I am in the middle of a difficult decision and trying to compare the merits of both Pomona and Dartmouth, since I got into both RD.
Some things about me: I am partially undecided major-wise but am considering conservation biology as well as sustainable architecture. I am very outdoorsy and am ok being surrounded by nature, however, I would also say I am a social person and like doing fun/cool things and partying with friends.
I like both of the colleges’ undergraduate environments, as well as academic rigor. For me, Pomona’s climate does seem a lot better, since you are more likely to be happy in beautiful weather, whereas Dartmouth’s prestige might have more impact to future employers, and I’ve also heard Pomona’s party scene is very different from Dartmouth’s.
There is really no difference in prestige - while Pomona is a newcomer, relative to Dartmouth, it is acknowledged as one of the very best LACs in the country. In the environmental sciences, there is no extra prestige associated with being an Ivy League college. Pomona has an additional advantage in that it also allows easy access to classes in the other members of the Claremont Colleges, which includes Pitzer, with its strong environmental focus.
Dartmouth has many more very rich kids, and is less diverse than Pomona, if that’s important for you. As @ucbalumnus wrote, Greek life is extremely prominent at Dartmouth, while it is fairly weak at Pomona, with only two fraternities being active, and neither having a “frat house”.
Dartmouth is more isolated, and has easier access to natural areas, however, Pomona is pretty close to Angeles National Forest and to other natural areas. Alternatively, Dartmouth is almost 3 hours from Boston by public transportation and two by care, while Pomona is an hour away from LA by direct rail, and about 30-40 minutes by car, depending on traffic.
In my personal opinion, while both are amazing choices, Pomona provides a better undergraduate education than Dartmouth.
I believe that Dartmouth College students take 3 courses per trimester while Pomona College is on a traditional semester system where one typically takes 5 courses per term. If my understanding is accurate, then which do you prefer ?
Location, weather, Greek presence & social life which revolves around drinking are other factors to consider.
Dartmouth College is more prestigious in the Northeast US. Check with each schools career placement office to see if one outshines the other in your desired field.
Indeed, the two are very very different socially, so hopefully one would appeal more than the other on that front. Dartmouth has the Ivy cachet but Pomona’s academic reputation is at least as strong.
If you haven’t already, look at the more detailed information on the tracks within the Pomona Environmental Analysis major. There is a track called “Sustainability and the Built Environment” where you would find the sustainable architecture emphasis, and an environmental science track that would be one way to approach conservation biology. (A bio major tilted toward ecology/conservation would be another.) Another consideration would be whether you want to do field work and/or get involved in faculty research related to nearby settings, and if so what kind of ecosystems particularly interest you. At Pomona, you would be within a practical radius of coastal/marine ecosystems, desert environments like Joshua Tree (where the geology classes routinely go), mountain ranges, and urban/suburban sprawl with all of the attendant issues like water supply, fire prevention, pollution, etc. etc. Dartmouth has lots of gorgeous nature around, but I’d venture that it doesn’t offer quite the same variety within a two hour radius. That may or may not be important to you, though.