Selectivity of Pomona College

<p>I read that on another thread that Pomona admitted 18.4% of this year's applicants. Does anyone have the numbers and breakdown of the SAT scores and the rest of Pomona's profile? Also, for clarity, aren't Pomona's applicants pretty much self-selecting? And, there is a particular emphasis on interviews and essays? Thanks.</p>

<p>Check on the official Pomona college website for the most recent numbers. I think they have the class of 2009 up but they at least have 2008 which had an admission rate of about 19% and should give you some rough idea of class of 2009.</p>

<p>In terms of self-selecting, well, they're not going to come out and actively recruit most people for sports scholarships or things like that (Pomona is a respectable division III school but only just that--respectable). You're going to have to clarify what you mean on that.</p>

<p>Finally, as a proud member of the class of '08 and someone who has recently been through the admissions process, I think that Pomona places maybe a little more weight on the interview and essays than most other LACs and a lot more than most big universities but that's just my opinon. Other people who've been through the same process may say different things. One thing I have heard though is that the interview can really only help you, not hurt you. As far as I understand it, if you don't do an interview, you won't be denied a spot if you're qualified. However, if you're teetering on the edge of admission, a good interview at Pomona can really help you.</p>

<p>Pomona is rediculously hard to get into. However, it is possible, just like at any other school. Before one applies, however, one should visit and see if the feel is correct.</p>

<p>The dean of admissions at Stanford told me that, in her opinion, it's harder to get into Pomona than Stanford. I'm not so sure about the Pomona interview; I was put on a waitlist for an interview (on-campus), never got one, and still got in. What I bet matters the most is that you fill out at least one of the three supplemental forms that they have with the common app supplement.</p>

<p>jamesah, the Stanford comment is surprising, many choose Pomona over the Ivys but at least for Arizona folks Stanford's admissions were crazy this year! My D's classmate who got into Pomona, Harvard, Yale,Dartmoth, U Penn applied early Decision and was denied at Stanford, I believe his only denial. Pomona does have less spots, only 1500 students in all , great school, haven't met a student there who does not feel extremely lucky to be there, my S included!</p>

<p>Just as Swartmore is considered the LAC most closely connected with Princeton, Haverford with Penn, Wesleyan with Brown, Williams with Yale, Amherst with Harvard, etc., Pomona is likewise connected Stanford. While Pomona is the P in WASP (to indicate the top 4 most highly regarded LACs), I have to agree with Arizonamom and say that Stanford is infinitely harder to get into than Pomona (despite jamesah1's attribution from the retiring Robin Mamlet).</p>

<p>According to USNews Stanford had an acceptance rate of 13% in 2005 while Pomona had a rate of 21% (11th to 25th overall). I wouldn't exactly describe that as "infinitely" harder. I believe for the 2004 class at Pomona it was down below 20%.</p>

<p>One of our friend's daughters applied to both Stanford and Pomona. She was in all the magnet programs from elementary school on up and got an IB diploma. Her SATs were stellar. She did NOT get accepted into Pomona but did get into Stanford, Scripps, Wellesley, Vassar etc. She is from Maryland, which should have made it a bit easier than being from California. We were wondering if her Jewish background hurt her in admissions. I guess we will never know.</p>

<p>I don't think it would. I'm Jewish, and did not find that to really make a difference in my admissions (maybe my waitlist at Columbia). Dean Mamlets reason for telling me that Pomona is harder was not based on percentage. She said that Pomona cares a lot more about SAT scores than Stanford does. I don't really know how that would really make much of a difference. A friend of mine, and the only other person from my school to get into Pomona my year (we had 20 something in at Stanford), who decided to go to Pomona did not get into Brown. Really, it's all a crap shoot! I was shocked and amazingly excited when I got my Pomona acceptance letter, but it was third on my list of places I got into (behind Brown and Stanford) but not because I thought that it was easier to get into or any lesser of a school.</p>

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We were wondering if her Jewish background hurt her in admissions. I guess we will never know.

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<p>That's just ridiculous.</p>

<p>first of all as to the cold hard stats, I believe the Pomona Class of '09 had average SAT I scores of 730 V and 730 M. I think the class of '08 had a SAT I average of 1450 total. It is a very selective school.</p>

<p>As to some of the other comments above, IMO when you're talking about the Ivies, Stanford and LACs such as Pomona, Amherst etc. I think the standards are really pretty much near the same and it comes down to the individual and how the school views them (SAT/GPA and activities etc.) and in how the school wishes the incoming class to be comprised. Also, Pomona and other LAC have very small incoming classes, I believe about 390 or so at Pomona, so the selectivity is all the more so with such limited numbers.</p>

<p>I attended an admissions tour at Stanford and they stated they could basically accept a class of all 4.0 and perfect SAT score students if they wanted, but an incoming class must be well rounded in terms of interests, majors, skills etc. etc. </p>

<p>As far as interviews at Pomona, as stated above, I think they typically will help, not hurt (unless something unusual happens, LOL). I think the interview shows you truly have the interest and Pomona has two ED programs, which again give you the opportunity to show you are truly interested.</p>

<p>As to the "religious" comment above, I truly don't get that. I don't think Pomona even asks anywhere for a religious designation and if so, I'm certain it is optional. Besides the school is so politically correct it is beyond ANY belief that religion would play a factor at that school. There are MANY jewish students there. I think the comment that religion would play a factor is MOST unfair, if not completely outrageous.</p>

<p>My impression of Pomona and its students is that no school could possibly make a greater effort to look at the "total student" their sat scores, gpa, essay, interview, interests etc. I believe you need to be in a certain "range" as far as scores/gpa and if in that range Pomona will then look at the more subjective essay, interview, activities etc. and so they can form a "well rounded class.</p>

<p>Bottom line, Pomona is in a "league" of these many other schools - Ivy, Stanford, etc. that are very selective. The % I don't think is the point. If you're close to a given school's freshman profile (SAT/gpa) and have some talent, interest, etc. to offer, give it a shot and let they school know you are interested by way of visit, interview, etc.. We all hear the stories of the kid who got into Harvard but not State U. etc. - who knows why.</p>

<p>"I believe for the 2004 class at Pomona it was down below 20%."</p>

<p>for class of '09 it was 18.4%, so its consistently dropping.</p>

<p>Alright, thanks for all of the replies. :)</p>

<p>Robin Mamlet was the Admissions Dean at Swarthmore before moving to Stanford, so she is experienced at both types of schools.</p>

<p>I think I can understand what she may have been talking about. Obvious, just going by statistics, Stanford is more "selective" than Pomona or Swarthmore. However, the very small LACs build a class on a very personal level. You could have the best stats in the world and, if you aren't perceived as being a "good fit", you have no prayer of getting in.</p>

<p>With 7,000 undergrads, Stanford can't be paying as much attention to niceties like "fit" with the campus culture in the admissions process.</p>

<p>My conclusion: If you are a good fit for a Pomona or a Swarthmore, it's probably easier for you to get in that at Stanford. However, if you aren't a good fit, it's probably more difficult.</p>

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Just as Swartmore is considered the LAC most closely connected with Princeton, Haverford with Penn, Wesleyan with Brown, Williams with Yale, Amherst with Harvard, etc., Pomona is likewise connected Stanford. While Pomona is the P in WASP (to indicate the top 4 most highly regarded LACs), I have to agree with Arizonamom and say that Stanford is infinitely harder to get into than Pomona (despite jamesah1's attribution from the retiring Robin Mamlet).

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<p>Some of these connections are meaningful, when the liberal arts college has a program with the university, while others are just geographic or otherwise shallow. Well, Pomona and Stanford are hours away, roughly 7 by car or 3-4 by the total journey and driving time with a plane, and besides being in the same HUGE state and having similar applicants, they have little to do with each other. If what you meant was that they have similar applicants and are in the same state, sure, this connection holds- otherwise, it's meaningless.</p>

<p>It is about as hard to get into Stanford as it is Pomona. Which is harder? It's impossible to really tell. It depends on the student- some will have a slightly easier time getting into one, while some will have a slighly easier time getting into the other, and some may get into both. Both are great schools, though, and both have amazing students, often with great talents and large egos.</p>

<p>Lets remember, when we consider selectivity, that Pomona could have equally high or even higher standard of admission with a higher % of applicants taken.</p>

<p>A school like Stanford draws MANY more applications proportionate to places due to its much greater visibility. Nationally, virtually "everyone" has heard of Stanford; fewer people have heard of Pomona. Thus a great many parents everywhere unrealistically urge a Stanford application as a reach. I suspect more unsavvy, out-of-range applicants shoot for Stanford; far fewer shoot for Pomona or Swat.</p>

<p>Then once admissions are mailed, there will be those applicants who choose the better known school over the less known school and will increase Stanford's yield (also driving down the % that can be admitted.)</p>

<p>Still, this does not mean the standards-- or quality of the admitted kid-- would be lower.</p>