<p>My DD transfered to Amherst as a junior. She was of typical age but had been to a larger school with a much more diverse student body. She wishes someone had warned her about the issues of transferring to such a small school.</p>
<p>A school can create any atmosphere they like to define them. And small schools can only do so much. So to believe everyone is an equally good fit is just not possible because they can’t be. Again, I don’t think it’s discrimination, it’s knowing who they are and who will thrive there.</p>
<p>^
Simply put, your assertion that an “older student just won’t be happy there” is bogus. I’ve visited Amherst, specifically (I also start there in the Fall). It is the perfect definition of the small, intimate liberal arts college of which you speak. They have few older students, but I met a few, one of which was 29 years old. He was perfectly integrated into the campus. Obviously he managed to find common ground with students younger than him. It’s really not that hard. I was a soldier in the Army at one point and I lived in a barracks with a group whose ages varied. We also had no problem finding common ground. This whole idea that being 25 on a campus that is made up of mostly 18,19, 20, and 21 year olds is somehow equivalent to a social death sentence is hyperbole on your part at best. Will there be an awkward adjustment period? Perhaps, but the same could be said for the first generation college student from the ghetto who is suddenly surrounded by WASPy types. Part of the college experience is learning how to get along with people. If black folks can learn to get along with white folks, if rich folks can learn to get along with folks with less money, then I’m sure that younger folks can learn to get along with folks that are slightly older. </p>
<p>Again, Pomona’s policy is a bogus one. If an older student applies with strong credentials, similar to those of younger students who did get accepted, denying admission solely based on age is unethical and would not be considered acceptable in most other real world circumstance, including the career arena.</p>
<p>“Pomona is a vastly different school. Much smaller, much more intimate. It demands of its students that they foster a community of residential camaraderie.”</p>
<p>Again, you speak of camaraderie. This is interesting to me considering I was in the military and “camaraderie” is an important word in that culture – I feel like I have a firm grasp of what it really means. Oddly, we never had problems fostering camaraderie between people who were 18 and people who were 45, between people who lived on post and people who lived off post. Camaraderie comes from a shared experience and mutual pride. It’s naive to think that, just because a person is older and might live off campus, that they would not be spending a significant amount of time on campus achieving that shared experience even outside the classroom. It could also be argued that just because a student lives in a dorm, doesn’t mean he cannot isolate himself from his peers or escape off campus (I’ve certainly known people like that). Most non-traditional students I know are pretty active on campus, participating in clubs, student government, and community events. It seems like an admissions officer who works for a “prestigious” LAC like Pomona would be able to identify a driven student who will most likely contribute on campus regardless of their age.</p>
<p>“There, someone who’s obviously older would not receive the social/educational experience that Pomona would like to provide.”</p>
<p>Again what, specifically, is Pomona trying to provide that cannot be attained by a student solely based on age. </p>
<p>“The school does not consider itself an adequate environment to educate that type of student.”</p>
<p>That’s fine and it’s their prerogative. They just happen to be wrong. If what one of the posters described is true regarding Pomona, I consider it a second-rate LAC at best regardless of any rankings or perceived prestige. Their definition of “diversity” is apparently a pretty shallow one designed only to cater to prevailing social norms. I’m glad that other LACs, including the big three: Amherst, Williams, and Swarthmore, have a more progressive outlook on the issue. They should be commended.</p>
<p>i think it has turned into a thought that pomona denies admissions based on age. I dont believe that is what I said. It is that anyone is accepted, but… I believe, through institutional discrimination, they are inadvertently cutting out a portion of students that tend to be of older age. I am married and must live off campus, they rarely rarely rarely give permission to live off campus, so their policy of rarely rarely rarely giving permission to live off campus inadvertently discriminates against those people of an older age/mature situation.
I am 24 and married and got accepted to schools of equivalent caliber that saw living with my husband 5 feet away from the entrance of the school as non hindering to my college experience. It is a shame that Pomona saw that taking care of a sick mom is ground for potentially granting permission to live off campus, but living with a husband not.
But then again, its their choice =D.
P.s. dont some golf clubs still have policies against women playing on the greens? Belachelijk but it still exists.
P.P.S. its like the debate whether or not Women are being discriminated against in the job for a firefighter position (sort of). Id like to hear what ppl think: The new rule is that a firefighter must be able to carry 200 lbs without assistance because Americans got fatter. Women feel they are being discriminated against because they generally are unable to carry 200 lbs without assistance. hmmm…</p>
<p>I know this thread is old, but just wanted to dispel the myth that Pomona in any way discriminates/is biased against older, non-traditional students who will be living off-campus in case anyone else in a similar situation finds this thread and inadvertently becomes turned off of Pomona.</p>
<p>I was admitted to Pomona as a transfer student for Fall 2010. I am a non-traditional student (military veteran; Marines) and will be living off-campus with my fiancee. To be honest, they could not have been easier to work with during the entire process and had NO issue with either my age or desire to live outside the dormitories. I mentioned it during my admissions interview and their only concern was whether it was going to hinder my involvement with on-campus activities. I assured them that one of the reasons I wanted to go to Pomona because of everything they offer on the campus and that I would be an involved member of the community. After I was admitted, I simply called into the appropriate office and was approved to live off-campus without even submitting any formal application.</p>
<p>I haven’t yet started at the school, so obviously I can’t comment on the atmosphere of the student body at the school, but at least initially, the administration couldn’t have been more understanding or helpful.</p>
<p>JGee, it’s complete BS from Pomona – I had a friend who went went there & he couldn’t WAIT to move off campus, as they are VERY uptight about that there. My alma mater, Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts is less so, but they still require people within their first 2 years to live on-campus. However, I was able to live off campus starting my fourth year, which I did, & there were LOTS of other Hampshire & 5 College students doing the same. What Pomona did to you is discriminatory, and although Pomona is private, just like Hampshire, jaykoblives is correct, your situation could (or should) be termed a “special circumstance” and what Pomona is doing IS unethical. My advice? If Pomona is really the school you want, then challenge their decision. If not, look elsewhere, there are MANY other campuses that would probably be more accommadating to your needs, REGARDLESS of where you live…</p>