Surprised at Claremont Mckenna

[Anonymous]

I've heard there are lots of super-rich kids and ostentatious displays of wealth there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Their integrated sciences program sounds borderline predatory. Instead of having you major in a natural science, they basically want you to major in "Science" and take classes in "Science" with no direct department. That's really dangerous for students who need careers in specific sciences, and they should probably investigate how much interest there even is. Do Claremont Mckenna students even want to do science majors? Seems like a very poly sci/econ heavy place.

I would think it is a huge disadvantage to graduate with a degree in “science.”

[Anonymous]

They are doing very well on the Street-similar to other SLAC’s like Amherst and Washington and Lee. Just because you haven’t heard of them doesn’t mean they don’t have the right connections with employers. And the whole 5C consortium is becoming more and more well known, especially as a great alternative to freezing cold and remote NESCAC’s who don’t have the consortium benefit (these 5 schools are side by side and function as one 8K person school-major advantage in my book socially, especially coming from a soul crushing DMV elite private where social opportunities suck ass).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like many SLACs, the location sucks.

lol no you are an ignorant idiot

Not ignorant. Grew up in Southern California. I stand by opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like many SLACs, the location sucks.

lol no you are an ignorant idiot

Not ignorant. Grew up in Southern California. I stand by opinion.

So just repeating a petty beef from your youth. I wouldn’t buy a house there, but for four years it’s an above average home base.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard there are lots of super-rich kids and ostentatious displays of wealth there.

They have a very strange rise in finance and lawyer kids. Neil Gorusch's daughter graduated this semester. Even Rishi Sunak, PM of the UK, got in trouble a few years ago for donating a ton of money to the college, where his wife went. Mark Zuckerberg's sister attended, and the list goes on and on. It's a rich kid school for sure, but the school has really balanced the image with "leadership" emphasis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And the whole 5C consortium is becoming more and more well known, especially as a great alternative to freezing cold and remote NESCAC’s who don’t have the consortium benefit (these 5 schools are side by side and function as one 8K person school-major advantage in my book socially, especially coming from a soul crushing DMV elite private where social opportunities suck ass).

This is why I always highly recommend them for students who can stomach California. The LAC experience is great, but college students want to socialize and have a diverse environment. It's a lot less "artificial" diversity when each school has it's own different student type, than forcing one school to craft a class of CMC econ bros and Pitzer artist, social-activist types.

[Anonymous]

Crqppy location
Amazing school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cr[appy location
Amazing school

Crappy if you hate the mountains I guess. Pretty great place to go to college. Much better than its peers.

[Anonymous]

^^^Seriously…Williams, Amherst and Maine…no thank you!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crqppy location
Amazing school

I love Southern California but agree, the inland empire is not where most people want to be. However, the kids still get the benefit of California weather, even if smoggy, and Im sure the campus is nice.

[Anonymous]

My $.02 on CMC's location:

(1) Immediate location (5C campus/Claremont): Really good. The 5C campus configuration is cool. Claremont itself is a charming neighborhood, although its charms are probably more alluring to well-heeled adults looking to stroll and have dinner than college students looking for fun. But, as far as liberal arts schools go, I'd put it above 80-90% of LAC towns.

(2) Local Area (Inland Empire): Pretty meh with lots of ugly suburban sprawl.

(3) Greater Area (Los Angeles/Southern California): Really good. Granted that one will be dependent on a car to get around, there's a ton of cool things to do within a 1-2 hour drive, from Los Angeles, the beach, San Diego, Big Bear, etc. And a 5-6 hour drive opens up Yosemite, Mammoth, Vegas, San Francisco, Zion, Mexico, etc.

[Anonymous]

I always look at location to be sure there is an airport and medical access. But the reality is most kids spend time on campus. It is the campus that matters. Semesters fly by so quickly—soak up all you can on campus. During the long summer and winter breaks, travel and play and intern (the school pays them to do this) somewhere that excites them.

My son will definitely apply. It’s a tough admit. But if he gets in, it has all the educational features of a top SLAC, within a “Goldilocks” setting of 8,000 competitive kids with amazing dining options across the contiguous campuses. His major is very well-served. The club and intramural sports across the colleges create a greater recreational vibe, and people can stay fit and social. It doesn’t have a typical SLAC athlete divide. They don’t need to give 50% of their seats to athletes, because the 5C pool students for teams.

The expansion plan of CMC is ambitious. Brass set, future focused ambitious. I’m surprised it took this long for someone at DCUM to notice.

Not sure mine will get in. But he is definitely a contender. I’d love it if anyone reading might mention other schools that a CMC kid would like. I don’t think there is anything similar out there?

[Anonymous]

CMC raised 1 Billion dollars-wow!

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-10-02/claremont-mckenna-raises-1-billion-to-will-expand-campus-increase-faculty-financial-aid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always look at location to be sure there is an airport and medical access. But the reality is most kids spend time on campus. It is the campus that matters. Semesters fly by so quickly—soak up all you can on campus. During the long summer and winter breaks, travel and play and intern (the school pays them to do this) somewhere that excites them.

My son will definitely apply. It’s a tough admit. But if he gets in, it has all the educational features of a top SLAC, within a “Goldilocks” setting of 8,000 competitive kids with amazing dining options across the contiguous campuses. His major is very well-served. The club and intramural sports across the colleges create a greater recreational vibe, and people can stay fit and social. It doesn’t have a typical SLAC athlete divide. They don’t need to give 50% of their seats to athletes, because the 5C pool students for teams.

The expansion plan of CMC is ambitious. Brass set, future focused ambitious. I’m surprised it took this long for someone at DCUM to notice.

Not sure mine will get in. But he is definitely a contender. I’d love it if anyone reading might mention other schools that a CMC kid would like. I don’t think there is anything similar out there?

If your son is looking for government or econ, there's very few schools that can compete. The amount of trips my DC has gone on the college dime is baffling and includes New York, Japan, London, San Francisco, and Singapore-some of these just for his class trips. So many amazing alum with an opportunity sent to my son after a dinner at the Ath to work at a VC firm. He's met once in a lifetime people at the Ath, started research his first semester, and is set up for a successful career in a way that I envy. Also, the faculty they hire are easily the best in the consortium!