<p>I know that this thread has happened before, but I'd be curious to hear any new perspectives on the matter.</p>
<p>Any students who have visited both or familiar with both (especially if they're attending one or the other) want to speak to the differences they perceived? Any students know people at both schools and think they can compare and contrast their experiences? Obviously this is a very flawed method of comparing the two schools, but I don't know when I can visit Pomona, and as stated in my last thread, I'm all of the sudden having a bit of the indecisive bug about staying on EDII with Wes.</p>
<p>Obvious differences I can think of: weather, endowment figures (and thus quality of housing/internship funding opps./student life in general?, suburban LA area vs. rural CT, larger Environmental Science--a potential major interest on my part--at Pomona, better film at Wes, more of an "East Coast" vibe at Wes and more of laid-back, "West Coast" vibe at Pomona)</p>
<p>I'm from CA (and love CA and want to live here after graduating), interested in Pre-Med, Science Tech and Society (Pomona) or Science in Society (Wes), Psych, Environmental Studies/Analysis, Religion (sp. Buddhism), Psycholgoy</p>
<p>You got most of the main differences. Weather was a big issue for me. When I visited Wesleyan, it was 35 degrees and rainy. It was 80 and sunny in Claremont. </p>
<p>I think the largest difference, which you didn’t note, is the Consortium. Both schools have excellent academics, and the difference between them, I think, is the ability to take courses at the four other schools if you go to Pomona. Both schools do not have many requirements (in Wesleyan’s case, none). Both Pomona and Wesleyan are exceptional in science. </p>
<p>As for endowment, I know Wesleyan has recently had some financial problems, so I think you would get a better FA package at Pomona, if that’s an issue. Wesleyan and Pomona housing are both great though, so don’t worry about that. I think Wesleyan’s facilities equal Pomona’s. I would say Pomona’s campus is nicer, though. Pomona definitely has better food options (8 dining halls available plus LA).</p>
<p>The consortium also applies to social life (with LA as the other difference). Wesleyan social life is pretty much isolated the campus, because Main St doesn’t offer much. I think the student bodies are different too. My Wes friends describe the study body there as artsy. Pomona students are very laid-back and nice, but in different way. I think a lot of students at each school would be happy at the other though. </p>
<p>If you’re interested in both schools, I think you’ll do fine at either. Good luck.</p>
<p>D is at CMC and has several close friends at Pomona. She spends a fair amount of time there and her Pomona friends do at the other colleges as well…both social and academic.</p>
<p>Yes, there is a ‘pretentious’ Pomona stereotype, but each of the 5Cs has a stereotype. Some take it more seriously than others.</p>
<p>Our S will likely apply to both CMC and Pomona. They are both great, as I understand Wesleyan is too.</p>
<p>I meant Pomona students don’t do as great a job of integrating as the other schools do (in my opinion). We still have the ability to take classes at the other schools. Many don’t do it as often as students at the other schools do. That doesn’t mean Pomona students can’t, or that it’s not one of the reasons Pomona is attractive.</p>
<p>Hi Santeria,
Since you are at Pomona now I was hoping you could give me your perspective on something. I am from California and have applied to Pomona and the top UC schools. There is no question in my mind at all that Pomona is an amazing school, one I will be privileged to get into if I am offered admission and that it will provide a far superior education than any UC. My only concerns are its size and lack of proxmity to a major city. Do you find this to be an issue for you? Thanks!</p>
<p>I went to a high school with 400 people, so Pomona’s size isn’t really an issue for me socially. If you try, it’s not hard to get friends at the other schools and go to parties at the other schools. There’s always things going on campus, especially if you add 5-C events. It’s obviously a lot, lot smaller than any UC. The social scene is different. Personally, I wouldn’t like the size of UCLA or Berk, particularly because of class sizes. Pomona’s academic advantage over any UC is the small classes. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that Pomona has a lack of proximity to a city. LA is manageable with a car, depending on traffic. I have a car, so I go into LA more than most people. You can rent zip cars for pretty cheap too. Like I said, there’s always events going on. Academics are a lot of work too. I’m never bored, and there’s always things to do, if that’s what you’re asking.</p>
<p>D (Pomona '09) went to a HS of 1900+ students that was located right outside Boston. She felt that the consortium provided a small private university feel, and that getting to know her professors far outweighed going to a larger school. She’d probably ditto santeria’s comments.</p>