Transfer: Brown vs. Pomona

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
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<p>I’ve searched the forums and this exact topic has come up about 5 times. So it may feel like overkill, but I think I need some specific advice.</p>

<p>I’m torn between transferring to Brown or Pomona. I’m currently a student at American University. My reasons for transferring are:

  • The school just wasn’t very intellectual. I thought I would appreciate how liberal the school was, but it just seemed sort of fake—that whole activism as a brand sort of thing. There seemed to be very little critical thought of the sort I was interested in
  • I want to study philosophy. The philosophy department is fairly small and it’s treated almost exclusively as a second major, and it’s usually a second major for fairly practical minded students, i.e. poli sci, or international studies and I found that the classroom discussion wasn’t very focused. If anyone is deeply familiar with the philosophy departments, my interests are mostly in continental philosophy—Existentialism, German Idealism, Psychoanalysis, Post-structuralism, Deconstructionism. If you could discuss the department’s focus one way or another, that would really help. Thanks!
  • I want to study computer science. The department basically doesn’t exist. Nothing else really to say.</p>

<p>Having decided that, here’s where I am:</p>

<p>I have a lot of different interests and talents.

  • I’m a (kitchen-sink) musician, though I have little formal training, I’ve taught myself to play about 7 or 8 instruments well.
  • I’m a web developer/designer. I’ve been doing this since fifth grade and have built up quite a knowledgebase: PHP, Ruby on Rails, CSS, XHTML, etc. I also really enjoy graphic design. I can probably identify any typeface you throw at me.
  • I go from interest to interest often</p>

<p>These things lead me to lean towards Brown right now. The open curriculum seems to encourage this sort of taking-random-classes-for-interest mentality, though it’s not like Pomona’s gen-ed requirements are tough at all. I would imagine I’ve met all of them, save maybe one or two courses.</p>

<p>I like the prospect of taking graphic design and user interface classes at RISD, any comparison from Pomona?</p>

<p>I live in Pennsylvania and attending Brown would be more convenient.</p>

<p>My only hesitations are from:

  • I absolutely hate the cold/snow. What could be more appealing than the California sun.
  • I think I may be overestimating the intellectualism of Brown. Pomona seems to be a little more genuine. Can someone weigh in on this?
  • I’ve heard great things about dorm life, food, etc. at Pomona.</p>

<p>General concerns

  • Am I right to assume that Computer Science and Philosophy will be about the same at either school?
  • The city is really important to me. I really enjoy independent music, and being in DC afforded me the opportunity to see around 15-20 concerts a semester. What’s travel like to Boston from Brown or LA from Pomona? Is there transportation that runs through the night?
  • I want to be able to take music classes and lessons. At American, I had a music minor because it was required to be able to enroll in lessons and the requirements weren’t that hard (about 6 or 7 classes). Is this possible while double majoring in Computer Science and Philosophy? And if not, will I at least have access to take lessons?</p>

<p>I don’t want to feel like I’m not giving Pomona a fair chance. And I can’t help but feel like I’m giving Brown a little too much credit. I don’t want this to come down to choosing Brown for name recognition or prestige. I think that’s where my doubt comes from.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your input!</p>

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<p>Several thoughts: </p>

<p>You are in an absolutey win-win situation. These are two fantastic choices, and actually were my 1st and 2nd choices. </p>

<p>You rather want it all, however. You're going to have to rank your priorities. What's more important, city, or weather? Clearly Pomona wins on weather, but Brown also wins on city. You can get into LA, but I don't think Pomona students get off campus much from what I gathered. You can get to Boston (and with more ease and faster than to LA), but it doesn't happen all that often. What you really need to do is compare Claremont and Providence. Claremont is a nice, pleasant town. Providence is a pretty happening little city, with, especially, a good music scene (at least way superior to Claremont!!) with places like Lupos and AS220. </p>

<p>I think you'd be splitting hairs comparing the philosophy departments. As for comp sci, both programs should be good but different. Both are very intense. Brown's is intense on its own accord, and Pomona's is intense because it actually goes through Harvey Mudd, and not solely through Pomona. So that's a difference there. Brown has connections with Pixar and some other cool stuff. </p>

<p>Double majoring would be easy at both schools, I think. Find out how many credits are required for CS at each school, that will make a difference. </p>

<p>I think both sets of student bodies are equally intellectual and down to earth. Both genuine. People here are brilliant but don't flaunt it. </p>

<p>Pomona is a very happy place, probably, honestly, in part because of the sun! But also because it is a very supportive place, through the administration. Brown is as well, but the difference is that you have to go set it up. You have to self-advocate here much more. And Brown is also very happy, for the record! </p>

<p>I don't know about music lessons here, (i think you can take them for 1/2 credit) but I know they have them extra curricularly at Pomona. </p>

<p>You simply won't be able to take Graphic Design at Pomona. Decide how important this is to you. I'm an art major and I take many classes at RISD or funky independent studies at affiliated studios (i took pottery at risd last spring and just did an independent study in furniture design at brown). If this is important to you, then, well, make it a priority in your choice. RISD is an invaluable resource.</p>

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<p>I'm fairly certain brown has one of the top departments in the country for both computer science and philosophy. the leiter report actually lists brown as one of the top places specifically for undergrads. pomona doesn't stack up, even when research production is taken out of the equation</p>

<p>The</a> Philosophical Gourmet Report 2006 - 2008 :: Undergraduate Study</p>

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<p>^^i'm skeptical of such reports. Both are such good schools I really don't think you can make a justifiable significant distinction between the two. It seems very subjective.</p>