<p>Just regarding the quality of the psych and most science programs in the 5Cs, CMC Pitzer and Scripps will all have similar quality experiences because their classes are all shared by the keck science center where they take courses and do research. Pomona has its own department which is also great.</p>
<p>1) The location is arguably the best any undergraduate college that is not within the Claremont Consortium has to offer. Where else can you be within at most an hour’s reach to amazing cities, music venues, deserts, national parks, oceans, mountains, beaches, amusement parks, restaurants of any cuisine you can think of, and the film making capital of the world? Pomona is blessed by location- it is away from the smog and bustle of LA in one of the most beautiful places (Claremont) in California, but none of those places are so far as to be inaccessible. Don’t forget the weather, which is usually mild and sunny each day to wear flip flops almost every day you’re at Pomona.</p>
<p>2) Pomona has so much money that they don’t know what to do with it, so they’ll basically throw it at their students. That one million dollar and counting endowment per student isn’t stockpiled- it’s actively used to fund student’s ideas and experiences. You get an education valued at 80,000$ per year [what Pomona spends on average, per student] for 55,000$ or less- an automatic scholarship of at least 25,000$ per student. Furthermore, as a result of their mammoth endowment, they are 100% full need met and loans free, thus making education accessible to people of all walks of life. Pomona has many quirky traditions such as Ski-Beach day and really does pamper its students. </p>
<p>3) You will be in one of the most beautiful and breathtaking colleges in the country. Where else can you wake up to a splendid view of snow capped mountains, lush green grass and multicolored trees, red tiled stucco roofs, and amazing Spanish Architecture? Where else can you pick oranges and roses from the various citrus trees and flower bushes covering the campus? The other colleges are wonderful too- Claremont McKenna’s facilities are majestic and modern, Scripps is a smaller and more delicate Pomona, and Pitzer reminds me of a desert oasis. </p>
<p>4) Pomona’s facilities are on its own some of the best any liberal arts college can offer, with facilities such as the Smith Campus Center, the Lincoln-Edmunds Building, the giant Rains Athletics Center Complex, the Brackett Observatory, Seaver Theatre, Seaver Biology Building, Bridges Hall of Music, and Bridges Auditorium. The Claremont Colleges share the largest library system that any liberal arts college has, Mudd Hannold Library, which has over 2 million volumes yet grows at a rate of 2% each year.</p>
<p>5) Pomona encompasses a balance most schools, especially liberal art colleges, can’t offer to as much of an extent that Pomona does. Pomona’s reputation as a liberal arts college, and all the flaws that are associated with them, are mitigated by the Claremont Colleges. You get the tight-knit and community feel a traditional liberal arts college offered at Pomona, but you can make the experience to the feel of a national university as the Claremont Colleges offer easy cross-enrollment policies, a community of over 5000 undergraduates, nearly 300 clubs, over 7 dining halls and 8 other places to use your board flex, and events occurring at each college that are usually open to students of the entire consortium. The Claremont Colleges are a prestigious group of colleges, with each ranking in the top 50 LACs and becoming increasingly well known and higher ranked, and among the best consortium in the country thanks to the fact they are so accessible from each other. A great thing though is that Pomona is in no way dependent upon the consortium to be great- it’s one of the top schools in the country, with or without the consortium. </p>
<p>6) Pomona encompasses a balance in other ways too! Academically speaking, it is probably the most diverse of any liberal arts college in the country, with an average class having 40% of its students majoring in math or science, 40% majoring in humanities, social sciences, and the arts, 5% of the class majoring in interdisciplinary studies, 10% majoring in a pre-profession, and 5% of the class undecided in their interests. It has a diverse student body, with around 50% students of color, 20% first in their family to go to college, a 50:50 male to female ratio, very geographically diverse, and with each student unlike anyone else in the school. The Claremont Colleges expand upon this diversity, with a niche for any student one can imagine existing in at least one of the colleges. </p>
<p>7) The experience Pomona offers to its undergraduates is almost unparalleled by any other college in the country. You get an education that is academically enriching, rigorous, and among the best in the country, but you also get a low-stress environment to grow and develop as a person, almost as if it were a summer camp coupled with a fine education. To be fair, it is in no way a LEISURELY experience- you will have to work hard (some days, almost overwhelmingly so) at Pomona, but the amount of individual attention, care, sunshine, and extracurricular activities to enjoy will make the experience much more balanced and enjoyable. At Pomona, you will be tested to your limits, but at the expanse of the seemingly unlimited freedom you have there. You WANT to take 8 classes a semester in all sorts of disciplines, play 4 sports, join every club offered to the consortium, read all sorts of novels and watch movies that are in your friends’ and professors’ personal libraries, and go onto all sorts of places California has to offer with your friends. The only issue is time. Pomona’s academic experience is one of the best in the country. EVERY department Pomona offers is amazing, which is rarely said of most liberal art colleges (which tend to be weak in science). Research opportunities are very easy to find at Pomona because there are no graduate students to compete with, and one can venture off campus to the other 4 colleges to find these opportunities as well. The study abroad program is highly cherished by the students, with more than 55% taking a study abroad program, and it is well-developed. Unpaid internships are paid for by Pomona, and transportation and gas fees are also covered, through Pomona’s internship program, and summer research is easy to do, thanks to Pomona’s SURP program. Furthermore, many amazing people visit the consortium, such as Supreme Justice Sandra O’Conner and Bill Gates and Claremont’s very own TEDx, providing for an academic experience that covers outside the classroom just as well. </p>
<p>8) Everyone at Pomona is amazing- the student body, the professors, and the administration. The student body is perhaps one of the smartest you will find in any liberal arts college outside of Harvey Mudd (which is in the consortium with Pomona…go figure), with the average student having an SAT of 2200 and insanely accomplished in many disciplines and activities. Yet no one takes how smart they are that seriously- they are modest and unpretentious for the most part and incredibly laid back. The student body truly does encompass a “work hard, play hard” model- it is surreal seeing their transition from social and hard partiers on the weekends to hardworking and passionate students in the weekday. The best thing about Pomona is that it can’t be stereotyped according to its student body other than liberal, brilliant, well-rounded, friendly, collaborative, and laid-back. More on that collaborative atmosphere- nearly a third of the class was valedictorian in their high schools, but you never notice an element of competition in Pomona. No one discusses their grades, there isn’t an element of misery poker in Pomona’s student body, and Pomona students aren’t ranked because each student brings an element of uniqueness to the culture of the school. As for the element of friendliness, Pomona students are so friendly and open that it feels like they were your long lost best friends or something. The professors are insanely brilliant and accomplished yet their biggest commitment is to their students. They really do facilitate a nurturing and individualized scope of learning, since classes are small, class discussions are encouraged, and they’re so accommodating, inviting students over for dinner at their house and consulting with them even outside of office hours. You will love them, respect them, and become incredibly close to them. Another good thing about them is that they judge each student off his or her merit instead of the merits of the class; classes aren’t graded off curves. As for the administration, yes, they might be a little bit politically correct, but they really are committed to their students and making sure they have a wonderful experience, as they know Pomona is made by the students within it. A special kudos goes to the admission and financial aid officers. The admission officers really take the time to get to know each applicant they accept, and are very friendly and easy to talk to. I enjoyed frozen yogurt with one while we were discussing schools in Texas and the woes of being an admission officer, and enjoyed dinner with another one discussing mainstream music artists. The financial aid office is so helpful and nice.</p>
<p>9) Pomona in its other elements is fantastic as well. In attribute to how happy the students are of their experience, Pomona’s retention rate is often 99% or more, one of the, if not THE, highest in the country. Pomona’s graduation rate usually is within the top 10 of any college in the country. It is usually in the Princeton Review’s rankings for “Best Classroom Experience”, “Most Accessible Professors”, “Happiest Students”, “Best Quality of Life”, “Students Happy with Financial Aid”, “School Runs like Butter”, and “Dorms like Palaces”. </p>
<p>10) The Pomona degree will carry you far in life. With over 96% of its students body getting accepted to a medical school, a mean average LSAT of 165 (second highest in the country, and Pomona doesn’t even have a law major!), among the top 15 of ANY college in terms of top grad school placement, a fantastic alumni network, and a great career center, there is no doubt Pomona prepares its students well for the future. Pomona offers to its students a wonderful transition through which they can explore and develop their passions and ultimately themselves.</p>
<p>Jeez, I just realized how much of an advertisement I sounded in writing that =D But I really, really love Pomona and couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else.</p>
<p>Tell us a little about yourself. My daughter is going to Pomona this fall. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm.</p>
<p>Wow, debakianmj, that post really makes me want to apply to Pomona!</p>
<p>@debakianmj It is easy to see when it cones from the heart vs a used car salesman 
Nicely done. When my D and I visited, the admissions officer personally meet with her and spent time explaining the Wait list process. It was an excellent experience compared to Georgetown where an “admissions officer on duty” gave monosyllable answer to a child that went 3000 miles to meet with him.</p>
<p>Any idea how the pre-med support system is at Pomona?</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback! I’m happy that you liked my post =]</p>
<p>Kathieh1, I will be going to Pomona this fall as well. It was an excruciatingly tough decision, for I had some really excellent schools to consider, such as Stanford, Columbia, University of Chicago, Amherst, and Rice. But the moment I attended Pomona’s Fall Weekend program, I knew it was the perfect school for me. I met the most incredible people there, loved the vibe of it and the other 4 schools, and had a journey of many firsts in just three days. I really got that sense of nurturing independence at Pomona- you had a lot of freedom to do as you wanted, but you were made sure to be given support if you fell behind or needed any advice. That weekend removed all my doubts and cynicism about Pomona not executing well in reality and convinced me of how blessed I was to attend such a wonderful place. Money and prestige weren’t the factor (I’m a Gate Millennium Finalist, which covers one’s undergraduate education). Fit was. </p>
<p>Ultimately, the decision came down between Pomona and Stanford. I didn’t notice the same sense of intimacy and personalized education at Stanford, and the entrepreneurial vibe there wasn’t right for me. The thing that really convinced me though was one of the most amazing speeches I’ve ever heard in my life from an African-American Pomona senior. She was like me- a Questbridge scholar, someone who came from a very modest lifestyle, someone who had no idea she would be accepted to such wonderful schools at no cost to her. But her experience of Pomona convinced me. She was accepted despite her racial differences, she was welcomed despite her socioeconomic background, she found a place to defy all those who her told her she couldn’t handle the transition, and she truly felt Pomona had allowed her to blossom as a person. Her speech was so heartfelt and inspiring that I knew Pomona was the right school for me. I sent in my deposit the weekday immediately following the Weekend and have no regrets about it.</p>
<p>My plans for the future are uncertain. I do not believe I have the experience to settle upon a career, so Pomona to me is a transition from learning to a career- I will explore all that is within my reach to understand what my interests and passions are. I really love science, philosophy, languages, economics, and pre-med, but I’m certain I’ll find some hidden interests as well. </p>
<p>cahsparent, I talked to the pre-med advising committee during the Pomona weekend, and they were very accessible, friendly, and honest folks. While there isn’t a pre-med major at Pomona, the pre-med advising board is very good at helping out pre-med students, offering course recommendations, mock interviews, MCAT preparation, and health related internships.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you, debakianmj!</p>
<p>You made the right choice. Our daughter had similar options, but chose Pomona because in a addition to the benefits you cite, she felt immediately at home there.</p>
<p>She is now a rising junior and in two years has challenged and fulfilled herself in myriad ways, made scores of good friends, and enjoyed every second of her time there thus far.</p>
<p>I have no doubt that you will, too. It’s a magical place.</p>
<p>Hey everyone, I am really interested in Pomona and applying this fall. Any advice? I have really good grades and take classes at the community college in place of high school. 3.8 GPA and a part time job at best buy. I have very little ECs 
I am scared this will kill me. But I moved summer after my sophomore year and the rigor of the community college keeps me so busy. I am Phi Theta Kappa (academic fraternity) and work on the school newspaper, but that’s it. Haven’t taken SATs yet, but been studying my butt off. Do I have a chance at getting into Pomona? Sounds like an amazing place.</p>
<p>CaliCollege, I did the exact same thing as you. I took a full-time load of courses at a local community college in lieu of traditional HS, though it seems like I had more ECs (I participated in cross country and track at the local HS and was part of a high-adventure Boy Scout group).</p>
<p>So aside from keeping your grades up and really finding a passion of yours that you pursue outside of school (do this ASAP, doesn’t matter what it is as long as you pursue it with verve), I have to stress that standardized test scores are incredibly important, especially for students like you and me. Because you aren’t taking a standardized high school curriculum, Pomona wants to know how difficult/demanding your curriculum actually is, and what you’ve gotten out of it, which is why the standardized test scores are so critical. They need to have an objective metric to judge you by. My [“accepted</a>” post](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pomona-college/1257498-official-pomona-2016-decisions-3.html#post13863686"]"accepted”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pomona-college/1257498-official-pomona-2016-decisions-3.html#post13863686) outlines my test scores, coursework, and extracurriculars, and so might be of use to a similar student like yourself. If you have any other questions don’t hesitate to post here or private message me. Best of luck!</p>
<p>debakianmj, we had a similar comparative impression of Stanford and Pomona which is why my D decided not to apply to Stanford. It just seemed too intensive and entrepreneurial and huge. It’s perfect for some kids, but my D will thrive perfectly at Pomona as you describe it. Oh and one of my favorite things about Pomona is their focus on admitting a diverse student body, and then supporting everyone. Good luck this year!</p>
<p>Sorry but can you specify #4?</p>
<p>Who are you asking?</p>
<p>Sorry, I mean the 4th statement in #10.</p>
<p>Just wondering, how is the Art History, Criticism and Conservation major in Pomona? I heard that it’s good but is there anyone here who studies it who can give some feedback?</p>
<p>cathy, runs likes butter is synonymous with Well-run schools. Pomona’s administration is not bureaucratic or covered with red tape. They are personal and make sure the school functions in maximum efficiency.</p>
<p>Oh thanks!</p>
<p>Pomona…California…THAT’S WHAT I WANT!</p>
<p>You only make me want to go there more!!!</p>
<p>Does anyone know what the environmental analysis program is like? I’ve heard there is an organic farm, that’s pretty cool!</p>