Hi there! I just have a quick question. I’ve applied to Pomona, don’t have a decision yet, but it is my first choice. I plan to study IR, and until yesterday I had read that both Pomona and CMC’s IR programs are very good. Because I felt that by every other parameter Pomona was a better fit, I applied there and not to CMC. But yesterday I read that CMC’s IR program was more diplomacy focussed (which is what I want) with more course options and internships. So I have 2 questions:
Is this true?
Is it possible to take IR classes at CMC despite the fact Pomona offers IR (I read somewhere on this website that it wasn't). If yes, to what extent?
That is a very specific question for which you may not find an answer here. I suggest you try contacting someone in the IR program at Pomona, perhaps one of those listed as a program coordinator on the IR website. They would be better equipped to answer your questions.
CMC is more focused on IR-related topics, so I’d guess that they probably have more (although not necessarily better) offerings in that area. However, Pomona has some pretty cool professors (e.g. former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter). Also, it’s really easy to take classes at CMC if you go to Pomona or vice versa.
Overall, I’d caution against making your decision based solely on the strength of the IR departments, since in the end they’re both very good. I can’t be sure of what you mean by Pomona being as better fit in other parameters, but CMC has a very specific social culture (whereas Pomona’s is a little broader), and if you don’t think you’d fit well with that then you probably shouldn’t apply there.
Thank you for the info! Yes, the social scene was exactly what I meant. Despite being from the same consortium, they do seem to have very different interactive cultures…
But I also did mean the academic climate. One seems to be more profession-focussed than the other, and that’s not what I’m looking for at an undergrad level. Anyways, that’s just my opinion
