Questions About Pitzer?

<p>I'm a current student and a mentor for next year's freshmen, so I thought I would make myself available to upcoming freshmen (and their parents) that have questions. Soo.. shoot!</p>

<p>OK. From the parent of a soon to be freshman. Where do you go to buy person care items, like dental floss, deodorant, etc. Is there a drug store or something like that within walking distance of the Pitzer dorms? If not, is it easy to get to the village?</p>

<p>How strong would you say that the Biology department is at Pitzer? I am interested in being pre-med, and as a small school I assume that Pitzer would prepare me for that. However, I might do graduate work in biology instead. Would you say that Pitzer offers its students enough opportunities for research, or is the Biology major more geared towards preparing its students for professional health schools and the workforce.</p>

<p>Also, how difficult would you say the courses are? Does Pitzer have any acadmeic competition, or is it more laid back? </p>

<p>I know that Pitzer is a liberal college, but would you say that the surrounding colleges, or just Claremont in general are also liberal? I notice that in some colleges, although there is ethnic diversity, people tend to polarize themselves with their ethnic groups; do you believe that there is more cross ethnic interactions between the students at Pitzer? </p>

<p>Lastly, some colleges, such as the UC's and Occidental offer summer programs for incoming URM freshman to help ease and prepare students for the transition between high school and college life, do you know of any such programs at Pitzer?</p>

<p>sorry for the long post, and thanks for answering our questions.</p>

<p>Another Claremont student (not Pitzer) who can answer a few of the general questions...</p>

<p>Re: Personal Care items, errands, etc.
The Village is an easy walk from Pitzer...15-20 minutes, probably (right off of south campus Pomona). There's a drugstore, but in four years with no car, I've never used it. There are also some student stores (The Hub on CMC, The Coop on Pomona, Huntley Bookstore) that sell SOME things, but not much (medicine and snacks come to mind...again, never a resource I've needed to use for general hygiene stuff, so I'm not positive whether or not it's there). A good idea is to come with one set of extras, which should tide you over until you know enough people with cars that you can get to Target, Longs, or Wal-Mart, all of which are very close (but not reasonable walking distance). I keep some extra stuff stocked, and occasionally drop "Hey, if you're heading to Target anytime soon, I could use some stuff" messages. It's never been problematic.</p>

<p>Re: Biology
Pitzer shares the Joint Science Department with Scripps and CMC. Graduate and pre-med placement are both very strong, and biology is one of the most popular majors on multiple Claremont campuses. Joint Science offers tons of student research opportunities, including summer research, which can begin after your freshman year. There have been a few posts specifically about the JSD lately, so you might try searching for those to read a little bit more. You can also visit the website at <a href="http://www.jsd.claremont.edu%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.jsd.claremont.edu&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>Re: Challening courses
You'll hear lots of different things based on different experiences. I can say that I've had Pitzer courses kick my butt, and others that I've breezed through. I can say the exact same thing about every single other Claremont school, as well. With so much cross-registration and so many joint departments and facilities, all lines are foggy. One thing I can say about Pitzer is that in all of my classes, my Pitzer professors have been among the very, very nicest, most considerate, most trustworthy, and most genuinely interested in their students. Of course, I've had fantastic professors throughout Claremont, but in my own experience, there hasn't been a single Pitzer exception...just a fun fact ;) You should be sufficiently at any Claremont school, but if you don't feel like you're getting it at Pitzer, you can cross-enroll more heavily. And if you feel overly challenged, then I recommend <a href="http://rateyourprofessors.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://rateyourprofessors.com&lt;/a> before registration.</p>

<p>Re: Competition
It's southern California. We all worked our butts off to get to these schools. There's no official curve. People tend to be high-achieving and driven, but as far as malicious or stress-inducing competition with each other, no way.</p>

<p>Re: Claremont being liberal
All of the Claremont Colleges lean to the left, some more than others. In general, Pitzer, Pomona and Scripps (to varying degrees) are known for being pretty liberal with a lot of activism, CMC is known for being pretty balanced, and Mudd is known for being relatively apathetic. You'll find liberals, conservatives, moderates, and don't-really-care-ers on every campus, but I would say that the liberal voice, overall, is the loudest.</p>

<p>The Hub, The Coop, and Huntley all have shampoo, deodorant, snacks, etc. to go to in a pinch, and there are 3 pharmacies/drugstores in the Village, at least one of which takes Claremont Cash. There's also a Costco nearby if you like to buy in bulk for cheap. That being said, I have done more online shopping since I came to Claremont since there is less time/opportunity for me to get off campus to shop. </p>

<p>From my experience, the VAST majority of students in Claremont seems extremely bright, which adds to the overall academic expectation in each course. There is definitely a culture of academic diligence and wanting to do well, but I wholeheartedly agree with Student615 that it is not "competitive" at all. People love the material they study and are constantly working at their classes. </p>

<p>Pitzer is very liberal, but there are Republicans sprinkled throughout the student body here and there. CMC has the image of being conservative/Republican, but I would guess that less than a third of its student body fit that stereotype. CMC provides a nice balance to the Pitzer's hippie-ish image. The AREA of Claremont is very conservative.</p>

<p>To answer the question of ethnic/race interaction, Pitzer was ranked eighth for "lots of race/class interaction" in The Princeton Review’s The Best 361 Colleges.</p>

<p>As far as freshman programs: There is Welcome Week for all freshmen, which is an opportunity to get to know each other, get acclimated, etc. There are also optional PRE- Welcome Week programs that serve the same basic purpose but are purely social- options include hiking, camping, or more urban sightseeing.
After Welcome Week, each freshman is placed in a Mentor Group that acts as a built in social network and support system which helps them adjust as well.</p>

<p>I don't think there are summer programs specifically for minority students, but there is an Asian American Sponsor Program that helps Asian students acclimate; there is a VERY prominent Chicano Latino Student Affairs group (CLSA) that holds parties, events, rallies, speakers, etc. throughout the year, and does a great job fostering a sense of community among Hispanic students; there is a similarly prominent Black Student Union that performs similar functions for Black students. There are also 5College counterparts for each of those groups. U.S.News & World Report ranked Pitzer 11th in diversity out of 215 liberal arts colleges, so I would go out on a limb and say that Pitzer is the most diverse Claremont College and has a very active and vocal minority presence throughout the year.</p>

<p>Just minor notes of correction to my original post...</p>

<p>1) Insert "challenged" in "You should be sufficiently _____ at any Claremont" (in the section "Challenging courses," which I see now is actually "Challening...")</p>

<p>2) The second hyperlink should be <a href="http://www.ratemyprofessors.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ratemyprofessors.com&lt;/a> ("my," not "your").</p>

<p>That'll teach me to post before I think. Sorry about that.</p>

<p>Thanks for offering to help. Here are a few questions. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Any sense whether it is expected that the new dorms will actually be ready for September occupancy or have they fallen behind the construction deadlines ?</p></li>
<li><p>How is the advising ? What has been your experience and that of others. It seems like Pitzer's more thematic approach to distribution requirements might make it hard for someone who is not sure what they want to major in to construct a schedule that will position them by the end of Sophomore year (or the begining of Junior) so that several requirements have been fulfilled and they are able to take the necessary courses for whatever major they may choose. Given the general nature of the requirements, it seems like it might be hard for a freshman to construct a schedule without some guidance.</p></li>
<li><p>Any comments on ability of freshman to get involved in 5C activities/clubs, like theater, writing, etc.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Re: Dorms
I just saw the construction for the very first time, and things look pretty well along. I've heard from current students as recently as last week that things are still on schedule, but I wouldn't hear otherwise if news had changed. They looked nice, though...that much, I can say!</p>

<p>Re: 5C Activities/Clubs
Easy. Easy for students of any Claremont school. There's an event called "Turf Dinner" that takes place early in the fall semester, where most of the clubs and organizations set up tables to recruit new members or to just let people know that they're out there. All of the dining halls shut down for dinner and set up stations on the lawn, so it's a pretty tough event to miss ;) Almost everything is or can be open to all 5Cs, most groups welcome new members all the time (exception being performing groups, which generally advertise for and hold auditions each semester), and heavy-duty advertising is a rule.</p>

<p>I've been following the construction progress all year and I'm very confident that the dorms will be finished on time. I think that they have actually given themselves a month buffer time so if they get off schedule they're not totally ruined in late August. More info at: <a href="http://www.pitzer.edu/rlp/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.pitzer.edu/rlp/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Echoing Student615's reply, 5C clubs LOVE freshman and depend on them to continue club activities. </p>

<p>As far as advising/scheduling, Pitzer has, by FAR, the least stringent and structured requirements. I happened to know exactly what I wanted to major in since I started college, but from what I can tell, undeclared freshmen appreciate the freedom for the first couple of semesters. If they have NO idea about what to take, they can go to their mentors, academic advisors, and professors for guidance about scheduling.</p>

<p>A few more questions:</p>

<p>Can someone talk about Pitzer's mentoring system? How does it work? Who is involved? Does it apply only in the freshman year?</p>

<p>What happens when someone gets sick? I understand that there is some medical care on campus, but it is not 24 hours. Is there a clinic or emergency room nearby?</p>

<p>I have a few questions. I'm a high school senior and Pitzer is my first choice school, but my parents are less than thrilled - they'd prefer I attend Haverford next fall. Anyways:
Does Pitzer deserve the reputation it has as a druggie school?
I'm aware that every school has its duds, but is the student body significantly apathetic/unmotivated, or is that just a hand full of astudents?
How are mental health services in Claremont?
What's the deal with campus safety or security? Do kids leave their dorm rooms unlocked, or is it a place where you never put your stuff down for a second?
And, finally, how is Pitzer regarded throughout the Claremont community?</p>

<p>MENTOR PROGRAM:
The mentor program will be much more involved than in past years (which we are VERY excited about). A mentor is assigned a group of 14-18 freshmen ('mentees') to act as their advisor/point person for college life: the mentor helps them with their schedule, registration, the workload, dealing with professors, getting along with their roommate, --basically all the details and struggles of transitioning to college life. Mentors are also expected to organize social events for the freshmen to help form a cohesive and supportive group. Also, mentors are required to hold 5 "office hours" every week, which will ensure that there will always be a set time mentees can approach the mentor for help. The program is only for freshmen, but after the first year, in addition to faculty advising, there are other mentoring programs available for students based on religion, ethnicity, major, interests, etc.</p>

<p>HEALTH SERVICES:
The Student Health Center, from my experience, is very good. (<a href="http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/shs/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/shs/&lt;/a&gt;) I have woken up sick on a Friday morning, called in for an appointment, and saw a doctor by noon the same day. If you need emergency medical attention, you call either your RA or Campus Security, and they are well trained to get you emergency help. (<a href="http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/shs/emergency2.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/shs/emergency2.htm&lt;/a&gt;) I think there is also 24 hour on call assistance.</p>

<p>REPUTATION:
I think Pitzer's reputation for being a place of academic engagement, social awareness, and community, should eclipse its reputation as a "druggie school". There is a large number of Pitzer students who either do NO drugs/alchohol or do very little. </p>

<p>STUDENT BODY:
Pitzer students are CONSTANTLY organizing events, advancing social causes, planning parties, protesting, running around, etc. It would be impossible to measure scientifically, but I would say that Pitzer students are among the MOST involved in the country; it seems like everyone here is passionate and engaged. Out of curiousity, where have you heard that Pitzer has an apathetic student body?</p>

<p>MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES:
You would go to the Monsour Center right next to the Student Health Center (<a href="http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/counseling/)%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/counseling/)&lt;/a>. I have no personal experience with this center, but the Claremont Colleges take the health and safety of its students very seriously, so I would assume it is of the same good quality as the SHC.</p>

<p>SECURITY:
There are campus security guards constantly rotating throughout the campus and there are CMC student escorts you can call that will walk you from place to place if you feel unsafe. there is a consensus through the campuses that the 5 Colleges, and the city of Claremont, are EXCEPTIONALLY safe. Students have to be reminded and encouraged to lock their doors because the atmosphere is so secure.</p>

<p>CLAREMONT REPUTATION:
Pitzer is well regarded throughout the 5C's: I think CMC appreciates Pitzer as a liberal counterbalance, Pomona appreciates Pitzer's creative academic atmosphere; Scripps has a great relationship with Pitzer because of their shared activism and global involvement; even Harvey Mudders, who probably has the least in common with Pitzer, tend to take a lot of their required humanities classes at Pitzer.</p>

<p>Hey, I'm not sure if you can answer my question, but do you know how many students were admitted from the Wait List last year/years before?</p>

<p>Thanks cantsaythatido. I think the "apathetic" label is an invention of my mom's mind. She just thinks that a few kids at Pitzer give it the activist label that has, and that most kids go there, coast through classes, enjoy the weather, and get by on the reputation of having attended a claremont college. Need I say that she's elitist? Anyways, you were really helpful.</p>

<p>Fiesta: My pleasure- and it's always funny to see what parents think of colleges; my parents and I often had completely opposing impressions of college :) (it wasn't until I visited Pitzer that we both loved a college)</p>

<p>Gunadic- I have no idea, but past statistics will probably dramatically different than this year, since the acceptance rate has dropped so much. I would suggest calling after students make their deposits and asking how many students this year accepted a place on the wait list. If you really can't wait, you could also call now and ask how many spots were offered to the wait list.</p>

<p>Re: Student Health Services
They're close, they're accessible, they're very reasonably priced, they also offer student insurance. For more serious emergencies or 24 hour issues, students call resident advisors or campus security (depending on the issue...or they call resident advisors who then call campus security themselves). If anything requiring an ambulance is required, then campus security is called because they know the layout of the campuses and can respond immediately.
<a href="http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/shs/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/shs/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Re: Mental Health Services
Also close, accessible, good. There are a number of services offered...they should be best described on the website. I don't recall details off the top of my head, but there are a number of free one-on-one counseling hours per student per year, and then help with finding local services. There are also a number of groups that vary by semester...shyness, body image, relationships, time management, and so forth.
<a href="http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/counseling/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/counseling/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Re: "Druggie" School
Yes and no. Yes, there is a fair bit of usage going on on that campus. No, "druggie school" is not an apt description of the school, considering the intelligence, creativity, and involvement of most students. I had a friend who went to Pitzer and loved the school, but really didn't find her social circle there. She ended up making most of her friends on Scripps, which was right across the street, so easy. I have a friend at Scripps whose social circle is really on Pitzer, and she's considering a housing switch to live with her friends. It's not necessarily ideal, but finding your niche is always possible in Claremont, so if you love Pitzer, don't be discouraged. I'd really encourage you to visit if you're concerned, because the reputation is definitely not an accurate description of the atmosphere, but it's also not totally unfounded.</p>

<p>Re: Student Involvement/Apathy
No apathy. Hard workers, some of the most engaged students I've ever met on the 5Cs. On the whole, Pitzer students strike me as the very most likely to learn just for the sake of learning, and it always comes through in my classes there. That said, there's enough student engagement that the professors don't seem as reliant on heavy homework assignments. That's not to say that classes are easy, but it's where a little bit of the "coasting" reputation comes from. In my Pitzer classes, I've always learned a ton and come out interested in the information, even if I didn't go in that way. I really have had nothing but positive experiences, and I've taken classes all over the place. Socially, politically, extracurricularly, academically...apathy is not an appropriate description.</p>

<p>Re: Opinions of other 4Cs
There will be plenty of students here who will respect you regardless of where you go to school. There will also be a good number who will judge you by your school's inferior ranking. This does not hinder friendships across campuses, but know that you'll likely be put in some obnoxious situations. As a Scripps student, I've taken classes all over the place and I know for a fact that I'm getting as excellent (and in my opinion, often better, but here I might just be biased) of an education as any other student at the Claremonts. For this reason, it can be very frustrating to run into elitist attitudes that are based on rankings and admissions standards. Honestly, you'll get to Claremont and realize that rankings mean nothing, but a minority of those around you will feel differently, and you'll have to put up with 'em. This is one of my biggest pet peeves about Claremont, but by no means would it ever have changed my mind about coming here.</p>

<p>Good luck, and feel free to ask or PM if you have any specific questions...I was a little vague in places :)</p>

<p>I never posted on CC, but I felt obligated to create an account and post when I read the previous posts about Student Health Services.</p>

<p>I experienced one medical emergency on a weekend that warranted a call to Campus Safety/24-hour on call health service, and one that required an ambulance.</p>

<p>SHS (Student Health Services) is only open during the week. It's basically because they don't have enough money to be open on weekends. If you have a health emergency on a weekend, you call campus safety and they forward your information to the on-call nurse. She's just an RN, and since she can only help you over the phone, the response is pretty much "Go to the hospital." She can't diagnose you since she hasn't examined you, because otherwise the consortium would be liable if she was wrong. Essentially, if you don't think your situation is serious enough for a hospital, you're stuck. I was also told that there is also an on-call psychiatrist, but I have no experience with their services.</p>

<p>In a more serious situation, an ambulance needed to be called for me. You have to call Campus Safety first, and then they call 911 for you. However, CS did not (and as far as I know, does not) call the ambulance until their people arrived to assess the situation. CS people do NOT have any medical expertise, so all they can do is take down your name and wait with you for the ambulance. In a more serious situation, this chunk of time could be the difference between a manageable and a critical injury.</p>

<p>Anyway, I felt obligated to correct/add to the SHS information with my own experiences.</p>

<p>I am wondering how difficult it is to get into Pitzer as a transfer student . My daughter was accepted there last spring and decided to go to art school, and has now applied to tranfer. She is only appling to Pitzer and is getting worried after seeing some of these posts.</p>

<p>Shipping boxes to dorm???
We will need to ship several boxes of my daughter's clothes and person items to Pitzer next fall. I understand that Pitzer does not have storage. How do people handle this? Can we ship it to a Mail Boxes, etc, or a similar facility and then pick it up when we get there?</p>

<p>Packages should be able to be shipped directly to the school under the student's name. At Scripps, they set aside a "package room" for the first few weeks of school for just this purpose and my assumption is that Pitzer makes similar allowances. You should be able to call/email admissions or the Dean of Students and have your question answered, but you might also receive an answer once the "get ready to come to Pitzer" literature starts arriving.</p>

<p>Point is: it's pretty common and shouldn't (based on what I know about a few of the other Claremonts) be a big issue :)</p>