<p>My son is double majoring psych and history. The quality of the history courses he has taken are extrodinary. He has taken other classes at the other Claremonts but never history. The amount of reading required can be intense but he does not seem to mind as the classes are so interesting.</p>
<p>I counted the profs wrong, but it still didn't seem like a ton of courses and they did seem heavy on Latin American history.</p>
<p>Unless you look at the whole spectrum of course offerings at the college, the history offerings might appear limited, but Pomona has an unusual interdisciplinary approach to a lot of their majors, and history is incorporated within each of them. The Russian Studies major, the Asian Studies major, the German Studies major, the American Studies major and the Classics major, for example, have history courses listed under those majors, which are open to regular history majors and others as well.
You might want to take a look at this page, and go to some of the descriptions of the majors that are linked there. </p>
<p>Pomona excels in international studies of all kinds. Their International Relations program and their extensive language programs are superb. </p>
<p>I'm really pleased that my son chose to live in the Language and IR dorm next year. If next year's Oldenborg speakers are as interesting as they were this year, it should be terrific.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I was wondering about the interdisciplinary possibility, but it's hard to look into all possibilities at all schools. I'm trying to help my son sort through some of this because he's still really busy with senior year. As most seniors are, I hope!</p>
<p>B-It's going to be hard for your son to narrow down his choices with so many good ones, but his visits will probably give him the information he needs. So much of it comes down to the feel of the place, especially since the academics at all of them are wonderful. How many does he hope to visit this month? </p>
<p>It seems like your son did what our college counselor tells all the kids to do - have 8 first choices. Of course, now that he has to actually pick one, it's tough! Good luck to both of you!</p>
<p>ETA: The link might not work, but I <em>think</em> you should be able to get to it from the school's websites. If copy/paste fails, you can try the step-by-step. I found it by going to <a href="http://www.scrippscollege.edu%5B/url%5D">http://www.scrippscollege.edu</a>, then Academics (top) --> Registrar --> Fall 2007 Schedule of Courses (top) --> Spring 2007 --> Claremont Colleges Course Schedule.</p>
<hr>
<p>^ This is a current course schedule (Spring 2007). Click on "History" to see all history courses currently offered in Claremont (the link straight to history is below). For the most part, courses vary semester to semester. The letters after the course number (i.e. HIST101 PO) indicate the college that's offering the course (PO, SC, CM, HM, PZ, CG = Pomona, Scripps, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Claremont Graduate. You might also see Joint Science or Keck Graduate, but obviously not in history).</p>
<p>Another way to access the Claremont Colleges Course Schedule is through <a href="http://my.pomona.edu/ics/coursecatalog%5B/url%5D">http://my.pomona.edu/ics/coursecatalog</a>. When you're looking through it, though, keep in mind that these are only the courses that are offered this semester. Many courses are offered every other semester (once a year) or sometimes even once every two years. The course catalog of each college might be more useful for learning about the range of all courses offered by each department. You can get Pomona's course catalog at <a href="http://pomona.edu/ADWR/Registrar/catalog/catalog.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://pomona.edu/ADWR/Registrar/catalog/catalog.shtml</a>.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>A.S.A.P.</p>
<p>That's exactly what he did--8 first choices. We never imagined he'd get into all of them. He has already done overnights at 2, has downsized 2 others, so will visit 2 in midwest and 2 on west coast. Last week in April is school vac anyway, so we're just letting him take off the week before that too. The last he'll visit is Pomona--we've seen it, but only in the summer. An assoc. admissions dean (their New England guy) called yesterday to chat--he sounded really nice. I'm thinking son will have an aha moment--it's that or throw a dart. NOT complaining, believe me; it's a sweet problem to have.</p>
<p>Bethie-Last fall at Pomona's parent orientation I met two moms from Vermont. I wonder if the admissions people could put you in touch with them. I have no idea if they have boys or girls, or what they're kids' academic and ec interests are, but it might be interesting for you to see how their kids are adjusting to their California home away from home.</p>
<p>I have some knowledge of Carleton and Grinnell as well, as my daughter was accepted a few years ago- they're both excellent and I think have a lot in common with Pomona. In the end, neither of my kids wanted to be too far from the ocean. I have one on each coast. </p>
<p>As long as your son listens to his inner voice when making his choice, he'll be happy. While each of the schools' programs and curricula may be different in small ways, it should come down to where he feels he will best grow and thrive for the next four years. Don't worry too much about specifics of majors or departments... your son will find so many opportunities he doesn't even know exist yet, which is why so many kids change their minds about career plans once they're in college. I think kids who really have some nice choices, as your son does, will love whichever school they attend partly because they chose it. This must be an exciting month for your family!</p>
<p>I know of at least two Pomona Vermonters who frequent this forum</p>