<p>We visited P and were very favorably impressed. It seemed like an upbeat environment, lots of caring professors, well-run, friendly and bright students, lots of great programs both socially and academically.</p>
<p>My daughter is a fairly intellectual, moderately serious and earnest girl. She is not looking for a party school or one at which a non-substance user would feel uncomfortable. She is looking for an intellectually stimulating environment populated with students who really are passionate about learning and delight in discussing ideas in and out of the classroom. Some of the articles in College guides raised concerns that it might be too much of a party place, a California day-dreaming sort of a place and not sufficiently academinc in nature. Any comments? Thanks so very much!</p>
<p>Hi mommamia, I graduated from Pomona about a year and a half ago. I too am not much of a party person, and I definitely don't like a super laid back attitude. There were definitely a few times when I felt a little left out because I didn't enjoy drinking, but it wasn't too hard to find people who felt similarly. When I talked to my high school friends who went to other colleges, it seemed like there was more partying at most of their schools. (Brown, Vanderbilt, U Wisconsin...) At almost ANY college there will be at least SOME drinking and partying.</p>
<p>As for the laid back Cali attitude... I would say that Pomona kids are mostly a hardworking bunch, but there is not as much cutthroat competition between students as at some other schools. Mostly, people are friendly and want to help each other out. There is definitely no lack of academic rigor at Pomona; it would be hard to get past the admissions committee if you were a slacker.</p>
<p>Of course, Pomona is the only college I've attended so it's hard to really compare it to the environment at other schools. But I had a great experience there. </p>
<p>The academics are every bit as challenging and the students extremely intellectual but there is a very cooperative feeling and definitely not a competitive feel. to the campus. Students are happy not stressed despite the intensity of their caseload. They have fun in their free time. There are students that drink and party and students that don't. My D visited her brother there and stated that even the drunk students she met were brilliant and carried on highly intelectual discussions hmmm. There are substance free halls in every dorm and there are dorms that party and dorms that don't.Students fill out a thorough questionaire before they arrive and tend to end up with like minded students. That said their is more of a laid back feeling then some east coast schools. Students are strongly encouraged to stay active in activitities besides just their studies to prevent the occurence of a pressure cooker student. There are very strong relationships fostered betwen students through a number of programs, freshman orientation, small group paired together in freshman floors. There is a strong passion for learning there and lots of late night dorm room discussions. I strongly recommend a night on campus. It is trully the only way to test fit. My S is a freshman and loves it there but no school is for everyone.</p>