Your choice: Princeton or Pomona

<p>I am in a very difficult position right now. My sat's are near perfect 2320 and my satII's are high (bio/mathII/chem/french=770/800/760/720). I have a lot EC and Volunteer and legacy at princeton. So the question is this: given that you have an equal chance( I'm not trying to sound cocky/arrogant/ignorant/whatever else you find offensive) to attend princeton and pomona and that you want to be a doctor, which would you choose?</p>

<p>Princeton has the big name, but Pomona has many other better aspects like climate, LAC,intimatcy etc.. I like both places for one reason or another and can't decide which to go with. Preferably, I'd stay in California, but I am torn between Pomona and Princeton simply because princeton is internationally known. But I feel like that is not enough to push me over to Princeton. Nor do I feel like the geography/climate/other aspects of Pomona is enough to push me towards it. So I am stuck dead in the middle. </p>

<p>I appreciate your help and response. Please I beg of you, do not criticize me or accuse me of being overconfident or arrogant because I am not trying to be. I just want some feedback and imput as to what you would do if you were in my shoes. </p>

<p>Thanks again, I cannot thank you guys enough.</p>

<p>I would visit both stay overnight and then decide. Congradulations on great work. They are still no absolutes I know at least at Pomona kids with near perfect scores are not accepted and some with less then perfect are, defending on experiences, special accomplishments etc. You should know which you love more after visiting and both would get you into med school so it is strictly a personal decision. Pomona is less cut throat. My good friend's son went to Princeton and was pretty stressed, he is an amazing student had perfect SAT scores, all A's in high school. He got a few C's at Princeton, took a year off after Princeton, got into med school , chose U of A and feels it is a piece of cake after Princeton. Pomona does a lot to de-stress students . It has been compared to the best summer camp but with tons of work.</p>

<p>yes that is what I heard, I already visited both and I like both of them but the thing is because of other little things here and there, like family and friends in california vs international reknown in princeton, that place me dead center on deciding. Also, one thing that turns me off for princeton is that they limit the amount of people getting A's. But that is balenced out with its reputation. Lastly, I am adaptable to pretty much any environment. So would if you had to make the decision, where would you go?</p>

<p>Thanks, I deeply appreciate your responses.</p>

<p>Pomona in a second! It's reputation for med school is every bit as good as Princeton. Many college administrator and professors kids these days are choosing Carlton and Pomona over Harvard. Princeton is more well known to the common household but if med school is the issue you can choose either.</p>

<p>Thanks arizonamom your response is very helpful. Anyone else? </p>

<p>I appreciate it.</p>

<p>Yea, if you were planning on getting a job out of undergrad, I might choose Princeton, but because you're going to med school after, I wouldn't worry about the international reknown. Pomona has as good if not better acceptance rates into med schools and so you might as well go to the one with the better environment and for which you feel a better fit. Pomona is as prestigious for med school admissions and because, as you say, princeton is somewhat cutthroat, you might have a better gpa at pomona.</p>

<p>If the prestige of Princeton is the reason pulling you to go there, you can always go to Pomona for undergraduate and Princeton for medical school (or a school of the same prestige). Your undergrad school doesn't matter after you've gotten your MD.</p>

<p>obviously because you are on the pomona board, we're gonna say pomona. and id say pomona as well, ive never been a princeton person, thinking about the place makes me want to un-tuck my shirt even when it already is, if that makes any sense... basically, princeton is too starched for me.</p>

<p>Yes I realize that, but I just wanted to see if anyone here would've gone to princeton over Pomona after they either attended Pomona or visited it like me. If I did post this on the other boards, most ppl would just say goto princeton cause its ivy and really not care about what Pomona has to offer. Right now, I am tilted towards Pomona because aside from its academic excellence, I also have some really go friends who are going to attend or are attending Pomona. But before I decide, I still want to find more info so I can educate older generations in my family about LAC's. I would've have gone straight to Pomona if i weren't princeton legacy.</p>

<p>Thanks for all you responses, anymore? I appreciate it.</p>

<p>as far as i can tell, much of the pomona student body would not have a lot of trouble getting into princeton, or any other school. obviously, when you get this close to the top, it's always a bit of a gamble, and i can't speak for everyone, but i think largely, people end up at pomona because they really did choose to be there- well, most of the people i've had one-on-one conversations with.</p>

<p>I would apply to both and see what your choices are. You should then visit while school is in session to get a final read of the college culture. My daughter got into Pomona and not Princeton with 1550 SAT; 770, 800, 730 SATII and a 3.85 grade point.</p>

<p>Well, i'm trying to decide on which for early decision cause that's where the headache is. Thanks for your responses.</p>

<p>you don't HAVE to do early decision. i think it would be better to make a more educated decision later</p>

<p>True, but I've narrowed it down to these two, and I want to pick a school and hope for the best. Hopefully, after this I don't have to stress so much if I get into my top choice school. thanks everyone for you responses.</p>

<p>POMONA without a doubt. I'm a sucker for LACs, but I truly believe Pomona is the best of the best.
GOOD LUCK!
PS- I chose Pomona over Princeton and I can't wait to go next fall:)</p>

<p>
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If the prestige of Princeton is the reason pulling you to go there, you can always go to Pomona for undergraduate and Princeton for medical school

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Princeton doesn't have a med school.</p>

<p>I'd say apply ED to Pomona - you seem to be much more enthusiastic about it than you are about Princeton. Prestige is simply not a good enough reason to get into a binding agreement - atleast that's what I think :)</p>

<p>Oh, yeah I forgot about that... but I guess the point I was trying to make is that if prestige is the factor, then you can get that with your MD.</p>

<p>Exactly what I was thinking, but I needed reassurance that other people think that way too. Thanks guys.</p>

<p>good job on asking the Pomona forum</p>

<p>What about getting into a doctoral program for classics/ancient history? How do they compare in placement?</p>