<p>clippie, I responded to your other thread on the Search board, but just to give you some specific comparison between Williams and Pomona. My son graduated from Williams in 07. Several of his close friends chose Pomona. There’s a lot of overlap in character – active, multifaceted, smart happy kids. </p>
<p>Some major points of differentiation: Pomona is part of a consortium which makes it seem “bigger” than a free standing liberal arts college. Williams is more insular and consequently offers a tightly knit self-sustaining community.</p>
<p>Southern California and the Berkshires are two extremes in weather. Pomona has Los Angeles nearby. Williams has mountains and cows. </p>
<p>Academically they are very close, especially in humanities and social sciences. I’d give Williams the edge in the arts and in sciences but Pomona is also very good. </p>
<p>Both have aggressive placement services for career counseling and for help in getting into professional schools (law, medicine, business, architecture) or general PhD programs. Both have excellent track records.</p>
<p>Pomona has higher name recognition on the West Coast; Williams on the East.</p>