I am considering Pitzer to becasue I can not get into Pomona. I would like to play lacrosse and was told by the coach that Pitzer would be a better option. 99.8 weighted GPA, 690 M, 590 R, 630 W. Top 10% Class. I am from the east coast - normal HS student. Not a hippie or into the drug scene. Party like a normal HS student. Any thoughts?
You don’t sound like a good fit for either Pitzer (focus: social justice) or Pomona (very intellectual, into research etc.)
What’s your unweighted GPA? Pitzer’s admission rate has changed in the past couple years and now is 15%, with most students having 3.8-4.0 unweighted (96-100).
SAT Math 650 average
610-700 range of middle 50% => your 690 is within range
SAT Critical Reading 660 average
600-700 range of middle 50% => your 590 is the 25% mark, do you feel confident you could handle the many pages of writing and reading?
Are you being recruited by Pitzer?
yes - I am being recruited. 96 unweighted. Not a good fit because academics or social life?
Have you visited Pitzer? My D2 attends, is very happy there, but it’s definitely not to everyone’s taste. Deciding to go to Pitzer because you can’t get into another of the 5Cs is generally not a good reason to go to Pitzer.
Pitzer is test-optional, and so you shouldn’t be too concerned about how your scores measure up. It is very holistic in admissions. What other extra-curricular activities have you participated in? They want students who will be active, engaged members of the community. Writing is also important. If you decide not to submit your test scores, you will need to submit some additional writing samples. You should also try to demonstrate interest in any way you can. Find out whether they will have an admissions representative visiting your area, and set up an appointment if at all possible. I can’t imagine anyone selecting Pitzer for team sports. The social life involves all five colleges, which share resources and athletics. Pitzer has always been something of a hippie school. It is also fiendishly expensive. My son got in, and would have loved to go there, but they did not even offer a subsidized Stafford loan. We have a fairly high FAFSA EFC, but they did not come close to meeting it (even after we submitted an appeal). It’s a very cool place, and the consortium is unique, but it does not have anything resembling “jock culture,” and it is not promising for any student whose family is uncomfortable with a $65k price-tag.
yes I visited - all the schools. Being an east coast student I was looking for small CA school. I only mentioned athletics becuase, based upon my experience with small east coast schools, it helps with the admission process.
Lacrosse is not yet a super competitive sport on the west coast. Thus, this may also affect how significant a hook it may potentially provide.
Are you looking to apply during ED for the admissions tip from the coach?
Pitzer has a bigger drug scene, yes, but not everyone partakes–and it was Mudd that had special offerings in their dining hall on 4/20. There are certainly parties within the 5Cs, there’s certainly alcohol, but there is a range of how much students indulge. I wouldn’t call Pitzer a hippie school, but there is a very liberal feel.
There are athletes at Pitzer. D2 ended up joining a team in a sport that she’d never played before; her teammates are from throughout the consortium. I don’t think any of the 5C schools have a jock culture, but the teams themselves do have a jock culture.
Pomona is the most like a classic East Coast LAC. Pitzer, as I’m sure you know after your visit, feels very different. If the coach is encouraging you to apply ED, you might want to take one more visit to see if Pitzer really would work for you.
Thanks - the coach isn’t pushing. I guess I was looking for a different feel from the traditional east coast small LAC. This is why I looked at the Claremont Colleges. During my visit, which now I guess I was wrong, I thought they all shared classes, sports teams, etc. I guess I was wrong. My only concern is that Pitzer may be TOO different for me.
Did you visit Occidental? That sounds more of what you’re looking for.
Also check out Santa Clara U and University of San Diego.
@capecod52 apologies for not being clear, you were not wrong, the schools DO all share classes and sports teams etc etc etc. What you saw on your visit was accurate. The consortium is truly wonderful. When enrolling in classes, everything across all of the 5Cs shows up in one place. D2 is a sophomore and after this semester she will have taken classes at all five colleges without making an effort to do so. She has friends on all five campuses, and eats at dining halls at all five. Likewise, the gyms are shared.
Since you have some (utterly reasonable) thoughts that Pitzer might be too different, I’d suggest that you do learn more about the school–perhaps have the admissions folks set you up with some students to talk with by phone or Skype. As was mentioned above, Pitzer admissions are very holistic. They are looking for students who will be a good fit for the school, rather than only looking at your academic record.
Where else are you considering applying?
Pitzer and Pomona combine for an athletic team, and Claremont McKenna, Scripps & Harvey Mudd combine for a rival team. For many sports it is one of the most competitive Div III conferences in the country - SCIAC - although I don’t know about for Lacrosse.
The athletic teams are:
- Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens
- CMS Stags
(CMS stands for Claremont Mudd Scripps)
@prezbucky don’t forget the CMS Athenas!
dang it – sorry!