Visit Report by ethanrt (Member since September 15 2007 with 152 posts) Visit Date - March 2008
Visit to Claremont McKenna College in March 2008 by ethanrt (Student, HS Class of 2008)
Visit Activities:
Admissions Interview:
Yes - I had a pair of very open, relaxed "interviews" (more like faculty/staff-facilitated discussions) to ensure my McKenna Scholar eligibility. The questions were insightful and discussion-promo Information Session:
Yes - I attended multiple information sessions, and they were definitely helpful. The key is that CMC made students, faculty, and staff available for follow-up questions. Campus Tour:
Yes - If you don't fall in love with the campus, you're one in a million. Make sure to visit adjoining Scripps and Pomona to see two even more beautiful sights (is it possible?!). Classroom Visit:
Yes - I visited four classes. Oratory was fair; Business Law disappointingly reminded me of a high school academic or honors class. Int'l Politics and Russian Lit were AMAZING - students and professors
Claremont McKenna College Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 5 - Excellent -
Maybe it's because of my distorted New England perception, but I found students to be incredibly outgoing, engaging, and friendly. And this included literally everyone I met.
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent -
Overall excellent - though they were, of course, trying to sell their college to us.
Appearance of Campus: 5 - Excellent -
BEAUTIFUL. Again, make sure to visit adjoining Scripps and Pomona to see two even more beautiful sights (is it possible?!). Scripps even has orange trees and a rose garden.
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 2 - Fair -
Although reportedly (I believe it) only a couple dorms and one bathroom in Marks have this problem, I was put off by the ANTS. All that Maintenance did in response was give the students some spray.
Dormitories: 3 - Good -
See Maintenance/Cleanliness. Also, note that no dorms on the North Quad have AC - and it can get HOT. Stark is the no-substance dorm, and a new dorm is being built near the south end right now.
Security/Safety: 5 - Excellent -
An open campus, but in a small, well-to-do town, and I felt perfectly safe. I did my homework outside at 11:00 at night, and a I met a girl who goes running alone in town every night at midnight.
Overall Campus Impression: 5 - Excellent -
Couldn't get over how much I loved it.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 4 - Very Good -
A small, well-to-do town - a bit TOO small and too much like my hometown for my taste. Definitely caters to college students, which is nice but I'm sure can get annoying.
City/Town/Community: 4 - Very Good -
See above^. Unfortunately, you need a car if you even want to get to some places at the other end of town.
Campus Visit Notes for Claremont McKenna College:
Visit Description:
I think that as a McKenna Weekend participant (for McKenna Scholars and Seaver Scholar Finalists), I really got to see what CMC was all about. I was there for about 2.5 days, and in the interim I saw a weekend and a week-"day in the life." CMC students are pretty weighted toward the sports/drinking side of the spectrum. While many are very intelligent (as I saw in the discussions in International Politics), some do struggle to paraphrase the main point of a pretty straightforward textbook chapter (as I saw in Business Law). Most professors I met were VERY intelligent, and all seemed to love, and be entirely adept at, the subject/s they were teaching.
The location, climate, beauty, and food (what I'd call "standard of living") are not to be underestimated, nor is the power of a consortium of five adjoining colleges that permit cross-registration. Also, a note about course load: CMC allows a fifth course to be added at no extra cost, although not during a freshman's first semester.
Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:
On-campus!
Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:
CMC food is pretty great - plus, they have "Snack" starting at 10:30 every night, at which you can basically get another meal if you're so inclined. And whenever you can dine at the Ath
Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):
Again, you'll need a car if you want to go out and explore the wide world, and there isn't much parking, which encourages a too-provincial closeness.
-
Maybe it's because of my distorted New England perception, but I found students to be incredibly outgoing, engaging, and friendly. And this included literally everyone I met.
-
Although reportedly (I believe it) only a couple dorms and one bathroom in Marks have this problem, I was put off by the ANTS. All that Maintenance did in response was give the students some spray.
-
See Maintenance/Cleanliness. Also, note that no dorms on the North Quad have AC - and it can get HOT. Stark is the no-substance dorm, and a new dorm is being built near the south end right now.
-
A small, well-to-do town - a bit TOO small and too much like my hometown for my taste. Definitely caters to college students, which is nice but I'm sure can get annoying.