Trip Report- Pomona, Scripps, Pitzer

Parents Forum
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<p>"I'm sure that arizonamom is reporting her son's experience accurately (and I hope you give me the benefit of the doubt that I am reporting my experience accurately as well)"</p>

<p>Oh, I do no doubt that your reported your experience accurately. Also, allow me to apologize if my posts seemed to question the veracity of the stereotypes ... that was not my intention. </p>

<p>On the issue of polling students about another school, I think that one should exercise caution, even if the schools are in close proximity. I have little doubt that students of UCLA would enjoy answering questions about the "inside scoop" of USC. Asking students of Yale what they think about Harvard and Princeton should yield a great number of criticisms. I feel that a question such as, "Have you met a student from a different 5C school in your class who impressed you?" would provide a better if students do indeed cross-register and how they are viewed by the "local" students. </p>

<p>As far as the 5C consortium, it is obvious that it could be better, but the same applies to every school or consortium in the country. On the subject of integration, I doubt that someone should base his or her opinion about Swarthmore on how well the school integrates with Bryn Mawr. The schools are part of a consortium, but they retain their own identity and idiosyncracies. They do offer a number of majors, but not all of them. For instance, the student who enrolled at Scripps despite the school NOT offering her major must have known that this would cause a few problems, even if the integration among the schools was perfect.</p>

<p>It is also undeniable that some friction exist among the students from different schools, but what could you expect from a bunch of opiniated 18 to 23 year old? How do you expect a very conservative CMC student to interact with a tattooed pink-haired student who picked Pitzer BECAUSE there is a bona fide anarchist on the faculty? Students at the Claremont Colleges come from wide ranging backgrounds and are as diverse as the population of the United States. I think that the expressed views about other schools are very much inline with opinions of students about different departments in the SAME school. I am quite certain that Wharton students view the Nursing or Education students at Penn with a different eye. However, this does not preclude students to learn to respect students who attend the other schools. We mostly fear -and don't like- the unknown, and this applies to "different" students. Behind the image of the Mudder poster child for nerd, there is probably a person who can quote every line of Dickens or C</p>

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<p>My son works with Jump Start and although he is a Pomona students the program is either Pitzers or Scripps, can't recall now which one. There are many work-study, volunteer and clubs besides academics which cross schools creating many more choices and opportunities then any LAC standing alone</p>

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<p>D just made the hip-hop dance team and was excited about this opportunity to meet students from the other colleges. As arizonamom says, joining ECs and other programs that extend beyond Pomona's walls provide an excellent way to meet a student's counterparts.</p>

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<p>I like all of the reports. From the opinions of parents who visited, to the opinions of parents of kids at a 5C, to the opinions of students at a 5C, all add texture (and some content) to the picture I have of campus life in Claremont. I find it a very interesting place.</p>

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<p>"I find it a very interesting place."</p>

<p>And they even accept Texan rednecks who talk funny!</p>

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<p>We're counting on it , Xiggi. Talking funny is her hook.</p>

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<p>Iwanted to post this link the other day, but The Student Life's web page was down:
<a href="http://www.tsl.pomona.edu/index.php?article=515%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.tsl.pomona.edu/index.php?article=515&lt;/a>
It is an article published in Pomona's student newspaper last spring about cross-registration at the 5 colleges.
My son is a Pomona senior and is currently taking 2 classes at another campus. Although I think his closest friends are Pomona students, he also has friends from the other colleges. He reported that Scripp's dorms are very nice. "And have you been spending a lot of time there?" "Just a friend," he claims.</p>

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<p>Thanks Nwestmom, great article!</p>

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<p>Thanks for the link to that article!</p>

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<p>Although my D is only a freshman at Pomona, she has been to events at all the colleges (except Pitzer - but has plans!) and has eaten meals at Claremont and Scripps. She counts as new friends not only her sponsor group from her dorm but students from Scripps and Claremont and Pitzer. She plays on a team with students from Pitzer. </p>

<p>As far as taking classes at other colleges, this was a big factor in her decision to attend Pomona. The small, intimate LAC feels like home while still giving her the ability to "spread her wings" - especially in the sciences. She's already spoken with her advisor (who, by the way, had read her file and "knew all about her") about taking classes at Claremont and Harvey Mudd and, as far as I know, there were no problems with this. She seriously considered applying to HM, but wanted a more well-rounded LAC for undergraduate school, especially as she is undecided about her major. </p>

<p>Her experience so far has exceeded her expectations. She reports that everyone is friendly, smart, interesting, down-to-earth, and fun. Elitism in any form would be the last thing she would want to encounter or embrace.<br>
I hope the honeymoon doesn't wear off!</p>

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<p>Welcome to CC, CocaMom. My D is also a first-year at Pomona, and I would second your post.</p>

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<p>Can only concur with the many positive comments posted above. My S is in his second year at Pomona and has absolutely loved his experience there so far. An end to the "honeymoon" seems nowhere in sight. </p>

<p>As to a few particluar issues addressed above:</p>

<p>As far as classes, he has taken a class each semester at Scripps and has one planned at Pitzer next semester. He says the cross-registration is fairly effortless. He routinely attends events, parties etc. at all of the 5 schools. He plays a sport and from that knows a great number of people at Pitzer (Pomona & Pitzer form one sports program and Claremont, Mudd & Scripps form a separate program) and also gets the chance to meet students from the CMS teams.</p>

<p>Also, among the 5 schools there, I believe, there are 11 dining halls and a student can (and most do) eat at any of the halls, regardless of your particular school. BTW the dorm food at the Claremonts is excellent. Each seems to have a little different 'flair' to their menus. (Actually, the only complaint my S has voiced in over a year now regarding anything at school was that the fried chicken was a little burnt one night- lol)</p>

<p>He reports (and in my visits i have found) that students, faculty, admin, staff (at all the 5 schools) are universally very friendly, warm and welcoming. Tough place not to find a way to fit in and be comfortable. To this end, rather than a sense of competition, there appears to be a great sense of cooperation and support. He tells me the people are very down to earth and never has encountered any sense of elitism. At most, there is a little friendly rivialry between P/P and CMS in sports. Anything beyond that such as discussions about the relative merits of the schools etc. is something he says he never hears and is only a topic that parents discuss -lol.</p>

<p>I have attended events on campus, including my S's games and have found myself sitting with the President of the school or a professor or other staff and they are always very engaging and interested in how you and your student are doing. You get a real personal touch there. Typically, they seem to know something about most all of the students.</p>

<p>As to certain comments posted above as to what Pomona and/or the Claremonts in general are or could be (or "should" be), I think the history of the school's show that they are what they are by intention.
Briefly, if I may, Pomona was started in the 1880's with the specific intent of being a small LAC, similar to those already established in the northeast. A contemporary in the early years for Pomona was U of Southern California, also founded in the 1880's. The schools even became sports rivals and played in the first football game ever at the Los Angeles Coliseum (around 1922/23). In the 20's/30's USC made the decision to expand, while Pomona made the specific decision to remain a small LAC and in addressing expansion choose to help support the formation and growth of separate institutions and form the consortium which has evolved to this day (first Scripps, then Claremont Men's College (now coed) then Mudd and, finally, Pitzer (which I believe may have originally been a women's college-in any event, it is now coed)). It has been a conscious decision by these schools to remain separate, to not form one University, but to instead share many functions, buildings, programs, etc. so that while you are a student at one relatively small school, you have the resources of a decent sized university by way of the consortium, sort of 5 schools for the price of one. To this end, I think class cross-registration is fairly easy. It is the rarest of events that are held for one school only. Each school sponsors specific events, concerts, etc. and there are "5C" co-sponsored events so there is a great deal of activity. Plus with two sports programs on the campuses there are more events still, plus amazing and plentiful facilities for all students to utilize.</p>

<p>Beside my S, I know a number of people who have attended each of the various Claremont schools and not one has ever voiced having a negative experience there. Actually, I suppose the only negative of sorts that I've heard expressed is that for some who place great stock in the "prestige" factor, the Claremont schools are a litte 'under the radar' for some as the schools don't have that universal brand name recognition that other schools might. To that, I remember a t-shirt sold on campus a year or so ago that said on the back "That's ok, we never heard of you either". There's another that says "Harvard, the Pomona College of the East".</p>

<p>Bottomline, I think the Claremont schools present 5 very different schools, 5 independent colleges that can each stand alone, but that share a common allegiance by way of the consortium that makes this one of the most unique college experiences one could find. Go Sagehens.</p>

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<p>Hi. Do any of you know if it is difficult for a Pomona student to take studio art courses at Scripps? I understand that Scripps has a stronger studio art program than Pomona. In general, at many colleges, studio art classes can be hard to access due to definite size/space limitations, and I'm wondering if this applies at Scripps, especially for a Pomona student.</p>

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<p>Hi SV2,
I would post on the Pomona site as well, you may get more student feedback</p>

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<p>Thanks arizonamom. Will do.</p>

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<p>Can a person, who would be better matched at Claremont, go to Pitzer and have a great experience? It is very hard to get accepted into Claremont, and it is easier to get accepted into Pitzer. He would probably play on one or two sports teams. </p>

<p>It's well over an hour to the closest beach, right?</p>

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<p>Any other impressions of Harvey Mudd & its students? Son is interested in science/math & GC has recommended it to him several times. The description of everything broken down & bonfires doesn't thrill me as a parent.</p>

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<p>dstark: Is he considering any other liberal/counter-culture type schools? If he is uncomfortable with that atmosphere, he may be unfortable at Pitzer despite the proximity of the other schools.<br>
The closest beaches are in Orange County and are just over an hour to well over an hour away depending on traffic.</p>

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<p>dstark- to try and answer your question, of the 5 schools there, Pitzer and Claremont McKenna might easily be the farthest apart in terms of how their student are categorized/stereotyped politically and otherwise. CMC is viewed, I think, as the most conserative of the 5 schools and Pitzer the most liberal. </p>

<p>But, stereotypes being what they are, I think there is enough diversity at the various Claremont schools and enough opportunity to involve yourself at the various schools, that anyone is bound to find their niche. As to emphasis of studies, Claremont is known for government/business related subjects and Pitzer for behavioral sciences. I also think the "hippy" image of Pitzer is waaaaaaay overblown. I know several graduates from there who are very conservative. One is a real estate developer, one is a lawyer specializing in corporate law. As I mentioned above, my S goes to Pomona and of his teammates from Pitzer, they are all very "mainstream".</p>

<p>As far as the person you refer to playing sports, Pomona and Pitzer form one sports department and Claremont, Mudd and Scripps form a separate one, but I think beyond the rivalry when the programs play each other, there is some bond between all the athletes.</p>

<p>As to the beach, yeah, you're a real good hour away, depending on the traffic. In addtion to Orange County (to the south), as suggested above, there is also (due west) Santa Monica/Malibu which are a straight shot from campus along the 10 Freeway (the 10 literally dead ends at Pacific Coast Hiway). Also, You're about 1/2 hour up into the hills for skiing (in fact Pomona has ski/beach day where you ski in the morning and go to the beach for the afternoon). You're about 40 minutes to downtown LA (museums, USC, Dodger, Laker and Kings' games) about 45 minutes to Beverly Hills, about 45 minutes to Disneyland about 1/2 hr. to the Rose Bowl and Pasedena (Huntington Gardens, Simon Museum etc.) There is a light rail line that goes from campus to the heart of downtown LA and from there branches off in several directions. Also, immediately adjacant to campus is "The Village", with many nice restaurants and stores. The Village is being expanded to add movie theatres. Also, about 5 minutes away is the "The Artist's Colony" area with several galleries, restaurants and The Glass House, an excellent music venue.
Lots to do...............</p>

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<p>"The description of everything broken down & bonfires doesn't thrill me as a parent."</p>

<p>Oh, someone should have told you the real scoop about the bonfires. The Mudders went to Pomona to grab THEIR duct-taped furniture because the Pomona kids stole a couple of the Mudder's beer kegs. Bullwinkle may know more about it because the usual suspects are the Pomona-Pitzer baseball players. </p>

<p>On a more serious note, you may want to check the Claremont web sites and check for video and picture links. Here's an example of what you can find. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.hmc.edu/campus/campus-map/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hmc.edu/campus/campus-map/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Please realize that HMC always airbrushes their students out of the pictures and replace them with CMC jocks and Scripps girls who happen to have the right "model" look. ;)</p>