火爆社区

Pomona College provides students with an unbeatable combination: 鈥渁n academically rigorous education鈥� in a 鈥渓ow-stress California atmosphere.鈥� Students note that the administration is 鈥渧ery good at responding to what students want鈥� and highly 鈥渆fficient in taking care of administrative tasks such as financial aid and registration.鈥� While Pomona is a relatively small school, it 鈥渙ffers the resources of a large university.鈥� As part of The Claremont Colleges, Pomona students can cross-register and attend events at the institutions that comprise the consortium, including Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Scripps, and Claremont-McKenna. The average class size at Pomona is only 13 students, and 鈥渁ll classes are taught by professors, not grad students or TAs.鈥� As one undergrad shares, 鈥淭oday, I had a class with seven people in it, then lunch with a physics professor, and then a personal tutorial with a philosophy professor.鈥� Indeed, undergrads are able to forge close bonds with the faculty. It鈥檚 extremely easy to 鈥済et to know professors outside the classroom, in any setting, from office hours to Thanksgiving dinner at their homes.鈥� Another student elaborates, 鈥淏etween department barbecues, parties, and weekend retreats, by the time you鈥檙e an upperclassman, you will know most of the professors in your major department quite well.鈥� This helps explain how over half of Pomona students end up conducting research with faculty. It also doesn鈥檛 hurt that instructors 鈥渁re, for the most part, fantastic鈥攅ngaging, creative, and sharp.鈥� They鈥檙e also 鈥済reat discussion leaders and really motivate students to get involved in class.鈥�

Pomona undergrads seem to reflect Southern California鈥檚 laid-back vibes. Students here are typically pretty casual, and most sport 鈥渇lip-flops, polo, or tank tops and shorts鈥� as their unofficial uniform. At first glance, many also give the appearance of a 鈥渓iberal, upper-middle class, hipster athlete.鈥� But take a minute to look beneath that facade and you鈥檒l 鈥渕eet the football player who got a perfect score on his SAT or the dreadlocked hippie who took multivariable calculus when he was 16.鈥� Additionally, undergrads appreciate the breadth of people they can meet. Students note that the college has a 鈥渄ecent level of diversity and a strong international community.鈥� This is certainly evident in their stats; the student body hails from all 50 states and several territories, as well as over 60 different countries. Further, more than half identify as a person of color, and over 23% are first-generation college students. It鈥檚 fair to say that Pomona undergrads are 鈥渋ntelligent, engaging, and open individuals鈥� who 鈥渆xcel in the classroom and usually have some sort of passion that they pursue outside of the classroom.鈥�

Life at Pomona is pretty grand. After all, there are 鈥渁mazing academics, brilliant opportunities to get involved in, and enough sunshine to make anyone happy to be alive.鈥� Students certainly love to soak up SoCal鈥檚 awesome weather; on nice days, you鈥檒l find most 鈥渆veryone heads outside in shorts and T-shirts to do their class work.鈥� Beyond academics, students can participate in over 200 clubs and activities. These range from hosting a radio show to tending their own plot at the school鈥檚 organic farm. Additionally, 鈥渕any people are involved in intramural sports.鈥� Pomona also sponsors plenty of events. For example, students can hear live bands at Art After Hours, attend lectures on the sociology of monogamy, or take contra dancing lessons. On any given day, you might 鈥渟ee people setting up telescopes outside the dorms to get a glimpse of the stars...people practicing ukulele on our quad...[or] students filming a project in the dining halls.鈥� There鈥檚 also plenty of opportunity to socialize with students enrolled in the other Claremont consortium schools, including at the 鈥渓arge 5C-sponsored parties.鈥� Pomona鈥檚 location also allows for some great off-campus fun. Students love 鈥渉iking, skiing, and going to the beach year-round.鈥�

Pomona鈥檚 Career Development Office offers advising and counseling to help students explore their interests and discover careers to which they might be suited; hosts career fairs and recruiting events; and provides resources for networking job searches. It also hosts a Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships Expo that brings representatives from foundations and universities to discuss post-graduate opportunities. Several students cite their professors as a helpful resource to 鈥済et the internships and jobs that we want or need for our desired careers,鈥� and 97 percent of recent students accepted a job, internship, graduate school, or fellowship offer within six months of graduation. Alumni are a huge benefit along the way, offering insights and strategies for different careers and industries through Candid Career videos and coaching and opportunities through the Sagehen Connect platform. Overall, students say that Pomona provides 鈥渁 diverse education that will prepare students for whatever they choose to do afterward.鈥� Out of alumni visiting PayScale.com, 59 percent report that they derive meaning from their career, and the typical median starting salary is around $77,700.