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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Pomona has a very small class, and they want to make it as diverse as humanly possibly. Get all states represented, a significant number of foreign students, a significant URM representation, significant first gen representation.  Lots of different talents, extracurriculars, and enough varsity athletes to fill out their teams.  They are 12% international, and almost 30% AA or Hispanic.  32% White. Over 20% first gen.   The 75% SAT was 1510.

https://www.pomona.edu/sites/default/files/pomona-college-admissions-profile.pdf

So here is who you don’t want to be: a white or Asian female from the DMV with SAT scores below the 1510– unless you are first Gen.

If about 1/3 of the class is white, that’s maybe 130 kids.  65 admittees will be white women.  Some number of these will be first Gen. Some will be athletes. What’s left is 40-50 spots for white women based on merit. They may take 1 or 2 from the DMV.

Go into it with your eyes open. Apply ahead for the best shot. But white and Asian high performers from the DMV have a statistically better shot at an Ivy or Stanford than Pomona.  For these kids it’s a lottery school. And honestly, the SAT score will hurt her.

And I am saying this with zero snark. I have a white male in the DMV, I would love to sent to Pomona. Very high performer at TJ with mid 1500 SATs. And he knows getting in is unlikely.

Has she considered one of the other Claremont Colleges?  Pitzer or Scripps (all women) or even CMcKenna might give her a better shot.  Same campus. Same facilities, can still take classes at Pomona. I know DS is looking at CMKenna or Pitzer as plan B (probably Pitzer given his area of interest). [/quote]

Thanks for your detailed response! The thing is, based in Naviance, Pomona's admission process seems completely unpredictable. There are a bunch of students with near perfectvscires who've gotten in but more who didn't, and there are some still strong students with lower stats who got in. So we're guessing stats don't matter much and likely won't retake the SAT. You mentioned diversity and how they're looking to build a distinct class- do you think there are certain traits they look for that she should emphasize in the required supplement?

I would be very happy to have her at Pomona, even if she got into Princeton. I'll share what you wrote so she can understand their process a bit more. She has looked into Scripps but isn't willing to go out west unless its Stanford or Pomona, and she has a friend at Scripps who said that Pomona is far richer and has much more in the way of resources than the other colleges do specifically for their students.[/quote]

PP back. I am not an expert, so I don’t want any kid blindly taking my advice.  Your DD can’t help her demographics. She can’t make herself a URM (legitimately) or first gen or from ND.  She has to work with what she can control. Getting her SATs above 1500 to the 75% mark May help.  Pomona says they do not consider demonstrated interest, but do consider interviews. So have your kid fly in and interview in person, or of that doesn’t work, make sure they do a remote/alum interview.  And try to emphasize something that makes her unique in her essay— some experience in her background, an unusual instrument, sport or hobby, etc.  anything that might back her seem diverse.

My kid is doing their essay on how attending TJ made them realize the importance of liberal arts for success in science. Not exactly diverse, but answers the question as to why a TJ kid would apply to SLACs.

And always consult someone who knows what they are doing. I have done quite a bit of research about Paloma, and have never seen a college use every single slot to get someone with some type of diversity like they do.  They really maximize a limited number of slots.  But  that is not substitute for hands on experience.  So don’t just trust my take.  :)

Our kids will end up where they are meant to be, right?[/quote]

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