Hopkins. Duh!

or UCSB.

Pomona does not really have a "SoCal lifestyle" feel. That would be more like UCLA, UCI, UCSD, USC, or Pepperdine.

Anonymous wrote:They are both strong schools, but Pomona probably is more appealing. It has a reputation of being excellent for academics but also a supportive environment for undergrads. Johns Hopkins is a little more oriented to graduate programs, professional programs--even though it is an amazing university all around. Pomona also has better weather and the vibe of the colleges in that area are great.

Anonymous wrote:I'd pick Pomona for the better weather, reputation, location, fellow schools, happier students and overall feel.

I went to Harvey Mudd for undergrad and I disagree about the weather. This is only true in the sense that "it doesn't snow". The Claremont Colleges are in a horribly smoggy area. You're right near the freeway and it's basically like sucking on an exhaust pipe 365 days of the year. You are nowhere near the beach and you don't get any kind of ocean breeze.

That aside, Claremont Colleges have a more suburban feel versus the urban feel of Hopkins.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JHU is the better choice given his interests and aspirations. It’s an excellent place to check out academia as an undergrad. You have easy access to profs as well as to grad students and classes.

JHU is cut throat and unpleasant near as we can tell from numerous sources.

I (PP) taught there and mentored undergrads who went on to academic careers. It was (and I believe still is) a really good place for a “junior grad student” type kid. (My own kid is that type, so I looked at it recently from that perspective). These kids aren’t the norm among Hopkins undergrads (who tend to be very preprofessional) and that makes a difference — both in terms of stress (not competing for the same “prize”) and support (faculty appreciate kids who want to talk shop rather than negotiate about grades). Grad student culture was friendly and welcoming and tended to embrace such undergrads when they showed up in grad classes and had something interesting to say. Personally, I think it’s important for an undergrad who is considering an academic career to get a good sense of what it looks like, before signing up for a PhD program. JHU would give PP’s kid that opportunity; Pomona wouldn’t.

I also wonder what it’s like to do CS at Pomona when you’re next door to Mudd. If PP’s kid has a strong preference for Pomona — based on academics —as a parent, I wouldn’t insist on JHU. Obviously, it’s not a can’t get there (PhD) from here (Pomona) situation. But if asked my opinion, I’d say just what I’ve already said. And probably add that undergrad-only programs (especially Cog Sci/neurosci and international relations) can just be marketing tools, so look closely at profs, what kind of research they are doing, and what kind/how many relevant courses are being offered before assuming that the school with the undergrad program is a better choice than a school with conventional disciplines as undergrad majors but lots or faculty/courses/grad students in the field(s) of interest.

I recognize that lots of posters here (and UMC parents in this area) see college as a lifestyle choice and from the standpoint of SoCal vs Baltimore, see Pomona’s a no-brained. But kids who are academically-oriented should focus more on faculty, course offerings, and research opportunities in choosing their college.

Anonymous wrote:JHU is the better choice given his interests and aspirations. It’s an excellent place to check out academia as an undergrad. You have easy access to profs as well as to grad students and classes.

JHU is cut throat and unpleasant near as we can tell from numerous sources.

I would probably pick Hopkins. Does a great job with undergrads. If your kid is a good fit for a serious school like that, he will have wonderful opportunities. Not a S cal fan.

Grew up in Baltimore. Father was a bigwig Hopkins professor including chair of his department for a long time. Know many people who went to Hopkins.

This is a no brainer. Go to Pomona.

Hopkins is an excellent school and has improved greatly in terms of undergraduate experience compared to 20 years ago, but Pomona undergraduate experience is heads and shoulders above Hopkins. The only reasons to pick Hopkins over Pomona would be: 1) money, 2) you really want to be closer to home and 3) all you care about is intensive STEM research and locking yourself up in the lab for four years.

If for some reason you still decide to go to Hopkins, it'll be fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's another thread right now that mentioned the mental-health challenge students at Pomona makes up approximately 20% of the student body. Go figure.

Wall Street Journal on rampant growth in percentage of college students with “disabilities”

What does that have to do with anything, though?

if 22% of the students have mental disabilities, that doesn't make any difference?
Seems awfully high to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's another thread right now that mentioned the mental-health challenge students at Pomona makes up approximately 20% of the student body. Go figure.

Wall Street Journal on rampant growth in percentage of college students with “disabilities”

What does that have to do with anything, though?

Why would any bright student want to be in school with 22% who are mentally challenged? The sheer number will wear any bright student down.

Because dealing with a mental health issue- privately- isn't the same thing as mental retardation? As someone who knows people at Pomona, it's not like the students there wear their mental health illness on a sleeve to present to others.

Apparently this is a public info. It's not private. And these people affect those who are not mentally challenged.

On the contrary, Pomona has a hidden yet pervasive stress culture. Lots of pressure at that school to give off the appearance you're thriving, happy, well-adjusted, and accomplished while at the same time being "chill" and laid-back. Stanford has it too. It's a west coast private school thing and both of those schools really have utopian/resort-like vibes with their gorgeous campuses, resources, top notch dining, etc.

I personally could not deal with that sort of attitude.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's another thread right now that mentioned the mental-health challenge students at Pomona makes up approximately 20% of the student body. Go figure.

Wall Street Journal on rampant growth in percentage of college students with “disabilities”

What does that have to do with anything, though?

Why would any bright student want to be in school with 22% who are mentally challenged? The sheer number will wear any bright student down.

Because dealing with a mental health issue- privately- isn't the same thing as mental retardation? As someone who knows people at Pomona, it's not like the students there wear their mental health illness on a sleeve to present to others.

Apparently this is a public info. It's not private. And these people affect those who are not mentally challenged.

Pomona is well known to those in the know. Outside the city of Pomona, however, there can be problems with name recognition. JHU, however, is well known to those in the know as well as the general public. JHU is known even to gifted elementary school students who are tested for JHU CTY gifted education program from 4th grade on.

JHU is the better choice given his interests and aspirations. It’s an excellent place to check out academia as an undergrad. You have easy access to profs as well as to grad students and classes.

Your son’s interests align with cognitive science major. Is it offered at either school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's another thread right now that mentioned the mental-health challenge students at Pomona makes up approximately 20% of the student body. Go figure.

Wall Street Journal on rampant growth in percentage of college students with “disabilities”

What does that have to do with anything, though?

Why would any bright student want to be in school with 22% who are mentally challenged? The sheer number will wear any bright student down.

Because dealing with a mental health issue- privately- isn't the same thing as mental retardation? As someone who knows people at Pomona, it's not like the students there wear their mental health illness on a sleeve to present to others.