Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 17:14     Subject: Re:Pomona Vs Williams

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Eph ‘03 here. Remember that reality happens and you might be too stressed/overworked to even take up a tutorial- they’ve improved, but before only 30ish% of students took up tutorial. It also can be extremely taxing not having anywhere to go. Williams is very isolated and as a woman of color growing into herself, I do think it was a bit of a detriment to be so far away from anything of interest.

The math department is very strong. One of Williams’ golden Children up there with Econ. I was an art history major which…had some support, not as much as those majors for sure. Seeing where my class went, if DC wants to be a researcher, head over to Pomona. Most of the math majors in my class ran straight to finance.

Very important consideration. You are likely to not take a tutorial, or not be prepared to take one. Williams is MUCH more pre professional and ivy-like culturally than Pomona, which is closer to Stanford.


Half the kids decide to try a tutorial.

50% is a pretty large number of students not taking a tutorial.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 17:14     Subject: Re:Pomona Vs Williams

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Eph ‘03 here. Remember that reality happens and you might be too stressed/overworked to even take up a tutorial- they’ve improved, but before only 30ish% of students took up tutorial. It also can be extremely taxing not having anywhere to go. Williams is very isolated and as a woman of color growing into herself, I do think it was a bit of a detriment to be so far away from anything of interest.

The math department is very strong. One of Williams’ golden Children up there with Econ. I was an art history major which…had some support, not as much as those majors for sure. Seeing where my class went, if DC wants to be a researcher, head over to Pomona. Most of the math majors in my class ran straight to finance.

Very important consideration. You are likely to not take a tutorial, or not be prepared to take one. Williams is MUCH more pre professional and ivy-like culturally than Pomona, which is closer to Stanford.


Half the kids decide to try a tutorial.


Yes we just toured. Half take one and if you take one, you're very likely to take more than one. Also, a common regret is not taking at least one.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 17:11     Subject: Re:Pomona Vs Williams

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Eph ‘03 here. Remember that reality happens and you might be too stressed/overworked to even take up a tutorial- they’ve improved, but before only 30ish% of students took up tutorial. It also can be extremely taxing not having anywhere to go. Williams is very isolated and as a woman of color growing into herself, I do think it was a bit of a detriment to be so far away from anything of interest.

The math department is very strong. One of Williams’ golden Children up there with Econ. I was an art history major which…had some support, not as much as those majors for sure. Seeing where my class went, if DC wants to be a researcher, head over to Pomona. Most of the math majors in my class ran straight to finance.

Very important consideration. You are likely to not take a tutorial, or not be prepared to take one. Williams is MUCH more pre professional and ivy-like culturally than Pomona, which is closer to Stanford.


Half the kids decide to try a tutorial.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 17:10     Subject: Pomona Vs Williams

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DS got into both yesterday, and we are anxious to see which he picks. He's leaning heavily towards Pomona, but we want him closer at Williams. Nail biter for sure.



Trust me, doing that several hour drive from Boston in the ice and snow will not make Williams feel closer. Pomona has a much nicer vibe among profs and students, but look at the programs in his planned major to compare.


It’s 3.5 hours from Manhattan, door to door, we just drove it and were surprised how easy it was to get to.

Skiing is big at Williams, there is a slope about 20 minutes from campus that the school runs shuttles to and some kids even work ski patrol. I do think kids need to like winter.

I love Southern California but not the Inland empire.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 16:21     Subject: Re:Pomona Vs Williams

Anonymous wrote:Eph ‘03 here. Remember that reality happens and you might be too stressed/overworked to even take up a tutorial- they’ve improved, but before only 30ish% of students took up tutorial. It also can be extremely taxing not having anywhere to go. Williams is very isolated and as a woman of color growing into herself, I do think it was a bit of a detriment to be so far away from anything of interest.

The math department is very strong. One of Williams’ golden Children up there with Econ. I was an art history major which…had some support, not as much as those majors for sure. Seeing where my class went, if DC wants to be a researcher, head over to Pomona. Most of the math majors in my class ran straight to finance.

Very important consideration. You are likely to not take a tutorial, or not be prepared to take one. Williams is MUCH more pre professional and ivy-like culturally than Pomona, which is closer to Stanford.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 16:06     Subject: Pomona Vs Williams

Anonymous wrote:DS got into both yesterday, and we are anxious to see which he picks. He's leaning heavily towards Pomona, but we want him closer at Williams. Nail biter for sure.

What is your son's major? That could help inform the decision big time!
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 15:23     Subject: Pomona Vs Williams

Anonymous wrote:DS got into both yesterday, and we are anxious to see which he picks. He's leaning heavily towards Pomona, but we want him closer at Williams. Nail biter for sure.

Definitely Pomona, unless your son is a bigtime club sport type or potential Williams walk on. Athletic-oriented schools like Williams take way more of a toll on male NARPs than female NARPs…
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 15:19     Subject: Pomona Vs Williams

Anonymous wrote:DS got into both yesterday, and we are anxious to see which he picks. He's leaning heavily towards Pomona, but we want him closer at Williams. Nail biter for sure.



Trust me, doing that several hour drive from Boston in the ice and snow will not make Williams feel closer. Pomona has a much nicer vibe among profs and students, but look at the programs in his planned major to compare.
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 15:18     Subject: Pomona Vs Williams

Anonymous wrote:DS got into both yesterday, and we are anxious to see which he picks. He's leaning heavily towards Pomona, but we want him closer at Williams. Nail biter for sure.


Congrats! My kid is studying at Pomona. Great location and weather, and the 5C consortium makes it one mid sized university. Ski in the morning and beach in the evening!
Anonymous
Post 03/22/2025 15:08     Subject: Pomona Vs Williams

DS got into both yesterday, and we are anxious to see which he picks. He's leaning heavily towards Pomona, but we want him closer at Williams. Nail biter for sure.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2025 08:53     Subject: Pomona Vs Williams

Anonymous wrote:Pomona is a great option if you prefer warmer climate.

Pomona is a great option if your kid wants to be suspended for a year by the school president — with no school judicial proceedings whatsoever— after attending a first-ever sit-in as a freshman.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2025 08:51     Subject: Re:Pomona Vs Williams

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Kid is likely going to have this dilemma, so interested in more recent answers!



I would pick Pomona so kid could also take classes at Mudd. Best of both and the location is much better than Williams. But if DC prefers Williams, then sure. Great school! Can't go wrong, honestly.

I agree. I have spent a good amount of time in both areas. The vibe of the Claremont Colleges is much more chill, yet very studious. You see people out and about more because of the sun. There is more choice in terms of courses, people, activities because all the colleges are sitting next to each other. In Williamstown there is a three block strip of businesses/restaurants and the campus of 2k students. Beautiful very cold area of MA. Academically, you will not go wrong either way. It is a personal choice as to which sort of culture you want your academic experience set in, and how many people you feel the need to have around you for social choice and activities that you want to get involved in, and number of choices of places to walk to. Also Mudd math/STEM classes are far superior to Williams.

Even this is generous. There is almost nothing there and, if it is even 3 blocks, those are short blocks.

And on only 1 side of the street!
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2025 07:14     Subject: Pomona Vs Williams

Pomona is a great option if you prefer warmer climate.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2025 06:25     Subject: Pomona Vs Williams

Williams all day!
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2025 21:35     Subject: Re:Pomona Vs Williams

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Kid is likely going to have this dilemma, so interested in more recent answers!



I would pick Pomona so kid could also take classes at Mudd. Best of both and the location is much better than Williams. But if DC prefers Williams, then sure. Great school! Can't go wrong, honestly.

I agree. I have spent a good amount of time in both areas. The vibe of the Claremont Colleges is much more chill, yet very studious. You see people out and about more because of the sun. There is more choice in terms of courses, people, activities because all the colleges are sitting next to each other. In Williamstown there is a three block strip of businesses/restaurants and the campus of 2k students. Beautiful very cold area of MA. Academically, you will not go wrong either way. It is a personal choice as to which sort of culture you want your academic experience set in, and how many people you feel the need to have around you for social choice and activities that you want to get involved in, and number of choices of places to walk to. Also Mudd math/STEM classes are far superior to Williams.

Even this is generous. There is almost nothing there and, if it is even 3 blocks, those are short blocks.