<p>1) The location is arguably the best any undergraduate college that is not within the Claremont Consortium has to offer. Where else can you be within at most an hour’s reach to amazing cities, music venues, deserts, national parks, oceans, mountains, beaches, amusement parks, restaurants of any cuisine you can think of, and the film making capital of the world? Pomona is blessed by location- it is away from the smog and bustle of LA in one of the most beautiful places (Claremont) in California, but none of those places are so far as to be inaccessible. Don’t forget the weather, which is usually mild and sunny each day to wear flip flops almost every day you’re at Pomona.</p>
<p>2) Pomona has so much money that they don’t know what to do with it, so they’ll basically throw it at their students. That one million dollar and counting endowment per student isn’t stockpiled- it’s actively used to fund student’s ideas and experiences. You get an education valued at 80,000$ per year [what Pomona spends on average, per student] for 55,000$ or less- an automatic scholarship of at least 25,000$ per student. Furthermore, as a result of their mammoth endowment, they are 100% full need met and loans free, thus making education accessible to people of all walks of life. Pomona has many quirky traditions such as Ski-Beach day and really does pamper its students. </p>
<p>3) You will be in one of the most beautiful and breathtaking colleges in the country. Where else can you wake up to a splendid view of snow capped mountains, lush green grass and multicolored trees, red tiled stucco roofs, and amazing Spanish Architecture? Where else can you pick oranges and roses from the various citrus trees and flower bushes covering the campus? The other colleges are wonderful too- Claremont McKenna’s facilities are majestic and modern, Scripps is a smaller and more delicate Pomona, and Pitzer reminds me of a desert oasis. </p>
<p>4) Pomona’s facilities are on its own some of the best any liberal arts college can offer, with facilities such as the Smith Campus Center, the Lincoln-Edmunds Building, the giant Rains Athletics Center Complex, the Brackett Observatory, Seaver Theatre, Seaver Biology Building, Bridges Hall of Music, and Bridges Auditorium. The Claremont Colleges share the largest library system that any liberal arts college has, Mudd Hannold Library, which has over 2 million volumes yet grows at a rate of 2% each year.</p>
<p>5) Pomona encompasses a balance most schools, especially liberal art colleges, can’t offer to as much of an extent that Pomona does. Pomona’s reputation as a liberal arts college, and all the flaws that are associated with them, are mitigated by the Claremont Colleges. You get the tight-knit and community feel a traditional liberal arts college offered at Pomona, but you can make the experience to the feel of a national university as the Claremont Colleges offer easy cross-enrollment policies, a community of over 5000 undergraduates, nearly 300 clubs, over 7 dining halls and 8 other places to use your board flex, and events occurring at each college that are usually open to students of the entire consortium. The Claremont Colleges are a prestigious group of colleges, with each ranking in the top 50 LACs and becoming increasingly well known and higher ranked, and among the best consortium in the country thanks to the fact they are so accessible from each other. A great thing though is that Pomona is in no way dependent upon the consortium to be great- it’s one of the top schools in the country, with or without the consortium. </p>
<p>6) Pomona encompasses a balance in other ways too! Academically speaking, it is probably the most diverse of any liberal arts college in the country, with an average class having 40% of its students majoring in math or science, 40% majoring in humanities, social sciences, and the arts, 5% of the class majoring in interdisciplinary studies, 10% majoring in a pre-profession, and 5% of the class undecided in their interests. It has a diverse student body, with around 50% students of color, 20% first in their family to go to college, a 50:50 male to female ratio, very geographically diverse, and with each student unlike anyone else in the school. The Claremont Colleges expand upon this diversity, with a niche for any student one can imagine existing in at least one of the colleges. </p>
<p>7) The experience Pomona offers to its undergraduates is almost unparalleled by any other college in the country. You get an education that is academically enriching, rigorous, and among the best in the country, but you also get a low-stress environment to grow and develop as a person, almost as if it were a summer camp coupled with a fine education. To be fair, it is in no way a LEISURELY experience- you will have to work hard (some days, almost overwhelmingly so) at Pomona, but the amount of individual attention, care, sunshine, and extracurricular activities to enjoy will make the experience much more balanced and enjoyable. At Pomona, you will be tested to your limits, but at the expanse of the seemingly unlimited freedom you have there. You WANT to take 8 classes a semester in all sorts of disciplines, play 4 sports, join every club offered to the consortium, read all sorts of novels and watch movies that are in your friends’ and professors’ personal libraries, and go onto all sorts of places California has to offer with your friends. The only issue is time. Pomona’s academic experience is one of the best in the country. EVERY department Pomona offers is amazing, which is rarely said of most liberal art colleges (which tend to be weak in science). Research opportunities are very easy to find at Pomona because there are no graduate students to compete with, and one can venture off campus to the other 4 colleges to find these opportunities as well. The study abroad program is highly cherished by the students, with more than 55% taking a study abroad program, and it is well-developed. Unpaid internships are paid for by Pomona, and transportation and gas fees are also covered, through Pomona’s internship program, and summer research is easy to do, thanks to Pomona’s SURP program. Furthermore, many amazing people visit the consortium, such as Supreme Justice Sandra O’Conner and Bill Gates and Claremont’s very own TEDx, providing for an academic experience that covers outside the classroom just as well. </p>
<p>8) Everyone at Pomona is amazing- the student body, the professors, and the administration. The student body is perhaps one of the smartest you will find in any liberal arts college outside of Harvey Mudd (which is in the consortium with Pomona…go figure), with the average student having an SAT of 2200 and insanely accomplished in many disciplines and activities. Yet no one takes how smart they are that seriously- they are modest and unpretentious for the most part and incredibly laid back. The student body truly does encompass a “work hard, play hard” model- it is surreal seeing their transition from social and hard partiers on the weekends to hardworking and passionate students in the weekday. The best thing about Pomona is that it can’t be stereotyped according to its student body other than liberal, brilliant, well-rounded, friendly, collaborative, and laid-back. More on that collaborative atmosphere- nearly a third of the class was valedictorian in their high schools, but you never notice an element of competition in Pomona. No one discusses their grades, there isn’t an element of misery poker in Pomona’s student body, and Pomona students aren’t ranked because each student brings an element of uniqueness to the culture of the school. As for the element of friendliness, Pomona students are so friendly and open that it feels like they were your long lost best friends or something. The professors are insanely brilliant and accomplished yet their biggest commitment is to their students. They really do facilitate a nurturing and individualized scope of learning, since classes are small, class discussions are encouraged, and they’re so accommodating, inviting students over for dinner at their house and consulting with them even outside of office hours. You will love them, respect them, and become incredibly close to them. Another good thing about them is that they judge each student off his or her merit instead of the merits of the class; classes aren’t graded off curves. As for the administration, yes, they might be a little bit politically correct, but they really are committed to their students and making sure they have a wonderful experience, as they know Pomona is made by the students within it. A special kudos goes to the admission and financial aid officers. The admission officers really take the time to get to know each applicant they accept, and are very friendly and easy to talk to. I enjoyed frozen yogurt with one while we were discussing schools in Texas and the woes of being an admission officer, and enjoyed dinner with another one discussing mainstream music artists. The financial aid office is so helpful and nice.</p>
<p>9) Pomona in its other elements is fantastic as well. In attribute to how happy the students are of their experience, Pomona’s retention rate is often 99% or more, one of the, if not THE, highest in the country. Pomona’s graduation rate usually is within the top 10 of any college in the country. It is usually in the Princeton Review’s rankings for “Best Classroom Experience”, “Most Accessible Professors”, “Happiest Students”, “Best Quality of Life”, “Students Happy with Financial Aid”, “School Runs like Butter”, and “Dorms like Palaces”. </p>
<p>10) The Pomona degree will carry you far in life. With over 96% of its students body getting accepted to a medical school, a mean average LSAT of 165 (second highest in the country, and Pomona doesn’t even have a law major!), among the top 15 of ANY college in terms of top grad school placement, a fantastic alumni network, and a great career center, there is no doubt Pomona prepares its students well for the future. Pomona offers to its students a wonderful transition through which they can explore and develop their passions and ultimately themselves.</p>