<p>Please help me decide!</p>
<p>Why Pomona instead of Williams:
1.) Warm weather, twice as many sunny days (weather has a big impact on my mood - I feel like I'm 50-75% more likely to be grumpy on cold/gloomy days)
2.) Relaxed, laid back attitude towards everything
3.) Sports culture isn't as eminent... I don't play a single sport, so I think I would prefer Pomona in that respect.
4.) Diversity is not an issue at Pomona, while it kind of it Williams (I don't mean statistically speaking, I mean it in terms of the social scene/overall mindset... see this if you want to know more Diversity</a> at Williams College - Virginia Cumberbatch Pt.1/2 - YouTube)
5.) Proximity to civilization (specifically LA)!!! I live in NYC, so going to Williams would be scary for me in terms of the isolation.</p>
<p>Why Williams instead of Pomona:
1.) Ranking/name recognition... Williams is ranked #1 while Pomona is #4 (USNews). Yes, I know this a very very shallow reason. :(
But Williams is also more known as a feeder school into top Med/Law schools.
2.) Closer to home (again, I live in NY)
3.) Winter study, Oxford-style tutorials
4.) Williams MAY have a stronger natural sciences program (what I plan to major in - still kind of undecided though)
5.) If I apply ED to Williams, I can apply ED2 to Pomona (so my chances of getting in to either school is greater) But If I apply ED to Pomona, I can only apply regular to Williams</p>
<p>Can people please help me make this decision by either giving me more reasons for one of the schools, or refuting/disproving some of the reasons I already have?</p>
<p>Why Pomona instead of Williams:
6) Claremont Consortium- 5 top liberal art colleges in walking proximity, 5300 undergraduates, 2 million volume library, 2500 classes all taught LAC style, 7 dining halls, countless events open to students from all locations
7) Pomona College Internship Program
8) Better science culture
9) Slightly more diverse </p>
<p>Why Williams
6) Better school spirit and alumni network
7) Higher ED acceptance rate (40% vs 25%)
8) Better arts culture</p>
<h1>1 vs #4 is splitting hairs and no one will care. no one anywhere.</h1>
<p>to me, going farther away is on the plus side, a chance to experience a different part of the country without uprooting for jobs etc. but if not for you…</p>
<p>Don’t fool yourself too much about the Pomona location. It is in a fairly dull suburban area. Yeah there is a little village/town center adjacent. Sure you will get into the LA area once in a while, but it isn’t like you will be hanging out there. And some weekend trips to the beach will be nice.</p>
<p>The weather/mood thing I see as a big factor, because I feel that too.</p>
<p>Sounds like your mind is made up. 1 vs 4 or “MAY have a stronger natural sciences program” doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>Pomona ED.</p>
<p>What do you mean Pomona has more of a science culture? Can you elaborate please? :)</p>
<p>Pomona attracts a bigger percentage of students who want to do math or science than any liberal arts college not named Harvey Mudd or Lafayette. (<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1270318-lacs-most-science-majors.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1270318-lacs-most-science-majors.html</a>) The science offerings at Pomona are slightly bigger than at Williams: it has Molecular Biology and Neuroscience departments, for instance. Of the 10 most popularly declared majors at Pomona, 7/10 are in a STEM field, and 1 of the 3 not in a STEM field can be made into a science interdisciplinary (EA). The offerings at Harvey Mudd expand options, such as mathematical biology and engineering. The summer undergraduate research program is perhaps the largest per capita of any school in the country, with over 420 students participating in the summers of 2012 and 2013.</p>
<p>I’ve also been to both schools and Pomona has the better renovated science facilities.</p>
<p>If you do not have a clear first choice where you can make the matriculation decision without comparing financial aid offers, then why apply ED?</p>
<p>I wont be applying for financial aid.</p>
<p>Pandabear1231- here’s an old, but IMO still relevant, thread comparing Pomona & Williams along many dimensions:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/75074-anyone-compared-contrasted-pomona-vs-williams.html?[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/75074-anyone-compared-contrasted-pomona-vs-williams.html?</a></p>
<p>Having recruited at both and had family recently attend both, to me the two schools are more similar than distinct. That said, if you like the sunshine and dry air of Southern California over a beautiful, rural New England environment with 4 fulfledged seasons, then Pomona is a good choice. Although the physical environments are quite different, you can’t beat the education and positive experience at either.</p>