Would I like Columbia? Would I like Pomona?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>My mom told me I could apply to only 6 out of state colleges. I have had a list in mind for about a month:
UC Berkeley- I've liked this university for about 3 years. I love the San Francisco area and how it has a great reputation without being too elitist (much higher acceptance rate than the Ivys). I don't know if I could deal with passing up what has been my favorite for so long. </p>

<p>Stanford- again, this is a location thing. The academic reputation helps too </p>

<p>University of Washington- I love the city of Seattle, and I really like rain. Besides that, the university has a great reputation in biology, which is what I want to study. I'm also counting it as a safety school. </p>

<p>UChicago- this university sends me so many great things. I love the intellectual vibe I get from the school, as well as the new institute of molecular engineering and the paleontological museum. I have to admit I would probably hate the weather, though. I want to move someplace with an ocean and relatively warm weather, not endless cold. I also want a marching band because it's an important part of my life right now, and Chicago has none. </p>

<p>CU Boulder- this is my state college selection. I actually really like this school, but there's no denying it's a safety school and it wouldn't be my first choice. </p>

<p>Yale- obviously I like yale. Who wouldn't like yale? I like the campus and, out of all the Ivys (except brown) it seems the most homey. I don't want to apply to brown because my sister went there and i want to forge my own path. </p>

<p>Here's where the main question lies: columbia or pomona? I know they are very different schools...</p>

<p>I like columbia because of the core and the atmosphere of academics and arts being equal. I don't like the lack of school spirit, and my sister has informed me that the campus is not very relaxing and it's in the middle of New York. She doesn't think I'd like it. However, Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of my inspirations, and he went there. I also love broadway musicals and the whole arts scene. It's difficult. </p>

<p>When I started doubting if I would like Columbia, I started considering Pomona. I like it because it's in California, and it has a great reputation. However, I'm concerned about a possible party school atmosphere, and my parents told me the area is smoggy and in a less than ideal area of LA. plus- no marching band. </p>

<p>Any ideas about what would be better for me? An opinion about columbia vs pomona would be best, but also feel free to comment about which college out of all of them would most suit me. I'm flexible, with lots of interests. I like small classes, like most people, but I go to a large high school and I know how to be happy in almost any situation. I can make a big school a small school pretty easily, I think. I want to study abroad very badly, and I want a comprehensive, liberal arts education. I want to feel like an intellectual at the end, but I also want to focus mainly on science. Also feel free to recommend any college you feel I may have overlooked. (Btw, I am not interested in a tech school. The arts and variety in my companions is very important.)</p>

2

<p>Do you have the stats for the schools on your list, and are they affordable for you? Give us some idea of your stats and financial situation, and possibly we could make some good recomendations.</p>

<p>Regarding Pomona, I don’t think it is a party school at all vs. many colleges. I have a kid at another of the Claremont Colleges, and Pomona isn’t considered a party school. So don’t let that deter you.</p>

3

<p>Yes, I have the stats. Of course, you can never call an Ivy a match, but I’m as close as I can really get. I’m in IB and I have a 4.0. I am section leader for my marching band percussion section, do lots of volunteer work, and do Mock Trial and Model UN. My family is well-off. So well off, in fact, that public schools will likely be much less expensive for me, despite the amount of aid coming from private schools. College will still be a burden though. (We have a large house and I have several siblings and a grandmother my family still supports.) </p>

<p>I didn’t really mean pomona was a party school, just that it has less of a sciency bent and more of an artsy, businessy feel. I apologize for my terrible choice in adjectives. I just don’t know if pomona would be a good fit for my interests, while I know columbia will. </p>

4

<p>I am confused… what kind of aid to you expect to get from a private school? If your family income is high, maybe none. Also, what are your test scores? GPA doesn’t mean as much as test scores, as colleges can’t compare GPA across high schools, but they can do that with standardized test scores. Also, your ECs are no great shakes for top schools like Stanford, Yale, or Columbia. Those schools really want to see something beyond your high school ECs.</p>

<p>I don’t think of Pomona as having a particularly artsy feel (see: Scripps) or business feel (see: CMC). You don’t seem to know much about it… maybe you should get a copy of Fiske and read up on it.</p>

5

<p>It seems you need a match in your college apps or else you may end up going to a safety even though you could have gone to a “better” school. Maybe think of Pomona in that way?</p>

6

<p>Pomona only accepted 12% of their applicants in 2014, whether they are a match depends on the OP’s stats. Low reach is more likely…</p>

7

<p>“I didn’t really mean pomona was a party school, just that it has less of a sciency bent and more of an artsy, businessy feel. I apologize for my terrible choice in adjectives. I just don’t know if pomona would be a good fit for my interests, while I know columbia will.”</p>

<p>Doesn’t seem like you know Pomona at all. Math and science majors constitute 7-8 of the 10 most popular majors. Some 40-45% of the student body majors in a STEM field- one of the highest amongst any LACs.</p>

<p>This is a personal anecdote, but I have friends (like 10 or so) who go to Columbia, and they’re pretty miserable there. They get pretty offended when I tell them I’m loving Pomona. I feel like Pomona is a happier, friendlier, and more nurturing place than Columbia. Based on their experiences I’m glad I’m at Pomona! </p>

<p>Also no one is a match for Pomona; the admitted students profile has average SATs and ACTs rivaling HYPMS. This is with 46% students of color and ~20% URM students, as well as ~20% low income students- groups which do worse on the SATs and ACTs. I think Pomona rejected around 50% of people with a 2400 or a 36…so…keep that in perspective. I’d have to agree with the other posters in that you need more match/safety schools because most of your choices are not.</p>

8

<p>I have an unusual perspective. I went to Barnard, and to graduate school at Columbia. My adviser wanted me to apply to Pitzer and Scripps (I didn’t have the stats for Pomona), but my parents were dead set against me going across the country for college. I visited Pitzer and Claremont-McKenna with my son, and we both loved the consortium (he didn’t quite have stats for Pomona). He did not get into CMC, but did get into Pitzer. They did not offer him any money, however. Columbia is a fabulous university, and I believe its undergraduate education is about the best you’ll find anywhere. Although its football team is legendarily bad, the Marching Band has always been known for quality, humor, and innovation. It is an urban campus, although the neighborhood is very safe. The immediate environs were very safe even when I attended in the 1970s. It is in Manhattan, and so you will not find any off-campus housing that is affordable on a typical student’s budget. It’s an exciting place to go, nevertheless. </p>

<p>The five-college Claremont consortium has a lot going for it. The colleges are very different, which means you will encounter some social variety. There is rail service to downtown LA and LA International Airport (LAX) now, which is an important improvement. I was pleasantly surprised by how little smog there was, although I understand it can be bad. It is not as low in the valley as the most afflicted communities. You will not have as much cultural excitement immediately accessible as you would in a major city, but you will be able to find a lot within an hour or so from Claremont if you have a car. They brag that you can ski and surf within the same day. I believe that Pomona is one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country, and it has a reputation for a strong intellectual culture. </p>

<p>You can’t go wrong with either college. </p>

9

<p>@intparent:
I have a 35 ACT and a 2320 SAT.
I know I in no way a shoe-in to those schools, but my reasoning is I’d be extremely happy to go to Berkeley, which I consider a match. Also, my sister got into Brown with similar stats, and so I consider my chances fairly realistic. </p>

10

<p>@maymay5678 I’m curious; would you feel that way about Berkeley? I would say Berkeley is definitely a match. </p>

11

<p>@nostalgicwisdom Thank you. I did not know that. I think not knowing much about pomona goes back to recently adding it to my “consider” list, and also to the fact that the girl from my high school who went there got in on a full arts and writing scholarship. I am more inclined to consider Pomona now, but what do you think of the general atmosphere/weather? </p>

12

<p>Pomona will have a very different feel than the other schools on your list, which are all larger campuses. Pomona will feel more peaceful and quiet (one kid I know who visited with his parents and hated it on sight called it “dead”). Have you thought about whether you want a large or small school?</p>

<p>I disagree with your parents about “less than ideal part of LA” – that’s what people usually say about USC, which is right smack in urban LA but in a not-great part. Pomona, however, is in Claremont which is its own town (though part of greater LA area). So, Columbia for big city or Pomona for small suburb? Your other schools are also in a variety of different environments. Maybe you don’t care about the surrounding area of your college?</p>

<p>With regard to Columbia, I don’t think you should apply to a school because Neil deGrasse Tyson went there – no offense, but that seems like a really poor reason to go to a school.</p>

<p>Have you visited any of these campuses? If not, that really has to be your first step. A lot of what you say you like about these schools is reputation and stuff you’ve read about them.</p>

13

<p>Pomona may feel “dead” to an outsider, but a current student like myself can speak for the opportunities and events that happen on campus. The campus is quite large (like 3-4x bigger than Columbia) but with 10x less students. Of course it’s going to “appear” quiet and peaceful and like a ghost town at times. But more than a 1000 events are sponsored each year and across all the 5 colleges there’s so much going on. Most things also happen at night- when prospective students and their parents wouldn’t see it.</p>

<p>The weather is great and as is the atmosphere but if those things are the first questions to pop in your head I’m not sure you’re asking the right questions. Ultimately, people go to Pomona for an elite education with other bright minds, unparalleled resources, and a tight-knit and nurturing residential life. If there’s something in particular you want to know, I can do my best to let you know. </p>

14

<p>

Colorado is a perfectly good choice for biology. For ecology in particular it’s stronger than most of the top private universities except Cornell, Stanford, Duke, WUStL, and arguably Yale and Princeton. For those who like the outdoors, there’s no better location. </p>

<p>

USC is next to several amazing museums and near many interesting arts and cultural facilities downtown. Moreover, once the light rail extension is completed next year, students will have fast, easy, and cheap transit all the way across town to Santa Monica thanks to the station right next to campus. I personally think having to be a bit street smart is a very small price to pay for access to so many things to see and do. </p>

<p>With respect to the Claremont colleges, many people drastically underestimate the size of the LA region and the difficulties of travel from outlying areas. woogzmama’s caveat about Pomona (“…with a car”) is worth emphasis. </p>

15

<p>@mepilokisazt – Do you have particular interests within biology? You noted that you like the paleontology offerings at Chicago. If that’s something that interests you, both the geology and biology offerings at Columbia are top-notch, and Lamont-Doherty is reasonably accessible. The opportunity to volunteer or intern at the AMNH is pretty awesome as well. The Claremonts are great for biology…but only Pomona has geology, and it’s a small program at that. </p>

<p>A few thoughts…</p>

<p>(1) Plan your applications strategically.</p>

<p>UDub and Berkeley are good bets, but Chicago, Stanford, and Yale have <8% admit rates (<5% RD admit rates for the latter two). I recommend applying SCEA to Stanford or Yale.</p>

<p>Pomona and especially Columbia are extremely selective (13% and 5.5% RD rates, respectively) and reject many highly qualified applicants. If rejected or deferred in the early round, you may want to consider aiming slightly lower than these two if you want to maximize your options in April. That said, there’s something to be said for applying to several hyper-selective schools if you’re a highly qualified applicant, as there’s always an element of chance involved. </p>

<p>(2) Look for merit aid.</p>

<p>All of your schools except CU Boulder will be quite expensive. Even if you can afford to pay full freight, cheaper options never hurt. I strongly encourage you to consider applying to a college that’s generous with merit aid. Tulane comes to mind in particular. Many very good colleges would throw money at an applicant with your stats. Talking your mother into an additional app or two (especially if they waive the application fee) might pay off handsomely in April with hefty merit scholarships. </p>

<p>(3) Check out Canada. </p>

<p>Even the best Canadian universities are noticeably cheaper than good American private universities or OOS publics. UBC in particular would be well worth a look given your interest in Berkeley and U Washington. It’s pretty tough to beat an extraordinarily scenic location in close proximity to a vibrant city – with strong academics to boot! A downside is that a good marching band is harder to find in Canada, and UBC’s has only a dozen or so people.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/energy/images/eneene/science/prog/images/UBC_Campus_Aerial_View-lrgr.jpg”>http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/energy/images/eneene/science/prog/images/UBC_Campus_Aerial_View-lrgr.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

16

<p>

</p>

<p>The University of Southern California and Duke are selective schools with marching bands in warm weather states, not too far from oceans (especially USC). For what the OP says she wants, either one might be a better fit than Pomona or Columbia. According to Kiplinger’s, about 25% of USC students get merit aid (averaging over $17K per grant). That is much more merit aid than most top ~25 universities grant (although much of it may be going to athletic scholarships). USC also is a bit less selective than Pomona.</p>

17

<p>@mepilokisazt I think it would fall between a match and a reach, it’s still a very competitive school to get into that will take a lot more into account that just test scores and GPA, it’s kind of hard to say since I don’t know what any of your stats are</p>

18

<p>^ Only Duke is nearly twice as selective as USC…</p>

19

<p>@dustypig: I mainly care about proximity to a big city while still being in a relaxing college-campusy environment. That’s why people tell me I won’t like Columbia. And by the way, I mentioned Neil deGrasse Tyson because he inspires me, but also because his college life seems very intriguing to me. He was able to be a dancer and a scientist, and that intersection seems ideal. </p>

<p>I have visited Berkeley and Stanford. I loved Berkeley’s campus, the view and the greenery and the sprawling feel. I didn’t actually like Stanford’s campus because it seemed to clean and artificial. </p>

20

<p>Oh @nostalgicwisdom, I knew that word “dead” would get you. I personally loved the Claremont campus and my daughter’s top choice is Scripps, but it’s certainly very different from the other campuses on the OP’s list – that’s why I called that out.</p>

<p>OP, I think the Pomona campus is going to feel more like Stanford than Berkeley to you. But again . . . visit! Where are you located?</p>