<p>Hey all,</p>
<p>I'm on the wait list for Claremont Mckenna and Pomona College. I've gotten into Cal and UCLA so I'll be fine if I don't end up going to Pomona. </p>
<p>Pomona tells me if I'm accepted/rejected ON May 7th. I MUST submit a deposit and letter of intent BY May 1st for the UC Schools. Do I submit the deposit and everything and then if Pomona accepts me I take everything back?</p>
<p>Wat do?</p>
<p>Schools understand that plans can change after enrollment. They won’t send the goon squad after you if you decide to go somewhere else (as long as it’s not another UC school). However, I’m pretty sure you will lose your deposit. </p>
<p>Think about it this way: if you could pay a few hundred dollars to get accepted from the waitlist, would you? If so, then pay the deposit.</p>
<p>If I were you I would not stay on the wait list. The number of students Pomona has taken from the wait list in past few years has been very, very low. You have some amazing choices with Cal and LA. I would focus on those rather than something that probably won’t happen. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>I haven’t received a response from Pomona yet, most of my friends already were invited to stay for the visit weekend and I think that I might have been rejected. Have response lettered been sent out?</p>
<p>If you have not received your acceptance or rejection, call the admissions office and ask about your status. Many students did that last week when they did not receive their notification. This happened to my daughter a few years ago, she was accepted but it took two weeks to receive her envelope.</p>
<p>If Pamona is your FIRST choice, our GC did say if you let him know if you’re on the waiting list and he can try to convey it to the college. Must be sure you’ll go if accepted or makes GC look bad and can affect his ability to advocate for future students. </p>
<p>You do have some great (and if you’re a CA resident) affordable options. Congrats!</p>
<p>My son, since graduated, was in your situation. Waitlisted at Pomona admitted to Cal. Since admission off the waitlist is slight at best proceeded with filing the SIR for Cal, went to some admitted student weekend, and filled out the housing form. Was awarded a Cal alumni scholarship and some other Cal specific scholarships. Did write a letter of continued interest in Pomona. Then he received a call asking if he was still interested in Pomona. While Berkeley is one of the great public universities Pomona was always his first choice. Notified Berkeley he no longer wished to attend, yes you do lose any money you have paid, and went to Pomona. The odds of your getting taken off the waitlist is slim. But if you realize that and don’t get your hopes up I say stay on the waitlist. For many it is best to move on but in my son’s case things worked out. By the way he still gets mail from Berkeley like he graduated from there even though he never attended.</p>
<p>Would any of you know off the top of your head if Pomona has more reputable academic prestige than Cal/UCLA?</p>
<p>I’ve read that Pomona trumps Cal in many aspects, but am not sure. I will definitely let them know that I am still interested.</p>
<p>S went to UCLA (but was in Design|Media Arts so it was a small program - 55 students) and D went to Pomona. Here are the differences: name recognition - UCLA wins; small class size - Pomona wins; networking opportunities - I’d say Pomona wins because you’re able to develop strong friendships with both faculty and students, although because S’s program was small and professionally oriented, he has benefited from a great alumni network - it’ll be different if you go into Letters & Sciences which is huge; opportunities to do research/internships, etc., early on in college - Pomona wins.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I’d stay on the waitlist. You can put your deposit in at the UC school of your choice, and then if you get a call from Claremont or Pomona, you can make your decision then. By then you may have fallen in love with your UC and no longer be interested. Or you may still be, but no need to choose while you’re still unsure.</p>