<p>Last night our daughter officially chose Pomona over three UC's (with scholarships) and three Ivies. (Ivys?)</p>
<p>Pomona jumped to the top of her list (and stayed there) after her overnight visit in February. The campus was beautiful; it was 80º; it had rained the day before, was crystal clear, and the mountains were still covered with snow; students on campus were unusually welcoming; she immediately liked her overnight roommate; the classes she attended were engaging; the group of people she had dinner with were diverse, fun and friendly. </p>
<p>While she liked everything about Pomona, it was the overall happy and welcoming vibe of the students on campus that sealed the deal.</p>
<p>Have you said "yes" to Pomona? What made you choose it over other colleges/universities?</p>
<p>Welcome to the club! (it seems we’re in the same happy circumstance)</p>
<p>I posted this recently on another thread, but you may not have seen it:</p>
<p>My pleasure, drying. Like everyone else on this thread, I’m happy to help. </p>
<p>I can relate to your indecision and anxiety, since our daughter went through the same agonizing process. In the end, she chose Pomona over Stanford and a few of the Ivies because she felt at home there from the moment she stepped on campus. After meeting some students, sitting in on a few classes and speaking with the profs, she was hooked.</p>
<p>Listen: You’re obviously a highly intelligent, ambitious and accomplished individual – or you wouldn’t have earned that slew of impressive admission offers. I have absolutely no doubt you will be a success in life no matter where you go for undergraduate study. Having said that, one variable which can make a difference at this stage in a HS graduate’s personal and academic evolution is that frustrating intangible known as “fit”. I believe that fit, or overall comfort level, is a critical determinant of success when choosing/attending a college – particularly if you are attending out-of-town and out-of-state institutions. After all, it stands to reason that if you’re happy with the environment, pleased to be with your new friends and classmates and closely engaged with your professors, you’ll perform at your highest level. And feel like a human being while you do so, not merely an academic automaton.</p>
<p>For what its worth, I believe Pomona offers a distinct brand of education that focusses on the needs of the undergraduate and helps them realize their inner potential over four important developmental years of their life. Orientation Adventure Week is one of many great examples of the lengths to which Pomona goes to welcome you, and to ensure you feel comfortable and part of the Pomona family from “day one”. Add in smaller classes (avg. 14 students per) taught by the best professors; lots of personal interaction with same and you have a wonderful, resource-rich academic incubator for horizon-widening and the development/refinement of critical thinking. And ultimately, a proven springboard into the finest grad and professional schools in the world.</p>
<p>Congratulations, rickmanfan! My son will graduate in May, and the wisdom of his decision four years ago is even more apparent now than it was at the time.
It’s a wonderful community. My son is still hanging out with the same rather large group of friends he made freshman year–basically his entire frosh dorm. The way that the kids keep in touch these days through their phones and the internet, I expect that a lot of these people will be in his life for a very long time, even while they go off on their separate adventures in the next stage of their lives.
His faculty relationships have also been very strong. They’ve given him wonderful guidance, and he counts some of them among his friends, as well. Next month Pomona will do graduation up big- three full days of ceremonies and receptions. I have a feeling that there will be more than a few tears shed amid the celebrations.</p>
<p>The only negative: it’s a tough place to leave.</p>
<p>D graduated last spring. She chose Pomona (ED1) because it offered everything she was seeking in a college - great location, accessible consortium, small class size and friendly faculty, feel and advantages of a small university (examples: library and health center), excellent reputation, and smart but fun student body. She’s still close to her Pomona friends; in fact, there’s a Pomona community of young alums in the area. No regrets!</p>
<p>Hello, enkephalon, moonchild and Little Mother. Thanks for the kind posts and encouragement! It’s gratifying to know that your children have been so happy at Pomona - wish my daughter could meet them. </p>
<p>I thought some students might reply to this thread, but I’m glad to have feedback from Pomona parents.</p>
<p>Within hours of receiving admission to Pomona College on March 27, 2010, I mailed rejection letters out to 5 UCs (Berkeley, LA, SB, SD, and Irvine), Reed, and Tulane. It was a total no-brainer.</p>
<p>I am SO thrilled to be in Pomona, but I am super indecisive!! I am currently torn between Pomona, Tufts, and Boston College. I have visited BC and Tufts (I absolutely fell in love with BC’s campus and the honors program), and Tufts was good but did not compare to BC for me.</p>
<p>I am from the east coast (MA) and will be visiting Pomona on Monday! I am really hoping I love it so I can just send the deposit and be done with it lol. On an unrelated note, my friend told me a few days ago that we are sitting at table #47 at prom…and that was not intentional lol. Is that a sign?! I guess we’ll find out…</p>