Pomona College, established in 1887, is a private liberal arts college and the founding member of the Claremont Colleges consortium, located 35 miles east of Los Angeles, in Claremont, California. The 140-acre campus exhibits a vast diversity with students from 59 nations and all 50 U.S. states. Pomona College, considered the ‘most selective’ college, has the lowest acceptance rate of around 9.4% and is ranked the 5th best liberal arts college in the nation by The 2020 U.S. News & World Report. Also, Pomona ranks 12th overall in America’s Top Colleges rankings released by Forbes. Pomona College, with an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, provides world-class education and is a top producer of Fulbright Students and recipients of other fellowships.

English Proficiency Test Requirements

The international applicant, whose native language is not English or the primary language of instruction was not English in the previous school, has to attempt a language proficiency test and score standardized grades to fulfill the eligibility criteria. Pomona College accepts the following language proficiency tests:

• 100 and above on the TOEFL iBT
• 7 and above on the IELTS 

Unlike other universities and colleges, Pomona doesn’t have any explicit requirements for subscores.

ACT/SAT Requirements

SAT or ACT, recognized as standardized tests used for entrance in U.S. schools and colleges, measures student’s proficiency in various skills like problem-solving, reading comprehension, etc. Usually, Pomona College needs the scores of either of the two for reviewing the application, but it has extended a test-optional policy for students applying for admission for entry in 2022-2024. For other times, given below are the average scores required on these tests if you wish to apply to this university:

Tuition Fee and Cost of Living

Studying abroad is expensive, though, with the need-based aids and financing options available at Pomona makes it feasible for every applicant to study there. In Pomona, an average of $ 48,257 aid is given to 35.6% of international students/year. The estimated annual cost at Pomona is mentioned below, both in US Dollars and Indian rupees. 

*The conversion from USD to INR has been made with $1 = ₹70. The cost may vary with the varying exchange rate.

Application Portal

Pomona College does not have its own application portal and accepts the applicant’s application via any of the three portals: Common Application, Coalition Application & QuestBridge. After successfully applying, the applicant can modify and submit the supplements via the website Slide Rooms, accessible directly through the application portals.  

Essay Prompts

In addition to the personal essays, the applicants need to submit two short Pomona-specific essays that help the authorities to consider the applicant as fit or unfit with Pomona’s creative and collaborative culture. The applicant needs to submit essays on the application portal on the following prompts: 

Prompt 1:

Word Limit: 200 words

“Pomona is committed to achieving the benefits of diversity for all students by creating a community that learns and grows together through the exchange of different lived experiences and perspectives. Our community is made of students from diverse cultures, races, ethnicities, and linguistic backgrounds; political, religious and social views; physical abilities; home environments and socioeconomic backgrounds; hometowns and regions; and sexes, gender identities, and sexual orientations. Please choose one of the following prompts:

• Tell us about an experience when you dealt with disagreement or conflict around different perspectives within a community. OR

• Tell us about one of the communities you belong to and what it means to bring that shared belief and perspective to Pomona.”

Prompt 2:

Word Limit: 200 words

“Helen Keller once said, “The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.” Whether you aspire to be a hero or an honest worker, what impact do you want to have in the Pomona community, your community back home, or any new community?”

College Application Deadlines

An applicant can apply to Pomona College under three categories, namely, Early Decision 1, Early Decision 2, or Regular Decision. The tentative application deadlines* are given below:

*The Uni Deadlines feature of UniRely is the best and the easiest way to keep a check on deadlines. 

Conclusion

If you wish to study liberal arts and are thinking of applying to this amazing college, then it would be your best decision, as Pomona has been achieving excellence since inception and has given gems to society. 

With an acceptance rate of 9.4%, Pomona College is highly selective, and the applicants have to be eligible in all aspects. Sign up for free at UniRely and get first-hand advice from the mentors studying at Pomona College.