<p>I understand that the science program at CMC is joint with Scripps and Pitzer. Can anyone tell me: are the classes split up evenly accross the three campuses and is the mix of students proportional to overall enrollment in the three colleges?</p>
<p>I <em>believe</em> that the class seats are proportional to school size. In certain classes, there might also be a few off-campus seats (HM and Pomona). There's also an official waitlist for every JS class, so if your school's seats fill up but the class doesn't, you still stand a good shot of getting in.</p>
<p>I don't know whether or not actual enrollment is proportional. I'm sure it varies class to class. My last class there was very mixed, but felt pretty much proportional (some Pitzer, a few more Scripps, mostly CMC, plus there were a couple from Pomona because it was a class only offered at JS).</p>
<p>Sorry...I don't know exactly how things work, but I'm almost positive that CMC isn't at a disadvantage for its larger size, if that's the root of your question.</p>
<p>I guess my question is really more about quality. I know CMC has great programs in econ and poli sci. do you think the science program is at the same level.</p>
<p>Honestly, I have no idea, but you're comparing a resource that the campus <em>offers</em> to one for which it's <em>known.</em> So no, I doubt that Claremont is as nationally well-regarded for its sciences as it is for certain other areas, but I don't think this necessarily says anything at all, either positive or negative, about the JSC.</p>
<p>I'd personally call Scripps, where I go to school, a very good place for science students. Student research is very common (eventually, it's basically mandated, as all students complete a senior thesis). I know numerous students who've started research in their freshman years. We had two Goldwater recipients last year, had students (undergrads) recently receive an award for "Best Presentation by a Graduate Student or Postdoctoral Fellow" at an international conference, have many bound for or enrolled in top PhD programs, have way above-average med school placement (searched for numbers, can't find them, but they're high), and we use the exact same facilities and faculty as CMC students. So...that's my take.</p>
<p>One thing to note is that regardless of whether or not science is as strong as other popular CMC departments, it's definitely not as prevalent on campus. Most (though certainly not all) events tend to be econ, gov, politics, etc. related. Bear in mind that you do have Harvey Mudd down the street, as well as the other 3 schools, so overall, you shouldn't have any trouble finding events related to your interests, but your major still won't be a focal point of campus life.</p>
<p>I have to disagree with the above post. The percentage of CMCers going on a Pre Med track has been going up significantly in recent years. CMC students also have way high enrollment percentages in top PhD programs. Those top programs KNOW what joint science is and how it works, in the same way for all three schools involved. CMC does have strong gov and econ programs, but it is experiecing much greater growth in IR, Psych, and the sciences right now. The best way to find out more about the program though is to come out for a visit to the campus and check it out for yourself.</p>
<p>Wait...with what part of my post do you disagree?</p>
<p>I didn't mean that Scripps does all this great science stuff, so CMC's clearly missing the boat. I meant that I think Scripps does well, and CMC is using the exact same facilities and faculty, so I'm sure that I can generalize and say that CMC science students have equally wonderful opportunities. Just generalizing based on my own experience.</p>
<p>And when I said that I didn't think CMC was as nationally well-regarded for science as for politics/econ/etc., I also pointed out that this didn't say anything about the quality of its science offerings. Perhaps I should take out the "well" in "well-regarded," because I don't mean that JSC isn't a respected program. I just mean that CMC isn't <em>known</em> for its sciences like it's <em>known</em> for certain other departments, but this fact alone doesn't mean that its sciences aren't strong, also. </p>
<p>I'm pretty sure we agree on everything. Correct me if I'm still wrong. If not, though, thanks for allowing me to clarify foggy points in my original post.</p>
<p>To original poster:</p>
<p>The Joint Science classes are NOT proportional- there is the same number of spots in each class for each of the three schools. E.g., in a 75 person bio class there would be 25 spots reserved for each Pitzer, CMC, and Scripps.</p>
<p>(I recommend listening to cantsaythatido over me, as I was slightly unsure. My info came from a JSC professor, but...he's a little kooky).</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification.</p>
<p>would you also know if students actually do pre-vet at CMC and if it is also as successful as pre-med?</p>
<p>Pre-vet is neither an official nor a particularly common track, but it gets done. I know one Claremont student (Scripps) who's going to vet school, and she went the biology major route. So you can plan for it and make it work, but I don't believe there's [much of?] of an established program.</p>