Hi all!
I’m trying to decide which 2 colleges to apply to out of Pitzer, Pomona, and CMC. I’m looking to major in biology/science as a premed student.
Which 2 schools have the strongest biology programs? Also, what is the campus atmosphere for each? I can’t afford to visit them, unfortunately. I know that you can take classes at each of the different 5 C’s, but I want to attend a school that has a very supportive community for biology/premed students.
Here are some of my stats, if that helps for suggesting which colleges would be realistic to apply to:
-4.0uw gpa
-National Merit Semi-finalist
-1530 SAT
-first gen college student
-almost full IB schedule for junior and senior year, with the exception of taking dual credit pre-calc and AP Calc instead of IB Math 1 & 2
-NHS vice president
-Key Club vice president
-paid canvasser for 30hrs/wk over the summer
-current volunteer at the same place as above^, 3-6hrs/wk
-there are some other small things, but I think they would pretty insignificant to my app, so I won’t add them
Parent of a successful Pomona pre-med here. One of the most important things that you will get at all of the 5Cs are small science classes with close interactions with professors. A key part of your med school app will be your letters of recommendation and having profs who can speak personally and specifically about you is a big plus. The research you will do at the 5Cs will be guided by profs whose goal it is to advance your experience and expertise, and not necessarily to fatten their own CV. I cannot overstate the importance of advising. I can’t speak to what is offered by the other 4Cs, but Pomona’s pre-heath advising begins even before freshmen choose their classes, and continues throughout the application process - even as the student takes gap years before applying (as most now do). Here are links to the pre-health sites for Pomona and Keck so you can compare: https://www.pomona.edu/administration/pre-health https://www.kecksci.claremont.edu/prehealth/Medicine/
You are absolutely correct in looking for a college with an “atmosphere” that you are compatible with, so I cannot recommend one of the 5Cs over another. Finding someplace where you can personally excel in all of your classes and extracurricular activities will be key to having a compelling med-school app filled with fulfilling experiences.
We visited Claremont earlier this year, and I will say the Keck science building felt old and tired. Doesn’t mean there’s not great learning going on – I’m sure there is. My bio major daughter ended up choosing another college where she felt like pursuing science was a more cohesive experience than she would have had at the 5Cs. I think it all would have worked out, but she felt like there were a lot of transaction costs associated with pursuing her very specific bio interests. However, pre-med is more ‘standard’ and easier to navigate, I’d say.
Going to amend this to say I think Pomona has the best standalone biology of the 3 and would be excellent choice.
For the 2nd, it won’t really matter b/c they are both through Keck (for now) so you’d literally be taking the same science classes as everything is crossed enrolled. Just pick the college with the overall right fit for you. Pitzer is known as more social sciences focused and liberal and CMC more economics/finance focused and more conservative.
And just to be clear, I do think 5Cs are great – they just weren’t right fit for my D given her particular interests.
Thanks for all of the replies! It was a nonpartisan organization, but I would consider the issues that I canvassed for as being liberal-leaning. So from what you all have told me, I’m starting to lean towards applying to Pitzer for the more liberal and laid back fit (+ I definitely like the social sciences better than poli sci stuff) and Pomona for the biology. I’ve watched campus tour videos of Pomona and it’s such a gorgeous campus! If only it weren’t so hard to get into that school…
Maybe skip CMC given that response. The campuses are nestled close together. My kid the Mudder hung out at the Scripps coffee shop and ate often at the Pitzer dining hall. If you are female and really like the 5Cs, don’t disregard Scripps as an option.