What Makes the Claremont Colleges So Unique in California? #claremont #collegeadmissions #college
What are the Claremont Colleges, and why are they considered one of the most unique college systems in California?
The Claremont Colleges are a group of seven separate schools in Claremont, California, connected through one shared college system.
The group includes five undergraduate colleges: Pomona College, Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, and Pitzer College. It also includes two graduate institutions: Claremont Graduate University and Keck Graduate Institute.
The Claremont Colleges were inspired by Oxford and Cambridge in England. At those universities, students belong to individual colleges while also being part of a larger academic community. The Claremont Colleges were built with a similar idea: students get the personal experience of a smaller college with access to a larger college network.
Pomona College opened in 1887 and became the foundation for what would later become the Claremont Colleges. Scripps College followed in 1926, then Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, and Pitzer were added over the next several decades.
The five undergraduate colleges each have a different focus. Pomona is known for a broad liberal arts education. Scripps is the women’s college in the group. Claremont McKenna is known for government, economics, leadership, and public affairs. Harvey Mudd is known for science, engineering, math, and technology. Pitzer is known for social sciences, environmental studies, and interdisciplinary learning.
Students apply to one specific school, and that school becomes their home college. Once they are there, they may be able to take classes at the other Claremont schools, use shared libraries, join student organizations, attend events, and meet students from across the group.
This kind of setup can be a strong fit for students who want a smaller college environment without feeling limited to one campus.
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