<p>Thanks for the feedback! I’m happy that you liked my post =]</p>
<p>Kathieh1, I will be going to Pomona this fall as well. It was an excruciatingly tough decision, for I had some really excellent schools to consider, such as Stanford, Columbia, University of Chicago, Amherst, and Rice. But the moment I attended Pomona’s Fall Weekend program, I knew it was the perfect school for me. I met the most incredible people there, loved the vibe of it and the other 4 schools, and had a journey of many firsts in just three days. I really got that sense of nurturing independence at Pomona- you had a lot of freedom to do as you wanted, but you were made sure to be given support if you fell behind or needed any advice. That weekend removed all my doubts and cynicism about Pomona not executing well in reality and convinced me of how blessed I was to attend such a wonderful place. Money and prestige weren’t the factor (I’m a Gate Millennium Finalist, which covers one’s undergraduate education). Fit was. </p>
<p>Ultimately, the decision came down between Pomona and Stanford. I didn’t notice the same sense of intimacy and personalized education at Stanford, and the entrepreneurial vibe there wasn’t right for me. The thing that really convinced me though was one of the most amazing speeches I’ve ever heard in my life from an African-American Pomona senior. She was like me- a Questbridge scholar, someone who came from a very modest lifestyle, someone who had no idea she would be accepted to such wonderful schools at no cost to her. But her experience of Pomona convinced me. She was accepted despite her racial differences, she was welcomed despite her socioeconomic background, she found a place to defy all those who her told her she couldn’t handle the transition, and she truly felt Pomona had allowed her to blossom as a person. Her speech was so heartfelt and inspiring that I knew Pomona was the right school for me. I sent in my deposit the weekday immediately following the Weekend and have no regrets about it.</p>
<p>My plans for the future are uncertain. I do not believe I have the experience to settle upon a career, so Pomona to me is a transition from learning to a career- I will explore all that is within my reach to understand what my interests and passions are. I really love science, philosophy, languages, economics, and pre-med, but I’m certain I’ll find some hidden interests as well. </p>
<p>cahsparent, I talked to the pre-med advising committee during the Pomona weekend, and they were very accessible, friendly, and honest folks. While there isn’t a pre-med major at Pomona, the pre-med advising board is very good at helping out pre-med students, offering course recommendations, mock interviews, MCAT preparation, and health related internships.</p>