IProsp

After visiting the colleges i was accepted to i have narrowed it down to Pomona or UCLA. I am really on the fence because Pomona offers me great financial aid, close contact with staff, all the other 5Cs, etc. However, when i visited UCLA i was immediately enamored with the university. I intend to major in econ but i don't know the strengths of either college in that department. Any advice is welcome and the sooner the better as its almost May 1.

UCLA Band Mom

I feel qualified to reply, since I am a Pomona Alum as well as a UCLA parent.

The answer to your question lies within you and you alone. What are you looking for in school? Is your intended major offered at Pomona? What about extra curricular activities? Are you interested in big time sports?

For my son, he was interested in engineering, which Pomona doesn't offer. He was also really big in marching band, and Pomona doesn't have one. So he chose UCLA over Pomona.

For myself, I chose Pomona because I wanted to live in Harwood Court (which is more of a Palace than a dormitory) and go to concerts in Little Bridges. I accomplished both, and even got married in Little Bridges.

Go with your heart, you will be happy with your decision. Good Luck to you. Chirp!!

brassmonkey

Pomona's econ department is very strong, and has excellent placement into PhD programs, banking/consulting, as well as business/law school.

UCLA econ isn't necessarily going to hold you back either though.

The choice shouldn't be made on the strength of the department, but rather on which you'd rather fit into. Pomona is a true college campus, with lots of green space, and a tight-knit community of students, professors and staff.

UCLA is obviously very different, and has big-time sports as a pull.

Prestige-wise, more people have heard of UCLA, but people who know both schools, and the caliber of the average student at each, know that Pomona students in general are stronger academically.

saasaa

I turned down Berkeley for Pomona (didn't apply to UCLA).

UCLA Band Mom

Here is more info about the Pomona Econ dept
General Information

When I attended Pomona, the Econ dept was in the Carnegie building, the most beautiful building on campus.
http://www.arcsfoundation.org/LosAng...tos/Pomona.jpg

There was a great view of Marston Quadrangle out the window, which was a good thing, because I was bored out of my gourd most of the time.


Here is a bit of info about the UCLA Anderson School of Business and Economics. The Anderson School ranks above Yale, Duke, Cornell, and USC

Search - Business - Best Graduate Schools - Education - US News and World Report

Undergraduates Business/Econ majors are allowed to take classes at Anderson Graduate School, and it is one of the most popular major at UCLA

UCLA Business Economics Program

UCLA Department of Economics

Little Mother

S graduated from UCLA (design|media arts '05) and enjoyed his major courses because the department was small - only 55 students accepted for his class. He didn't enjoy, though, the impersonal feel of the GE classes that were huge; most of his contact in those courses were with the TAs and not the profs.

D (Pomona'09) considered UCLA briefly but decided against it because it was too large for her. What she enjoys most about Pomona is the opportunity to get to know her professors in and out of the classroom setting.

Both schools do a great job making you feel like part of the community, and their campuses are equally beautiful. You really have to go with your gut in terms of where you see yourself - physically, emotionally, and academically.

Good luck!

brassmonkey

It seems like nearly every CA resident at Pomona I've talked to turned down Cal and/or UCLA to come here, and couldn't be happier with their decision. Though I'm sure there are people at Cal who turned down Pomona; nearly everyone at Pomona got into Cal, but I doubt a significant proportion of Cal/UCLA's entering class had the opportunity to attend Pomona.

Shrinkrap

If you can afford it, Pomona.

IProsp

Pomona is actually more affordable for me than UCLA. They will pay for almost everything.

Shrinkrap

Doesn't get any better the that! (IMHO).

IProsp

Thanks for the advice. I finally went with Pomona. It was the logical choice but i still love UCLA. It came down to a coin toss :P Thanks again for the advice.