Pomona College vs Johns Hopkins

nostalgicwisdom
Thu, 31 May 2018 16:28:54 +0000

2021 is a bad year to compare given the concordance issues with the new SAT and old SAT (also, Pomona’s CDS states 1370-1540, not 1330-1520).

If those numbers are accurate for Hopkins (they seem higher than what the admitted profile reports, which is usually not the case, but theoretically it is possible), then they’ve deliberately shifted their admissions process to be more numbers driven. Those numbers would be at or above what schools like Stanford, Harvard, and Yale reported this year. At least from 2014-2016, JHU was ranked around 20 or so for entering student testing (one source here: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-50-smartest-colleges-in-america-2016-10) so going to top 5 or so is a big shift.

Pomona’s numbers have actually come down slightly despite more and more applicants, and I think it’s due to the opposite effect. They’ve cut down on a numbers driven process (at one point, Pomona was ranked 5th in the nation for highest entering student stats) in pursuit of a holistic one, though they still want top students (hence the high % ranked in the top 10%). Pomona has had the highest percent of underrepresented minority students of any highly ranked LAC or university for the past two years, alongside their commitment to socioeconomic diversity (top 10 by a ranking in NYTimes and one of only three private colleges to be there; JHU ranked 72), first-gen students, rural representation, QuestBridge, two cohorts of Posse, and other community-based partnerships.

Furthermore, compare what each admissions website has to say:

JHU: https://apply.jhu.edu/application-process/

We’re looking for students who can think beyond their limits, who don’t see ‘impossible’ as a roadblock, and who will not only elevate themselves, but also those around them.

Pomona: https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply

Evidence of:
Investment and involvement in a community or passionate pursuit
A love for learning, and a willingness to challenge yourself and go outside your “comfort zone”
An openness to new ideas and rejection of easy answers
An appreciation for a collaborative learning environment
Personal character — be it grit, kindness, diligence or serving others
Risk-taking and adventurousness
Creativity and innovation
Appreciation for the visual and/or performing arts

Is one harder to get into? I feel like a high stats student with good ECs and clear ambition could potentially count on getting into JHU in a way they can’t at Pomona. OTOH, the students scoring the 30 or below at Pomona might not be able to get into JHU.

I don’t think this is too important to a decision making process in particular, but I do find it intriguing that the schools look for different things. JHU really seems to stress challenging one self and seeking to be the best you can be. Pomona has more of the liberal arts character. It can be a good reflection of the sort of students who attend either one.