Pomona College Top Questions

This stereotype is untrue for the most part.

I don't know!

In some ways these sterotypes are true, but only insomuch as they are true at any competitive liberal arts college. In terms of being laidback, Pomona students definitly are less intense and competitive than students in comparable schools.

These stereotypes are accurate. At Pomona, you are surrounded by incredibly intelligent individuals, but everyone works together because the school atmosphere isn't too competitive. Also, students at Pomona know how to have a good time.

There are few students who accurately portray that stereotype in total. Are there some arrogant people at Pomona? Sure. Pretentious and elitist? A small handful. Pomona students are remarkably diverse in their personalities, interests, and talents, making them a very interesting bunch of people. The only stereotype you'll find pretty consistently is brilliant--there are some amazingly smart people here.

Some are more accurate than others. The vast majority of students are extremely liberal and have some (though often not obvious) nerdy tendencies. However, most students are not arrogant and pretentious. Sure, we worked hard to get into Pomona, but most of us are more interested in having an impact on society and the world just for the sake of doing something meaningful, not in order to boast.

Nope. Pomona students, while very academically driven, are also extremely down-to-earth and friendly.

Though the kids that do end up getting into the college are very well off, I've found that a majority of the people that i know are at best upper middle class and many of them are actually stereotypical college kids who keep running out of money and work during the school year and summer to help pay for tuition. And even though they all are very smart I haven't found many that flaunt it.

To a certain degree, they are. The campus is quite liberal and there is a tendency to be overly harsh on matters of political correctness. That being said, dialogue is usually encouraged, and thanks to the amazingly bright group of students around, the dialogue takes place at a high level. And we do take academics seriously, but are less competitive with one another than is typical for East Coast schools of the same caliber. The general more laid-back attitude of California does permeate the culture on campus, which is something that everyone here appreciates.

Not at all. Pomona students are extremely laid back and very relaxed about almost everything. I don't know a single one who whom I would label as arrogant. Pomona students are smart, but they don't have a pressing need to let everyone know how amazing they are.