<p>As a future Sagehen (extreme hooks, basically guaranteed admission), I was wondering what the reputation of Pomona is among employers and grad/MBA schools. Despite its high ranking and reputation among people who actively research universities, nobody I talk to has heard of Pomona, and I am beginning to worry that this will be a problem when it comes time to get a job or get into grad school. I plan on majoring in Economics, if this makes a difference. Some other schools on my list (in case I change my mind) include UCB, UVA, Notre Dame, BC, Emory, USC. I'm fairly sure every one of these schools is better known, but I may be wrong.</p>
<p>Also, how is the alumni network? For a small school, I doubt it is very big or active.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about it not being known. Pomona is known and respected among employers, grad schools, and the people that matter. Whereas it is not widely known by the common public/average joe on the street. I remember when I was searching for schools to apply to, I never considered liberal arts colleges because I’d never heard of them before. But I didn’t discover some great LACs like those in the Claremont Consortium until after the application cycle was over. Now I find myself applying to transfer for the upcoming fall.</p>
<p>Pretty much what EarlyBird said. The only colleges most people really know are Harvard, Princeton, Yale as well asthe colleges that are nearest to their houses. But “most poeple” aren’t looking at your degree and recruiters/employers who hire out of college know much more about colleges than that. In my industry for example most of the colleges we recruit at most people don’t even know their names but that doesnt mean they have no reputation IN THE INDUSTRY which is what counts.</p>
<p>As far as active alumni network, you would be surprised. The FACT that the school is small may even contribute to how vibrant it is; people form really close bonds in undergrad at Pomona and these relationships don’t die, and of course alumni who have graduated know about the people. Size is one of those things that probably has NO meaningful effect on alumni networks – i know of large state schools where the alumni network is basically nothing even though there are many alumni and smaller schools that have stronger connectionivity (NOT that all big schools are bad of course just an example)</p>
<p>I had a hook (English second language, came here in seventh grade without knowing how to speak English) and I was deferred. My academics were in their ranges, and I also did music supplements. I also have leadership positions at my school. My point is that I don’t think anyone should consider a school like Pomona as a guarantee. Unless you’re a very top athlete (recruitment) or your parents are huge donors, I don’t think that your hooks are going to basically ‘guarantee’ your way through one of the most selective colleges in the nation. You don’t want have those expectations and then find the rejection letter in your mail box because you didn’t try hard enough due to your ‘hooks’ seemingly being satisfactory, because many others will also be very qualified, some even more qualified than you (gasp!).</p>
<p>Also, the person who interviewed me got his degree from Pomona and went straight to Northwestern’s School of Business for his MBA. Pomona is a pre-professional school, designed to guide all of its students towards grad schools, which is why it was recently ranked second on the Forbes list (ranks based on post-graduate success). I don’t know about business schools, but they have a 91 percent acceptance rate for all the students who apply to medical school, which is extremely high. I would imagine that business would be even higher, since business schools are not as selective as medical schools. Best of luck. Hopefully my honest advice didn’t discourage you.</p>
<p>I agree that no one is “basically guaranteed admission” to a school with a 13% acceptance rate. Unless you’ve won an Intel award at age 16 or Bill Gates is your father.</p>
<p>I lived in LA most if my life. The top jobs go to USC and UCLA grads. This is a function of the academic reputation, the size of the alumni base in the region, and the strength of alumni ties. For example, it is widely known that “Trojans hire Trojans.”</p>
<p>USC and I assume UCLA, have alumni clubs all around the world. There are multiple ways to interact with alum. </p>
<p>Pomona has a great academic reputation but it would be more advantageous to attend USC or UCLA simply for the networking and strength of the alumni networks.</p>
<p>Are you kidding me. I feel you must be a UCLA or USC graduate, who as usual, think those schools carry the same clout or network as elite level schools like Pomona. You can fool yourself in believing that, but for the people that matter (top level grad schools, national or global Fortune 50 employers, and other people in the know) a Pomona graduate is considered at the same level of grads from schools like Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Dartmouth, Amherst, Williams, Wesleyan, Swathmore and Princeton. and talk about network, these schools are supreme in linking people into jobs that make a difference to people on this planet. If you went to NYC, where the most prestigious financial, media, advertising firms in the world sit, you would be quite surprised how “unimpressed” a UCLA or USC degree is viewed as compared to the aforementioned colleges. As another note of interest, did you realize that UCLA and USC, and even Berkeley, are far down the list of placing students (on a per student basis to normalize for school size) in top tier medical, law, and business schools as compared to the aforementioned colleges. I really find that some people (especially in California) have this impression that schools like UCLA, USC, Berkeley are considered in the same league as the aforementioned schools. While they are “very good” schools, you would be surprised that no one “outside of California” considers them in a conversation about elite levels schools. Let me tell you a secret, Southern California, lags far behind NYC, in being a top corporate headquarters location for Fortune 100 companies, except for those firms in the entertainment industry. So if you want a job at a “hip” beachwear manufacturer in Orange County, or that “cool” real estate development firm that is buying up all those foreclosed properties in Southern California, I guess that USC, or UCLA degree will give you a nice leg up over that Pomona degree. Take care.</p>
<p>Lol yeah wherezwallace you are very biased. The person who interviewed me worked at Microsoft and he specifically told me that Pomona is a very reputable school that will shine on your resume once you apply for jobs. USC and UCLA don’t even compare to Pomona. It’s like comparing apes to human beings. Sorry for the analogy, but that’s how I feel.</p>
<p>First, I admit that I’m a biased USC grad. </p>
<p>Second, I do know something about Fortune 50 companies. Our company is a multinational with more than 30,000 employees worldwide. Finally, I no longer live in Southern California so my views aren’t influenced by the number of alumni frames or stickers I see on cars driving down the 405.</p>
<p>I am not disparaging Pomona in any way. I am pointing out that people “in the know” may not be the front line managers making the hiring decisions. Maybe the brand has greater significance in specific industries. Maybe Pomona has stronger name recognition in finance and investment banking. I work in technology so the brand doesn’t have the same value as a sharp CS or EE from a top 25 research university who can talk about football or basketball.</p>
<p>The challenge facing Williams, Swarthmore, or Pomona is they do not have the brand recognition that large schools possess. We may all agree that Williams or Swarthmore are outstanding east coast colleges but what percentage of hiring managers in Century City, San Diego, or Austin, Texas are aware of the acceptance rates and yields? If a guy has a resume from Cal and from Pomona and they work in Phoenix, Arizona, are you certain that the brand will extend to every part of the country? My point is that depending on where you go in this country, people may not be aware of the school’s reputation.</p>
<p>BTW, the reason I’m on this board is we are going to take a campus tour of Pomona during spring break. So I’m not slamming the school at all. Just pointing out a concern.</p>
<p>You have a lovely neighborhood and I’ve enjoyed my stay. I’ll get back on the highway now and head down the road.</p>
<p>Best wishes to everyone.</p>
<p>Well I’m a hiring Director in Phoenix, AZ working in the Technology Industry after 30 years in Finance and many years overseas in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with an MBA from a European Business School, and I rate Pomona amongst the very elite and on a par with any East Coast/Ivy League/HSLAC in any and all disciplines Tech/Sci/Business, I know the admit rate and requirements to be admitted and I rate such school accordingly and factor that into whom I even consider offering interviews.</p>
<p>So yes Pomona stands head and shoulders above UCLA or USC. I never met a Cal/USC or UCLA grad whilst in Europe, but I did meet Pomona grads at Oxford and Cambridge. </p>
<p>I find the originators opening comment hilarious, suggesting he is a sure admissions to Pomona, NO ONE is an assured admit, not at HYP, or Stanford, Pomona, Swarthmore, Amherst or Williams, No ONE. I suggest he reign in the ‘hubris’ before a fall!</p>
<p>Pomona (and the other elite LACs) definitely have a recognition problem among the general population. Maybe that’s the phenomenon wherezwallace is referring to?</p>
<p>In my personal opinion, the alumni network is very weak at Pomona. The annual giving rate, while higher than that at most universities, is far behind that of other liberal art colleges. Alumni are not very present at all in the campus. The senior donation is very low for some odd reason. This is an issue that current students and I are trying to fix. </p>
<p>But yes- among elite programs, employers, and fellowships, Pomona has a sterling reputation.</p>