User Profile
hsiegel12
Claremont McKenna College '12
Majoring in Languages and Literature
Member since 11/28/2009
A
75 and Sunny
"75 and Sunny" is one of the slogans on the back of the tour guides' shirts - and it's absolutely true. Usually over 100 degrees when school starts, but by October the weather cools down to the 70s - and stays there more or less until December. Students love to go work outside when the weather is warm, and most out-of-state students say that the weather is a highlight of the CMC experience. You might need a sweatshirt in January... that's about it. Otherwise it's flip-flops all year round!
Dec 02, 2009
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Research Institutions
The Research Institutions are extremely valuable assets to CMC. They employ CMC students, starting as early as freshman year, to do hands-on research. Each institute is different, so you are bound to find one whose work interests you. Some of the institutes, like Keck and Kravis, give out grants for students to do their own independent research. Even if you don't want to actually work for one, the institutes sponsor other events like speakers, conferences, or the Sophomore Leadership Experience, that you can attend. Working at the Rose Institute has given me valuable professional experience and amazing opportunities to do actual survey analysis and work on published reports as an underclassman.
Dec 02, 2009
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B+
Plenty to Do on Campus, Little to Do Off-Campus
The Village is a cute downtown area that includes about 3 streets with a couple dozen restaurants (a vast selection), a movie theater, banks, some small boutique stores, and pharmacies. 21 Choices has amazing frozen yogurt, and Burt and Rockies has fantastic homemade ice cream. It takes about 10 minutes to walk to the Village, and most students go there primarily to run errands rather than to eat out. Otherwise there's a mall that's about a 5-minute drive from campus. We're about an hour from Los Angeles (depending on traffic) and it's easy to take the Metrolink into Union Station. LA isn't the easiest city to get around, and attractions are spread so far apart that you really have to know exactly why you're going into LA to make your trip worth it. Being part of the Claremont Consortium, there's a ton to do on campus, and you can easily head over to any of the other colleges to eat or hang out. There are always things happening on campus, so you don't have to leave to find entertainment.
Dec 02, 2009
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A+
Free Printing!!!
One of the perks of CMC is that we have free, unlimited printing. You don't have to worry about the cost of printing or quotas when you're printing out that 50-page Gov. article. Most people have their own laptops, but will usually print using CMC's printers.
Dec 02, 2009
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There's No Need for Off-Campus Housing
CMC guarantees housing for all four years, and over 95% of students live on campus. Moving off campus means that you'll be missing out on part of the CMC experience like snack. Some nice apartments were just built near campus, but other than those there are few apartments to find nearby.
Dec 02, 2009
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There Is No Greek Life on Campus
One reason that I liked CMC was that there was no Greek life at any of the 5Cs. We're such a small school that you don't need a frat or sorority to form a network of close friends. There are still plenty of parties on campus, all of which are opened to anyone.
Dec 03, 2009
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B
Easy to Have a Car but Parking Can Be Scarce
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors can have cars on campus, but freshman can appeal and get special permission to have cars as well. It's only $40 a semester and easy to bring a car. There is a student parking lot off of South Quad, and you can usually find spots somewhere in the lot. Other than this parking lot, the parking situation is terrible. It's especially difficult when parents are trying to find somewhere to park when they help their kids move in and out. You don't need to drive unless you're heading off-campus. Nothing in the 5Cs - even the Village - is more than a 15 minute walk away.
Dec 03, 2009
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