<p>ok, i'll be frank:
claremont just seems like a "safety" school for students who apply to pomona. i've been to both, and i'd just like to know what claremont has that pomona doesn't...
(i don't want to present myself as a prestige-whore, sooo my apologies if this post makes me seem like one)</p>
<p>If you want a traditional libral arts education where they teach you how to "think" really well but neglect teaching how to do, go to Pomona. If you want a college that teaches you how to do and mixes thinking into the mix, go to CMC. Both are very, very good. Also I've heard Pomona students ten to be more bubbly and chipper, but that might just be the steriotype. I'll paraphrase a saying about Pomona "I had a amazing education and a great four years. Now, if I could only get a job...."</p>
<p>heres another quote ive heard "Pomona is for kids who are very smart, but read books alone in the corner... cmc is for kids who are very smart, but were class presidents"</p>
<p>as for cmc being a safety school for pomona applicants... complete BS</p>
<p>Driggums - spoken like a true Claremont student. :)
I've been to Pomona a few times - never saw a kid reading in a corner.
Never saw a kid alone, actually. They're a pretty social group.</p>
<p>"Leadership" is Claremont's mantra. Kids who are especially interested in government and business tend to like Claremont McKenna. It has a strong career orientation.
Pomona is more an all-around liberal arts school, much like Amherst or Williams. I think it's a bit more intellectually oriented, but is also great for leadership types who might be interested in the sciences, media, or business, as well as those interested in premed, literature, anthropology - just about anything.
Pomona has it's share of class president's, but also reserves spots for the scientists and the artists.
They're both pretty tough to get into - neither is a safety for anyone.
Claremont used to be easier to get into, hense the rep, but it doesn't really apply anymore.</p>
<p>TP-
I'd mostly agree with ASAP, but a few things to add-
CMC may not be a safety school for anyone, but Pomona remains the more competitive school, and is therefore more prestigous (also helped by the simple fact it's much older). Both are probably prestigous enough not to ever hold you back from getting a job, getting into grad school, etc., but clearly neither are as well-known as an Ivy League school.
I can't really name anything CMC has that Pomona doesn't (this is not bitterness, I was admitted to both and have decided to attend neither), but they are really very different schools. Pomona also has plenty of leaders and strong econ and gov departments (and CMC has plenty of non-leaders and strong departments in other things), so the main difference seems to be just the feel of the schools, as I'm sure you noticed on your visit. Chosing between the two, it would likely come down to that.
Best of luck with your whole college process. And don't feel so bad about considering prestige (I've found people who claim they don't care at all are frequently lying), just make sure you also find a place you'll really like being too.</p>
<p>From your visit, what did you think the different feels of the schools were?</p>
<p>wow good advice everyone :)
i guess it's sinking in that i'll be attending cmc instead of pomona (waitlisted) -- in no way do i mean that cmc is worse compared to pomona.. it's just that pomona was my top choice, and therefore, i looked into it more than i did to cmc.
my trip to claremont mckenna actually became a trip to pomona, into which i wandered after being lost in mckenna. pomona, i thought, was so different from the modern looking claremont mckenna; old english architecture, tall, mystical trees, cool pavement were all characteristics of pomona college. the sagehens were so proud of being at pomona -- though at times, their enthusiasm blurred with arrogance from being at the most prestigious college in the consortium ("we have the highest SATs!" one student proudly declared) -- and the atmosphere was simply warm and inviting. i really liked it...
anyway, do people ever choose claremont over pomona? if so, why? i mean as much as i'd like to believe driggum's quote, it seems to be too much from a biased source ;)
regardless, i appreciate all the info!</p>
<p>My S is at Pomona, but when moving in we met a few students that chose CMC over Pomona because they were business/political science oriented. Both schools are amazing and I know noone at either school who is not happy or thrilled with their choice.</p>
<p>If you liked the area and the consortium, you should feel privileged to attend Claremont. I'm sure that many kids at Claremont liked it so much that they never even applied to Pomona! Go back for the admit days and give Claremont your full attention. I think you'll be sold.</p>
<p>I was seriously considering both pomona and claremont and had a very hard time distinguishing which one would be a better fit.</p>
<p>I wanted to major in poli sci for sure...I'm very politically oriented. I also had LOADS of leadership experience (nauseating amounts really...not exaggerating). Thus, CMC's focus on leadership and gov't really appealed to me. </p>
<p>Before my campus visits, I knew I would only have time for 1 interview and I made it with Pomona...because Pomona was more prestigious, well known, more intellectual, etc. I saw the beautiful campus (old architechture...that east coast feel of other schools I was looking at) and was impressed. I would really be happy there.</p>
<p>BUT then I went on the CMC tour, and although the campus isn't quite as beautiful (sorry...it just isn't....i don't appreciate 1970s architechture ) and the students didn't seem quite as ridiculously smart...I KNEW it was the better choice for me. I switched my interview to be for CMC, applied ED, and wil be attending next fall!</p>
<p>So while I would have been happy at Pomona, I know I will be happier at CMC. So Pomona was actually one of my back ups, not the other way around. I would strongly agree that Pomona is more about "learning for the sake of learning" and "great, now find me a job." don't get me wrong, I'm sure tons of Pomona grads have great jobs, etc. I just feel like CMC will provide me with more experiences (athanaem, washington dc program, strong poli sci dept) that will more directly (as opposed to indirectly) prepare me to start a career in government. </p>
<p>If you are just "interested" in economics....or art history...or environmental science...or whatever....I think Pomona is more suited to exploring a subject and getting to know it well. Claremont wants you to see the practical application of the subject. </p>
<p>It's a really tough call and both my student interviewer at CMC and my tour guides (both schools) had trouble articulating the nuances of CMC vs. Pomona.</p>
<p>I got into CMC but was waitlisted at Pomona. From everything I know, CMC is a great school, but I feel like I fit in more with the attitude and philosophy of Pomona. I'm interested in politics and debate, which showed in my application and probably helped me get into McKenna, but also in history and theater and creative writing and film and even a little ultimate frisbee. </p>
<p>I would hope that whatever college I go to lets me explore all of my interests and develop new ones too. My reason to go to college is to learn, not to get a high paying job at the headquarters of Ambercrombie and Fitch right after graduation.</p>
<p>That being said, I figure that college is probably what you make of it. I hope that CMC would have plenty of opportunities for me to pursue all of my passions, which, especially because of its place in the consortium, I'm thinking it does. Just because a school has a certain stereotype doesn't mean that all of its students fit it. </p>
<p>I'm taking another look at the school this weekend because I'm a finalist for the John E. Allen scholarship. We'll see if any of my thoughts change.</p>
<p>I'm going to throw out some USNews admissions stats to give you all some perspective:</p>
<p>Lowest LAC acceptance rates in 2006 Edition (not counting Lane College and random others):
Williams - 19%
POMONA - 20%
Amherst - 21%
CMC - 22%
Bowdoin - 24%
Swarthmore - 25%
Middlebury - 26%</p>
<p>stats for Pomona and CMC:
Pomona: 1370-1530, 86% in top 10%, 50% alumni giving rate
CMC: 1310-1490, 83%, 50%</p>
<p>Toiletpaper, do not worry so much about the differences between the various Claremont schools. Since there are many overlaps among students, do not believe that the remaining Claremont schools are merely filled with Pomona rejects. Do you really believe that students attend Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, or Scripps only after being rejected by Pomona? </p>
<p>Bashing one another is just part of the local folklore and traditions. Compare it to a large family reunion when brothers and cousins tease one another mercilessly. There are times when things get a bit overboard, but all in all, students get along very well on an individual basis. </p>
<p>As far as programs, the schools have different reputations and strengths. However, it is a mistake to see that as a problem. While al classes are not open to everyone, students routinely take classes at one of the other four schools. If a program or a teacher is of particular interest to you, chances are that you will be able to take the classes.</p>
<p>I agree that CMC is what I call a "destination school" in itself. My son, admitted to CMC, never considered Pomona, although he would have been a match academically. The philosophy of CMC, the Athenaeum, and the quality of the economics and government departments, plus the emphases on leadership and sports, attracted him. On the other hand, my older daughter, a future bio major, after checking out both plus Harvey Mudd, applied to Pomona alone.</p>
<p>Because Pomona is the highest ranked in the Consortium and because many, many students apply to more than one Claremont College, the other schools tend to all carry this "Pomona fallback" reputation (although in my experiences, it rests mainly on CMC and secondarily on Scripps). Some thoughts...</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Even if someone applies to both Pomona and CMC, is rejected by Pomona, and chooses to attend CMC, this says <em>NOTHING</em> negative about CMC. If a student is rejected from Harvard and attends Pomona, it does nothing to diminish the respectability of Pomona (and NO, I am not at all intending to compare Pomona/CMC to Harvard/Pomona...my selection of Harvard was more-or-less "arbitrary good school").</p></li>
<li><p>There is much more at stake than rankings when it comes to Claremont. Each of the schools has very different atmospheres, student bodies, GE requirements, etc. Political atmospheres are different, popularity among certain extra-curriculars, and so forth. Take these things into account when you make your selection...choose the school at which you're most comfortable.</p></li>
<li><p>Do not attend CMC if you have zero interest in politics, econ, and its other strengths. While you can choose to major in another subject (and many do), you will still have to fulfill civics and econ GE requirements, among others. Pomona has a broader range of GEs.</p></li>
<li><p>I don't know that this is the case, but do not attend CMC if you're viewing it solely as a Pomona fallback. If you don't think that you'll love the school based on its own merit, then having Pomona in such close proximity will probably just irritate you.</p></li>
<li><p>Of course, each Claremont school is unique from the rest and the whole structure would be pointless if they didn't have their own assets, but in my opinion, the differences are sometimes less important than the similarities. The point is that the 5Cs will offer you more together than any of the single institutions on its own. The Athenaeum, as one example, is open to students of all colleges, though rarely, it may be closed to all but CMC students. Even in these instances, I may be incorrect, but I believe that the <em>speech</em> (vs. the meal) is open to all. Many opportunities will be available to you regardless of whether you attend CMC or Pomona.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Most importantly, visit CMC and make sure you are comfortable there. Both it and Pomona, and Claremont in general, are excellent institutions. Hopefully you're satisfied with wherever you end up!</p>
<p>oh woooow that's a lot of good responses!
yeah i researched claremont more, and i'm beginning to think that i would take cmc over pomona, even if i were accepted to both colleges. the athenaeum is especially appealing, and i like government focus
thanks a lot guys.. are there other opinions though?</p>
<p>maybe you already have...but i think you should go post this in the pomona forum and see what they say</p>
<p>You can still go to the athenaeum even if you are a Pomona student. Keep that in mind. Emm has a good point!</p>
<p>Last fall i applied to CMC and didnt bother applying to Pamona inspite of its superior rankings. More than anything else i realised it didnt provide as much of an educational mix as CMC. They are both expensive schools and CMC will definitely equip students better to recover their costs in the future.</p>
<p>I'm a math major and I chose CMC over Pomona, so people don't just choose CMC if they are gov't or econ. I like the feel of the school much better. Pomona was too artsy for me. Pomona is typically less involved in the consortium than the other schools (less funding for 5C parties, less advertising of Pomona events at the other 5Cs, etc). I prefer the CMC community. I know plenty of people at CMC with SAT scores above 1500 who could have gone to Pomona but liked CMC better. We are not the safety school for Pomona rejects.</p>