<p>Hey everybody! I'm wondering if current students/parents/admits/alum could list some reasons to be excited about getting in to Pomona. Yesterday I got rejected from Brown, my absolute top choice, and waitlisted at my other favorite, Columbia. However, after applying to Pomona on a whim (I've never visited) I got in. So despite being a bit crushed about brown, I'm trying to look on the bright side about Pomona, because that's probably where I'm headed. So hit me with some reasons to be excited about Pomona class of 2016! :)</p>
<p>You sound as you’re being forced to go to your state school or local junior college…Pomona is a fantastic institution whose academic reputation rivals Brown and Columbia. The students at Pomona are just as competitive/intelligent as those at the Ivy League institutions.</p>
<p>Anyway, here’s a great topic for a list of a few of the awesome things about Pomona: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pomona-college/175120-top-10-reasons-go-pomona.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pomona-college/175120-top-10-reasons-go-pomona.html</a></p>
<p>I recommend you just browse around Pomona’s website and the respective department websites. The classes sound wonderful, as do the extracurriculars. But above all, the people you will meet and befriend at Pomona are going to be incredible.</p>
<p>Also, I do have to mention the 5Cs. If you go to Pomona, you will have the advantages of a small school without the disadvantages, as you can take up to 50% of your courses at the other schools, join various inter-college clubs, and eat at any of the 7 dining halls across 5 campuses.</p>
<p>I think your problem is that you haven’t visited! Once you’ve seen Pomona, you’ll understand why many students select it over and above Brown and Columbia! The level of attention from professors is unequaled by other institutions – and I have much ongoing exposure to the Ivies, and am an Ivy alum myself. Think of it as Harvard, with caring, involved professors and seminar-style classes. </p>
<p>Will you be able to attend one of the Admitted Students’ days in April?</p>
<p>I will fortunately be able to attend the April 16th preview day, and I’m really excited!</p>
<p>As for the other comment, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful! Pomona seems like an excellent place, it’s just ironic because I applied to Pomona on a sort of whim while I spent hours on my Brown and Columbia supplements and had extensive interviews for both. My apprehensions about Pomona mostly involve it’s size (I get claustrophobic easily) and the fact that it is located in a town that is centered around the college and college life, whereas I’d prefer to study in a large city.</p>
<p>Oh, bummer, I’m going the 9th.</p>
<p>Pomona’s kind of in a weird place. It’s got the small town vibe from Claremont, but it also has LA nearby which offers internships, more things to do, etc. I’ve heard that Pomona can feel a little small your junior/senior years, but you can always branch out into the other 5Cs, as I mentioned. In terms of actual campus size, Pomona’s campus is larger than Columbia’s, even without the addition of the other 5C campuses, which are literally adjacent to each other.</p>
<p>Yeah I just meant student body size, not geographical size, but I’m sure the 5Cs provide that. One thing I really liked (or perhaps idealized) about Brown is it’s reputation for quirkiness. Is Pomona’s student body known to have any such defining characteristics?</p>
<p>Each of the 5Cs has a certain personality, and there are plenty of traditions and quirks throughout. Pomona + the other schools really is a unique and amazing setup.</p>
<p>When my son, a top ten % grad from a competitive private HS, entered Pomona a few years ago, he was blown away by how smart the student body was. I just remember him saying how “crazy smart” the kids are; not really in a bookish way but in their own unique ways. I think you’ll find the student body down to earth, humble, but very interesting, fun-loving and intelligent. The internship opportunities are awesome, and most of the students study abroad for a semester as well. Pomona has a large endowment, which shows up in the opportunities offered to the students across all fields. The professors are really interested in getting to know you. Many become good friends, and are great resources for all kinds of fellowships and graduate schools.
I think you’re going to love it. Honestly, congratulations.</p>
<p>You have in your possession one of Willy Wonka’s golden tickets! Exceedingly valuable. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Brown was one of my top choices too and then I got rejected so now Pomona seems very possible… I could actually see some similarities between Brown and Pomona? No disrespect intended, but would anyone consider Pomona “Brown lite” or “Diet Brown” as in not the original but a very similar type of school?</p>
<p>Pomona has greater professor accessibility than Brown. Pomona classes are smaller on average and more discussion-based. Brown students regularly complain of the absent advising. I don’t think you’ll find that problem at Pomona. </p>
<p>Brown-lite sounds pejorative, though I gather this is not your intent. Pomona creates its own wonderful spell and is not a derivative institution, though it’s true that its founders looked to the Ivies for a model in early days. </p>
<p>Come to one of the Admitted Students’ days and sit in on classes. I think you’ll find that Pomona fosters a wonderfully cohesive community, partly due to size and partly due to conscientious effort on the part of the Administration.</p>
<p>Brilliant students and challenging curricula in both places. The 5C’s comprise a unique educational asset. Quite a few students choose Pomona over Brown, many because of the exceptionally cooperative learning environment fostered at Pomona. </p>
<p>I see that you’re interested in Engineering, so you should investigate Harvey Mudd classes as well. Be aware that Harvey Mudd engages at a very high level – a CalTech with an emphasis on the applied as opposed to theoretical. Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>I am certain some of us in California think of Brown as “Pomona Light,” or even, completely off the radar screen. </p>
<p>Kidding (of course) aside, both are outstanding institutions and at this level of excellence, IMHO the education “success” you achieve very likely depends on you the student, not necessarily and not as much which of the 2 schools you choose.
Don’t forget the very very significant difference in location (sunny, diversified, etc.) Southern Cal vs. East Coast and all that it implies. The location of the school might be a more life changing event than you think. </p>
<p>To bring some perspective to the equation, S is interested in top notch liberal arts college in California and getting accepted to Claremont Colleges/Pomona is not too different from winning the LOTTERY, as it is the <strong>only</strong> choice! He’s picking it over UC Berkeley, where both his parents matriculated, and still we are ecstatic for him.
Best of luck in your decision and hope the word “lottery” brings enough excitement. ;-)</p>
<p>Calling Pomona “Brown lite” doesn’t really seem right. The two schools are often compared, and I’ve heard that they (and their cultures) are fairly similar. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t significant differences between them. And even if you think you’d really like Brown, those differences may not be a bad thing.</p>
<p>If you come here you’ll soon see that Pomona isn’t really “diet” anything. As earlybirtd1 mentioned, it’s true that the school was originally modeled off Ivy leagues (which were themselves modeled off English institutions). However, I think that the education here offers some things that an ivy league education can’t. I understand why you’re concerned, especially since Pomona wasn’t your first choice, but just to reassure you, Pomona students (including me) turned down schools more selective than Brown to come here. The education I’m getting is remarkable and continues to surprise me. I hope if you come here, you’ll love it as much as I do. Come and visit. It’s a pretty fantastic place.</p>
<p>Back to your concerns about the environs: You will definitely not find the hustle and bustle that surrounds Columbia in Claremont (or probably anywhere else, for that matter), but its location really does give you a lot of options. Although you need to be careful anywhere these days, Claremont always gave me the impression that it was safe to wander around through in the middle of the night. At the same time, outside of rush-hour, it is also only about a half-hour drive away from downtown L.A., and it is not unusual to make a munchy run to iconic L.A. hangs like Tommy’s or El Tepeyac (which was just featured on “Man v. Food”). If a car isn’t handy, the train station is just a block from campus, and the 1-hour Metrolink run (I think round-trip is about $17) drops you at Union Station, which is right next to Olvera Street and Philippe’s (another “legendary” eatery) and from Union Station you can hop on L.A.'s version of the subway to get into Hollywood. Of course, Pomona makes a big deal about being close to the mountains and the beach, but being from SoCal, we’re kinda jaded about that - and just think, soon you can be, too!</p>