How different are the Claremont Colleges?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I know what the difference is on paper. But that tells so little. I already know about them what can be read on their websites and their materials and such.</p>

<p>So the question is, if I think I would like Harvey Mudd and Pomona and plan to apply to both of them, should I also be applying to one or two more, in case I do not get in to Harvey Mudd or Pomona? Or would those schools be so different that they cannot be compared? For example, Pitzer seems to be a lot easier to get in to than Mudd or Pomona. Would it be a good idea to apply to that one too, and it might be as good, just not the same, as Mudd or Pomona? Close to as good, and very similar to I mean?</p>

2

<p>What is your desired major? Are you male or female?</p>

3

<p>Harvey Mudd and Pomona are such different schools that I am honestly surprised that you want to apply to them both. Are you like not sure if you want to do engineering or not? I would only apply to other Claremont schools if you think you would also be interested in them and happy to attend them.</p>

4

<p>I am female and want to major in math and linguistics. Harvey Mudd lets you do that with another college, Pomona does not. But Pomona has both majors, Harvey Mudd only has the math. Either way, it works.</p>

5

<p>Take a look at Scripps as well, since you are female. It is somewhat easier to get accepted there, and it’s a really nice community with great dorms and a beautiful campus. </p>

<p>I wouldn’t say that Pitzer is necessarily easier to be accepted to. If you have a penchant for service activities and really lean toward helping people, peace corps aspirations, etc, Pitzer might be a good match for you. But I don’t think it fits the bill as a safety for Mudd or Pomona. </p>

<p>I attended an info session on the 5 C’s in our area, and i remember that one of the speakers said, “If you are applying to more than two of the 5C’s, there’s a strong chance you have multiple personality disorder.” It was just a joke, but you get the point. Visit them if you can, and you will know where you fit in. They are very different from one another, but it’s common to apply to more than one. Less common to be accepted at more than one. </p>

<p>As a female, you have a fairly good chance of being accepted at Mudd. Just make sure you are ok with the heavy workload and feel you fit with the student body. Pomona is a crapshoot for almost everyone. Pomona also relies less on the consortium, and the students stay on their own campus more. The other 5 C’s are somewhat more integrated, but it’s not like you would have the same college experience at any of them. Definitely choose the school that fits you and your goals the best.</p>

6

<p>As everyone has already pointed out…the schools are (very) different from one another. Each attracts a different personality and caliber of student body [though all are smart], and the focuses are different.</p>

<p>A little about math at Mudd vs. Pomona- Mudd requires a core in physics, biology, computer science, engineering, physics, and writing. Significant amount of physics- 2.5 semesters of it. Pomona’s distribution requirements aren’t as rigid. You take 5 classes in a variety of areas, and by majoring in Linguistics and Math you’d eliminate 2 of them, so only 3 required classes with a lot more flexibility. There’s also a PE requirement, a writing seminar (Mudd has one too), and 3 semesters of foreign language (which can be bypassed easily). </p>

<p>The way the sequences work is very different. Mudd uses a credit hour system, whereas Pomona uses a credit point system. Every single class at Pomona, save PE, Music, Dance, and Art, is worth exactly 1 point, and you need 32 to credit. Mudd gives labs a different credit hour from the core lecture hall, and you need a certain number of hours to graduate.</p>

<p>Because of the credit hour system and the intensive core system (which has to be completed by the 5th semester), Mudd has a heavier work-load. It is also more difficult to double major. Pomona is more flexible; you can make it anywhere from manageable to extremely challenging.</p>

<p>All math is collaborative, both at Pomona and Mudd. You will be investing a good deal of time on whatever campus you take your math courses in mentor sessions and learning communities, so keep that in mind. </p>

<p>The majors work a little differently at Pomona and Mudd. Mudd has a general math track in which you choose one of around 8 concentrations to focus on (each being 3 classes each). Pomona has 4 tracks which require significant investment (8 classes each): General, Pure, Applied, and Statistical, along with a similar amount of intro classes and senior thesis.</p>

<p>The math department is joint among all of the 5C’s (ie. no cross enrollment restriction), so the school you go to won’t affect what classes you take. Math is a very community based major however, and it is really Pomona and Mudd which have the big math communities (2nd most popular major and 4th most popular major, respectively).</p>