<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>