nfarkas

Pitzer, 5-Cs and Claremont

I went to Pitzer in the early 2000s, before the new refurbishment. When I was there the campus was half arboretum-esque/half SF style inner-city with cinder block walls covered in murals; perfect for the neo-hippy mentality. The other 4-C's were gorgeous in comparison to Pitzer at the time, However, I hear Pitzer has become the leader in leed certified buildings and I assume the campus has improved (and I have learned the neo-hippy mentality is slowly fading out). Claremont is like a small, clean, safe 1950s-type of suburban community (small music venues, restaurants, clubs, bars, etc) which is situated inside a Pomona lower-income community (more restaurants, bars, shopping malls, cinemas, etc). Once outside the immediate areas (typically by car, but can take train to certain parts) you can venture off to LA or spend time exploring the desert on camping trips. The Claremonts are proud of being situated in the proximity of all these options.

Psychology Major

Psychology and other soft science subjects are popular at Pitzer College. I received an excellent education at Pitzer. The small classes were perfect to get to know the professors and other students. The 5-C (5-Claremont Colleges) were used to fulfill other course requirements if Pitzer's classes were full, or if you wanted to take a course on another campus that wasn't offered at Pitzer. It's a great education all around with many options that may be unavailable at other schools. Downfall: I was not prepared for the real world beyond academics. That maybe because I didn't seek out realistic courses that would prepare me for the business world. This includes resume prep, how to move up in the psych industry, networking, understanding bank statements, etc. However, this could be normal and what you'll have to learn on your own through real world experience.

I'll Talk About Study Abroad Instead

I did my study abroad in London, England. I don't recall the program I went through, but talk to the abroad office on Pitzer's campus, and they'll have info. My experience was incredible. I wanted to move to England after my 6-month stay was up. I took challenging courses (which is better than the alternative in my opinion because when I returned to Pitzer I felt I was ahead of some students in a mandatory class for my major and ended up tutoring others. I would not have if I didn't learn so much in my London classes). Outside of academics, I had my own dorm room, but shared a hall with other local brit students, some of whom are friends for life. I learned so much about the local community and partied it up the rest of the time. I would not trade that experience for the world. Good job Pitzer for creating this opportunity. (NOTE: some of my Pitzer friends did not have a similar experience to mine. I can only comment on my own.)