Pomona College Reviews
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Anonymous
01/02/2010Reviewer is A current student here.
14 out of 14 people found this review useful. 1 of 6
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Pomona College is the perfect home for the hardworking, intellectual, easy-going, yet able to have a lot of fun type of student. Pomona is made up of an incredibly diverse group of people. You’ll find yourself friends with non-stereotypically jocky athletes, hipsters, acapella singers, improv actors, mathematics and philosophy double majors, slam poets, musicians, activists, and people from all over the country and world. The students here are ambitious and driven, but are extremely cooperative and thus, have created a very supportive environment where students are able to grow intellectually, emotionally, and socially.
Tips for prospective students As cliché as it may sound, my best advice for prospective students is to be yourself on your application. Don’t try to make yourself sound like someone who would fit in at Pomona—the college will accept those who genuinely are a good fit for the school. The admissions officers want to make the best class possible, and they don’t do that by just looking at the numbers. While the grades and scores do matter, showing who you really are is just as important. For those who have already been accepted, my advice is to come and visit the school. Get a feel for the students, the professors, and the overall atmosphere. I firmly believe that every college campus has its own culture that can make someone feel very happy and comfortable and others not that enthusiastic for the next four years. And ultimately, don’t let anyone or anything else influence your final decision.
Bang for the buck Pomona College has been given the title of #1 Best Value liberal arts college for the past two years in a row. I can personally attest to this as A) the education here is top rate and B) both myself and most of the other students I have spoken to have been incredibly pleased (and surprised) by Pomona’s generous financial aid packages. Compared to many other colleges of similar caliber, Pomona offers incredible financial aid, allowing students, like me, to attend such a prestigious college.
Am enjoying being here To be completely honest, I am in love with Pomona. Everything about Pomona is amazing—the people (my classmates, professors), taking classes that I want to take, the constantly sunny weather (it rains about 3 times a semester and the smog that everyone is concerned about really isn’t noticed), the huge dorm rooms (freshmen are put in either singles or pretty gigantic doubles), the food (it never gets boring with seven dining halls to choose from), and “working hard and playing hard too.” There are always things to do on the campus, whether it is a performance (band, orchestra, sketch comedy, acapella concerts), guest speakers, movies that are played for free, dance parties, and general hanging out. The number of options increases when you consider the Claremont Consortium, because most events and parties at the other colleges are open to all 5 C’s. It’s also convenient that LA is so close (just a train ride away), so when you need to get out of Claremont to see a concert in Hollywood, it is completely possible to do so. While Pomona students are viewed as very studious (because it’s true!), sagehens know how to have fun. A major reason why I am enjoying being at Pomona so much is because of all the fun I am having every single day! (From sitting out in the hallways late at night discussing the most random topics to playing glow-in-the-dark capture the flag on the quad) I love Pomona so much that it has truly become a second home to me.
Am learning a lot Pomona College provides for an excellent education. Each semester there are hundreds of classes that are offered in pretty much every subject matter imaginable. The fact that Pomona is part of the five college Claremont Consortium only means that there are hundreds of more options available. You can take classes at any of the other colleges! The professors at Pomona are another huge reason why the education at Pomona is superb. All of the professors I have had have been eager to help, very approachable outside of class, extremely knowledgeable of the material, and make going to that early morning class quite enjoyable. There are also numerous learning opportunities outside of class as well. For instance, this past semester I got a job as a lab assistant, where I have been able to learn many new things in a more hands-on way. Countless other students are also doing research (which is very easy to get started in) or doing an internship in the area. Education is the fundamental reason why students go to college, and Pomona has definitely made that its priority.
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Alexandria from Spokane Valley, WA
08/31/2009Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
8 out of 11 people found this review useful. 2 of 6
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Academically strong, dedicated
Tips for prospective students If you love Pomona, apply early. Your chances of getting in go up about thirteen percent.
Bang for the buck Extremely expensive
Will enjoy being here I've heard there's a good balance between fun and work here, but I'm not convinced. It seems like these students wouldn't have any time to do anything but study. The surrounding area is adorable and there's an on-campus movie theatre, so there's stuff to do and you have the four surrounding colleges to socialize with as well.
Will learn a lot This is an extremely rigorous school. The academics are probably just as strong as any big ivy league school. They will give you 4,000 dollars to conduct a summer research project and will pay you for any unpaid internships you do.
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Katie from Redmond, WA
04/09/2010Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
7 out of 7 people found this review useful. 3 of 6
Categories Comments Great for these types of students As far as the Claremonts go, this is what I hear. Harvey Mudd is for people really into math and science and technology. Claremont Mckenna is good for stuff like accounting, finance, govt, etc. Scripps is all-girls... not sure about what they specialize in Pitzer is more artsy, environmental, peace-loving and Pomona is good for the general liberal arts education, figuring out what you want to do
Tips for prospective students Go visit it! Its so pretty. has such a good feel.
Bang for the buck Its really expensive, like most private colleges, but smaller schools have bigger endowments so its more likely that youll get better scholarships and stuff.
Will enjoy being here The campus is really beautiful, and it seems like there are a lot of things to do. I don't know what the social scene is like. I was a little unhappy about the size, but with the five Claremont schools there, you can take classes and eat and make friends at any of them.
Will learn a lot Its rated #6 on the top liberal arts schools. Its a really good school, definetely the most impressive part of it. It seems pretty rigorous, and the smallness of it makes it easy to get to know your professors really well.
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Daniel from Honolulu, HI
03/11/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
5 out of 5 people found this review useful. 4 of 6
Categories Comments Campus Safety claremont has been ranked as one of the safest cities in the u.s. so while there's no need for campus safety, they do a very good job, on-call 24/7.
Greek Life if you're looking for greek life, pomona college is not your school.
Clubs and Activities there's something for anyone and everyone. every club and activity imaginable, including quidditich and a ginger appreciation club (you get the picture).
Great for these types of students open-minded. confident. thinking about your education in relation to the greater community and world. ambitious. well-rounded. collaborative. fearless.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus on your birthday, you will be dunked into one of the many fountains in the pomona college campus. this tradition is inevitable, and will happen to you, even if it has to be your half-birthday or quarter-birthday.
Bang for the buck pomona college is the cheapest among the top liberal arts colleges, and is ranked #1 college in the u.s. regarding funding for each individual student. there are retreats happening almost every weekend for different majors, mentor groups, board of trustees, etc. in amazing parts of southern california. this school has money!
What to do for fun you can drive into la, go to the museum of contemporary art, see a dance or opera performance in orange county, or drive up to mt. baldy to ski. you're only 35 miles east of la, so you're in just as much a cosmopolitan and beach-like environment as you are in a bourgeoisie, upper-middle class suburbia.
Food and Dining the food is amazing! transferring here allows me to compare dining halls, and i can tell you that you'll be getting fine dining here at pomona.
Dorm Life you live in a kingdom. if you're going to be working hard, you deserve the best accommodations. there's excess housing and housing is guaranteed all four years. the freshman and senior dorms are the nicest, so you begin and end your pomona experience with style.
Academic Rigor southern california life is juxtaposed with hard work and a lot of over-achievers. be ready for a sunny ivy league experience.
Tips for prospective students above all else, show yourself for who you really are, as a free-thinking individual who is passionate about something in the world. pomona college prides itself for having a student body that is brave at heart and independent at mind in regards to higher education. don't only show yourself as versatile, show how your versatility can benefit those around you.
In three sentences pomona college stays true to its liberal arts mission statement of empowering me, the student, with my own education and how i want to design and experience it. the school employs professors who are passionate, above all else, about teaching and ensures that your quality of life, both scholastically and socially, will be smooth-sailing. it rates as a perfect 10 for those who enjoy living in a small, intellectually stimulating community that can handle having complete freedom over their educational experience.
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Anonymous
11/15/2011Reviewer is A current student here.
4 out of 4 people found this review useful. 5 of 6
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Pomona is great for students who are quirky, motivated to succeed, and like the sun :) Note: this is a liberal arts college - if you want to major in Engineering, Business or a technical vocation, this is not the best school for you.
Tips for prospective students If possible, visit. If not, do your research. Show why Pomona specifically appeals to you. Also, show your passions! Pomona students are unique and driven, so tell Admissions what makes you tick.
Bang for the buck Well, I already said above what makes Pomona so amazing. To me, that is worth almost any amount of money. I am paying full price so I cannot speak for the financial aid opportunities but I believe that Pomona is very good about accomodating everyone's financial situation.
Am enjoying being here I love it here. The weather is beautiful, the classes are interesting, the dorms are pretty nice, the food is good, and most importantly, the people are some of the nicest, smartest, most passionate and hard-working people you will ever meet.
Am learning a lot There are a wide variety of classes here which are intense but you don't have to do a lot of busy work. Since Pomona is part of a consortium with 4 other schools, you never run out of options for classes. The professors are absolutely amazing - engaging, quirky, brilliant, and dedicated, and interact a lot with the students. I am learning so much about topics that I am actually interested in!
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Trix from WA
10/24/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 6 of 6
Categories Comments Campus Safety Super safe campus. Campus safety is only a call away. RAs can let you into rooms as well. Sponsors are nice people too. Everyone is willing to help you out when in need.
Greek Life Not really any. We have 2 Frats (one of which is a sorority at other schools) that throw parties and one frarority (frat/sorority).
Clubs and Activities SOO MANY OVER THE 5Cs
Great for these types of students Any type...especially kids who like to do stuff.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Fountaining= throw you in the fountain on your birthday 47= we love this number
Bang for the buck Awesome financial aid, meets 100% of demonstrated financial need with grants instead of loans.
What to do for fun ANYTHING YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE. Like Dancing? Hiking? Playing Video Games? Playing Frisbee? Speaking in another language? Doing community service? Drinking? Partying? Talking about politics? Swimming? Playing the ukulele or guitar? Singing? Playing any other game? You can actually do whatever you want and if the group doesn't exist already, make it yourself and you will find people (if not at Pomona, at the 5Cs) who will do it with you!
Food and Dining Frank and Frary are good, but even if you get sick of them, you can go eat at any of the other schools or in the village. Lots of places take Claremont cash and all seven of the dining halls are linked so the meals transfer to the other schools.
Dorm Life YAY! Sponsor groups, Orientation Adventures and any activities you are involved in will yield instant friends. There are parties every weekend and you don't need to drink to have fun. People respect you if you don't like drinking or just want to take a night off.
Academic Rigor Classes aren't easy, but schedules can be modified to be easier or harder. You will definitely have time to hang out with friends, sleep, eat, exercise, etc.
Tips for prospective students Besides good grades and test scores and stuff, make sure you connect with the admissions office on another level. They want to know that you are passionate about something or have interests.
In three sentences Pomona is an all around great college where you have exceptional academics, thriving social life and a great community. Everyone is really friendly and wants to help out. There is something for everyone and they try really hard to make you at home.
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