<p>Hey Pomona,
My name is Zac Blasdel and I go to the US Air Force Academy out in Colorado. One of my upcoming assignments is to discuss what a very rigid and structured university such as USAFA stands to learn from a college like Pomona. It would be awesome if you would take a few seconds to post a reply to some of the topics below:</p>
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<li><p>What are the core curriculum requirements at Pomona like? Too much, too little, very flexible...</p></li>
<li><p>As far as financial aid goes, is it sufficient, easily attainable, or overlyhyped by the university?</p></li>
<li><p>How are the teachers? Approachable, knowledgeable, differs by department?</p></li>
<li><p>Is there any structure to how student housing works? First come first serve, by major...etc...</p></li>
<li><p>Is there a competitive environment at Pomona or is it permeated by a sort of teamwork?</p></li>
<li><p>Does school pride exist at Pomona? If so, why and what is it rooted in?</p></li>
<li><p>What is unique to Pomona and maybe the Claremont Colleges?</p></li>
<li><p>What aspects of the education experience does Pomona try to sell to students? Which do they succeed in and which to they overly hype?</p></li>
<li><p>What was your personal draw to attend Pomona?</p></li>
<li><p>Anything else notable?</p></li>
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<p>Again, thanks for your time. I think beyond the presentation aspect, my prof hopes that these discussions will build networking. So, if any of you come out to Colorado for some skiing or we otherwise meet, I owe you a beer!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>There aren’t very many core requirements at Pomona. Every class is in one of five categories, and students are required to take one class in each. Every student must take three semester of a foreign language or demonstrate the equivalent level of proficiency. Majors/minors and prerequisites dictate most course choices. Depending on how difficult a program you have chosen for yourself, you will end up taking anywhere from none to half of your courses based just on personal interest. A first semester seminar course is also required to make sure that all the freshman can read.</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t really know numbers from other people because this is kind of personal information, but working-class families generally pay nothing and the upper-middle class gets substantial aid depending on whether they are more upper or more middle. There is a ton of financial aid, but it is possible for those with unusual family situations to get insufficient aid.</p></li>
<li><p>The professors are very approachable and knowledgeable. Some are better lecturers than others, and difficulty varies. I can think of a handful where there is a consensus among people who have taken the class that a professor should be avoided. </p></li>
<li><p>Incoming freshmen are reserved housing before they arrive. Returning students are assigned random room draw numbers and pick from whatever is left when their number comes up. Seniors get the lowest (best) numbers, then juniors, etc. but within a grade it is random. Everyone is guaranteed housing on campus all four years. In fact, you have to petition to live off campus. </p></li>
<li><p>Teamwork. In science/math classes with problem sets, there is usually an optional “mentor session” the night before assignments are due where most of the class shows up and collaborates on the homework with a TA (usually someone who did really well in the class previously) who gives hints.</p></li>
<li><p>There is school pride at Pomona. There is no grand ideology that everyone here shares, but I think that we are all proud of the student body and alumnus. People that I’m in class with are going to start large companies, run for congress, and make scientific breakthroughs. </p></li>
<li><p>I would say that the combination of top academics, down-to-earth students, and awesome weather is unmatched.</p></li>
<li><p>I can think of two things Pomona really sells itself on. One ends up being a lot less important than I expected, and one a lot more so. Based on Pomona’s marketing material, you’d almost think that people are studying while stretched out on Venice Beach every afternoon in between skiing on the weekends. In reality, driving an hour through LA traffic is more of a “once a month if you really want to, and not in the Winter” kind of thing. The other thing is the consortium. A bunch of schools talk about how you can talk about classes at other affiliated school. If you ask around, you find that this generally involves awkward scheduling and bus rides between classes, and is not utilized very often. The Claremont Consortium is nothing like this. All five schools register for classes within the same system, and it’s common for someone to take half of their classes outside of Pomona in a given semester. The schools are all pretty small and are physically bordering one another: [Claremont</a> Colleges Map](<a href=“http://ochem.jsd.claremont.edu/advising/graphics/7C_map.html]Claremont”>http://ochem.jsd.claremont.edu/advising/graphics/7C_map.html)
It can actually be tricky to determine what school you are currently in when walking from one place to another.</p></li>
<li><p>I applied to quite a few schools across the country that fit into these rules:
a) Must be either in a fun city, or somewhere warm.
b) Must not have a comprehensive core curriculum.
c) Must have a good department in my then-prospective major.
I got into about half of them, and flew to California to visit and stay the night at Pomona one day and Berkeley the next. I joined the “Class of 2014” group on Facebook before my day at Berkeley was over. If I go back through this post and read through the things I like about Pomona, many of them stand in direct opposition to what happens at Berkeley.</p></li>
<li><p>I’m a sophomore at Pomona.</p></li>
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<p>Thanks–I really do appreciate it. I would love to get another couple of takes, so if anyone happens over this, please answer a couple of the questions. When I get a sec, I will reciprocate and answer these questions from a USAFA experience.</p>