<p>I'm considering to apply ED to a liberal arts college but I'm torn between Williams and Pomona. I'm from Singapore so I've not had the chance to visit both schools but "fit" aside, do you think it wise to choose Pomona over Williams just because I'm will adapt much better to the Californian weather?</p>
<p>i.e., Is the difference in grad school/employer reputation and academics so minute that I should make my decision based on other relatively trivial factors?</p>
<p>These schools are equals. If the weather is important to you, choose Pomona.</p>
<p>My daughter was accepted to several great schools, and the final decision definitely was made on ‘trivial’ factors - location, including weather and proximity to LA, and the benefits of the Claremont consortium, with more students, classes, clubs, and dining options.</p>
<p>From what I’ve read and heard, Williams seems to be the crown jewel among small LACs. It has been around for a long time and is consistently ranked as one of the top colleges in the nation, while Pomona has only been getting more attention recently because of its improving performance in USNews and Forbes rankings. Is it fair for me to say that?</p>
<p>I am going to be paying full tuition so I’m really hoping to aim as high as I can because small LACs are already quite underrated in Singapore and Asian in general.</p>
<p>D considered Amherst because it had a consortium with others LACs in the area, but chose to apply ED1 to Pomona because the consortium was literally across the street vs. having to take a bus (in Amherst). Weather was also a tipping point - it had to be warmer than Greater Boston where we live.</p>
<p>Here are the average temps for Williamstown: [Average</a> Weather for Williamstown, MA - Temperature and Precipitation](<a href=“http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/01267]Average”>Ashburn, VA Monthly Weather Forecast - weather.com)</p>
<p>All in all, you should base your decision on which school is a better fit for you personally. It’s been reported that students who are motivated to succeed will do well regardless of the school they attend.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
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<p>I don’t think this is really fair. Williams and Pomona, along with Swarthmore and Amherst, are pretty much tied neck to neck for best liberal art colleges in the country. The difference between Williams and Pomona is like the difference between Harvard and Stanford- both considered crown jewels among schools of their types.</p>
<p>There are things in which Williams excels at, and things in which Pomona does. Some things in which they are pretty much tied. Some examples…</p>
<p>1) Pomona has a larger endowment per student. Williams has the larger overall student endowment.
2) Pomona attracts a more diverse and international student body. Williams attracts more low income and first generation students.
3) Pomona produces more PhDs than Williams does. Williams sends more graduates to top law/med/business programs, especially those on the East Coast.
4) Pomona is more selective by admissions rate and equally selective by SAT range.
5) Williams has more classes with less than 20 students, than does Pomona. However, Pomona has less classes with more than 50 students. Their mean class size is equivalent: 15. Their student to faculty ratio is not very different.
6) Pomona produces more competitive fellowship winners in certain ones, Williams in others.
7) LSAT averages…pretty much the same. 164 (Williams) vs 165 (Pomona)
8) Typical starting salaries…pretty much the same. 50000 vs 49000.
9) Retention rates/graduation rates= pretty much tied neck in neck for the highest of any for any liberal arts college.</p>
<p>The ultimate point is that Pomona is just as good as Williams is, so reputation shouldn’t be a factor in deciding what school to apply ED to.</p>
<p>Something to consider - Pomona offers ED2, Williams does not. If you truly would be happy with either, then that sort of tells you what to do. Otherwise, weather may be as good a deciding factor as anything. I’ve heard of worse reasons for selecting a school.</p>
<p>What do you value in an education? Some want to be in an uncomfortable position in order to embrace something new. Some have a different background and agenda. But both are fabulous schools with an equal reputation for preparing students for whatever is next. Best wishes for your next step.</p>
<p>I don’t think ED2 comes into the question here, as the boost from ED is significantly less in ED2. But the one thing I would suggest that you consider far beyond weather and that is location. Williamstown is tucked away in far Northwestern Massachussetts. It is beautiful, but truly remote. Can you picture yourself living someplace like that?</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick responses, especially nostalgicwisdom’s! Really allowed me to see the situation in a different light.</p>
<p>@MrMom62</p>
<p>Yea I suspect I might just apply ED to Williams, and if I’m rejected, ED2 to Pomona.</p>
<p>@GvaMom</p>
<p>I’ve always wanted a break from Singapore’s urban environment, so the only problem is the weather I guess? I’ve been living in Singapore for 15 years and I thought Paris was slightly cold even when I travel there in June!</p>
<p>I think you should consider the fact that Pomona is part of a consortium of 5 colleges all on one campus (about 6000 students total). Lots more people to meet if your school starts feeling small after a year or two. The proximity to beaches and LA (both about an hour away) also allows for some off-campus fun and culture. And if you thought Paris was cold, I think you would be happier in SoCal.</p>
<p>Employment-wise, Pomona would be better if you plan to live on the West Coast, and Williams better for the East Coast.</p>
<p>I can understand wanting a break from Singapore’s urban environment, but there are many options that aren’t as remote as Williams. Clearly a change from what you are used to, is a great idea/opportunity, you have to decide in the end.</p>
<p>Pomona is located in what would be considered a suburban area, not an urban one. Having visited Singapore (as well as Williamstown and Claremont), I can personally say that Claremont would be a big difference and Williamstown is even much more remote. Even getting to Williamstown requires driving quite a bit from an airport, and much of that is not highway driving. Just my two cents’ worth!</p>
<p>I also had the problem of choosing among the LACs. I chose Pomona over Amherst, Williams and swarthmore. While ranking wise more people may generally recognize Williams to a higher regard, all these four schools mentioned are basically the same when employers and grad schools are looking. Some reasons why I chose Pomona:
also the weather is fabulous, and SoCal does have seasons! I’m from the Pacific Northwest but I actually get cold here sometimes! Also if you’re from Singapore, it’s a lot closer to fly to Pomona then williams- food for thought<p>Full disclosure California resident with a son who went to Pomona. Don’t think that winter weather should be an issue. The things that bugged me in winter like driving and clearing snow will not be an issue for you. Your not going to have clear a driveway so you can drive your car to school. You will not be going back to Singapore that often and though it isn’t immediately clear there it is only about 500 air miles more to NYC than LAX from Changi. You need to decide if you sometimes need an urban fix. At Williams you are a hour from Albany (61st largest metro area in the US) at Pomona you are an hour from Los Angeles (2nd largest metro area). Getting familiar food for instance would be a lot easier at Pomona. You are lucky to be in a position to pick from two great schools.</p>
<p>Culturally and weather wise, I think you would like Pomona more than Williams. My kids are from California and the college advisor said many kids from California usually transfer back to California if they went to a school in the east coast that is very isolated because many would find the winters harsh and boring (no leaves on trees, it gets dark very early) unless you like winter sports. There is also a heavier drinking culture than Pomona.</p>
<p>A vacation to Paris may have felt cold to you, but you adapt differently when you actually live somewhere for an extended period of time. I grew up in sunny, hot central Texas, but I have lived in some much colder climates (Watertown, NY; Princeton, NJ; Washington, DC) and every time my body and mind adapted to my surroundings.</p>
<p>Make your choice based on academics and fit, not on the weather. You will adapt much more easily to bad weather than to bad academic or social fit.</p>
<p>If you’re seeing these two schools as equal right now, then dig deeper. Read course catalogs and see which one has offerings that are more inspiring to you. Read student reviews on CollegeGrowler (-G+P) and try to get a feel for the different cultures of the schools. Read the book Students’ Guide to Colleges: The Definitive Guide to America’s Top 100 Schools, which likewise offers insider views from students. Ask both schools if they know of any alumni in Singapore who could meet with you to talk about their school.</p>
<p>With a little more research, you should discover that these schools are not as equal-for YOU-as they seem to be.</p>
<p>Following the advice of the previous poster, I also dug a little deeper and found this obscure information.[Best</a> Colleges for Asian Americans : Asian-Nation :: Asian American History, Demographics, & Issues](<a href=“http://www.asian-nation.org/best-colleges.shtml]Best”>Best Colleges for Asian Americans : Asian-Nation :: Asian American History, Demographics, & Issues)</p>