Pomona Vs Claremont Mckenna

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure that Pomona students have to submit SAT scores. I think at Claremont McKenna only 25% actually submitted an SAT, so if you are a high SAT scorer you won't find too many at Claremont. Claremont's class size is 325 and only about 20 score at or above 1550.

Pomona is test optional.

According to Pomona's common data set:
https://tableau.campus.pomona.edu/views/CDS2025-26/C_First-timeFirst-yearadmission?%3Aembed=y&%3AisGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y

Only 156 freshman enrolled submitted an SAT. And of those 156, fewer than 30 scored above 1550. This out of a total freshman class size of 420.

Pomona's drive towards diversity, equity and inclusion is admirable but it comes at an academic cost which is apparent in these numbers.

Does this mean applicants with 1550+ are rare in the applicant pool and have a higher chance of standing out and getting in? Or does it mean that Pomona doesn’t care about SAT and reject a lot of kids with high scores?

The latter.

Pomona and the other top 5 LACs could make their whole class 1550+ SAT or 35+ACT if they wanted to, but there are too many institutional priorities.

They have to field competitive d3 teams (the proportion of athletes at top universities is comparatively much smaller), fill their music classes with distinct interests, want all 50 states represented, take ~25% first gen or low income, Pomona has two Posse cohorts for students of high leadership from underserved communities, and they need representation for all of their majors.

There are hardly any slots left after all these considerations, which is why many kids who get into Ivies/Stanford etc get WL or rejected by those top LACs.

A common misunderstanding is that Posse is for underprivileged kids. The Posse Miami chapter is almost entirely upper middle class or wealthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is no different from most peer LACs. Williams, Amherst, etc are only 40% submitting SAT, while Pomona is 37%. A lot of people in California apply test optional since the UC system is, so that explains the little gap almost entirely.

Then why do we/most people assume Williams and Amherst are academically rigorous and have high concentration of intellectual kids? Is this just based on pre-Covid, pre-test optional prestige? We know Caltech kids are smart bc they have high mid-50% SAT.

I don't know. I generally look at test optional schools as more rigorous if at least a majority of admitted students submit scores. For LACs that are well below the 50% mark (Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Williams, Amherst, etc.) I suspect the "test optional" loophole has been serving them so they can bring in some recruited athletes with lower scores.

In contrast, many in the Ivy Plus/New Ivy crowd have 70+% submitting scores out of admitted students. That speaks volumes to having an objective standard on academic preparedness.

Pomona has a pretty tiny athlete population. More likely the DEI admits

25% of students participating in varsity athletics in a given year is not “pretty tiny”. The number of recruits is higher, but some choose not to play in later years, so it’s closer to 30% who were specifically recruited for D3. Furthermore, Pomona has a very competitive D3 program that almost always ranks top 30 nationally (they were 15th last year).

Not sure why any of this seems like an exaggeration. Pomona has 50 states, 5 US territories, and 65 countries represented among just 1700 students. 6-7% acceptance rate for the last five years. Ranked by Niche as #1 or #2 most diverse college or university in America during the same duration. Among the top 10 colleges and universities with the highest Pell Grant percent between the top 25 LACs/universities- ie. the top quartile for socioeconomic diversity among well ranked schools. Even after the Supreme Court decision banning AA, it remains one of the most diverse colleges in terms of minority enrollment.

Pomona is very particular in crafting its class. That’s not me boosting the school, that’s objective reality. So yes, if a high stat student doesn’t add to an institutional priority, it is hard to get into Pomona.

The point about Posse students being high class from Miami is wrong by the way. Posse is a full tuition minimum scholarship and Pomona only gives need based aid with very rare exceptions (only 2 students overall with under 20,000 in merit aid, no first years with merit aid). Pomona gave all 20 entering Posse scholars at least a full tuition need based scholarship according to the Common Data Set. Also, it is a science cohort that focuses on students underrepresented in those fields, so again, it is an institutional priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is no different from most peer LACs. Williams, Amherst, etc are only 40% submitting SAT, while Pomona is 37%. A lot of people in California apply test optional since the UC system is, so that explains the little gap almost entirely.

Then why do we/most people assume Williams and Amherst are academically rigorous and have high concentration of intellectual kids? Is this just based on pre-Covid, pre-test optional prestige? We know Caltech kids are smart bc they have high mid-50% SAT.

I don't know. I generally look at test optional schools as more rigorous if at least a majority of admitted students submit scores. For LACs that are well below the 50% mark (Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Williams, Amherst, etc.) I suspect the "test optional" loophole has been serving them so they can bring in some recruited athletes with lower scores.

In contrast, many in the Ivy Plus/New Ivy crowd have 70+% submitting scores out of admitted students. That speaks volumes to having an objective standard on academic preparedness.

Pomona has a pretty tiny athlete population. More likely the DEI admits

25% of students participating in varsity athletics in a given year is not “pretty tiny”. The number of recruits is higher, but some choose not to play in later years, so it’s closer to 30% who were specifically recruited for D3. Furthermore, Pomona has a very competitive D3 program that almost always ranks top 30 nationally (they were 15th last year).

Not sure why any of this seems like an exaggeration. Pomona has 50 states, 5 US territories, and 65 countries represented among just 1700 students. 6-7% acceptance rate for the last five years. Ranked by Niche as #1 or #2 most diverse college or university in America during the same duration. Among the top 10 colleges and universities with the highest Pell Grant percent between the top 25 LACs/universities- ie. the top quartile for socioeconomic diversity among well ranked schools. Even after the Supreme Court decision banning AA, it remains one of the most diverse colleges in terms of minority enrollment.

Pomona is very particular in crafting its class. That’s not me boosting the school, that’s objective reality. So yes, if a high stat student doesn’t add to an institutional priority, it is hard to get into Pomona.

The point about Posse students being high class from Miami is wrong by the way. Posse is a full tuition minimum scholarship and Pomona only gives need based aid with very rare exceptions (only 2 students overall with under 20,000 in merit aid, no first years with merit aid). Pomona gave all 20 entering Posse scholars at least a full tuition need based scholarship according to the Common Data Set. Also, it is a science cohort that focuses on students underrepresented in those fields, so again, it is an institutional priority.

Posse is a merit scholarship, not need aid.
he Posse Scholarship is neither a minority nor a need-based scholarship. It is open to students of all backgrounds.
https://www.possefoundation.org/recruiting-students/the-nomination-process
There's a Posse Miami student whose father owns one of the largest hospital systems in the United States. That students doesn't need a full ride scholarship, they earned it by advancing in posse.

[Anonymous]

Pre-covid, Pomona had almost 25% of its freshman class score 1390 or below. Pomona doesn't care about the Sat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pre-covid, Pomona had almost 25% of its freshman class score 1390 or below. Pomona doesn't care about the Sat.

They may or they may not. But my unhooked, full pay kid got in with 1570. A nice, well-rounded, bright kid who is not an athlete and is not FGLI.

[Anonymous]

I’d go to cmc. Can’t deny they get grads jobs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pre-covid, Pomona had almost 25% of its freshman class score 1390 or below. Pomona doesn't care about the Sat.

Most elite schools were like that LMAO your hate for Pomona is kind of laughable

https://www.niche.com/blog/the-most-popular-colleges-for-every-sat-score-range/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is no different from most peer LACs. Williams, Amherst, etc are only 40% submitting SAT, while Pomona is 37%. A lot of people in California apply test optional since the UC system is, so that explains the little gap almost entirely.

Then why do we/most people assume Williams and Amherst are academically rigorous and have high concentration of intellectual kids? Is this just based on pre-Covid, pre-test optional prestige? We know Caltech kids are smart bc they have high mid-50% SAT.

I don't know. I generally look at test optional schools as more rigorous if at least a majority of admitted students submit scores. For LACs that are well below the 50% mark (Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Williams, Amherst, etc.) I suspect the "test optional" loophole has been serving them so they can bring in some recruited athletes with lower scores.

In contrast, many in the Ivy Plus/New Ivy crowd have 70+% submitting scores out of admitted students. That speaks volumes to having an objective standard on academic preparedness.

Pomona has a pretty tiny athlete population. More likely the DEI admits

25% of students participating in varsity athletics in a given year is not “pretty tiny”. The number of recruits is higher, but some choose not to play in later years, so it’s closer to 30% who were specifically recruited for D3. Furthermore, Pomona has a very competitive D3 program that almost always ranks top 30 nationally (they were 15th last year).

Not sure why any of this seems like an exaggeration. Pomona has 50 states, 5 US territories, and 65 countries represented among just 1700 students. 6-7% acceptance rate for the last five years. Ranked by Niche as #1 or #2 most diverse college or university in America during the same duration. Among the top 10 colleges and universities with the highest Pell Grant percent between the top 25 LACs/universities- ie. the top quartile for socioeconomic diversity among well ranked schools. Even after the Supreme Court decision banning AA, it remains one of the most diverse colleges in terms of minority enrollment.

Pomona is very particular in crafting its class. That’s not me boosting the school, that’s objective reality. So yes, if a high stat student doesn’t add to an institutional priority, it is hard to get into Pomona.

The point about Posse students being high class from Miami is wrong by the way. Posse is a full tuition minimum scholarship and Pomona only gives need based aid with very rare exceptions (only 2 students overall with under 20,000 in merit aid, no first years with merit aid). Pomona gave all 20 entering Posse scholars at least a full tuition need based scholarship according to the Common Data Set. Also, it is a science cohort that focuses on students underrepresented in those fields, so again, it is an institutional priority.

Posse is a merit scholarship, not need aid.
he Posse Scholarship is neither a minority nor a need-based scholarship. It is open to students of all backgrounds.

So they say but the Posse alumni report says their alumni are majority non white (8.9% white and 91.1% everything else including 65% black and Hispanic).

It is clear that colleges regard Posse scholars as “free diversity” - they can keep their minority enrollment up without having to fork out any financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is no different from most peer LACs. Williams, Amherst, etc are only 40% submitting SAT, while Pomona is 37%. A lot of people in California apply test optional since the UC system is, so that explains the little gap almost entirely.

Then why do we/most people assume Williams and Amherst are academically rigorous and have high concentration of intellectual kids? Is this just based on pre-Covid, pre-test optional prestige? We know Caltech kids are smart bc they have high mid-50% SAT.

I don't know. I generally look at test optional schools as more rigorous if at least a majority of admitted students submit scores. For LACs that are well below the 50% mark (Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Williams, Amherst, etc.) I suspect the "test optional" loophole has been serving them so they can bring in some recruited athletes with lower scores.

In contrast, many in the Ivy Plus/New Ivy crowd have 70+% submitting scores out of admitted students. That speaks volumes to having an objective standard on academic preparedness.

Pomona has a pretty tiny athlete population. More likely the DEI admits

25% of students participating in varsity athletics in a given year is not “pretty tiny”. The number of recruits is higher, but some choose not to play in later years, so it’s closer to 30% who were specifically recruited for D3. Furthermore, Pomona has a very competitive D3 program that almost always ranks top 30 nationally (they were 15th last year).

Not sure why any of this seems like an exaggeration. Pomona has 50 states, 5 US territories, and 65 countries represented among just 1700 students. 6-7% acceptance rate for the last five years. Ranked by Niche as #1 or #2 most diverse college or university in America during the same duration. Among the top 10 colleges and universities with the highest Pell Grant percent between the top 25 LACs/universities- ie. the top quartile for socioeconomic diversity among well ranked schools. Even after the Supreme Court decision banning AA, it remains one of the most diverse colleges in terms of minority enrollment.

Pomona is very particular in crafting its class. That’s not me boosting the school, that’s objective reality. So yes, if a high stat student doesn’t add to an institutional priority, it is hard to get into Pomona.

The point about Posse students being high class from Miami is wrong by the way. Posse is a full tuition minimum scholarship and Pomona only gives need based aid with very rare exceptions (only 2 students overall with under 20,000 in merit aid, no first years with merit aid). Pomona gave all 20 entering Posse scholars at least a full tuition need based scholarship according to the Common Data Set. Also, it is a science cohort that focuses on students underrepresented in those fields, so again, it is an institutional priority.

Posse is a merit scholarship, not need aid.
he Posse Scholarship is neither a minority nor a need-based scholarship. It is open to students of all backgrounds.
https://www.possefoundation.org/recruiting-students/the-nomination-process
There's a Posse Miami student whose father owns one of the largest hospital systems in the United States. That students doesn't need a full ride scholarship, they earned it by advancing in posse.

Pomona classified the entering Posse scholars as receiving need based aid, not merit aid. The current CDS states NO first year for any merit aid which includes all 20 enrolled Posse scholars. If Pomona classified it as need based aid, then those students are NOT overwhelmingly upper middle to high income as you claim they are. Otherwise they would not qualify for need based aid and Pomona would classify their scholarship as merit aid.

Even the 2 students who got merit aid for the whole student body didn’t get anywhere near full tuition. I’m pretty sure they’re national merit scholars as there’s some long standing hidden merit scholarship funded by an alum.

[Anonymous]

the back and forth on this thread is quite tedious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is no different from most peer LACs. Williams, Amherst, etc are only 40% submitting SAT, while Pomona is 37%. A lot of people in California apply test optional since the UC system is, so that explains the little gap almost entirely.

Then why do we/most people assume Williams and Amherst are academically rigorous and have high concentration of intellectual kids? Is this just based on pre-Covid, pre-test optional prestige? We know Caltech kids are smart bc they have high mid-50% SAT.

I don't know. I generally look at test optional schools as more rigorous if at least a majority of admitted students submit scores. For LACs that are well below the 50% mark (Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Williams, Amherst, etc.) I suspect the "test optional" loophole has been serving them so they can bring in some recruited athletes with lower scores.

In contrast, many in the Ivy Plus/New Ivy crowd have 70+% submitting scores out of admitted students. That speaks volumes to having an objective standard on academic preparedness.

Pomona has a pretty tiny athlete population. More likely the DEI admits

25% of students participating in varsity athletics in a given year is not “pretty tiny”. The number of recruits is higher, but some choose not to play in later years, so it’s closer to 30% who were specifically recruited for D3. Furthermore, Pomona has a very competitive D3 program that almost always ranks top 30 nationally (they were 15th last year).

Not sure why any of this seems like an exaggeration. Pomona has 50 states, 5 US territories, and 65 countries represented among just 1700 students. 6-7% acceptance rate for the last five years. Ranked by Niche as #1 or #2 most diverse college or university in America during the same duration. Among the top 10 colleges and universities with the highest Pell Grant percent between the top 25 LACs/universities- ie. the top quartile for socioeconomic diversity among well ranked schools. Even after the Supreme Court decision banning AA, it remains one of the most diverse colleges in terms of minority enrollment.

Pomona is very particular in crafting its class. That’s not me boosting the school, that’s objective reality. So yes, if a high stat student doesn’t add to an institutional priority, it is hard to get into Pomona.

The point about Posse students being high class from Miami is wrong by the way. Posse is a full tuition minimum scholarship and Pomona only gives need based aid with very rare exceptions (only 2 students overall with under 20,000 in merit aid, no first years with merit aid). Pomona gave all 20 entering Posse scholars at least a full tuition need based scholarship according to the Common Data Set. Also, it is a science cohort that focuses on students underrepresented in those fields, so again, it is an institutional priority.

Posse is a merit scholarship, not need aid.
he Posse Scholarship is neither a minority nor a need-based scholarship. It is open to students of all backgrounds.
https://www.possefoundation.org/recruiting-students/the-nomination-process
There's a Posse Miami student whose father owns one of the largest hospital systems in the United States. That students doesn't need a full ride scholarship, they earned it by advancing in posse.

Pomona classified the entering Posse scholars as receiving need based aid, not merit aid. The current CDS states NO first year for any merit aid which includes all 20 enrolled Posse scholars. If Pomona classified it as need based aid, then those students are NOT overwhelmingly upper middle to high income as you claim they are. Otherwise they would not qualify for need based aid and Pomona would classify their scholarship as merit aid.

Even the 2 students who got merit aid for the whole student body didn’t get anywhere near full tuition. I’m pretty sure they’re national merit scholars as there’s some long standing hidden merit scholarship funded by an alum.

You’re wrong. Posse is a merit scholarship and takes students of all incomes. DD’d roommate is a posse scholar and her parents are doctors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is no different from most peer LACs. Williams, Amherst, etc are only 40% submitting SAT, while Pomona is 37%. A lot of people in California apply test optional since the UC system is, so that explains the little gap almost entirely.

Then why do we/most people assume Williams and Amherst are academically rigorous and have high concentration of intellectual kids? Is this just based on pre-Covid, pre-test optional prestige? We know Caltech kids are smart bc they have high mid-50% SAT.

I don't know. I generally look at test optional schools as more rigorous if at least a majority of admitted students submit scores. For LACs that are well below the 50% mark (Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Williams, Amherst, etc.) I suspect the "test optional" loophole has been serving them so they can bring in some recruited athletes with lower scores.

In contrast, many in the Ivy Plus/New Ivy crowd have 70+% submitting scores out of admitted students. That speaks volumes to having an objective standard on academic preparedness.

Pomona has a pretty tiny athlete population. More likely the DEI admits

25% of students participating in varsity athletics in a given year is not “pretty tiny”. The number of recruits is higher, but some choose not to play in later years, so it’s closer to 30% who were specifically recruited for D3. Furthermore, Pomona has a very competitive D3 program that almost always ranks top 30 nationally (they were 15th last year).

Not sure why any of this seems like an exaggeration. Pomona has 50 states, 5 US territories, and 65 countries represented among just 1700 students. 6-7% acceptance rate for the last five years. Ranked by Niche as #1 or #2 most diverse college or university in America during the same duration. Among the top 10 colleges and universities with the highest Pell Grant percent between the top 25 LACs/universities- ie. the top quartile for socioeconomic diversity among well ranked schools. Even after the Supreme Court decision banning AA, it remains one of the most diverse colleges in terms of minority enrollment.

Pomona is very particular in crafting its class. That’s not me boosting the school, that’s objective reality. So yes, if a high stat student doesn’t add to an institutional priority, it is hard to get into Pomona.

The point about Posse students being high class from Miami is wrong by the way. Posse is a full tuition minimum scholarship and Pomona only gives need based aid with very rare exceptions (only 2 students overall with under 20,000 in merit aid, no first years with merit aid). Pomona gave all 20 entering Posse scholars at least a full tuition need based scholarship according to the Common Data Set. Also, it is a science cohort that focuses on students underrepresented in those fields, so again, it is an institutional priority.

Posse is a merit scholarship, not need aid.
he Posse Scholarship is neither a minority nor a need-based scholarship. It is open to students of all backgrounds.

So they say but the Posse alumni report says their alumni are majority non white (8.9% white and 91.1% everything else including 65% black and Hispanic).

It is clear that colleges regard Posse scholars as “free diversity” - they can keep their minority enrollment up without having to fork out any financial aid.

How many white students do you know applying to Posse? We don’t know many interested and it’s an option available.

Sometimes we need to stop jumping that just because white people aren’t included that something is DEI or racist. There’s real reason to believe that minorities might be more interested in a cohort program that connects you closely with peers for college success than white Americans. My kid isn’t worried they won’t graduate on time or have issues in classes, but a Black peer might feel more alienated from campus culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is no different from most peer LACs. Williams, Amherst, etc are only 40% submitting SAT, while Pomona is 37%. A lot of people in California apply test optional since the UC system is, so that explains the little gap almost entirely.

Then why do we/most people assume Williams and Amherst are academically rigorous and have high concentration of intellectual kids? Is this just based on pre-Covid, pre-test optional prestige? We know Caltech kids are smart bc they have high mid-50% SAT.

I don't know. I generally look at test optional schools as more rigorous if at least a majority of admitted students submit scores. For LACs that are well below the 50% mark (Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Williams, Amherst, etc.) I suspect the "test optional" loophole has been serving them so they can bring in some recruited athletes with lower scores.

In contrast, many in the Ivy Plus/New Ivy crowd have 70+% submitting scores out of admitted students. That speaks volumes to having an objective standard on academic preparedness.

Pomona has a pretty tiny athlete population. More likely the DEI admits

25% of students participating in varsity athletics in a given year is not “pretty tiny”. The number of recruits is higher, but some choose not to play in later years, so it’s closer to 30% who were specifically recruited for D3. Furthermore, Pomona has a very competitive D3 program that almost always ranks top 30 nationally (they were 15th last year).

Not sure why any of this seems like an exaggeration. Pomona has 50 states, 5 US territories, and 65 countries represented among just 1700 students. 6-7% acceptance rate for the last five years. Ranked by Niche as #1 or #2 most diverse college or university in America during the same duration. Among the top 10 colleges and universities with the highest Pell Grant percent between the top 25 LACs/universities- ie. the top quartile for socioeconomic diversity among well ranked schools. Even after the Supreme Court decision banning AA, it remains one of the most diverse colleges in terms of minority enrollment.

Pomona is very particular in crafting its class. That’s not me boosting the school, that’s objective reality. So yes, if a high stat student doesn’t add to an institutional priority, it is hard to get into Pomona.

The point about Posse students being high class from Miami is wrong by the way. Posse is a full tuition minimum scholarship and Pomona only gives need based aid with very rare exceptions (only 2 students overall with under 20,000 in merit aid, no first years with merit aid). Pomona gave all 20 entering Posse scholars at least a full tuition need based scholarship according to the Common Data Set. Also, it is a science cohort that focuses on students underrepresented in those fields, so again, it is an institutional priority.

Posse is a merit scholarship, not need aid.
he Posse Scholarship is neither a minority nor a need-based scholarship. It is open to students of all backgrounds.
https://www.possefoundation.org/recruiting-students/the-nomination-process
There's a Posse Miami student whose father owns one of the largest hospital systems in the United States. That students doesn't need a full ride scholarship, they earned it by advancing in posse.

Pomona classified the entering Posse scholars as receiving need based aid, not merit aid. The current CDS states NO first year for any merit aid which includes all 20 enrolled Posse scholars. If Pomona classified it as need based aid, then those students are NOT overwhelmingly upper middle to high income as you claim they are. Otherwise they would not qualify for need based aid and Pomona would classify their scholarship as merit aid.

Even the 2 students who got merit aid for the whole student body didn’t get anywhere near full tuition. I’m pretty sure they’re national merit scholars as there’s some long standing hidden merit scholarship funded by an alum.

You’re wrong. Posse is a merit scholarship and takes students of all incomes. DD’d roommate is a posse scholar and her parents are doctors.

So why doesn't Pomona list it on their CDS as merit aid? Based on Section N of the Financial Aid section, if there truly are Posse scholars who don't qualify for need based aid, they should be in that box averaging a non-need based 60,000+ scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is no different from most peer LACs. Williams, Amherst, etc are only 40% submitting SAT, while Pomona is 37%. A lot of people in California apply test optional since the UC system is, so that explains the little gap almost entirely.

Then why do we/most people assume Williams and Amherst are academically rigorous and have high concentration of intellectual kids? Is this just based on pre-Covid, pre-test optional prestige? We know Caltech kids are smart bc they have high mid-50% SAT.

I don't know. I generally look at test optional schools as more rigorous if at least a majority of admitted students submit scores. For LACs that are well below the 50% mark (Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Williams, Amherst, etc.) I suspect the "test optional" loophole has been serving them so they can bring in some recruited athletes with lower scores.

In contrast, many in the Ivy Plus/New Ivy crowd have 70+% submitting scores out of admitted students. That speaks volumes to having an objective standard on academic preparedness.

Pomona has a pretty tiny athlete population. More likely the DEI admits

25% of students participating in varsity athletics in a given year is not “pretty tiny”. The number of recruits is higher, but some choose not to play in later years, so it’s closer to 30% who were specifically recruited for D3. Furthermore, Pomona has a very competitive D3 program that almost always ranks top 30 nationally (they were 15th last year).

Not sure why any of this seems like an exaggeration. Pomona has 50 states, 5 US territories, and 65 countries represented among just 1700 students. 6-7% acceptance rate for the last five years. Ranked by Niche as #1 or #2 most diverse college or university in America during the same duration. Among the top 10 colleges and universities with the highest Pell Grant percent between the top 25 LACs/universities- ie. the top quartile for socioeconomic diversity among well ranked schools. Even after the Supreme Court decision banning AA, it remains one of the most diverse colleges in terms of minority enrollment.

Pomona is very particular in crafting its class. That’s not me boosting the school, that’s objective reality. So yes, if a high stat student doesn’t add to an institutional priority, it is hard to get into Pomona.

The point about Posse students being high class from Miami is wrong by the way. Posse is a full tuition minimum scholarship and Pomona only gives need based aid with very rare exceptions (only 2 students overall with under 20,000 in merit aid, no first years with merit aid). Pomona gave all 20 entering Posse scholars at least a full tuition need based scholarship according to the Common Data Set. Also, it is a science cohort that focuses on students underrepresented in those fields, so again, it is an institutional priority.

Posse is a merit scholarship, not need aid.
he Posse Scholarship is neither a minority nor a need-based scholarship. It is open to students of all backgrounds.
https://www.possefoundation.org/recruiting-students/the-nomination-process
There's a Posse Miami student whose father owns one of the largest hospital systems in the United States. That students doesn't need a full ride scholarship, they earned it by advancing in posse.

Pomona classified the entering Posse scholars as receiving need based aid, not merit aid. The current CDS states NO first year for any merit aid which includes all 20 enrolled Posse scholars. If Pomona classified it as need based aid, then those students are NOT overwhelmingly upper middle to high income as you claim they are. Otherwise they would not qualify for need based aid and Pomona would classify their scholarship as merit aid.

Even the 2 students who got merit aid for the whole student body didn’t get anywhere near full tuition. I’m pretty sure they’re national merit scholars as there’s some long standing hidden merit scholarship funded by an alum.

You’re wrong. Posse is a merit scholarship and takes students of all incomes. DD’d roommate is a posse scholar and her parents are doctors.

So why doesn't Pomona list it on their CDS as merit aid? Based on Section N of the Financial Aid section, if there truly are Posse scholars who don't qualify for need based aid, they should be in that box averaging a non-need based 60,000+ scholarship.

You’re assuming schools 100% accurately fill out CDS. Many are improperly filled out or have redacted information…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the back and forth on this thread is quite tedious.

100%. I've got a sophomore, so several years out from this madness, but why are all these comments so rude and heated. like the cmc boosters on here seem to despise pomona and think it's worthless, but isn't cmc only relevant because it was a spin-off college from pomona? take away pomona from the consortium and no one would probably want to go there or know about it. pomona anchors the whole thing.