<p>Anyone have suggestions?</p>
<p>Want the “vibe” and “academics” of Pomona or Pitzer.</p>
<p>Want to avoid “really cold” weather and long, dark winters.</p>
<p>I think Swarthmore may fit the bill, but would like more suggestions.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>One of my closest friends turned down Swarthmore to go to Pomona. He said it was a totally different environment and student body; he found the students there to be a lot more intellectual/quirky than at Pomona. Perhaps the best parallel to this would be UChicago vs other private universities. Also, be aware that Pomona and Pitzer are also quite different schools. Many of the people who go to Pomona would never consider Pitzer, and vice-versa. </p>
<p>Personally, I don’t believe that there is an east-coast equivalent to Pomona (I don’t know as much about Pitzer). Sure, there are definitely east-coast liberal arts colleges that are comparable in terms of academics or prestige. But I don’t think you’ll find a school that is its ‘equivalent’ in terms of vibe, resources (Consortium, proximity to LA) and definitely not weather. When I was applying to schools, I did consider Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, etc. but they weren’t quite what I was looking for. In the end, of the eleven schools I applied to, the only two liberal arts colleges were Claremont McKenna and Pomona. Of course I don’t think you should necessarily limit yourself like I did, but I have a hard time thinking east-coast versions of these schools. If you apply to Swarthmore, it shouldn’t be with the expectation that it will be anything like Pomona/Pitzer beyond the fact that it’s a small liberal arts college.</p>
<p>That might be a breakthrough!! Folks are usually looking for Western versions of East Coast LAC’s, and find Pomona!</p>
<p>You could try Bowdoin, Vassar or Wellesley.</p>
<p>Well you won’t avoid cold anywhere in the northeast, but Pennsylvania would be your best bet as the eastern part of PA is almost the southernmost part of what could be called the east coast (which is theoretically a mega-urban construct from DC to Boston). Look at Swarthmore and Haverford.</p>
<p>William & Mary is a good combo for Pomona and Claremont-McKenna. Davidson would be a peer as well. Much better weather than New England LACs.</p>
<p>I’d say Vassar or Wesleyan</p>
<p>Swarthmore fits the bill in academics but not vibe, in comparison to Pomona (Pitzer is an entirely different beast, addressed below). I’m going to Swarthmore in a few weeks–accepted EDII–but Pomona was #2 or #3 on my list, along with Carleton. Academically, I think of it as one of the most comprehensive LACs in the country, with a very good linguistics program (split with Pitzer). But Pomona’s vibe is totally different, and one of the reasons I was attracted to it–I’m Swattie-intense, but I also valued the polar-opposite laid-back environment that Pomona offered.</p>
<p>Pitzer is more like Bard, Vassar, or Wesleyan. Maybe Oberlin. Consider Marlboro if you’re willing to flex on the weather. And if you are, Bowdoin/Middlebury are kind of like preppier, (much) snowier versions of Pomona.</p>
<p>I second the suggestions of Haverford and W&M. The only truly “warm” LAC that can compete with Pomona academically is Davidson, but their vibe is totally different again. I’d think of Davidson as an equivalent for Claremont McKenna minus the leadership focus.</p>
<p>Rice in terms of architecture and weather (although, Houston really overdoes it in terms of heat and humidity.) </p>
<p>[Bing</a> Maps](<a href=“rice - Bing Maps”>rice - Bing Maps) [press the bird’s eye drop-down menu for a real look at these two colleges]</p>
<p>[Bing</a> Maps](<a href=“rice - Bing Maps”>rice - Bing Maps)</p>