<p>I've just begun looking at these schools and they both have grabbed my attention. What makes them different and which one would you choose?</p>
<p>Hopefully you get the chance to visit the Claremont colleges. Pomona and CMC, although literally next door to each other, have very different vibes. Pomona has the look and feel of an East Coast campus. The buildings are beautiful. It is more spread out. The student body is a little more liberal than CMC, which is considered to be the most conservative of the 5 college consortium (although it is really a mix). The CMC campus is more contemporary. I believe that all the classes are in one central building, which my son didn’t like very well. CMC is known for leadership. Business is a very popular major. I believe Pomona is slightly more selective in admissions. I loved the consortium concept. You have the advantages of a very small school, but within a larger group of schools. You can take classes at the other schools, as well.</p>
<p>thanks a ton!</p>
<p>i was also wondering if your dorm is in your college residential buildings or if those can be spread throughout the other colleges, and if you can eat at the other dining halls with just one meal plan?</p>
<p>^I’ve definitely heard people eat around… I assume its on their meal plans</p>
<p>There is no “business” major at CMC, but Economics is a popular major.
You can eat at any of the 5Cs dining halls.</p>
<p>lolo-- there are numerous Pomona vs CMC thread links here:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/claremont-mckenna-college/689942-reference-links-claremont-mckenna-vs-xxxx-college-threads.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/claremont-mckenna-college/689942-reference-links-claremont-mckenna-vs-xxxx-college-threads.html</a></p>
<p>thanks, especially allllll those really helpful threads!</p>
<p>lolo- I made the same decision between CMC and Pomona and ended up choosing Pomona. If you have some specific questions or want more details feel free to send me a PM.</p>
<p>In terms of living on other campuses… it’s possible but hardly anyone does it. In order to live on a different 5C campus one would need to find someone at that campus who wants to live on your campus and so the two people basically just switch.</p>
<p>Pomona and CMC are completely different. CMC seems much more homogeneous than Pomona(although perhaps not statistically). In their View Book, CMC describes their students as “driven”-well doesn’t that just say it all? Pomona has a cooperative rather than competitive feel and is one of the most diverse colleges in the nation. CMC has a “jockish” vibe and we have noticed that so many of the guys look like athletes, whether they are or not. I have heard students say that Pomona is much more laid back than CMC. CMC is more of a party school as well. The consortium is truly outstanding, offering all of the advantages of a larger school with the benefits that a small school offers. Students most definitely use all the dining halls as well as other facilities. It’s very easy to get to know students from the other colleges and things such as the phys. ed. requirement provide a fun environment in which to do so. My child attends Pomona, and we have a saying in our house that Pomona is “as advertised”-the most accessible and amazing professors, a supportive environment, extremely intellectual without being snobby, with really, really nice kids. I’m sure CMC is wonderful too, for the right person, but we have observed that the 5 C’s are all very distinctive and it would benefit you to spend time at those that you’re considering.</p>
<p>mariw- I have a child at CMC and have interviewed & hired at both…your characterizations are right on. Both fantastic places, each very distinct. Kids from each Claremont school are very proud of their own culture.</p>
<p>Interesting discussion. S2 visited both and just felt that CMC was a better fit for him. He is not exactly “driven” but is an athlete (varsity lacrosse and martial arts) and ambitious. He really liked the students and school officials at CMC, did not get as welcoming a vibe from Pomona. He also liked the emphasis on leadership and the close-knit community at CMC. He decided to apply to CMC only rather than to both.</p>
<p>My S is a CMC student. He is motivated, but in a relaxed way and he is not an athlete. He was attracted to CMC partly because of the cooperative environment. He steered clear of all schools that he saw as cut throat competitive. As a CMC student he continues to see the environment as cooperative and he loves it. He did not visit Claremont campus prior to applying, but on paper he was attracted to CMC but not Pomona and CMC was the only Claremont school he applied to. I can’t tell you why, it was a surprise for me but he continues to feel that CMC is a better place for him.</p>
<p>I’m noting the comments that Claremont is conservative. Does that mean most of the students are republicans? Politically active?</p>
<p>In terms of political balance, I would say that there are more Libertarian-leaning kids than Republican ones. I think that’s partly due to the popularity of Econ here. We have two active newsmagazines–one conservative (Claremont Independent) and one liberal (Claremont Portside), and from what I’ve observed, the Democrats of the Claremont Colleges are more active than their Republican counterpart (DCC meets at CMC and currently has a CMC student as president). You might notice that the professors in the Econ and Gov departments have a conservative/libertarian slant, but they are all great teachers and none that I have had force their beliefs (I’m a die-hard liberal by the way…). So we’re definitely more balanced than Pomona (or Pitzer), but it’s also very easy to find people of all political perspectives.</p>
<p>Which one is better for scholarship opportunity?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Each has a need-blind admissions policy and commits to meet the demonstrated financial needs of all admitted students.</p>
<p>CMC also offers a number of merit-based scholarships. I don’t think Pomona offers merit scholarships.</p>
<p>DLF is correct.[Pomona</a> College](<a href=“http://www.pomona.edu/financialaid/prospectives/typicalaid.shtml]Pomona”>http://www.pomona.edu/financialaid/prospectives/typicalaid.shtml)</p>
<p>Yes, and yes. CMC at least back in the '80’s, was 99% Republican. From what I here it’s a little more Liberal (not much) but VERY active politically. I think they are considered the most Politically active by US New and World Report. Most of the student body is either an Econ or Poli Sci majors.
Putting it in another way, if you’re politically comfortable at UC Berkley, you won’t like CMC-opposite ends of the spectrum.</p>
<p>^disagree. Just went to visit CMC for McKenna Scholarship weekend, and I live near Berkeley. Both places are similar that they are very active politically, but CMC is definitely not outstandingly conservative. Lotsa libertarians, and I’d suspect 40%ish Democrats. Definitely very, very few hard-core social conservatives.</p>