Hi!
I stumbled across Pomona a few years ago and am considering it my first choice when I apply this upcoming year. While researching the Ivies, I found that Yale’s vibe seems to be the most similar to Pomona’s (i.e. collaborative, friendly, generally more relaxed). Is this true or am I missing something? What are the key differences between the atmospheres of the two colleges?
Thanks!
Liberal arts college (within a consortium so not at all isolated) vs. research university. California wealthy suburb vs. New Haven urban grit. East Coast vs. West Coast. Apples and oranges. Both will have bright, motivated students; both will present amazing opportunities. Both are exceedingly difficult to get into.
Yale and the word, “relaxed” aren’t often used in the same sentence. I think perhaps the OP is referring to Yale’s house system which some people have comparedto a series of small LACs. That may paint a picture of tightknit community. Otherwise, I agree with the above. East Coast intensity vs. Southern Cal chill, especially with the lack of real competitors on the Left Coast.
I know Yale very well, and “collaborative, friendly, generally more relaxed” are not the first words that come to mind. Very hard to generalize, but like most of the very most elite schools, Yale is a collection of many different “communities,” some of which are as atomistic as a single student!
Your experience will very much depend on what you study, who you associate with, and, perhaps most importantly, how you approach the place and what you choose to let affect you.
I should’ve explained what I meant by relaxed! I understand that Yale is an extremely challenging academic environment, but compared to other Ivies I’ve heard that it’s a bit more laid-back.
PM me.