@twoinanddone I am from Toronto. Not really into sports, but good to know.
@stevensPR undergrad is what I’m looking at. I can always apply for grad school at Hopkins or elsewhere. But presently it is not what I am considering. I just want to make that clear. And I’m really thankful for your answers.
@Drawcodawn absolutely. We aren’t comparing grad schools here but merely available undergrad opportunities. I think hopkins offers a half off masters should you choose that path later to its undergrads too. What you need to consider right now is how CS majors like the school at both jhu and Pomona. Not a single poster thus far has addressed that point adequately in this thread. Get more data points.
If we’re speaking about FANG in particular, in my class’s CS cohort, I can think of 12 students who went to work at them directly. That’d be about 25% or so. 20% went straight to graduate school, while the other 55% worked for other companies (Intuit, Cisco, Lyft, Amazon, Microsoft, etc.) I’m not sure how these numbers compare to Johns Hopkins’s CS. As previously mentioned, outcomes are not the issue when it comes to CS at Pomona. I’ve seen that repeatedly and have looked enviously at my friends (seems like the easiest path to a six figure salary- straight out of college!)
@nostalgicwisdom it is harder than it seems. Plus the average is not six figures unfortunately within all of CS. Only google and Facebook primarily offers that to entry grads and the salary is low 100k plus stock options that can’t be realized for some time. Not to gloat, but 100k is tough to save on in the Bay Area where these companies are located. MV rent for a nice one bedroom with amenities is around $3k average per month for instance.
BTW, I just did the Linkedin query. Amongst software engineers at FANG, Pomona has a total of 43 alumni working there. JHU has 613.
@stevensPR Pomona has less graduates b/c a smaller school. I don’t think it’s comparable. Maybe look at the percentage going to FANG instead?
ABET accreditation does set a good minimum standard, but there exist good CS majors that are not ABET accredited (e.g. Stanford, CMU, UCB L&S CS). In many cases, good CS majors do not have ABET accreditation because they do not have the non-CS science requirements needed for ABET accreditation.
What it does mean is that one may have to more carefully evaluate the actual CS offerings at a school where CS does not have ABET accreditation. But it does not automatically mean that the CS major there is unsuitable.
There are schools whose only ABET accredited program is CS.
But it is likely that many schools do not bother because (a) it is not perceived as required like it is for (for example) civil engineering, (b) they do not require non-CS science for CS majors, and/or (c) they do not want to deal with the administrative work involved.
@ucbalumnus that’s very good to know. Thanks so much for the assurance. I was kinda worried about that.
@ucbalumnus The real question is does a school have the ability to meet ABET status which is indicative of breadth of offerings? Typically an engineering program does. Can’t say that about all schools or even universities for that matter (Dartmouth for instance).
This is a bit of who is better -Tom Brady or Joe Montana. Pomona or Hopkins. It’s not like the decision will impact your personal success. That’s up to you. And it could be easily Iowa State for the right person. Go where you feel best suited for siccess. But neither school will assure success or be an impediment in any way. Hopkins has a much bigger international reputation. Pomona big time rep with sophisticated employers and schools. The cocktail party Johns Hopkins is quite impressive as well as with the same employer and grad school crowd. What motivates you. What will push you to be your best. I would choose Hopkins for the immediate recognition of value and the competitive atmosphere. But as we have heard. Pomona is really tough too and Hopkins is collaborative in its own way.
@stevensPR and @nostalgicwisdom just an update. I’ve been speaking to a lot of Pomona students. I spoke to JHU students back when I went to SOHOP. both about what they do after Pomona to get more data points. I have to say quite a few students from JHU encouraged me to go to Pomona, although a JHU prof reached out to me about his research and about JHU. I have to I’m going to visit early next week before I make my final decision. Thank you again for both your help.
Good stuff! I’m sure you know this, but thought it worth repeating that the school session is out for the Claremont Colleges and most students don’t begin summer research until mid June or so. So the campus is going to feel really, really, empty. I believe most professors will be on campus and academic buildings should be open from 8-5- I’d recommend emailing in advance to schedule a meeting (they might have some students as well that you could talk to). The admissions office does hold tours and info sessions at 9/10/11 AM and it could be a nice way to connect with the officers. Definitely make your way up to the other Claremont Colleges up north to get a sense of how close they are (also, if there are professors at the other schools whose work interests you, you could speak to them as well). The library should be open as well. Have a great visit 
@nostalgicwisdom I’m going to see Pomona and CMC (interested in their business and entrepreneurship). I’ve been to Mudd in the past. I scheduled a tour and an info session.
If you do want to try to observe a class, there are a few (with faculty from throughout the 5C’s) being offered at Pitzer. Check out the list for the six-week session that is still going on, and see if there’s anything you want to request permission to sit in on. (Nothing jumps out at me as matching your interests, but see what you think.) https://www.pitzer.edu/summer/course-schedule/
^ Good suggestion- totally forgot about that! I’ve heard great things about Profs Novy, Morrison, Borowoski, and Zuckerman! Seems like you could hit Brain and Behavior right after your info session, tour, and lunch, or alternatively, you could spend the afternoon taking to a few Pomona professors, eat dinner at the Village, and then spend a bit of time for the late night classes (you most likely won’t have to stay the whole time). Just message the professors, let them know your purpose (you got off the waitlist at Pomona and would appreciate seeing what the academics look like at the Claremont Colleges), and I’m sure they’d be happy to accommodate you
@nostalgicwisdom @aquapt thanks for the suggestion! I don’t think any really matches my interests or my schedule. I think I will just talk to professors!
I wouldn’t consider a Pitzer class to have the same vibe as a Pomona class.
I just visited Pomona. I’m still very conflicted. This hopkins grad gave some solid reasons http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/johns-hopkins-university/2083174-pomona-college-vs-johns-hopkins.html
I don’t see any “wrong” choice here, not do I see any “perfect” choice. Pick one and don’t look back.