<p>When I visited, everyone I met was either really nerdy or just sort of weird. They just didn't really seem like people that I'd like to hang out with. I come from an east coast private school, and the students just seemed to be like your average east coast liberal arts school student body- except a lot more "quirky?" </p>
<p>The kids at Claremont Mckenna seemed to be a lot more down to earth. At least they definitely seemed to be in the lead when it came to social skills at the Claremont schools. Mudders were even nerdier than pomona students, but seemed to be a lot more grounded too. Pitzer, I didn't even visit. But supposedly they have a reputation for not exactly being the smartest people and have a smoking habit. Anyone else get the same impression of the Claremonts?</p>
<p>Sounds to me that you would be better off going to a school where there are more cool people like you from east coast prep schools. </p>
<p>Heaven forbid that anyone who is really cool should have to hang out with kids who are "nerdy" or, oh my god, like, "sort of weird". </p>
<p>Maybe some of the current Pomona students will chime in, but I'd be willng to bet they will gladly second my recommendation for you to find a better match.</p>
<p>I'm sure everyone you met wouldn't rightfully embody the entire student body. Don't be so quick to judge. All the people I've talked to so far seem like pretty regular kids to me. If you really think the Claremont Colleges seem too geeky for you then good luck with your future school. =)</p>
<p>Pomona students are very unassuming, brilliant but they are very humble about it and laid back. They study a lot but aren't stressed out about it and still enjoy life. They have got to be the friendliest students I have ever met. If that does not fit you then you should seek a school where you have that sense of "fit" and feel compatible with the other students. Pomona fits my S to a T, but no school no matter how wonderful and amazing is not going to be perfect for everyone. Good luck with your search.</p>
<p>Here are my 2 cents-my D goes to a private east coast school and she fell in love with Pomona. We visited many of the LACs in New England and liked them; did not see this remarkable difference in quirkiness levels. Pomona seemed particularly intimate, beautiful and strong in academic areas of interest. I think that issues of "quirkiness" are rather subjective. We relish quirkiness! How boring life would be without the quirks.</p>
<p>Your description of the Pomona students fits my impression from afar. It's one reason it would be on my short-list, sight unseen, if I had could turn back the clock oh so many years. I would be shocked if Pomona students are "weird" or terribly "nerdy". Probably a bunch of pretty normal, reasonably unpretentious kids.</p>
<p>There is a particular type of upper crust East Coast elitism that exhibits itself from time to time in terms of expectations of conformity in every respect. I think all you can really do, in a case like that, is say that Pomona isn't for everyone. There are plenty of schools that do a very good job of catering to that type of student.</p>
<p>At my daughter's school, when they detect that attitude on the part of a prospect, they try to talk the kid out of applying. They just flat out say, "I don't think this is the right school for you."</p>
<p>Yeah. I visited Pomona and everyone seemed pretty normal to me. There was one or two people that were actually really weird or nerdy and annoying but besides from that they are average people, that are secretly really smart but don't show it off. Some people superficially don't look like the kind of person that I could picture studying in highschool but apparently they did if they got in.</p>
<p>Interested Dad, I agree, if I could do it over again I would pick Pomona(I graduated from Tufts). Not sure I would get in however , even if we did turn back the clock ,the school is getting more competitive each year.</p>
<p>i have to agree with interesteddad and arizonamom. i too would pick pomona if i were going to school today. i graduated from an ivy where i was relatively happy and remain friends with many of my classmates, but i think that i would have flourished at pomona without all of the stressing! having visited the campus and spoken with many students and profs, i was blown away by how "real" they all were. people were unaffected and down to earth. the students were poised, funny and articulate while seeming to have a real affection for the school, the profs and their classmates. it's more than the weather that is making those kids happy!</p>
<p>Have to admit that Pomona would be a strong contender for my affections against my alma mater (Wellesley). When I was in high school, I didn't even think of going anywhere outside Boston. Have a niece-in-law who transferred from Wellesley to Pomona, and I definitely see why. They're similar institutions in the sense of having people there who will nurture and challenge the students, and the weather can't be beat!</p>
<p>Hey,
I applied to Pomona this year (rejected:( ), so let me clarify that first...</p>
<p>I finally got to visit Pomona for the first time the week before decisions came out. I was in love with the school on paper, and considered it one of my top choices, should I have been lucky enough to get admitted.</p>
<p>When I visited, I found the student body to be extremely "nice". I mean, they went out of their way to help my family when we were looking around campus. We were all really impressed by the students.</p>
<p>However, I found Pomona to be really pretentious as a school. The facilities were great, don't get me wrong, but there was this smug feeling like "aren't we just so great" from the administration. The admissions office was awful. The admissions person gave this REALLY boring presentation, where he included a story about a friend of his when he a student at Pomona. His friend had started at Pomona in hopes of becoming a doctor someday. After his first few semesters, he was exposed to "mimes", and decided when he graduated to go to France to become a mime instead of a doctor. He (the admissions guy) was laughing and saying this is what Pomona is all about...</p>
<p>I am sorry, but I cannot imagine any parent being too happy if they sent a child who wanted to become a doctor to Pomona, and 4 years later having a mime in the family :) What was this admissions guy thinking?!?</p>
<p>Literally half the people left this presentation before it was over. It was AWFUL!! If I had not taken the time to really see what the school was about, it would have totally turned me off Pomona altogether.</p>
<p>If I had gotten in to Pomona, I might very well have ended up there, because I liked the facilities, and the students that I met...but the administration is another story.....</p>
<p>Social life is a completely legitimate concern when you're picking a college. If you don't like the people, you'll be miserable. That said, Pomona has a pretty big variety of students from "nerdy" kids who study all the time to partiers who are happy with Cs and Bs. CMC is the "coolest" school if you're judging by high school standards of cool. Harvey Mudd is the "nerdiest," and at Pitzer they do a lot more than just smoke... Go to a school that suits your interests. If you loved high school, you'll probably hate Pomona. Take it from a current student.</p>
<p>I am a parent who heard a similar ad com talk about some of his pals becoming mimes etc and I kind of think you missed the point or took it too literally. Frankly, I thought the admissions office was helpful and candid. I found the particular ad com to be likeable, intelligent and a good advocate for the school. I think he was trying to show that its a place where people are comfortable enough to explore quirky stuff, find kindred spirits and sometimes find themselves on unexpected paths.</p>
<p>actually, i get where lurkin' girl is coming from. when i first visited pomona college, i did find the rep to be slightly bloated and even condescending. but i didn't use one bad apple to judge the entire administration.</p>
<p>clipper55: if you come to pomona next year, feel free <em>not</em> to hang out with "quirky" people like me. i really get the feeling that i wouldn't mind that.</p>
<p>why are you all being so mean to clipper? i agree that there are weird people at pomona, but there are weird people EVERYWHERE.
ill have to agree with pomona having an ivy-inferiority complex, even my host agreed with me on that...i think he might have even pointed it out to me.
whatever, im still going to pomona. and also, that thing where we have to write a personal statement about getting the need based aid, i didnt notice it until today. and i thought i was over with writing essays for colleges! aaaaaaahhhhh!!!</p>
<p>i dont know.
but it says:
"Pomona College is fortunate to receive generous gift support for student financial aid from private donors, including many alumni. Each year, specific grant accounts are assigned to students based on financial need, as well as the stipulations of the donors. In order to assist in the awarding of these funds, all Pomona students who have a portion of their financial need met with Pomona scholarship aid must complete the following form and return it to the Office of Financial Aid when the admissions packet is returned or within 10 days of its receipt. Please print."</p>
<p>and on the back it says that the donors want to know about the acheivements, interests, etc. of the students so we need to write a personal statement. can i just use my common app essay with the conclusion altered?</p>