<p>I'm just a rising sophomore, but I've done a ton of research on schools and Pomona is my top, top choice. I know how hard it is to get admitted so I want to do everything I possibly can to get accepted. I've heard that one of the big things you can do is show that you're really interested in the school, but is it too early to start doing that as a sophomore? And if not, what can I do specifically to show them I'm interested? We're going on a road trip to California next summer so I'll probably be able to visit the campus then, but I don't think we can afford for me to go down there again for an overnight visit or something. So what else can I do??</p>
<p>Register at the Pomona booth at college fairs or with the Pomona rep if there’s a visit to your HS. Write to Admissions and request a view book before your trip. Sign up for a tour of the campus and the admissions info session.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Pomona admissions reps tour the country each year, often in small groups with other LACs. I remember we went to one of these information sessions in another city not too far away and heard reps from Swarthemore, Pomona, Bowdoin and Carleton speak. I can’t remember how we found out about it, but I’m sure that the college has a touring schedule each year. You could ask admissions if any of the reps will be giving info sessions near you, and make an effort to attend. They’re really fun and informative.</p>
<p>See if they offer some sort of summer program for high school students, and go to it.</p>
<p>My D did not express any real interest other than actually applying and arranging for an alum interview near where we live. She hadn’t even visited until she was admitted in April of her junior year. Now she is a rising sophmore at Pomona. I wouldn’t worry about expressing interest especially at this early stage for you. Pomona admits the students that they feel are the right “fit” for the school regardless of the interest one might show.</p>
<p>I had two kids apply; one was admitted ED and one was waitlisted. Both had similar credentials, except that the admitted one did several things that the sibling did not do:</p>
<p>1) visit the summer before junior year
2) contact the coach of the sport she wanted to play, which led to another visit and a chance to interview with admissions
3) apply ED</p>
<p>Maybe the coach’s support was the only significant difference, but maybe all these things showed a pattern of interest that set the admitted child apart. Applying ED has to help, but if not doing ED, I think it would be wise to either visit and interview, or try to set up an interview with an alum.</p>
<p>Showing interest is important (in particular for Pomona, doing an interview your senior year, and talking to a coach if you’re good and considering playing at a DIII school). But beyond that, the best thing to do now (and show interest simultaneously) is to talk to a representative and see what you can do NOW as a sophomore to set you up for being a stellar candidate when you apply as a senior. Sophomore year is really when everything really starts to matter, which means taking the most challenging courses (and doing well), committing yourself to clubs long-term that you are actually interested in (and not just doing to look good for college), and to establish yourself in leadership positions by your senior year. While you probably won’t get too many recs from your sophomore year (most will come from junior year, esp if you take AP classes and are applying ED), doing well in those classes won’t hurt and can secure you a solid rec (though they do prefer recs from the latter years). Applying ED is the number one way of demonstrating your interest, but you don’t have to decide that for another 2 years.</p>