<p>Ejm105989, Have you decided ? “We” are down to LMU vs SCU. Appreciate all your feedback.</p>
<p>LMU’s academics are excellent if you pursue a challenging program. One of my D’s good friends is graduating shortly and was accepted at several good law schools. </p>
<p>There are people there who skate through school by following the easiest path, but plenty choose a more challenging path and work hard and do very well.</p>
<p>My D has had excellent professors and the school has delivered what we hoped it would.</p>
<p>Pomona is definitely more prestigious, but if you don’t see a fit, don’t force it. My D2 opted for fit over prestige in her quest this year, and I think it was the right call… we’ll see in a few years!</p>
<p>I’d say caliber of education and reputation is comparable to Oxy.</p>
<p>LMU is a highly respected school. It is getting much harder to get in to. The teachers actually teach the classes (instead of TA’s like at bigger schools). The teachers really take a personal interest in their students, and they are very accessible if you need to talk or meet with them. The students are very friendly. It’s a beautiful, safe, comfortable campus, with a million things to do, on campus, and off. Their goal is to prepare students for grad school and/or the working world. They have lots of internship opportunities, and professional ties within the community. They will definitely rival all of the UC’s (except maybe Berkeley) because the UC’s are planning to double their tuition, and the UC’s make it almost impossible to graduate in 4 years. They say the “new” 4 year degree is really 5 years. Grads from LMU go onto get their master’s at many of the Ivy’s - Stanford, MIT, etc. Also, they have a very strong alumni network. I would definitely rate LMU higher than Cal Poly SLO - by a mile - SLO is in a very small, isolated, blue collar town, and it’s a state college. I would pick LMU over any of the others you mentioned - Pomona and Oxy don’t really have the whole “college” experience - great academics, but not much else.</p>
<p>vsmart, are you doing engineering? Do you have my experience with the labs, internships, or on campus recruiting?</p>
<p>“LMU is a highly respected school. It is getting much harder to get in to. The teachers actually teach the classes (instead of TA’s like at bigger schools). The teachers really take a personal interest in their students, and they are very accessible if you need to talk or meet with them. The students are very friendly. It’s a beautiful, safe, comfortable campus, with a million things to do, on campus, and off. Their goal is to prepare students for grad school and/or the working world. They have lots of internship opportunities, and professional ties within the community. They will definitely rival all of the UC’s (except maybe Berkeley) because the UC’s are planning to double their tuition, and the UC’s make it almost impossible to graduate in 4 years. They say the “new” 4 year degree is really 5 years. Grads from LMU go onto get their master’s at many of the Ivy’s - Stanford, MIT, etc. Also, they have a very strong alumni network. I would definitely rate LMU higher than Cal Poly SLO - by a mile - SLO is in a very small, isolated, blue collar town, and it’s a state college. I would pick LMU over any of the others you mentioned - Pomona and Oxy don’t really have the whole “college” experience - great academics, but not much else.”</p>
<p>This is painfully bias even for a LMU alum to read.
It went well initially until he started comparing LMU to Cal Poly SLO (not to be confused with CPP) and other schools. To me, they all have the “whole” college experiences (go tell oxy students that they don’t and see what kind of response you get), it’s just that different place has different culture and atmosphere.</p>
<p>A Parent here - engineering at LMU, any idea?</p>
<p>UCR,</p>
<p>what is your view on LMU compared to the other schools mentioned, especially Oxy? I expect that an alum would have a better view than many others. </p>
<p>Does LMU really have a lot of things to offer it’s students? Have you found that being an LMU alum to be a necessarily good thing? Would you have picked any of the aforementioned schools over LMU if you could do it all again? I know that you probably wouldn’t trade your experience at LMU for another, but just from a purely logical standpoint, wwyd if you had this decision to make?</p>
<p>They will definitely rival all of the UC’s (except maybe Berkeley) because the UC’s are planning to double their tuition, and the UC’s make it almost impossible to graduate in 4 years. They say the “new” 4 year degree is really 5 years. </p>
<p>^</p>
<p>Are you kidding me definitely not UCLA and UCSD soon. I am sorry to say but I don’t think this will ever happen for the aforementioned.</p>
<p>I agree, not even in the same ballpark as UCLA. That being said there is something to be said for the advantages of going private. One of the various reasons I chose Santa Clara over UCLA.</p>
<p>Any thoughts on LMU vs. Chapman? My D is having a hard time making her decision.</p>
<p>i am trying to decide between LMU and UC santa cruz? what are the advantages of LMU over santa cruz? My major is undecided engineering at LMU</p>
<p>"what are the advantages of LMU over santa cruz? "</p>
<p>$$$$$$$$$</p>
<p>Do you want to be a Lion or a Banana Slug?</p>
<p>Have you visited either campus? Academics aside since I know nothing about engineering, I believe these two campuses attract very different kinds of kids. I can’t see the LMU kids being happy at UCSC and vice versa.</p>
<p>Well, my D is happy at LMU, and you would totally peg her for a Santa Cruz girl. Both schools have room for all types. But it’s true that in general, LMU is more clean-cut, Greek, preppy and rich, and UCSC is more earthy, indie, stoner, artistic. But those are broad strokes.</p>
<p>researching4emb, i have twins and one is torn about attending LMU because of the campus feel, socially and community wise. i sent you a message, hopefully you can see it. i’d really appreciate your input as we have only days to decide and she is really concerned about those things at LMU. thank you so much!!!</p>
<p>I let takes2muchtime know this via PM, but my D’s input (she’s a junior at LMU) might help others. This addresses the question: Is the school too rich/Greek/fashionista for a down-to-earth girl who is lively and friendly but doesn’t have a BMW and isn’t going to wear heels to class? (Which also describes my D.) She wrote:</p>
<p>I would say that she could absolutely find her niche at LMU, it may just take a little bit longer/seem a little bit more daunting. But, if I could, anyone can. She sounds like she may be friends with people who work at KXLU or something, which is totally the cool/NOT fashionista/stuck up crowd. There ARE cool people at LMU, and plenty of them, but you just have to look a little harder to find them. In my mind that makes the whole experience better because it makes the friends you find that much more special. Plus, being in the film school is a huge advantage. All of the people I know in film are awesome, and not cliche LMU girls/bros (those kids aren’t smart enough to get into the film school). You will immediately be surrounded by a more chill/laid back/artsy crowd. Choose LMU, you will find cool people and love living in LA. Plus, you can’t beat the weather or campus over here!!</p>
<p>Hey researching4emb, could you ask your D about being black at LMU? Or a guy? Seems like lots of the concerns about fitting in mention girls. </p>
<p>Son got in to the film school BTW, so I guess he’s smart enough (smile), but he asked to switch to engineering.</p>
<p>Sorry, Shrinkrap, I didn’t see this until just now, and you probably had to make the decision already! One of my D’s housemates is a guy in the film school and has had a great experience, including study abroad and a good internship. She says the film school kids are great. As for being black, she has a rainbow coalition of friends, and none have expressed any problems or concerns. Having toured a ton of smaller schools in the northeast with my younger D, LMU seems more diverse than the any of them-- which reflects LA.</p>
<p>I have been accepted but am afraid I won’t fit in as I am not into Greek life and am shy. I love the campus but am nervous I won’t find my niche because I’m not rich and outgoing. </p>
<p>For pure reputation (and I know nothing about engineering), Pomona is considered near an Ivy, especially being on the West Coast. Obviously if it does not fit, then it does not fit. My S accepted at LMU (did not get into Claremont McKenna, part of the Claremont Colleges, just like Pomona). If he would have gotten into CMC or Pomona (the latter if he had applied), absolutely he would have went there instead of LMU, though it’s now near the top of his list, depending on what happens with USD and Pepperdine, merit monies, and SMU in Texas, Elon in NC, possibly (latter two accepted at). A black fellow would totally fit in. We live in the SF area, but lived in SoCal for years. My S is looking forward (I think!) to their being far more girls than guys. </p>