Why pick CMC over Pomona?

kaliyama
Tue, 28 Jun 2005 08:32:18 +0000

Why would you pick CMC over Pomona? You might be happier there. Let’s go over some things:

OK. Both are excellent schools with good reputations. (Pomona definately wins the name recognition factor overall, but your future employers and grad schools know and respect CMC. No worries unless you have to make small talk at a cocktail party.)

Academically, you could have a look at the majors. But if you like philosophy, the difference of having to take eight courses at Pomona or nine at CMC. Perhaps the meaningful difference to be had here is in the general elective system. Pomona and CMC’s requirements are very different, and nothing is more aggravating than having to wade through a bunch of classes you don’t want to deal with. They get revised every few years, so i’m not sure who has the least-restrictive policy.

They’re very different socially. Have you toured the schools? It would be instructive. The people are very different. I go to CMC and have lots of friends at all of the schools, but there are plenty of people who have much deeper connections at their own campus and much more tenuous ones to the other colleges. Pomona’s older and much prettier archtecture feels a lot more collegey at first blush than CMC.

Have you gone on a tour yet? Both offer good living environments, but CMC is more utilitarian and centrally located, which means there’s a very communal living environment between dorms and around, whereas Pomona is half again as large and cloistered off into north and south campus, which tends to keep people on campus more, and more socially connected to their own dorm rather than the campus at large. One good example of this is that CMC shares pools and gym facilities with Harvey Mudd and Scripps, whereas Pomona has their own pools and workout space.

Most people at both schools are pretty great, but their characters are reflected in what way their worst elements are obnoxious. An irritating Pomona student is likely to be pretentious, arrogant and with east coast sensibilities, regardless of where they come from. My debate partner is from MA, for example, didn’t get into Harvard or Yale but clings to the name recognition of Pomona because of his insecurities. Brilliant and makes great conversation when he can surmount his superiority complex.

The shallow end of the gene pool at CMC are fratty beer-drinkers who are politically uninteresting (party affiliation can either be rep or dem, but they tend to stand for social liberalism and fiscal moderation.) and plan to become investment bankers. My roomie first year worked for Kerry 04 (and liked him, ugh), was dorm president freshman year and got a nickname from Animal House. He was an exceptionally nice guy, could work any room and works hard.

I hope this helps. Touring and being a prospie is great, but be careful. It’s easy to get smitten with a campus for the wrong reasons.

Hope this helps…