By Georgia King ’28
I spent the majority of my senior year of high school applying to big state schools. After four years at a small high school, I figured that a student population of upwards of 20,000 would be just the change of pace I needed. But a small liberal arts school won me over. Here’s why:
- Professor-Student Relationships
I lucked out with my freshman fall course load as each of my classes were taught by leading academics in the fields in which I’m most interested. Whether I was in a lecture or a seminar, the size of the class never interfered with developing relationships with each of my professors. A class of 40, likely the largest you will experience at Pomona, had the same close-knit feel as a class of 12. Professors are available to field class related questions during office hours and one-on-one meetings, but they are equally invested in getting to know you as an individual and connecting over hobbies and shared experiences. If you stay in touch, you may even end up at your ID1 professor’s City of Pomona Band Concert (see below for photographic evidence!).
- Campus:
The location of my future college was at the top of my priorities list during my school search. I was embarrassed to admit this at risk of sounding superficial, but, in truth, this factor played a large role in deciding on where to spend the next four years. I think it’s a criterion that is easy to write off as ultimately unimportant; it’s the people, academics, and opportunities one should focus on—which is true, but don’t let that stop you from finding a school where you can have your cake and eat it too. Pomona was just that school for me. The beauty of Pomona’s campus and the surrounding area keeps me in a good mood year round and opens the door for so many activities that are strictly seasonal in other regions. While I stand in solidarity with my friends currently experiencing Northeast winters or southern swamp heat, I’m sure glad to be in sunny SoCal.
- Tradition
All the schools I researched had some form of tradition, but I found that, given Pomona’s tight-knit culture, tradition here is taken to the next level. The rituals that make Pomona unique are open and available to every student and range from large events such as Ski-Beach Day and Nochella to smaller, inter-friend group practices like fountaining. There’s the list of 47 things to do before graduation, orientation adventure, walker wall, through the gates—there’s truly no shortage of events to bond over. As someone with a huge, tradition-obsessed family, the abundance of opportunities fit the bill perfectly for me. See below for my friend Nora getting fountained on her 19th birthday!
To only pick three aspects of what makes Pomona special is a difficult task. The list of pros for this small liberal arts institution is extensive, which means there’s certainly something for every student. Whether you’re like me and searching for the perfect middle ground of big traditions and small classes, or your priority is more on location and opportunity, Pomona provides the backdrop for your aspirations.