<p>Hey everyone I've been looking at Pomona and Penn for potential ED but have some worries about each of them. For UPenn I guess my only issue is the weather, as I would strongly prefer a warm climate over Philadelphia weather. Obviously Pomona would fulfill that requirement but I have heard that Pomona's students/administration can be so overly politically correct or radically liberal that it can be overwhelming. While I consider myself liberal I would prefer a wide range of political viewpoints among students and I get the impression that UPenn is closer to that. I also wouldn't want to be around people who are overly uptight and sensitive. I plan to focus on science, physics to be specific, and potentially music but am still keeping an open mind about my major. What are your thoughts on the students in Pomona compared to UPenn, or are there other schools you think would be better suited for me? Thanks! </p>
<p>I can’t speak about UPenn but my daughter graduated from Pomona and the students were liberal but most were not outwardly liberal to make anyone uncomfortable. It is pretty diverse, Pomona strives for a good socio economic and likes to have most states represented so you get a mix from around the country. And yes it is politically correct but in being that way, no-one presses the liberal/conservative differences. She did have friends who were conservative, no one cared. You also have the rest of the consortium which can be more liberal and more conservative depending on the school. Pitzer and CMC especially. </p>
<p>Here’s my experience with Pomona’s politically correct nature as someone who came from a low-income perspective where PGP’s and words like “cultural appropriation” didn’t exist.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s a flaw at all.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t call Pomona politically correct. I’d call it being mindful of the various perspectives and backgrounds that people come from. Pomona is extremely diverse, and what you may have taken for granted in your life experiences may not have been the reality for someone else here. It’s important to be open minded to all perspectives so that no one feels excluded.</p>
<p>If someone calls you out for making an insensitive comment, the dialogue tends to be productive, not accusatory. People are willing to learn about why you’re saying such a thing, and then they very kindly tell you why your perspective may not be universal/taken the wrong way. In the end, there’s usually a compromise and sense of mutual understanding. I haven’t ever experienced a time when I felt like someone’s perspective about what I was problematically saying was blatantly wrong. </p>
<p>On a political spectrum, Pomona is around middle in terms of “liberalness” among elite liberal art colleges- more liberal than schools like Claremont McKenna and Washington and Lee, similar to Williams and Amherst, and less liberal than schools like Swarthmore, Vassar, and Wesleyan. </p>
<p>Most students identify as liberal or moderate. Most students are quiet about their political affiliations and willing to listen to perspectives from all over; I’ve never heard of a student getting “shut down” for voicing differences.</p>
<p>Dialogue is valued across campus. Articles on our online campus newspaper often get slammed by a poster who has far different beliefs than most Pomona, but in the end, we all value reading their contributions to get a more nuanced perspective on the matter. On our “Confessions” page, one of the confessions was about wishing there was more respect and openness for those who may have different beliefs- it was one of the most liked ones of all time. We definitely have a lot of work to do in terms of being completely inclusive, but I don’t think anyone at Pomona will shun you or ignore you based on what you say. People here want to hear the full story.</p>
<p>Have you visited Pomona? I am guessing you haven’t, or you would have your own opinion on the student body there already. Don’t ED to a school if you haven’t visited.</p>
<p>I do want to say something about visiting a school like Pomona though. You are NOT going to get the full picture in three days. I was unaware at the time I visited, but I was at the most party heavy and athletic dorm of the college, and it made me feel a little upset that it didn’t meet my expectations. Now that I’m there for over two years, I’m aware of the cultural differences between the dorms and where I can find students that I can better connect with. Be careful of any extreme characteristics you make of the students at Pomona because you’ll always find exceptions. The only uniting force is that virtually everyone did really well academically in high school. </p>
<p>jennathewhale -</p>
<p>The central question is not “Pomona vs. Penn for ED?”, but rather “Does ED make sense for me anywhere?” Think through that issue carefully. In most cases, ED does not make sense for the applicant. It should be reserved for those relatively rare instances when the student knows the ED institution is preferred above all others (and you don’t seem to prefer Pomona over Penn or vice versa, let alone Pomona/Penn over all other options), ANDwhen the applicant is certain that the financial aid offered (if needed) is almost certain to be “good enough”.</p>
<p>So, run the Net Price Calculator at both websites, and discuss the probable financial aid situation with your parents. If all of you can agree that the projected aid looks “good enough” (only you and your family can decide what is “good enough” for your situation), and that if the aid package awarded looks different, you can walk away with no tears, then leave that institution on your possible ED list. Then re-visit the “above all others” issue, and decide whether or not either of these places is your true first choice, or whether some other place might fit that bill.</p>
<p>If you have the stats for Pomona and Penn, and money is an issue for your family, you are eligible for serious merit-based aid at some other places. Go to the Financial Aid Forum and read through the threads on Automatic and Competitive Merit-based Aid that are at the top of that forum.</p>
<p>Please don’t set yourself up to be the author of one of next winter’s “I got in ED but can’t afford it what do I do?” threads.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best as you work through your application(s) this year!</p>
<p>The two schools are so different – I really think you need to consider if you want to attend a LAC or a large research university. </p>
<p>you should not ED to either. Since they are too different, and you are conflicted, you clearly don’t have a feel of what type of education that you would prefer. You are not ready to ED.</p>
<p>btw: Pomona is not “radically liberal.”</p>
<p>Thanks guys these replies helped a lot. I will definitely spend more time thinking about my options. Good to know my impression of Pomona is a bit off. </p>