<p>This was also posted on Pomona forum.</p>
<p>I agree with NW (on Pomona forum) that you should apply to both, and definitely should visit the Claremont campus, which will give you a pretty good idea of where you will fit in best.</p>
<p>Admittedly, I went out on a limb by posting this on the Pomona forum, but I feel LW might be a better fit at CMC, due to his strong interest in the social sciences.
I would be reluctant to use the term ‘better’ in comparing the two colleges…Pomona is obviously a tremendous school, …but I believe CMC is more ‘unique.’ The Athenaeum is a gem. Where else, including the top research universities such as Harvard,Stanford, UC Berkeley,etc. can you join world-class speakers, with dinner, virtually every weeknight of the school year? Then, there is the myriad of research institutes ( I believe the number is around 10), most of which center around LW’s declared interests.</p>
<p>Architecturally, Pomona has the more traditional, ‘Ivy League’ look…i often hear Pomona students and/or alumni, refer to the college as ‘Amherst’ or ‘Williams’ with better weather.
CMC, on the other hand, is architecturally more functional, and modern looking. The new Kravis Center (built at a cost of $250 million ?), and the Roberts Pavilion (scheduled for completion next year), are very impressive additions…</p>
<p>Re LW’s question about the bent of the students, I agree with Nostalgic Wisdom that CMC students are generally more balanced, still leaning left but not overwhelmingly so.</p>
<p>Pomona students are more intellectually focused, sending a higher percentage of students to graduate / PhD programs. But,CMC students are generally more focused on ‘leadership’ traits, which is a factor actually looked for in the admissions process, as evidenced by the inordinate degree of success, financial and otherwise, among its graduates ( i.e., more billionaires per capita than any other college).</p>
<p>Finally, the ‘pragmatic’ academics and heavy % of majors in Economics govt, etc is true but -in my opinion- a bit overstated, at CMC. While its been a few years (quite a few,I fear).since I attended, i recall my ‘best’ classes being literature and history…Also, its important to note that 90% of applicants to medical school are accepted to one of their 2 top choices.</p>
<p>Bottom line to LW: Apply to both,and visit the campus.
Claremont is a terrific place, and I really miss it!</p>