<p>I am deciding between Vanderbilt University and Pomona College for my undergraduate education. I gotten vary similar financial aid packages from both schools, so that isn't an issue. The issue of liberal arts school vs a medium sized university isn't an issue because there are pros and cons to each and in my situation, it won't make a drastic difference. As for the social/frat/sports scene at Vanderbilt , that isn't a problem either. Any help deciding on which to attend, or any reviews if you have visited/gone to either schools.</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of Pomona, but Vanderbilt is a great all-around school.</p>
<p>My daughter has the same decision to make. It’s an unusual choice as the schools are polar opposites. That can make the decision difficult if you like both schools. I’m guessing you have visited both of them. How did you feel about each one while on campus. Did you feel more comfortable on one or the other? Or did one campus feel more exciting? You sound a little like my D, who sees the positives and negatives in both. For her it may come down to location - which one is closer to home. You shouldn’t make a decision based on rankings (and I’ll probably get some negative comments for suggesting it), but it’s OK to be aware of them. Try Googling college rankings and check out a few of them. Ultimately, it comes down to what feels right to you? Good luck!!<br>
I’m curious about where you’re from and whether you’re male of female?</p>
<p>you didn’t tell us much about the deciding factors for you vs attending the wonderful jewel of liberal arts colleges, Pomona, vs attending a mid sized powerhouse research institution in Middle Tennessee. We don’t know much about you so there isn’t much to say. </p>
<p>You will get a more personal education at Pomona but you will have a larger peer group for dating and for stimulation on the Vanderbilt campus. Possibly the stats on the Vanderbilt class is a bit higher this year but Pomona is one of the great small colleges in America and has its own magic. </p>
<p>Congrats on your offers, as disparate as they are. America has some fantastic colleges and you are choosing between two of them. We thought our son belonged at a liberal arts college but in the end he chose the higher stimulation offered at Vanderbilt re larger class of peers, larger campus offerings with the grad schools on site, and with his belief that he could excel in social science and arts courses there without so much personal attention. I do not think he knows his professors as intimately as you will know your professors at Pomona.
If he had pursued science and premed, he would have attended one of his liberal arts college admits…only because he felt he could not learn quantitative coursework in larger classes and labs…he knows his learning style. Most grads in sciences at Swarthmore where I have a friend teaching end up directly in grad schools and on stipends so there are advantages to life in a liberal arts intimate college.</p>
<p>Judge your learning style. There are trade offs. Vandy can’t provide what Pomona delivers as its signatures and vise versa but you can’t lose</p>