UPenn vs. Pomona

College Search & Lists
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<p>Pomona alumni have some of the highest per capita rates of earned PhDs in psychology and other social sciences ([COLLEGE</a> PHD PRODUCTIVITY](<a href=“http://www.reed.edu/ir/phd.html]COLLEGE”>Doctoral Degree Productivity - Institutional Research - Reed College)).</p>

<p>According to NSF data, from 2006-2010, 24 Pomona alumni earned PhDs in psychology. 101 UPenn alumni earned PhDs in psychology from 2006-12, but Penn is a much larger school. 4% of Penn undergraduate degrees were conferred in Psychology in 2011-12. With ~5900 Spring graduates, that suggests 236 UPenn Psych degrees were granted. 7% of Pomona undergraduate degrees were conferred in Psychology in 2011-12. With ~360 Spring graduates, that suggests ~25 Pomona Psych degrees were granted. So, it appears a much higher percentage of Pomona Psych majors have been earning PhDs in Psychology. </p>

<p>See <a href=“https://webcaspar.nsf.gov/[/url]”>https://webcaspar.nsf.gov/&lt;/a&gt; for detailed PhD production data.
See the Common Data Set files, Section J, for percentage of Degrees Conferred per field.
2012 Commencement numbers:
[Penn:</a> Commencement 2012](<a href=“http://www.upenn.edu/spotlights/commencement-2012]Penn:”>http://www.upenn.edu/spotlights/commencement-2012)
[2012</a> Commencement Recap - Pomona College](<a href=“http://www.pomona.edu/events/commencement/2012/2012-commencement.aspx]2012”>http://www.pomona.edu/events/commencement/2012/2012-commencement.aspx)</p>

<p>Some research universities, including some very selective private universities, have very large classes in intro/intermediate Psych courses. Note that only 1% of Pomona classes have 50 or more students. 8.6% of Penn classes have 50 or more students (see the USNWR site). This ratio may be much higher in intro courses and in popular majors. Unfortunately, neither Penn’s nor Pomona’s sites seem to show specific class enrollment numbers. However, at Princeton, Intro to Psychology (Spring 2013) has 171 students. At Johns Hopkins, Intro to Cognitive Psych (Spring 2013) has an enrollment limit of 350 students. At Williams College, Cognitive Psychology (Spring 2013) has an enrollment of only 50. At Swarthmore College, Cognitive Psychology (Fall 2012) has an enrollment limit of 35. I can’t be 100% sure that these numbers are in line with what you’d experience at Penn v. Pomona. However, I think it’s safe to assume your classes are more likely to be consistently small at Pomona. </p>

<p>LA-area weather is much nicer than Philadelphia-area weather. Toss in the $10K/year discount to attend Pomona, and all things considered, that’s the school I’d recommend.</p>

<p>By the way, American college professors are much more likely than other parents to send their kids to liberal arts colleges. <a href=“http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505145_162-37244508/where-professors-send-their-children-to-college/[/url]”>http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505145_162-37244508/where-professors-send-their-children-to-college/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;