Cal vs. Amherst vs. Pomona College

Colleges & Universities University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>So, I think I’m down to these three, and I would really love some opinions. I’m probably studying Economics (and maybe biology) and then going straight to law school. However, this is really just the plan at the moment, and I want to keep other options open. I’m from Silicon Valley. Cal will be the cheapest, but not by a very significant amount. I want to end up back in the Bay Area after college/grad school (I love it here). Honestly, I think I could deal with both a big or a small school. Please help!</p>

<p>Berkeley
Pros:

  1. A decent distance from home.
  2. Prestige for Econ and bio
  3. Possibility of graduating in 3 years (if I choose to only to Econ) since I have 12 APs
  4. Great job prospects in the Bay if I decide to not go to law school
  5. Cheapest (this, however, is not a major consideration)
  6. Can take graduate coursework, good weather, and lots of friends at Cal.
    Cons:
  7. Grad school placement way lower than Amherst and Pomona
  8. HUGE classes–how do you even get a rec letter?
  9. Possibility of graduating in 5 years because of the difficulty to get classes
  10. Ugly dorms and safety issues. And crazy competitiveness.</p>

<p>Amherst
Pros:

  1. Incredible grad school placement
  2. Open curriculum! Opportunity to explore for two years before deciding a major, and its really easy to double or triple major
  3. Small classes, safe, awesome dorms
  4. Option of staying home all of January thru Interterm
  5. Trying something new! I’ve never lived on the East Coast
    Cons:
  6. Little known on the West Coast, so it might be hard to get jobs over here from there.
  7. Far from home! And weather sucks -_-
  8. Food for vegetarians is apparently pretty lame.</p>

<p>Pomona:
Pros:

  1. Great grad school placement
  2. Just far enough from home
  3. Small classes, safe, great dorms, awesome food, fabulous weather
  4. 5C colleges and LA nearby
    Cons:
  5. No one’s heard of Pomona! :frowning: I know this shouldn’t matter, but it does a little. Especially when people ask if its a state school
  6. Alumni network extremely limited to California–particularly SoCal
  7. Because of the above things, getting a job after graduation seems a bit risky. However, law school would def be okay.</p>

<p>Soo, I’m a bit stuck. I’ll be posting this on all the threads, so feel free to be as biased as you wish! :)</p>

2

<p>read posts #2 and #5 on here for the huge classes/rec letters concern
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/896480-berkeley-vs-usc.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/896480-berkeley-vs-usc.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Thanks! That’s definitely helpful. Anyone else? The guys on the Pomona and Amherst threads are making a compelling case, but I want to make it a fair fight :)</p>

4

<p>Cal is a safer choice in case you don’t get into a grad school but you’re probably more likely to get into a grad school at those liberal arts colleges. If you pick either Pomona or Amherst and don’t get into grad school, I must warn you you’re pretty schrewed over. Cal is also cheaper for instate students.</p>

5

<p>my older sister is a pomona alum and i can almost guarantee job placement will not be a concern. the people who need to be “in the know” (potential employers, grad schools etc) all regard pomona very highly.</p>

6

<p>Are you a Regent’s Scholar at Cal? I talked to a professor last week who said that “faculty doors would open” with respect to research, letters, etc. for Regents at Cal, so don’t count it out completely for that reason. I have lived in Amherst, and it is very much a rural/small town experience to be compared with gritty but across the bay from SF urban Berkeley and SoCal suburban Pomona. If you like nature, Amherst is your place for local walks in the woods, although you’ll have to drive > 1000 miles to see anything like the Sierra. I think the Claremont Colleges > the 5 Colleges (although Smith has some good classes). The snow is not that bad in Amherst, but it is depressing when spring lasts 1 week in May. The lovely fall makes it worthwhile, though.</p>

7

<p>@astrodeb: I’m actually not a regents scholar, but i’m a semifinalist for the leadership award, which I know doesn’t open the same kind of doors.</p>

<p>And yes, weather is an issue :). But I feel lke I should be exposed to something other than California sunshine at least for a few years of my life, right?</p>

<p>@josebewasabi: Thanks! That’s really good to hear. Do you know if there is a strong knowledge about Pomona outside of socal?</p>

<p>Anyway, thanks for the opinions–this decision is getting really difficult. Any other thoughts?</p>