<p>I've heard that even though the 5 colleges are relatively close to the city, it's not that common for students to "escape" to LA. Does Claremont have enough going on to keep you interested and on-campus? Is a car really important to have if you want to go into the city? thanks</p>
<p>People go into LA as much as they like, or as much as their schedules require, so people will tell you different things. I know students who go in multiple times per week for internships, sports practices, and the like. I also know some who avoid the city at all costs. Most tend to go a few times each semester for pleasure (and not just LA...Santa Monica, Anaheim, Pasadena, Hollywood, Venice, UCLA, USC, San Diego, Palm Springs). The schools regularly arrange destination trips into the city (and surrounding areas) as well, and these trips generally include transportation.</p>
<p>In my experience, Claremont has plenty going on on-campus to keep you interested. 5x "plenty," really. I enjoyed having LA nearby, and I definitely did some stuff in the city, but proximity to the city by no means shaped my college experience. The campuses are VERY residential.</p>
<p>If you want to go into the city regularly, then yes, a car is necessary. If you just want to go in once in awhile for pleasure, then it's not a big deal...the metrolink train goes right in and there's a station within easy walking distance. I've gotten around with the train and busses, but LA public transit is definitely nothing you want to rely on on a regular basis...it can be a pain. I never had a car and never had a problem, but I also didn't have a regular need/desire to go into the city. A few of my friends had cars and I was happy to stick to their schedules.</p>
<p>Good luck :)</p>
<p>I'm a big city kid, but I still find enough to do on-campus every weekend. When I do go into L.A. though, it's usually for a special event, like a new exhibit at LACMA or the Cinco de Mayo fair.</p>
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I've heard that even though the 5 colleges are relatively close to the city, it's not that common for students to "escape" to LA.
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<p>If you drive, it is 35 miles to downtown Los Angeles, and 50 miles to the beach in Santa Monica. Usually a lot of heavy traffic, whether you take the I-10, I-210 or 60 freeway.</p>
<p>It varies, but I'd say the average student makes it in to LA and the surrounding area two or three times a year. This year, I've made it to the Santa Monica Pier once, Occidental area once, and one other kind of random trip.</p>
<p>And, contrary to popular belief, it is not hard to get into LA using public transportation. Granted it is more complicated and it takes longer, but it is neither difficult nor hard to get somewhere. It just typically takes a combination of public transit systems to do so.</p>
<p>Agree with odan about the public transportation, but it is important to note that the Metro (train into L.A.) closes at a ridiculously early time, like 8 or 9 PM. Hardly reliable if you're going clubbing, or for that matter, doing anything fun in L.A.</p>
<p>But busses run all night^</p>
<p>Is Claremont affected by all the drama of LA? I'm interested in Pomona but I'm leery of being so close to a big city as...unique...as LA.</p>
<p>It is and it isn't.</p>
<p>California in general is a very liberal place. Though there are many conservatives and conservative areas, it's all relative...even these people are still generally more liberal than conservatives elsewhere. There are certain stereotypes about California that do hold fairly true (which is not to say that there aren't plenty of exceptions...again, it's all relative)--health conscious, outdoorsy, sun-loving, open-minded, laid back...but also image conscious and materialistic. I would say that in Claremont, you'll find many of these characteristics a little stronger than you will in many other places, but won't find any of them to obvious extremes.</p>
<p>As for majorly off-putting stereotypes and drama (think "the OC"), Claremont is far enough inland to be (at least in my experience) immune. I was watching "Sunset Tan" the other day (yes, it's true...forgive me) and some girl kept saying "This is what LA is like...I can't believe people in LA are like this...this is psycho..." and it was weird b/c I didn't associate anything there with my own experience of SoCal (thank goodness).</p>
<p>Remember that many (I don't think the majority, overall, but perhaps it is) Claremont students aren't Californian. Myself, I'm glad to have experienced SoCal--it's definitely an interesting place to live for awhile--but I'm happy to be done with it. I can't think of any instances, however, where my distaste for the area had anything to do with the people or atmosphere of Claremont, itself.</p>
<p>So in sum...clarify your question :) How do you see LA as being so unique, and what exactly makes you leery? If it's just the materialism that scares you off, forget it...you'll be totally fine in Claremont. If it's diversity and open-mindedness, then you'll have trouble.</p>
<p>And finally, the eternal plug: visit, visit, visit!!!</p>
<p>i brought my car out after my first semester at pomona, but as much as i love doing 'big city' type activities, i haven't really used it that much to go into LA. for starters, traffic can be absolutely madness no matter where or when you're driving, and with today's crazy gas prices it didn't make sense to spend so much on adventures in LA when there was so much to do (for free) on campus. the school sponsors enough off campus activities that i can still do things like disneyland, aquarium of the pacific, etc. for either free or extremely cheap so that all students can participate regardless of socioeconomic status. having a car is REALLY nice, but definitely not a necessity.</p>
<p>I grew up in the heart of San Francisco, and so I am used to having a city at my finger tips. Because of SF's relatively close vicinity to Pomona and the fact my Grand Parents live in South LA I took my car down my first year. While getting off campus was never a problem (gas prices were high, but load a car with friends and they pay for most of it) I found I rarely left campus because of the amount I would miss out on wasn't worth it.</p>
<p>Yeah I could go to the beach with my friends on Saturday, but I'd get back late and miss the screening of 'Snakes on a Plane' - and who could ever spare their Friday when there's that random themed party to go to? Maybe it was intellectual lectures, or friends throwing a Foose Ball World Cup, but I found leaving campus was a hard thing to do because there was just too much going on. In fact, my two largest adventures (Disneyland and Magic Mountain) happened during Finals week because there was nothing except studying and stress on campus. When I did leave campus on a proper day trip (about once every other month) it was by brining my friends along in several cars that I could find enough time to divorce myself from the busy world of the 5cs.</p>
<p>I can second this^</p>