Pomona is at least perceived to be intellectual without the elitism that accompanies some of the New England liberal arts colleges (and the prep schools and boarding schools that feed into them). To the extent that perception reflects reality, part of the reason is that it is not the kind of school you go to if you are concerned about east coast status. It also doesn't have the heavy drinking/party rep of some cold-weather schools where you are inside much of the year or where sports teams are quite as dominant (although it has some good teams). So, it self-selects for a certain type of kid and those kids feel there aren't a lot of other options for them.

The consortium also has benefits that are pretty unique. It literally quadruples or more the course and social offerings of similarly-sized schools, all of which are within walking distance because the schools are all on a single campus meant to replicate the different college houses of a campus like Cambridge. And, if you do have a kid who happens to want more of a drinking/party culture, Claremont-McKenna offers more options nearby.

The campus is also pretty, the weather is generally pleasant (other than midday when it's hot in early fall) and there are lots of activities outdoors, including in the nearby mountain range. I wouldn't recommend going there because you think you will be going to the beach regularly, but if you want to take a day trip, go to a museum or concert, or take advantage of something else unique in LA, that is possible.

Anonymous[b wrote:]I, too, will dunk on Pomona: It's remote, by Southern California standards. It's pretty hot from May to September. And even among liberal-arts colleges, it doesn't have the name recognition on the East Coast that even places like Amherst or Middlebury do.

(Mostly, I think there's a decent chance my kid will get waitlisted, so I'm hoping some of you or your kids will turn down acceptance letters!)

[/b]


And the traffic!

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.

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/

Amazing professors, small class sizes, tons of resources (large endowment), great diversity, excellent outcomes, large variety of classes because of the consortium, beautiful campus...

All this. The school does an excellent job focusing on post grad outcomes for all their students.

I, too, will dunk on Pomona: It's remote, by Southern California standards. It's pretty hot from May to September. And even among liberal-arts colleges, it doesn't have the name recognition on the East Coast that even places like Amherst or Middlebury do.

(Mostly, I think there's a decent chance my kid will get waitlisted, so I'm hoping some of you or your kids will turn down acceptance letters!)

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.

Amazing professors, small class sizes, tons of resources (large endowment), great diversity, excellent outcomes, large variety of classes because of the consortium, beautiful campus...

OP- is the degree truly as valuable as the top east coast schools? Williams Amherst etc. Seems equally difficult/impossible to get in.

There are not many elite liberal arts schools west of the Mississippi. Also, it’s very small.

Jobs and grad school.

OP - are there particular areas of strength?

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".

Location. It's really not that great.

Like what makes it stand out? Why is demand so high?