<p>I know a lot of you will type, "Use the search function." However, I have a few specific questions. </p>
<p>I currently like Pomona and CMC equally. However, I have heard that CMC has a stronger political science/IR department. Is this true?</p>
<p>I also know that Pomona College requires the applicant to send all of their test scores, but they'll only consider the highest when making the decision. This still annoys me because I took the ACT for the first time about a month ago and I didn't do as well as I would have hoped. :(</p>
<p>Also, in my opinion, Pomona's campus is more beautiful and the dorms are supposedly nicer. I did hear that the food was better at CMC, which is important to me. One more thing, which college has a nicer library or do they share one?</p>
<p>I really like the idea that Pomona and CMC are so close to each other and they're members of the Claremont Colleges, so does it really matter which one I choose?</p>
<p>I can answer for sure the last two questions. In the Claremont Colleges group, as a student of any of the institutions, you have access to all of the dining and libraries at the others, so dont let that affect your decision.</p>
<p>CMC does have a stronger IR/PoliSci program. The focus of CMC tends to be leadership whereas Pomona tends to be more towards the well-rounded Liberal Arts student.</p>
<p>As for the test scores, that is something that you should ask a guidance counselor, but I think they just want all of your scores for a given test that you choose to submit, so if you want to submit SATs, you need to submit all of them, but you can not send any ACTs. Even though they take the highest scores in making their decision, they want to make sure that you didnt get 2250 superscore by taking the test eleven times. Again, Im not sure on this, so you should probably call the school or talk to a guidance counselor for a definite answer.</p>
<p>I’ve been stressed out over my ACT score, so I might take the SAT and see how that goes. </p>
<p>It’s difficult to choose between a strong program and a well-rounded liberal arts education. I’ll have to think. I guess it does depend on if I get into either one.</p>
<p>First of all, it’s not like there’s a huge difference between Pomona and CMC academically - they’re both great and have excellent job placement. True, CMC does have more of an IR focus. However, Pomona’s will be great too. But there’s a huge difference between the two schools in every other way! Pomona has more of an East coast feel, sort of “intellectual”, lots of guys wearing button down shirts etc. CMC is a laid back school with a lot of athletes and really outgoing people, hence the “leadership” focus. It’s also much more of a party school, and there tends to be a lot going on all the time.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say CMC’s food is better, but the dorms are (from what I’ve seen) a lot bigger and maybe more luxurious than Pomona’s - hence the “Dorms Like Palaces” ranking on Princeton Review! Pomona’s campus is a lot bigger and more spread out; CMC’s is concentrated, with all the dorms together and the classroom buildings set off to the side and edges. The only thing about the food is that, while you can eat at all the 5Cs, I know a lot of Pomona freshmen who have never eaten on any of the other campuses because their dorms are so far away. Students at the other 4Cs tend to vary their dining hall choices a lot more in my experience.</p>
<p>The library is shared by all the 5Cs and is close to both CMC and Pomona, so don’t worry about that. </p>
<p>I may be a little biased toward CMC though, since I’m a current student - get a second opinion! =P And visit if you can. Like I say, they’re very very different schools.</p>
<p>P.S. I don’t know anything about the test scores, sorry - didn’t apply to Pomona.</p>
<p>My son is a Politics major at Pomona but has taken classes at CMC. I think it would safe to say that Pomona’s bent is on the liberal side where CMC is more conservative. That is why my son has taken classes at both so he would get multiple opinions. Pomona students tend to take less classes at the other schools since Pomona offers the widest variety of courses.
The shared library is considered one of the strengths of the 5c’s. The new dorms at Pomona are unmatched but since they only hold around 150 students, I believe, good luck in getting into them. My son, who is a senior, did not make it in to them. For the fall he has a single and shares the bathroom with one other person still not too bad. He said the dorm food at Pomona has gotten better since the school took dining services back last year. He probably goes to another dining hall once a week. No matter how good the food it does feel the same after awhile. However sandwich day is always special to my kid.
Though my son wears a button-down shirt and tie for work the vast majority of is time is in shorts,t-shirts,and sandals.
Hope you can visit them in person and then perhaps you get a sense of what would work best for you. Though CMC is especially known for what your mentioned both schools would serve you well. A tough decision awaits if you get into both but what a great decision to have. Good luck.</p>
<p>It’s very hard to choose because they both sound great! I guess it is possible to experience both schools. </p>
<p>I think I would like the fact that CMC is more conservative. The only people with liberal views that I’ve been around are very snobby and arrogant, but I would like to get someone who has different views simply because they believe that way. Pomona would be better for that, but there are liberal-minded people everywhere, especially in California.</p>
<p>70’s Grad: Do you know if it’s possible to attend CMC, but still live in Pomona’s dorms or would that be a bit of a hassle since the campus is bigger? I hope I get something similar to what your son has. I would rather not have to deal with a communal bathroom. Thanks for the advice! </p>
<p>anonymityyy: I’m not sure if I would like attending a party school. I know that I could absolutely avoid it, but it’s still present. I do like that CMC has a stronger IR focus and I think I would like the more laid-back atmosphere, but I think I would like the more “East Coast” feel at Pomona. Decisions, decisions… It’s going to be so hard to choose if I get in to both of them, but that’s unlikely, so I’ll just see what happens! </p>
<p>128769: Thanks for the links! I’ll have to read the reviews and compare!</p>
<p>First off almost all first-years at Pomona live on South Campus where the dorms are more traditional with a group sharing a bathroom. For most students the friends they make the first year at college are those they live with. The CMC dorms that I have visited were good certainly better than the dorm I lived in.Though some Scripps students were housed, I believe, at Pomona due to lack of space at Scripps normally the only way for someone to have housing at a school other than their home school is to find someone to switch with you. Not really desirable nor easy. Learning to live with others is an important part of your experience. Sharing a bathroom is not that big a deal. I feel bad for your feelings about liberals. You will find arrogant people of any persuasion. Just as there are conservatives at Pomona there are liberals at CMC. Though my son is a politically to the left I would not think of him as snobby. One of the professors he had was far to the left of him but sought out opposite views in class. To tell you the truth I though my son would have trouble fitting in a Pomona since he graduated from an inner city public high school. He has developed a large group of friends many of who went to private school. I was under the impression they might be snobby. I was wrong. Remember you are going in either case to a school where cooperation not competition is the norm. My son is spending the summer in Claremont partly because of a job but mainly because he loves it so. He is living in a house this summer and enjoys that but he is looking forward to getting back in the dorms. Something to be said about not having to clean your bathroom.</p>
<p>70’s Grad: I’m so sorry if I offended you in any way. I definitely didn’t mean to. :)</p>
<p>I’m from a small town and I have two friends that are very liberal, but I think it’s just because they want to be different. I love politics, so it’s interesting to debate with them. I like hearing opinions that differ from mine.</p>
<p>There are about 400 people total in my HS, so I think I would feel comfortable at Pomona or CMC. Your son’s HS must’ve been pretty big. I can’t imagine.</p>
<p>I guess the arrangement of the bathrooms don’t really matter and I probably would get lonely if I lived in a single, so I would want a roommate. I can understand why students would want to live in the dorms at their home school; it makes sense.</p>
<p>You said your son likes Claremont. Does he ever visit LA? </p>
<p>I like the fact that both schools aren’t as competitive as some just because it takes the fun out of learning.</p>
<p>Again, thanks for the advice. It really gives me an idea of what to expect.</p>
<p>70’s Grad: I just thought of another question. Is your son double majoring in something besides politics or is he minoring in something? Has he been able to intern somewhere?</p>
<p>If it’s possible I would like to double major in politics & IR and minor in Middle Eastern Studies. I hope I can!</p>
<p>Chelsea you certainly seem to have ambitious goals. If you are interested in Middle Eastern Studies you should probably consider CMC first. They are the only school teaching Arabic. The conservative Claremont student paper has raised issues about Middle Eastern studies at CMC which I am not going to get into here. Maybe somebody from CMC would be able to answer any questions about the department. In response to your questions my son is a politics major and a music minor. Though it is not a departmental requirement he wants to do a thesis as part of his senior year. Some departments require a thesis and if you double-majored you might have to do two, a lot of work. I know people who have done it and it was not easy. If you study abroad, and given what you want to major in you should, getting all the necessary classes would require planning. Yes he goes to LA but not as much as one might think. During the school year with school, work, sports team, music lessons and practice, and band there is not a whole lot time to take trips to LA so my son finds lots to do locally. The school sponsors trips all over the LA basin if you want to explore the Southland. He has been traveling more into town this summer because he has the time. I know people who have had to travel to LA all the time for their internships so you can if you want too. Last summer he interned in the governor’s office but the school had nothing to with arranging the internship. All of my son’s summer housemates participate in SURP Pomona’s summer research program not sure how much they are paid. It is not for just science either. My son just has a regular job for the summer. You can PM me with any more questions. Best wishes.</p>
<p>CMC is well-known for the majors in which you’re interested. The IR, Government and Middle East Studies Depts are all excellent and many students major in these areas. It is also very common to have a double major in two separate fields. There was one student who felt the professor in charge of the Middle Eastern Dept had a Palestinian bias. That student graduated this year, and I don’t think the feeling was shared by other students on campus. As a matter of fact, most students seem to think he is a great professor. Considering your academic interests, I think you would love CMC.</p>
<p>parent57: Thanks for the information about the departments at CMC. My only thought is I read on that Pomona is more laid back and it’s easier to stay away from the party scene, which I like. Also, is it true that CMC provides students with free alcohol?</p>
<p>Hey, I’m a student at CMC currently so I can answer your questions about CMC, but I can also try to answer as accurately as I can about Pomona and the other 5Cs. About the alcohol policy, no the school does not provide the students with free alcohol. What happens is that the school sets aside a budget for the student government (ASCMC), which then decides how to spend this budget. It goes towards events, parties, etc., some which do have alcohol. Directly, the school does not “give” alcohol to the students. If the drinking scene is a concern for you, don’t worry, I know plenty of people who don’t drink and still have a blast.</p>
<p>About the political atmosphere, I find that most people are socially liberal and economically conservative. I don’t really know what else to say.</p>
<p>Also, if you are looking for a IR/Gov degree, I would suggest CMC over Pomona. Recently, this past spring break, CMC hosted students to go to Kuwait. Here’s the link to the article.</p>
<p>All of this was free for the students. and it shows how CMC really puts all of its funding back into the student body. It wasn’t just for upperclassmen. I know freshmen and sophomores that went.</p>
<p>Well in essence, CMC does provide its parties with free alcohol, if not directly. So does Pomona. It’s part of college life. More students drink at CMC than Pomona, but I have a few CMC athlete friends who aren’t allowed to drink during the season and still have fun. CMC is just more liberal about the alcohol. Their administration allows students to make their own decisions. Actually a plus toward CMC in my opinion. Pomona at times can be a little too politically correct, which is one of the only things I dislike about my school. But keep in mind there’s a substance free dorm option at both schools, so its relatively easy to join a crowd that doesn’t smoke or drink, if that’s what you want. As I said on the Pomona thread, the defining difference is the culture of the two schools. Good luck on your application. </p>
<p>The library is nice. Why the outside of the library matters I don’t know, but the outside is nice too.</p>
<p>Santeria: Thanks! It gives the students the ability to choose, which is nice and as long as people don’t pressure me too much, I’ll be fine. I can’t go wrong with either school. I hope I have what they’re looking for.</p>
<p>I talked to many CMC students about the alcohol scene (I definitely do not want to drink), but they ALL said there’s no pressure at all But if you feel the need to “fit in,” just walk around with a red cup filled with apple juice XD The students who live in Stark, the substance-free dorm, schedule some “dry” events. I’ve made some friends on the CMC Facebook group who also do not wish drink.</p>
<p>On my housing survey, I chose the South Quad dorms so I could choose to get away from the party scene. The parties are all the way in North Quad. I CAN’T WAIT FOR MY FIRST DAY! </p>
<p>PS. When I came for an overnight stay, I felt very relaxed, welcomed, and at home. I thought I would be nervous, but everyone was awesome! I walked around without any fear of getting lost before I left because there’s always someone willing to help you!</p>
<p>PPS. CMC has a very lenient drinking policy for student safety. It’s much better for the students to be drunk on campus. It helps reduce drunk driving :)</p>
<p>PPPS. Sorry, I post so many smileys! I just get so darned excited!</p>
Make sure to schedule interviews if you can!</p>
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