<p>So, I think I've narrowed down my acceptance list to 2 colleges, Vandy and Pomona. On the table right now, I have a full-tuition scholarship at Vandy, and around 33k from Pomona. Although Vandy's aid is slightly more, they listed their estimated cost of attendance at over 56k! Pomona's cost of attendance, on the other hand, is around 52-53k. As of right now, I'm planning on doing pre-med. In addition to pre-med, I'm also interested in finance and Spanish. I checked out Vandy last weekend and really loved it. I'll be visiting Pomona in the next few days. Any comments would be greatly appreciated, as you guys may see something that one of the schools offers that I don't come across while visiting them. Currently, I feel that both schools would give me a world-class education; however, Pomona's classes may be slightly smaller with more engaging professors. On the other hand, Vandy has one of the best social scenes on any campus in America and the D1 sports to go with it. Can anyone help me with this huge decision?</p>
<p>What has more meaning for you - small class size with engaging professors or large classes with a social scene and D1 sports? Pomona does have a social scene but that’s not its main, or only, focus. Basically, only you can make the decision as to which school is the better fit for you. You’ll know once you visit Pomona.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>It sounds to me like you are leaning towards Vanderbilt. The school is a good fit for you - lots of pre-professional interest, lots of biomed activity because of the Medical Center, you seem to like the ‘social scene’ by which I assume you mean the Greek life and the sports, etc.</p>
<p>Also, Vandy is offering you merit aid. If the aid at Pomona is need-based, then Vandy’s should be preferrable – they won’t change it if your family’s financial situation improves. I hope you return to this thread after your Pomona visit and let us know what you decided.</p>
<p>Haha. For me, the location of Vandy alone would kill it, not to mention the Greek life and D1 sports. It’s really about which fits you the most.</p>
<p>I got into Vandy, but once I was in at Pomona I didn’t even consider it. Pomona is in a different class academically. Not that Vandy would limit you in any way…</p>
<p>depends on your priorities- certainly nothing wrong with turning down pomona for aid. we’re a good school but if you’ve got the drive you can succeed anywhere. also vandy girls are hot.</p>
<p>I’d go with Pomona if I were you. I won’t say it’s a no-brainer because Vandy is solid in it’s own right, but I think Pomona is the better fit for you and the better college overall. If small classes and engaging professors are important to you, Pomona is perfect. Plus, they have a great pre-med program, great languages, and Pomona’s proximity to CMC will give you the finance angle if you choose to go that direction.</p>
<p>The only two reasons I can see for you to choose Vandy are the DI sports and your positive visit experience. If you visit to Pomona matches up to your visit to Vandy, then I’d choose Pomona. D3 sports aren’t as high profile as DI, but they can be just as fun to watch and it’s really cool when you actually live with, have classes with, and hang out at parties with the top athletes at your school.</p>
<p>omg cantw8forcollege, i think i know you!! were you at the second weekend pomona college visit?</p>
<p>smiley, if you’re who I think you are (facebook group stalking haha) then I glimpsed you today :)</p>
<p>hey lolcats4, were you one of the people in that confusing psycholigusitics class? If so I think i know who you are too! 
You should join the facebook group! You were there for monday, so that’s good enough for me! </p>
<p>My input to cantw84college – Go to Pomona! Small class sizes and engaging professors mean better rec letters for grad/med school, and there are plenty of great parties at the other 5Cs. CMC is the party school and they had good ones over the weekend. As for D1 sports, Pomona can’t compete against Vandy since its D3, but that doesn’t really matter to me either way, so I can’t tell you wut to do for that one. So yeah, hope you make the right choice (that’s pomona, in case u didn’t know ) and I’ll see you in the fall!</p>
<p>Yeah I took that psycholinguistics class haha. It looked like it might have been pretty interesting if I had known what was going on lol :P</p>
<p>smiley44: I was, in fact, there this past weekend, so we probably do know each other! After seeing both schools, I am still left undecided. Pomona was amazing, but so was Vanderbilt. This is going to be a very interesting 8 days for me, as I’ll probably try to do a lot of soul searching to see where I would be happier. BTW, how did you like that weather!? Speaking for myself, I’ll take 100 degrees and sunny everyday.</p>
<p>To everyone who has posted: thank you for your input; I am using many of your thoughts in my decision-making process right now.</p>
<p>It was uncharacteristically hot this week. It usually doesn’t hit upper 90’s until late May/June. Having said that, the lack of humidity makes the heat pretty palatable. Did any of you do any night swimming?</p>
<p>Night swimming? Haven’t done that yet, but I will when I get to Pomona!! Brassmonkey, r u a freshman at Pomona? Did u meet any of the prospies over the second weekend? If so, I might know you too… :)</p>
<p>Why Pomona over Vanderbilt? Here’s why. Alumni like me love the school so much we want to share the happiness that is Pomona with you. Pomona students are known for being articulate, passionate individuals with an understanding of community and what it means to be happy. </p>
<p>That said a big fat scholarship is hard to turn down. When I was in high school, I turned down merit aid from UCLA, GWU and NYU. Pomona didn’t offer me any money. I studied international relations/affairs, and GWU’s probably better than Pomona in that respect as it is in DC. </p>
<p>But Pomona had other things to offer. The academics, the work opportunities, the alumni network (it’s just so much easier when there’s so many graduates in high places!) and the fact so many people go to top grad schools. Ultimately, it was those factors, my sport recruitment and the Constortium that decided it.</p>
<p>Note that he is in the Pomona College board so of course there will be more people talking about that. You might want to post the question in the Vanderbilt forum as well to get different perspectives.</p>