CMC is an Ivy League tier college that boasts professors that worked in their fields, not only academia, a state of the art gym, and the benefits of a college consortium. Claremont McKenna is unique since, instead of most liberal arts colleges, it makes a point of practical preparation for the professional world. Furthermore, due to its selectivity and small class population, Claremont McKenna has a tight knit community where most of its students share the same professional and recreational interests.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Prospective students should be aware that CMC is geared toward extroverted students, whether in the classroom or in social life. Small class sizes make it easier to interact with the teacher and other students, and it makes it more difficult to hide from the teacher. Furthermore, students should be prepared for more rigor than in high school; everyone was near the top of their class in high school, so the academics have been adjusted accordingly.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Classes are difficult, but fair; as long as you take thorough notes and read your materials, you should do fine in your classes. Since CMC is a liberal arts college, a general education requirement must be fulfilled, and you will be expected to play outside of your strengths; fortunately, most classes are very practical; even philosophy courses instruct on how to improve the quality of your own life or to use fundamental argumentative skills that may be used in most any field of work.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
The campus is divided into 3 sections: South Quad, Mid Quad, and North Quad. South Quad has 3 towers, favors a quieter lifestyle, and stands right next to Robert's Pavilion, CMC's new gym. North Quad is where the majority of parties are hosted, boasts a louder lifestyle, and stands the closest to the classrooms. Mid Quad stands between North Quad and South Quad, and features a hybrid between the two lifestyles. Furthermore, Mid Quad is located the closest to Collins Dining hall. Only the North Quad dorm rooms don't have air conditioning, but this is hardly an issue given the moderate Southern California climate. The campus is relatively compact since the only thing dividing North Quad and South Quad is Parent's Field, which is a soccer field where rugby games and campus-wide parties are also held.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Not only is Collins Dining Hall a superb place to eat, but since CMC is part of the Claremont Consortium, students will have access to every other college's dining halls and cafes. Each hall has its own distinct personality, and is bound to satisfy any student's needs on any given day. For example, CMC's dining hall favors a diet conducive to building muscle and exercise; I maintained the same workout schedule as at home, and managed to build 7 lbs of muscle in the 1st semester due to the abundance of protein in the grill section and carbs in the spaghetti/pasta bar. In contrast, Scripps College has a dining hall with a heavier emphasis of salads, boasting a staffed salad bar. Furthermore, the Athenaeum, which is where CMC hosts speakers from Monday to Thursday night, serves gourmet food at a sit-in, not buffet, style.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Students have ample opportunity to join athletic or recreational clubs, attend speaker talks at the Athenaeum, or even hang out in their friends' rooms. There are regular parties every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday night, and some ASCMC organized parties as well. After classes at around 3pm to 4 30pm, there is Athenaeum Tea, where anyone could pop in for coffee, iced tea, and baked treats, or a student could be in Stark Lounge or the Hub playing Pool or Foosball. There are also plenty of football and basketball games that students can attend, and plenty of intramural games as well.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
CMC is a very political school since 3 of its biggest departments are the Philosophy, Government, and Economics departments. CMC is largely a centrist college, with an administration devoted to the protection of free speech and civil discourse. The students themselves tend to lean either center right or center left, and the far-right and far-left are generally looked down on. It is not uncommon to see either American flags or rainbow flags in dorm buildings, so it can definitely be said that the CMC community is tolerant of both sides of the aisle.
CMC is an Ivy League tier college that boasts professors that worked in their fields, not only academia, a state of the art gym, and the benefits of a college consortium. Claremont McKenna is unique since, instead of most liberal arts colleges, it makes a point of practical preparation for the professional world. Furthermore, due to its selectivity and small class population, Claremont McKenna has a tight knit community where most of its students share the same professional and recreational interests.
Prospective students should be aware that CMC is geared toward extroverted students, whether in the classroom or in social life. Small class sizes make it easier to interact with the teacher and other students, and it makes it more difficult to hide from the teacher. Furthermore, students should be prepared for more rigor than in high school; everyone was near the top of their class in high school, so the academics have been adjusted accordingly.
Classes are difficult, but fair; as long as you take thorough notes and read your materials, you should do fine in your classes. Since CMC is a liberal arts college, a general education requirement must be fulfilled, and you will be expected to play outside of your strengths; fortunately, most classes are very practical; even philosophy courses instruct on how to improve the quality of your own life or to use fundamental argumentative skills that may be used in most any field of work.
The campus is divided into 3 sections: South Quad, Mid Quad, and North Quad. South Quad has 3 towers, favors a quieter lifestyle, and stands right next to Robert's Pavilion, CMC's new gym. North Quad is where the majority of parties are hosted, boasts a louder lifestyle, and stands the closest to the classrooms. Mid Quad stands between North Quad and South Quad, and features a hybrid between the two lifestyles. Furthermore, Mid Quad is located the closest to Collins Dining hall. Only the North Quad dorm rooms don't have air conditioning, but this is hardly an issue given the moderate Southern California climate. The campus is relatively compact since the only thing dividing North Quad and South Quad is Parent's Field, which is a soccer field where rugby games and campus-wide parties are also held.
Not only is Collins Dining Hall a superb place to eat, but since CMC is part of the Claremont Consortium, students will have access to every other college's dining halls and cafes. Each hall has its own distinct personality, and is bound to satisfy any student's needs on any given day. For example, CMC's dining hall favors a diet conducive to building muscle and exercise; I maintained the same workout schedule as at home, and managed to build 7 lbs of muscle in the 1st semester due to the abundance of protein in the grill section and carbs in the spaghetti/pasta bar. In contrast, Scripps College has a dining hall with a heavier emphasis of salads, boasting a staffed salad bar. Furthermore, the Athenaeum, which is where CMC hosts speakers from Monday to Thursday night, serves gourmet food at a sit-in, not buffet, style.
Students have ample opportunity to join athletic or recreational clubs, attend speaker talks at the Athenaeum, or even hang out in their friends' rooms. There are regular parties every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday night, and some ASCMC organized parties as well. After classes at around 3pm to 4 30pm, there is Athenaeum Tea, where anyone could pop in for coffee, iced tea, and baked treats, or a student could be in Stark Lounge or the Hub playing Pool or Foosball. There are also plenty of football and basketball games that students can attend, and plenty of intramural games as well.
CMC is a very political school since 3 of its biggest departments are the Philosophy, Government, and Economics departments. CMC is largely a centrist college, with an administration devoted to the protection of free speech and civil discourse. The students themselves tend to lean either center right or center left, and the far-right and far-left are generally looked down on. It is not uncommon to see either American flags or rainbow flags in dorm buildings, so it can definitely be said that the CMC community is tolerant of both sides of the aisle.