The academics are certainly rigorous, but will make you grow in ways you won't realize until you step off campus and out of the Claremont bubble. You will meet the most brilliant, talented, ambitious, fun-loving, charismatic people of your life here. It is a great institution in most respects!
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
1) Be prepared to work hard. 2) It's essential to communicate with your professors. 3) Resist the temptation to compare yourself to others. What you'll find here is that there is not a lot of inter-student competition, but that students tend to impose very high expectations on themselves. Learn to value what you have to contribute to the school and to society at large--that will keep you grounded and sane!
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Of course, this varies with discipline, course, and professor, but in my experience, the academics are challenging overall.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
There is something for everyone here--whether you like to party, stay in and watch movies with your friends, play music with your fellow musicians, or anything else you can think of. Sponsor group (hall) culture is especially great, and will form basic social units for most freshmen.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The dining halls do their best to offer a homey ambience and a fresh, healthy, varied selection. You can also dine at any of the other colleges in the consortium, which offers significant flexibility and the opportunity to develop new dining traditions with your friends.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
You will never be in want of things to do in the consortium. (Note: Most student groups and events are 5C [five-college].) A short list of options: off-campus trips, clubs, intramural sports teams, music lessons, parties, etc.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Greek life is not nearly as prevalent here as it is at many larger institutions. There are no sororities and only three fraternities (which host weekly or semesterly parties and other social events) at the Claremont Colleges.
The academics are certainly rigorous, but will make you grow in ways you won't realize until you step off campus and out of the Claremont bubble. You will meet the most brilliant, talented, ambitious, fun-loving, charismatic people of your life here. It is a great institution in most respects!
1) Be prepared to work hard. 2) It's essential to communicate with your professors. 3) Resist the temptation to compare yourself to others. What you'll find here is that there is not a lot of inter-student competition, but that students tend to impose very high expectations on themselves. Learn to value what you have to contribute to the school and to society at large--that will keep you grounded and sane!
Of course, this varies with discipline, course, and professor, but in my experience, the academics are challenging overall.
There is something for everyone here--whether you like to party, stay in and watch movies with your friends, play music with your fellow musicians, or anything else you can think of. Sponsor group (hall) culture is especially great, and will form basic social units for most freshmen.
The dining halls do their best to offer a homey ambience and a fresh, healthy, varied selection. You can also dine at any of the other colleges in the consortium, which offers significant flexibility and the opportunity to develop new dining traditions with your friends.
You will never be in want of things to do in the consortium. (Note: Most student groups and events are 5C [five-college].) A short list of options: off-campus trips, clubs, intramural sports teams, music lessons, parties, etc.
Greek life is not nearly as prevalent here as it is at many larger institutions. There are no sororities and only three fraternities (which host weekly or semesterly parties and other social events) at the Claremont Colleges.