Why is Pomona so special?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The factors that make it #1 on this ranking that includes both LACs and universities explain at least part of it.

https://lesshighschoolstress.com/blog/6/

That is a very odd list.

I thought it was an interesting set of criteria, and one that I think my kid would also value in a school (small class sizes yet also a wide variety of available courses; diversity among both professors and the student body; well-educated professors; general student satisfaction). It's at least as valid as the factors that US News values heavily.

But the results are ridiculous, which suggests the methodology is flawed. Garbage in, garbage out. Way too much emphasis (as always nowadays) on diversity, especially when all these schools are committed to diversity. Anyone who chooses a school based on diversity stats is a true imbecile

Decades ago, I attended an LAC which lacked diversity. I cannot recall a single Asian student or even one Jewish student. There were two black students in my class. No even one Hispanic student. And this Northeastern US LAC had over 2,000 students. Lots of wealthy white students from Westchester County on Long Island and lots of wealthy kids from Connecticut and from the Boston area. Yes, we had diversity as some came from families who belonged to different country clubs.

Unless you were attending Grove City College or something...if your school was made up primarily of white wealthy students from Westchester, CT, and Boston - there were definitely Jewish students there.

[Anonymous]

We looked at Scripps while we were visiting relatives in Glendale. Claremont may be in LA County, but it felt like another planet. If access to LA is important, look elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Location isn't that great either. Very far from the beach and downtown LA, very smoggy.

It's one of those cases where "it's great because everyone thinks it's great".

Basically the beaches are at one end of LA county and the school is at the other. DD really liked the campus - as well as Pitzer - but the drive from our hotel in Santa Monica to the Claremont campuses, then back in one hot afternoon was not lost on her.

Yeah, it makes sense that the beaches are in part of LA county that’s … by … the … ocean.

LA is one of the US' largest counties and is roughly 800 square miles larger than a combined Delaware and Rhode Island. Most 17 and 18 year olds don't know that. They hear LA, they think of Hollywood, the beaches, so yeah, they are not imagining driving 50 miles from one end of the county to the other.

Why does everyone assume this is why a student wants to go to Pomona OR that students/families who consider Pomona do not know where it is located? Perhaps your view if LA is beaches and Hollywood...but that doesn't mean everyone else's does.

Our child is interested in Pomona and the only way LA is remotely involved is that it makes it close enough to transportation so that getting there from accoss the country is not a nightmare. They have no interest in the beach or Hollywood. They like the idea of nice weather and are far more interested in exploring internal land features of CA via trips while they are there (Joshua Tree/Yosemite/Redwoods/Desert). They like the school because of the small size of the college with access to 7000 kids over multiple schools. They like a place where kids live on campus 4 years as a community.

Please. DC lives on the East coast and had never been to California, but is a creature of social media. So yeah, thoughts of the beach popped when they first heard that Pomona, which was suggested to them by their college counselor, is in LA. That doesn't seem so far-fetched.

DC ultimately decided they wanted a school that was not that far from home as well as easily accessible to the outdoors - right outside their dorm door. They are now at a top NESCAC.

So you are saying that in addition to your child's initial misconceptions, that you would not have gone out to Pomona to visit and see for yourself what it really is? This is what people are constantly implying is true for everyone. That's fine if that's the case for your child (who seems like they may have never applied? or maybe applied but it wasn't high on their list?). But it is NOT the case for most kids that genuinely choose Pomona. Our child has been to CA enough for family to know exactly what it is - and never had beaches in mind.

DC did visit Pomona as suggested by the college counselor. Thought that the campus was lovely. Also liked Pitzer campus. Was struck by how hot it was on the Claremont campuses and how far it was from the beaches. Try to remember - this is a 17 y.o. visiting CA for the first time, unlike your DC who "[knew] exactly what it is." Clearly a smart one based on college admission, but still 17 with a vision of CA largely shaped by social media. DC also visited Cal and Stanford a week later as suggested by the college counselor.

DC returned to East coast some weeks later and came up with "the list" before the start of senior year. No West coast school on it. DC said that CA felt far and wanted more of a New England setting for college, which makes sense given their outdoor interests.

I'm not sure why you seem so triggered by a 17, now 19, y.o.'s thought processes. Given what I see in my DCs as well as their friends, this seems fairly predictable. One of my DC's didn't apply for what seemed like a great LAC for them because they hated the tour guide. I've read posts in this forum on other juniors/seniors making similar decisions. DC didn't reject Pomona per se, but the idea of being so far from home and in a setting that didn't feel as comfortable as what they were seeking in a college. We live in a huge nation with many regions. It should be no surprise that a kid from one region may be challenged at the prospect of living in one that feels very different than their home setting.

They're still kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Location isn't that great either. Very far from the beach and downtown LA, very smoggy.

It's one of those cases where "it's great because everyone thinks it's great".

Basically the beaches are at one end of LA county and the school is at the other. DD really liked the campus - as well as Pitzer - but the drive from our hotel in Santa Monica to the Claremont campuses, then back in one hot afternoon was not lost on her.

Yeah, it makes sense that the beaches are in part of LA county that’s … by … the … ocean.

LA is one of the US' largest counties and is roughly 800 square miles larger than a combined Delaware and Rhode Island. Most 17 and 18 year olds don't know that. They hear LA, they think of Hollywood, the beaches, so yeah, they are not imagining driving 50 miles from one end of the county to the other.

Why does everyone assume this is why a student wants to go to Pomona OR that students/families who consider Pomona do not know where it is located? Perhaps your view if LA is beaches and Hollywood...but that doesn't mean everyone else's does.

Our child is interested in Pomona and the only way LA is remotely involved is that it makes it close enough to transportation so that getting there from accoss the country is not a nightmare. They have no interest in the beach or Hollywood. They like the idea of nice weather and are far more interested in exploring internal land features of CA via trips while they are there (Joshua Tree/Yosemite/Redwoods/Desert). They like the school because of the small size of the college with access to 7000 kids over multiple schools. They like a place where kids live on campus 4 years as a community.

Please. DC lives on the East coast and had never been to California, but is a creature of social media. So yeah, thoughts of the beach popped when they first heard that Pomona, which was suggested to them by their college counselor, is in LA. That doesn't seem so far-fetched.

DC ultimately decided they wanted a school that was not that far from home as well as easily accessible to the outdoors - right outside their dorm door. They are now at a top NESCAC.

It’s in LA County. Big county. Ocean and mountains. Trees too. Last I checked, Pomona was easily accessible to the outdoors.

Clearly,
you haven't been there. There are trees on campus, but it's in a desert wasteland. There are hills behind it. It's flat. very flat. That's what Claremont/Ontario is. FLAT. And no one from out there would say it's in Los Angeles County. It's on the far east end of Los Angeles county near San Bernardino. Do you have any idea how big Los Angeles County is? And that descriptor isn't a positive anymore.

I uh, actually, uh, lived there. Trust me, there are mountains in LA County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Location isn't that great either. Very far from the beach and downtown LA, very smoggy.

It's one of those cases where "it's great because everyone thinks it's great".

Basically the beaches are at one end of LA county and the school is at the other. DD really liked the campus - as well as Pitzer - but the drive from our hotel in Santa Monica to the Claremont campuses, then back in one hot afternoon was not lost on her.

Yeah, it makes sense that the beaches are in part of LA county that’s … by … the … ocean.

LA is one of the US' largest counties and is roughly 800 square miles larger than a combined Delaware and Rhode Island. Most 17 and 18 year olds don't know that. They hear LA, they think of Hollywood, the beaches, so yeah, they are not imagining driving 50 miles from one end of the county to the other.

Why does everyone assume this is why a student wants to go to Pomona OR that students/families who consider Pomona do not know where it is located? Perhaps your view if LA is beaches and Hollywood...but that doesn't mean everyone else's does.

Our child is interested in Pomona and the only way LA is remotely involved is that it makes it close enough to transportation so that getting there from accoss the country is not a nightmare. They have no interest in the beach or Hollywood. They like the idea of nice weather and are far more interested in exploring internal land features of CA via trips while they are there (Joshua Tree/Yosemite/Redwoods/Desert). They like the school because of the small size of the college with access to 7000 kids over multiple schools. They like a place where kids live on campus 4 years as a community.

Please. DC lives on the East coast and had never been to California, but is a creature of social media. So yeah, thoughts of the beach popped when they first heard that Pomona, which was suggested to them by their college counselor, is in LA. That doesn't seem so far-fetched.

DC ultimately decided they wanted a school that was not that far from home as well as easily accessible to the outdoors - right outside their dorm door. They are now at a top NESCAC.

you...are not making the point you think you are lol

not just a NESCAC, but a “top” one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Location isn't that great either. Very far from the beach and downtown LA, very smoggy.

It's one of those cases where "it's great because everyone thinks it's great".

Basically the beaches are at one end of LA county and the school is at the other. DD really liked the campus - as well as Pitzer - but the drive from our hotel in Santa Monica to the Claremont campuses, then back in one hot afternoon was not lost on her.

Yeah, it makes sense that the beaches are in part of LA county that’s … by … the … ocean.

LA is one of the US' largest counties and is roughly 800 square miles larger than a combined Delaware and Rhode Island. Most 17 and 18 year olds don't know that. They hear LA, they think of Hollywood, the beaches, so yeah, they are not imagining driving 50 miles from one end of the county to the other.

Why does everyone assume this is why a student wants to go to Pomona OR that students/families who consider Pomona do not know where it is located? Perhaps your view if LA is beaches and Hollywood...but that doesn't mean everyone else's does.

Our child is interested in Pomona and the only way LA is remotely involved is that it makes it close enough to transportation so that getting there from accoss the country is not a nightmare. They have no interest in the beach or Hollywood. They like the idea of nice weather and are far more interested in exploring internal land features of CA via trips while they are there (Joshua Tree/Yosemite/Redwoods/Desert). They like the school because of the small size of the college with access to 7000 kids over multiple schools. They like a place where kids live on campus 4 years as a community.

Please. DC lives on the East coast and had never been to California, but is a creature of social media. So yeah, thoughts of the beach popped when they first heard that Pomona, which was suggested to them by their college counselor, is in LA. That doesn't seem so far-fetched.

DC ultimately decided they wanted a school that was not that far from home as well as easily accessible to the outdoors - right outside their dorm door. They are now at a top NESCAC.

you...are not making the point you think you are lol

not just a NESCAC, but a “top” one.

so smart he can't even spend 30 seconds looking at a map!

[Anonymous]

Look, folks, Claremont is a nice town, for what it is. There are some beautiful homes there. Very good restaurants. Not a typical college town by any stretch of the imagination. It’s … different from most people’s ecpectations about southern CA. It’s the kind of place where some bubble wrapped DMV parents would think, well, this is “lovely.” “Lovely” being a term of art.

[Anonymous]

Who says it is “so special”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who says it is “so special”?

US News?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Location isn't that great either. Very far from the beach and downtown LA, very smoggy.

It's one of those cases where "it's great because everyone thinks it's great".

Basically the beaches are at one end of LA county and the school is at the other. DD really liked the campus - as well as Pitzer - but the drive from our hotel in Santa Monica to the Claremont campuses, then back in one hot afternoon was not lost on her.

Yeah, it makes sense that the beaches are in part of LA county that’s … by … the … ocean.

LA is one of the US' largest counties and is roughly 800 square miles larger than a combined Delaware and Rhode Island. Most 17 and 18 year olds don't know that. They hear LA, they think of Hollywood, the beaches, so yeah, they are not imagining driving 50 miles from one end of the county to the other.

Why does everyone assume this is why a student wants to go to Pomona OR that students/families who consider Pomona do not know where it is located? Perhaps your view if LA is beaches and Hollywood...but that doesn't mean everyone else's does.

Our child is interested in Pomona and the only way LA is remotely involved is that it makes it close enough to transportation so that getting there from accoss the country is not a nightmare. They have no interest in the beach or Hollywood. They like the idea of nice weather and are far more interested in exploring internal land features of CA via trips while they are there (Joshua Tree/Yosemite/Redwoods/Desert). They like the school because of the small size of the college with access to 7000 kids over multiple schools. They like a place where kids live on campus 4 years as a community.

Please. DC lives on the East coast and had never been to California, but is a creature of social media. So yeah, thoughts of the beach popped when they first heard that Pomona, which was suggested to them by their college counselor, is in LA. That doesn't seem so far-fetched.

DC ultimately decided they wanted a school that was not that far from home as well as easily accessible to the outdoors - right outside their dorm door. They are now at a top NESCAC.

you...are not making the point you think you are lol

not just a NESCAC, but a “top” one.

so smart he can't even spend 30 seconds looking at a map!

Until looking at a map also simulates the climate, terrain, and a feel of the traffic, then it really means nothing.

But go on, dog on what was then a 17 y.o. kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who says it is “so special”?

US News?

OP: it’s extremely hard to get in and very highly ranked, so the question was, what is all the hullabaloo about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look, folks, Claremont is a nice town, for what it is. There are some beautiful homes there. Very good restaurants. Not a typical college town by any stretch of the imagination. It’s … different from most people’s ecpectations about southern CA. It’s the kind of place where some bubble wrapped DMV parents would think, well, this is “lovely.” “Lovely” being a term of art.

Why is this so hard for folks to grasp? Claremont isn't necessarily what people think about when they are pondering southern California. That's what college tours are for.

It's a chilly day here with flurries so the high 50s/mid 60s sounds so good, but greater Claremont may not be the 24/7 place for everyone, even for a school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Location isn't that great either. Very far from the beach and downtown LA, very smoggy.

It's one of those cases where "it's great because everyone thinks it's great".

Basically the beaches are at one end of LA county and the school is at the other. DD really liked the campus - as well as Pitzer - but the drive from our hotel in Santa Monica to the Claremont campuses, then back in one hot afternoon was not lost on her.

Yeah, it makes sense that the beaches are in part of LA county that’s … by … the … ocean.

LA is one of the US' largest counties and is roughly 800 square miles larger than a combined Delaware and Rhode Island. Most 17 and 18 year olds don't know that. They hear LA, they think of Hollywood, the beaches, so yeah, they are not imagining driving 50 miles from one end of the county to the other.

Why does everyone assume this is why a student wants to go to Pomona OR that students/families who consider Pomona do not know where it is located? Perhaps your view if LA is beaches and Hollywood...but that doesn't mean everyone else's does.

Our child is interested in Pomona and the only way LA is remotely involved is that it makes it close enough to transportation so that getting there from accoss the country is not a nightmare. They have no interest in the beach or Hollywood. They like the idea of nice weather and are far more interested in exploring internal land features of CA via trips while they are there (Joshua Tree/Yosemite/Redwoods/Desert). They like the school because of the small size of the college with access to 7000 kids over multiple schools. They like a place where kids live on campus 4 years as a community.

Please. DC lives on the East coast and had never been to California, but is a creature of social media. So yeah, thoughts of the beach popped when they first heard that Pomona, which was suggested to them by their college counselor, is in LA. That doesn't seem so far-fetched.

DC ultimately decided they wanted a school that was not that far from home as well as easily accessible to the outdoors - right outside their dorm door. They are now at a top NESCAC.

So you are saying that in addition to your child's initial misconceptions, that you would not have gone out to Pomona to visit and see for yourself what it really is? This is what people are constantly implying is true for everyone. That's fine if that's the case for your child (who seems like they may have never applied? or maybe applied but it wasn't high on their list?). But it is NOT the case for most kids that genuinely choose Pomona. Our child has been to CA enough for family to know exactly what it is - and never had beaches in mind.

DC did visit Pomona as suggested by the college counselor. Thought that the campus was lovely. Also liked Pitzer campus. Was struck by how hot it was on the Claremont campuses and how far it was from the beaches. Try to remember - this is a 17 y.o. visiting CA for the first time, unlike your DC who "[knew] exactly what it is." Clearly a smart one based on college admission, but still 17 with a vision of CA largely shaped by social media. DC also visited Cal and Stanford a week later as suggested by the college counselor.

DC returned to East coast some weeks later and came up with "the list" before the start of senior year. No West coast school on it. DC said that CA felt far and wanted more of a New England setting for college, which makes sense given their outdoor interests.

I'm not sure why you seem so triggered by a 17, now 19, y.o.'s thought processes. Given what I see in my DCs as well as their friends, this seems fairly predictable. One of my DC's didn't apply for what seemed like a great LAC for them because they hated the tour guide. I've read posts in this forum on other juniors/seniors making similar decisions. DC didn't reject Pomona per se, but the idea of being so far from home and in a setting that didn't feel as comfortable as what they were seeking in a college. We live in a huge nation with many regions. It should be no surprise that a kid from one region may be challenged at the prospect of living in one that feels very different than their home setting.

They're still kids.

You are misunderstanding - I'm pushing back on people who say nobody knows where Claremont "really is". But this isn't the case. Just like you, most people will go look. Your child chose not to apply based on preferences. Others will choose to apply based on preferences. The ones with "beach dreams" are likely to be in the former and not the latter. There are a few people who always weigh in on this discussion as if people are cluelessly applying to Pomona with ill conceived impressions of LA, Hollywood, beaches.

Sure, no 17yr old really knows what a school is like until they visit - that's true everywhere. I have no beef with that.

But the fact that yours orginally had a different view, went to find out, and chose not to apply is just providing evidence for what I am saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who says it is “so special”?

US News?

OP: it’s extremely hard to get in and very highly ranked, so the question was, what is all the hullabaloo about?

That campus is drop dead gorgeous and I can imagine hanging on that quad would be amazing. The student body is also supposed to be amazing. Guessing it lures some East coast kids interested in LACs, but not the winters that come with many of them.

[Anonymous]

Lots of weird assertions in this thread. I mean if you don’t like LACs or your kid doesn’t want to move from the east coast to CA that’s all fine but suggesting that Pomona is a bad place to go if you like spending time outdoors or that Pomona has a poor alumni network or no name recognition with grad school and large employers is just odd.

Also downtown LA is like 30 mins by metrolink and there’s a station 2 blocks from campus so between that and driving it’s easy enough to get to events and the beach if you want to.

Poster on the first page explained it pretty well— best warm weather SLAC and the 5 college system gives you the best of a small school and a midsized one.