<p>I'm trying to decide which of these schools I would rather apply to, or maybe it'll turn out I shouldn't apply to either of them. What are the most prominent differences between the two schools? Which one has more cutthroat competition between students? What is the atmosphere like at each? What is partying/drinking like at each? (I don't drink) Right now my intended major is Biology, but I'm not sure what I'll do with that BoS, but I know I'll be going on to some other schooling dental/grad/med etc. Any other major differences in student body, academics, etc., would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!</p>
<p>I applied to both these schools, Pomona ED (didnt get in) and Claremont (got in and was planning on going there until I got off the waitlist somewhere else) so I will try to shed a little light though I'm not sure about Biology at either place. Pomona has the reputation for being more cut throat though both are relatively laidback when you compare them to some of their equals on the east coast. Both schools party but there are people that don't drink that go there and have a good time and don't feel pressure. In terms of academics the great thing about all the Claremont schools is that you have the recourses of all five schools at your disposal. You can take classes at any of the other colleges you attend. Claremont Mckenna is known as a more conservative school than most LACs and is very popular for majors pertaining to the government. </p>
<p>Honestly both schools are really great and it wouldn't hurt to apply to both because they are both selective and quite small and Pomona in particular is very hard to get into.</p>
<p>I would do Pomona for the sciences.</p>
<p>bump......</p>
<p>according to wikipedia this is the difference and description of the claremont colleges.
for what you would want. harvey mudd would be the better choice.</p>
<pre><code>* Claremont McKenna College, specializing in economics, business, international relations and public affairs
* Harvey Mudd College, specializing in science and engineering while maintaining a liberal-arts tradition
* Pitzer College, specializing in social and behavioral sciences, with particular emphases on social responsibility, interdisciplinary and intercultural understanding
* Pomona College, specializing in the liberal arts and humanities
* Scripps College, a women's college specializing in the liberal arts and humanities, noted for its foreign language and psychology departments.
</code></pre>
<p>You should apply to Ponoma, Claremont McKenna, and Cal Tech.</p>
<p>Cal Tech's excellent for science, but you have to study your ass off in there.</p>
<p>Pitzer, CMC, and Scripps have a joint science department. Harvey Mudd and Pomona each have their own.</p>
<p>CMC seems to be more pre-professional, focused on internships, resume-building, etc, while Pomona seems to be more intellectual, culturally oriented, and more liberal. These were just my impressions from visiting the two schools.</p>
<p>You should do more research into what you really want and what these schools are about.</p>
<p>I'm going to skip most of the consortium description and assume that you have a little bit of familiarity with Claremont as a whole. Correct me if I'm wrong and I'm sure we can get a more thorough description!</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Each school has its own emphases. CMC emphasizes politics, IR, and econ. Pomona is a more traditional LAC (it's strengths are the broadest b/c it's the largest, best endowed, and first of the colleges, but don't let this sway you too much because the whole point of the other schools having their own emphases is that we can all share one anothers' and thus enjoy amazing facilities in most departments, even with such small student bodies). If you have zero interest in CMC's strengths, then you may want to take it off of your list because you will be stuck taking econ, civics, and some other related courses as GEs. </p></li>
<li><p>We can cross-major. CMC is part of the Joint Science Program (shared facilities with Scripps and Pitzer), which is excellent. Biology is a top major at a few of the Claremont schools. Pomona has its own department and I believe there are multiple bio majors (if you're interested in one that's not offered by Joint Science, you can major off campus, which is nothing unique or difficult).</p></li>
<li><p>These are awesome schools. Everyone is reasonably intelligent and everyone else knows it. Furthermore, it's southern California. With the possible exception of a very small minority of Pomona students, moreso than those at other schools, cutthroat competition doesn't happen. I've never, ever encountered it.</p></li>
<li><p>Pomona is a much more beautiful campus, although both are attractive (and this will matter more than you think once you realize that it's really your home). Pomona has a more east coast, gothic feel to it, whereas CMC is sometimes described as "70s apartment complex" (which is fitting, although deceptively unflattering). Pomona is a much larger campus, although the student bodies aren't <em>too</em> different in size (they're the two biggest of the Claremont schools). If you get a chance, tour both schools and spend the night, because it's really a good way to get a feel for atmosphere, and choosing one of the Claremont schools is really a lot about choosing an atmosphere. I toured CMC and Pomona, yet somehow wound up attending Scripps (thank goodness for getting lost)!</p></li>
<li><p>I do hesitate to give this advice, but I think it's important. If you don't drink, that's one thing on its own and I've never been pressured to do so at any of the colleges. But if you don't really want drinking to play a prominent role in your college experience/environment (i.e. you're also not really a big partier and don't think you're going to want to just go to parties to socialize while other people drink a lot), then CMC may not be for you. One of my closest friends is transferring for this reason. You can definitely find your own crowd off campus, or work to find people on CMC, but it will take a little more effort on your part. Also, depending on where you live, you may be stuck around a LOT of partying/drinking. It pretty much <em>is</em> the CMC social scene. This goes on at a few of the schools, but I'd say it's most difficult to escape at CMC. Pomona offers sub-free housing as well as a lot of sub-free events, and because the campus in general is larger and more spread-out, you probably won't have to come home to/through a party on a regular basis. Both of the schools are AMAZING and the social scene doesn't change that, which is why I feel funny telling you this, but I do know that as a non-drinker, I was largely turned off to CMC when my tourguide started jokingly pointing out and bragging about all the beer bottles in the gutter of his dorm. I take classes there, have friends there, etc., but I would have a difficult time living there. If you're female, you may want to look into Scripps, but I won't elaborate on why until knowing whether or not it's even a possibiity ;-)</p></li>
<li><p>You can apply to both of the schools and it won't hurt your chances at either, in case you haven't narrowed your opinion by the time you apply.</p></li>
<li><p>A previous poster said CMC seemed particularly professional-focused whereas Pomona is a little more traditional...I would agree with that. Application versus theory, I guess. Not a huge difference, but it's true. CMC is a little more conservative, Pomona is a little more liberal (it's still a SoCal LAC, so conservative is a relative term). Pomona students tend to have a lot less interaction with the rest of the consortium (their dorms are the farthest away and they're the most self-sufficient because of size/endowment/age). </p></li>
</ul>
<p>That's it off the top of my head. Sorry for not being particularly articulate, but it's late! For the record, I love Claremont...it's amazing :-) Good luck in your search!</p>