pomona college essay prompts

Pomona Supplemental Essays 2023-24

Pomona Supplemental Essays 

If you’re planning to apply to Pomona College, you’ll also need to prepare to write several Pomona supplemental essays. Each Pomona essay that you write should expand upon your values, interests, and character. The Pomona supplemental essays are a unique opportunity for applicants to impress admissions officers simply by sharing more information about themselves. 

Pomona College is the founding member of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of seven private undergraduate and graduate schools. The Claremont Colleges are located in Claremont, California, which is often considered to be one of the best college towns . As part of this collective, Pomona students are able to take part in the courses, programs, and offerings at their fellow universities. 

The undergraduate Claremont Colleges (Pomona, Scripps, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd, and Pitzer) are all fairly selective. Indeed, Pomona is one of the best colleges in California as well as one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country. As a prestigious university, Pomona Admissions receives as many as 10,000 applications each year. With all that in mind, you’ll need to impress the admissions team with stellar Pomona supplemental essays. However, if you need help tackling the Pomona College supplemental essays, then you’re in the right place.

In our guide to the 2023-2024 Pomona Supplemental Essays, we’ll cover:

• Choosing the right Pomona College essay prompts for you
• How to write your Pomona supplemental essays
• Importance of the Ponoma essays in the admissions process
• Other Pomona requirements for admission
• And much much more!

By the end of this guide, we hope you’ll feel prepared and excited to start writing your Pomona College supplemental essays. But, before we dive into the Pomona College essay prompts, let’s start with some admissions quick facts.

Pomona College: Quick Facts

Pomona college admissions quick facts.

• Pomona Acceptance Rate: 7% – U.S. News ranks Pomona College among the most selective schools.
• 1 (~150 word) Why Major essay; Applicants will discuss their intended college major or, if Undecided, one of their academic passions.
• 1 (~150 word) short response Pomona essay: Applicants will choose from three Pomona College essay prompts about quirky traditions, personal items, and a time you felt empowered.
• 1 (~250 word) longer response Pomona essay: Applicants will choose from three Pomona College essay prompts about changing your perspective, community values, and personal strengths.
• Common Application
• Coalition Application
• QuestBridge Application
• Early Decision I: November 15th
• Early Decision II: January 8th
• Regular Decision: January 8th
• Pomona Essay Tip: All six of the Pomona College essay prompts are unique, so choosing the right one for you may be challenging. Whether you have a great idea for every prompt or are immediately drawn to one, don’t stress! There is no “correct” combinations of prompts to choose—your Pomona essays will be fantastic as long as they are specific, reflective, passionate, and authentic.

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website.

Does Pomona have supplemental essays?

Yes, Pomona has supplemental essays. The prompts for your Pomona College supplemental essays include a Why Major essay along with six unique prompts for you to choose from. These are school specific essays that are required in addition to your Common App or Coalition Application personal statement essay . 

Although there is one shorter and one longer response Pomona essay, neither is particularly long. However, both of the Pomona College supplemental essays require students to choose from multiple prompts. So, narrowing down which of the Pomona essay prompts to respond to may take some time.

How many essays does Pomona require?

Pomona requires students to submit three Pomona supplemental essays as part of their application. There are two shorter 150-word Pomona supplemental essays and one longer 250-word Pomona essay.

The first Pomona essay is a Why Major essay (150 words). Both the second and third Pomona supplemental essays ask students to choose from three Pomona essay prompts to respond to. Neither the shorter nor longer response Pomona essay has a specific theme. So, you’ll have the opportunity to write about a wide variety of topics in these Pomona supplemental essays. This can feel overwhelming, but it is also an excellent opportunity for applicants to share a meaningful part of themselves with admissions officers. 

The first step to writing great Pomona supplemental essays is to make sure you understand the prompts and how to approach them. In the next few sections, we’re going to go over each Pomona essay in more detail. First, we’ll discuss the Why Major Pomona essay. Then, we’ll take a look at the Pomona essay prompts for the shorter response essay. Lastly, we’ll do the same for the longer response Pomona essay. And, of course, along the way, we’ll provide you with plenty of tips to keep in mind while crafting your essays. 

Pomona College Why Major Essay

If you’ve started any other applications, this prompt may seem familiar. Many universities choose to incorporate a Why Major essay into their supplemental requirements. Let’s take a look at Pomona’s take on this type of prompt. 

Here is the Why Major Pomona essay prompt:

What do you love about the subject(s) you selected? If Undecided, share more about one of your academic passions. (150 words)

Part of Pomona’s mission is to help students identify and address their intellectual passions. So, naturally, they want to hear about your own academic interests. If you already know your intended major – great! As such, you’ll likely know exactly what you want to write about. However, if you’re Undecided, you might find the task more challenging. But, you shouldn’t! Simply talk about any of your academic passions, even if you’re not sure that you want to major in that particular subject.

When approaching this essay, it can be helpful to think of it chronologically. First, think of when you became interested in that topic. Were you inspired by one of your teachers in school? Or, did you read, watch, or hear something that sparked your curiosity? Then, consider where you are now – how has your relationship to the subject deepened or developed? 

Additionally, starting with an anecdote is a great way to immediately engage your reader. It might have to do with the moment you first were introduced to the subject or an example of your involvement in exploring it. (Dropping the reader into a specific experience is an effective way to start any of your Pomona supplemental essays!) While simply stating what you are interested in will technically answer the prompt, never miss an opportunity to paint a picture for your reader and support your points with detailed examples. In fact, successful college essays will do just that. 

Tie it into Pomona

Once you’ve established what you love about your chosen major, think forward to how you’ll continue to explore this topic at Pomona and beyond. Are there certain aspects of Pomona’s academic experience you plan to take advantage of? What type of profession do you hope to pursue? Or, if you’re not sure what career you might want to have, frame your future in impact. What issues do you want to help solve? How do you envision yourself engaging with and serving your community?

The Why Major Pomona essay is brief, so you’ll want to be sure to only include the most important details. A sentence or two is all you need to capture the essence of a personal anecdote and set the scene for sharing your academic passions. While you have the option to talk about both your first and second-choice academic interests, be strategic about the focus of your essay. Unless you can draw a connection between your two interests, you’re likely better off focusing on just one.

Looking for more inspiration? Take a look at our Why Major essay examples to see some essays that worked, including a Pomona specific Why Major essay!

Pomona Essay – Short Response

Now let’s look at your second 150-word Pomona essay – the short response. Remember, students can choose from three Pomona essay prompts:

Pomona College Short Response Essay Prompts

Please choose one of the following three prompts to respond to with an essay of no more than 150 words., 1. at pomona, we celebrate and identify with the number 47. share with us one of your quirky personal, family or community traditions and why you hold on to it., 2. what item are you excited to bring with you to college, 3. describe a time when you felt empowered or on top of the world..

The topic of your Pomona supplemental essays will largely depend on which prompt you choose. So, let’s take a look at each prompt and what you need to accomplish in your essay.

Short response prompt #1

This prompt asks you about your traditions, specifically those that are unique. For this prompt, you’ll want to describe what the tradition is and what it means to you.

Short response prompt #2

Remember, you have the power to imbue an object with meaning. If you choose this prompt, be sure to describe the item, why it is valuable to you, and why it’s important you have it with you in college.

Short response prompt #3

Here is an opportunity to define what empowerment means to you. Consider touching on the challenges that precipitated this moment or the lasting lessons or values you took away from the experience.

How to answer Pomona supplemental essays

The main goal of your Pomona College supplemental essays is to provide admissions with compelling, interesting details not found anywhere else in your application. So, when deciding on a topic, you’ll want to consider how the prompts you select for your Pomona supplemental essays play off of one another.

For example, let’s say short response Pomona essay prompt #1 immediately brought to mind a family tradition you love and value. If you feel passionate about writing that essay, you may want to choose a prompt beside #2 for your longer Pomona essay. Since both of these prompts are about community, you run the risk of being repetitive in your essays. However, if you have two communities in your life that are important to you and your identity, then feel free to write one essay for each of them!

On a more general note, you’ll want to highlight different qualities and characteristics in your Pomona supplemental essays. For example, let’s say you choose prompt #3 for your short answer Pomona essay and share a story about you leading your robotics team to a state championship. In your essay, you’d like to capture something about your interests as well as qualities such as perseverance, leadership, and collaboration. If you choose prompt #3 for your longer response essay, you’ll want to touch on different strengths or qualities not already reflected in your other Pomona essay.

Basically, use the different Pomona essay prompts to highlight varying skills, traits, experiences, and values. This is your opportunity to round out your application and craft the most intriguing narrative for admissions. Make sure each essay adds something new and different.  

Pomona Supplemental Essays – Longer Response Essay

Finally, let’s discuss the third of your Pomona supplemental essays – the longer response essay. As before, students will need to choose from three Pomona essay prompts:

Pomona College Supplemental Essay Prompts

Please choose one of the following three prompts to respond to with an essay of no more than 250 words., 1. in the past few years, is there something you have changed your mind about why, 2. reflecting on a community that you are part of, what values or perspectives from that community would you bring to pomona, 3. what strength or quality do you have that most people might not see or recognize.

Let’s discuss each of these prompts in a bit more detail.

Longer response prompt #1

This is a great prompt because we get to see a moment of change and growth. Be sure to establish your previous perception or stance so we can see the difference between the before and after, connected through the “why”. Be sure to delve into why the change happened. This is where admissions will see your ability to reflect as well as your capacity for personal growth.

Longer response prompt #2

Think of this prompt as an opportunity to show Pomona why you’d be a valuable addition to their community. You’ll want to demonstrate the value or perspective through specific examples. You might expand on what a certain value looks like in your community or perhaps a moment where your community taught you something. Then, be sure to mention how this perspective or value would translate to a college campus.

Longer response prompt #3

With this prompt, you have free range to brag about yourself. Don’t be afraid to highlight your best qualities, so long as you can back them up with specific examples. Take advantage of anecdotes so that it doesn’t read as a list of strengths. You might even start this prompt by working backward, first thinking about some of your most meaningful experiences and then relating them to one of your strengths. 

How to write Pomona supplemental essay

Writing your Pomona College supplemental essays requires a similar approach to any college application essay . You’ll want to follow a complete writing process in order to arrive at the best Pomona supplemental essays possible. Each step is important so don’t cut corners. That means allowing yourself plenty of time to write these essays. 

Let’s check out the steps you should follow for each essay:

Steps for Writing Pomona College Supplemental Essays

1. brainstorming.

When approaching a prompt, try building a mind map to explore potential ideas. The topic with the most connections will likely be the easiest to write about. Not into a mind map? Well, there are plenty of other ways to come up with ideas. Check out this webinar for some more ideas!

2. Writing a first draft

Don’t worry about making your first draft perfect. In fact, don’t even stress about the word count yet. Just get your ideas down on paper. You’ll worry about sorting through them next.

3. Refining your ideas

Now that you’ve got a first draft, look for the throughline. What’s the overarching message or point of your essay? Do you have a beginning, middle, and end? Think about what you want your reader to be left with by the end of your essay, then go back and consider how each sentence contributes to that goal.

4. Editing for clarity

If your essay is too long, here’s where you can narrow down and highlight only the most important ideas. Where can you simplify your wording and make your statements more direct? Does your essay raise any questions that are left unanswered?

5. Proofreading

A final essay should be free of any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. When you’re happy with the content of your essay, be sure to do a final check to polish your essays and make sure they shine . It’s also helpful to have another pair of eyes read through your essays. They can check for any mechanical errors as well as clarity of the content. 

While you may decide to brainstorm for every prompt, you’ll probably want to settle on one before you start drafting your Pomona supplemental essays. Keep reading for more tips on how to select the right Pomona essay prompt for you.

Advice on choosing the right essay prompt for you

Choosing which of the Pomona College essay prompts to respond to might feel like a big decision. After all, the prompts you pick will directly impact your Pomona supplemental essays and the topics you discuss in them. Before you get stressed out about making this decision, just remember you can’t go wrong. The Pomona admissions team included all of these prompts for a reason: they want to read a Pomona essay about something you feel passionate about.

Now that you know you can’t go wrong with any of the Pomona College essay prompts, you still have a decision to make. Here are some tips to keep in mind to help you decide which of the Pomona College essay prompts make the most sense for you.

Don’t limit your choices

While you may be immediately drawn to a specific prompt, take the time to do a timed free-write for all six of the Pomona College essay prompts. You may be surprised what topics you come up with for each when given the chance!

Always go back to the why

Imagine every prompt for your Pomona supplemental essays asks this question at the end: “Why?” For example, if you can’t articulate why you’re bringing your favorite stuffed animal from home in response to short answer prompt #2, it’s probably not a good enough topic for one of your Pomona supplemental essays. The meaning behind the topic you choose is the key to crafting passionate essays. 

Think about the bigger picture

Remember, your Pomona College supplemental essays won’t be considered on their own. They’ll be considered alongside your other essays and elements of your application. So, keep in mind your overall personal narrative and how each essay contributes to it. Use each essay to highlight something new so that admissions gets a true sense of who you are and what you’d bring to campus.

Remember, above all, choose the prompts you’ll have the most fun responding to! If your responses to the Pomona College essay prompts capture your voice and passion, you’re doing everything right.

Does Pomona care about essays?

If you’re wondering how to get into Pomona, you might be asking yourself how important the Pomona supplemental essays are when it comes to admissions decisions. As a highly ranked and selective college, Pomona needs to be impressed with every part of your application. Admissions is looking for students who are passionate about their intellectual pursuits and will thrive in their campus community. 

Furthermore, each Pomona essay is an opportunity to demonstrate how serious you are about attending Pomona. Completing the Pomona supplemental essays with care demonstrates your competence as a prospective student, commitment to personal excellence, and respect for the college. So, well-thought-out and polished Pomona supplemental essays should definitely be a top priority in your “how to get into Pomona” strategy.

To drive home the importance of your Pomona supplemental essays, consider this: There are many colleges without supplemental essays and others with optional supplemental essays. All three of the Pomona supplemental essays are required . That means admissions is relying on your essays to provide them with a full, vibrant picture of who you are and what you’ll bring to Pomona.

Additional information about Pomona College

So, now that we’ve gone over the essay prompts and have touched on just how important the Pomona supplemental essays are, let’s look at the other Pomona requirements. After all, you need more than just the essays to complete your Pomona application.

Pomona Requirements

In addition to your Pomona supplemental essays, you’ll need to submit:

• Completed Common App, Coalition, or QuestBridge application
• Official high school transcript
• School report and counselor recommendation
• Mid-year report
• Two letters of recommendation (from core academic subject areas)
• Application fee or fee waiver

Students also have the option of submitting standardized test scores , requesting an interview, and sharing an arts supplement . If you’d like to submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher of an elective subject, coach, employer, or other individual, please note this must be in addition to the two required letters of recommendation.

Now, let’s touch on another important part of the application process – financial aid.

Pomona Financial Aid

Over half of Pomona’s students receive some level of financial aid . Pomona is need-blind, meaning they evaluate applications regardless of a student’s financial status. They are also dedicated to meeting fully demonstrated need. So, eligible students will receive an offer comprised of grants and a student employment allotment.

If you plan on applying for aid , be sure to do your research. The deadline to apply for financial aid will depend on whether you choose to apply Early Decision I, Early Decision II, or Regular Decision. Be sure to double-check the financial aid deadline for your chosen admissions plan.

If you have any more questions about what it’s like to attend Pomona, there are many ways to learn more. Pomona’s Connect / Visit page has everything from virtual campus tours, Q&As, and webinars as well as information regarding in-person programs and info sessions.

Pomona Supplemental Essays: Final Takeaways

As the most selective of the Claremont Colleges, Pomonacarefully considers each students application as a whole. In order to get the most complete understanding of their applicants, Pomona Admissions requires students to submit three Pomona College supplemental essays. While all students will write a Why Major essay, the other Pomona College essay prompts cover a range of topics.

To help you tackle your Pomona College supplemental essays, keep in mind these  key takeaways:

• Prospective students will need to write three Pomona supplemental essays: a Why Major essay, a short response essay, and a longer response essay.
• When selecting a prompt, consider what your Pomona supplemental essays will say about you as a whole.
• Ground your Pomona supplemental essays in a specific anecdote or personal experience. Bring each essay back to the “Why?” in order to write meaningfully. 

Before you submit your Pomona College supplemental essays, take a look at our guide on How to Get Into Pomona for more tips. Additionally, if you’re looking for more essay-writing tips, we have plenty of articles on how to write better essays . And, if you have more questions about your application to Pomona after it’s submitted, be sure to check out their FAQ . Good luck!

This essay guide was written by Stefanie Tedards. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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How to Respond to the 2034/2024 Pomona College Supplemental Essay Prompts

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Pomona College is a private, four-year liberal arts college located in Claremont, California. If you are applying, a few Pomona supplemental essays are required. These include an academic interest statement, a short response essay, and a longer response essay. Responding to these prompts in a stellar way offers the admissions professionals a better view of who you are. Let’s dive in!

Academic interest statement

The academic interest statement is a quick, 150 word maximum statement that shows why you chose to apply to Pomona. Quick doesn’t always mean easy, so give yourself plenty of time to write and review, and then repeat! 

Academic interest statement prompt

“What do you love about the subject(s) you selected as potential major(s)? If undecided, share more about one of your academic passions.”

 A topic for this prompt shouldn’t be too difficult to think of. If you are having trouble thinking of what to say, here are a few things to think about:

• What classes did you love in high school?
• What is the reason that you picked your major?
• What about your specific program at Pomona inspires you?
• What are your career aspirations?

These are all great questions to ask yourself before you start writing, to get you inspired. As with any college application essay, just be honest and be yourself–authenticity always comes through. 

Short-response essays

The Pomona College short response supplemental essays are each only a maximum of 150 words. The good thing about this section is that there are three prompt options to choose from. That means you only have to select one to write about. 

Short-response prompt #1

“At Pomona, we celebrate and identify with the number 47. Share with us one of your quirky personal, family, or community traditions and why you hold on to it.”

This is a very unique question for a college application essay, which is why it is so great. You may not have a tradition that you can think of off the top of your head, and that’s okay! That just means this prompt may not be for you– which is why they have two more options. 

An example here might be a family tradition such as eating a certain meal as a family every week, and how you would like to carry a similar tradition to college with you. It could also be a tradition that your high school community had, such as a rival football game that gets you excited to explore team rivalries at your new school. Whatever you choose to write about, try to be clear and concise in your writing, because you do not have much space to write anything super “wordy”.

Short-response prompt #2

“What item are you excited to bring with you to college?”

This is a fun question because it is so open-ended. You can use this prompt to showcase your personality and the type of person you are. It reveals things about you that can’t be found on a resume or academic report. 

Whether it is some sort of memento that reminds you of your childhood or a more practical item that you can’t live without, this prompt allows you to be witty and let the reader see who you are. You could also take this question literally, and write about something that you are bringing with you that isn’t a tangible item– something you learned at some point during your life, or a quality that you have that will help you succeed in college. 

Short-response prompt #3

“Describe a time when you felt empowered or on top of the world?

There are many directions that you can take this prompt, and we’re sure that upon reading it, you can think of at least one instance. For this prompt, you really want to channel the way that this feeling of empowerment made you feel, and how it affected your life, or the way you live your life. This can be a very deep question if you let it!

Longer response essays

The longer response essays are going to give you a bit more room to talk about things in more depth. They are going to be a maximum of 250 words, and you have three prompts to pick from, again for this section. 

Longer response essay #1

“In the past few years, is there something you have changed your mind about? Why?”

This prompt is really interesting, especially for a long response essay. For a prompt like this, the reader wants to be able to see how open-minded you can be. Are you a person who is willing to respectfully learn about the viewpoints of others? This tells a lot about a student and the way they live their lives (and how they might adapt to college life). Think about this when you are writing this prompt.

 Longer response essay #2

“Reflecting on a community that you are part of, what values or perspectives from that community would you bring to Pomona?”

For this prompt, you could talk about your community as a whole. That could be your hometown, your high school, or another larger community. You could also share about a smaller community, such as an organization that you are a part of, a church group, a service group, or even a club at school. It is important to remember that the prompt is there to inspire you, not to lock you into one certain topic. You are allowed to stray slightly from the topic as long as you redirect it to align with the question they are asking you. 

Next, you want to start thinking about what Pomona College’s core values are. With this knowledge, you can align the values learned from your  community with those of Pomona College. The core values of Pomona are:

• Professionalism
• Student development
• Ethical behavior

Take these values and connect them to the values or perspectives that you will bring with you to college. The reader will be so impressed that you have done your homework and that you are aligned with what they believe in.

Longer response essay #3

“What strength or quality do you have that most people might not see or recognize?”

This prompt is the perfect opportunity for you to dive in deep and really tell the college admissions professionals who you are on the inside. Don’t take this prompt and write about something simple– they want to know about your struggles and how they made you stronger. Lean into that feeling and write from your heart here.

A prompt like this one would be a great opportunity to write about struggles such as a medical problem, mental health struggles, bullying, family problems, growing up and growing out of friendships; the list could go on and on. This is the perfect opportunity to show Pomona what has made you stronger in your life, and how you choose to use those difficult experiences to better the life of others and yourself. This might be emotional, but that’s okay. If you feel comfortable writing about these topics, even if they are hard to get out on the page, it is going to give the essay a much more human feel. After all, sharing an authentic, lived experience reveals a person’s true colors. 

Final thoughts for students

Although having this many options to write about may seem daunting at first, it makes things a bit easier on you because you have so many options to choose from. This way, there is bound to be a prompt among the Pomona supplemental essays that fits every person. As long as you stay honest and concise in each of your essays, your personality will shine through. There is no doubt that this will impress the reader!

Additional resources

At Scholarships360, we get that applying to college is a stressful time– which is why we have your back! Once you’ve finished up your Pomona College supplemental essays, you can start looking into scholarship opportunities in our scholarship database , and additional college admissions tips . You can also check out our guides on how many colleges to apply for , how to choose a college , and how to plan college visits .

Realizing Pomona might not be for you? That’s okay too! We have tons of other articles on other schools supplemental essays as well, such as Stanford University , Claremont McKenna College , and much more. Good luck on the rest of your college admissions process!

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Your Ultimate Guide to Last Minute Essays

Essay due tomorrow? Just started? Let us help. 

Step 1. Self-Control App. Download it now.

If you don’t know what this is, google it and download it as fast as you possibly can. Trust me. Because no matter how many times you promise yourself you won’t get on Facebook, let’s be honest: that website is irresistible when you are trying to write an essay. Heck, have a field day. Block StumbleUpon, Twitter, and whatever other sites you might be into these days, and block them until your essay is submitted. Just get off the internet. You’d be amazed how productive you can be.

Step 2. Take a deep breath.

You can’t do anything if you can’t breathe, and I bet you won’t be writing much if all you can think about is how stressed you are. Just take five minutes (I promise five minutes won’t destroy your chance at finishing) and refocus. Eat a snack, play your favorite song, sing into a hairbrush, dance around, it doesn’t really matter. Let your brain, and your body, relax. You are no good to yourself paralyzed by anxiety.

Step 3. Ready, begin!

Start by outlining your argument. And if you don’t outline, that’s okay, because it doesn’t need to be a full or detailed list of what you’re going to say and when you’re going to say it. If that’s not normally a part of your process, don’t do it. Instead, spend as much time as you need to explore the topic so that you won’t get to the third page and realize you were wrong or didn’t prove your thesis. That’s the other thing; state your thesis. Underline it, circle it, and highlight it. Make sure you understand exactly what you are arguing, because forgetting your thesis is the best way to waste time. It doesn’t matter what your essay is: yes, you do need a thesis statement. Figure out exactly what you want it to be, and then make sure you can support it. Find a couple quotes now, and make a note of where they came from.

Step 4. Write like the wind.

You don’t have a lot of time, so make it count. Keep your outlined notes in front of you, and type out your ideas as they come. Do not, I repeat, do not get stuck on word choice or spelling mistakes. Get your ideas out, and, no matter how ugly they might look, wait and copy-edit at the end. Working through grammatical errors will only distract you from what’s really important, which is proving your thesis. Keep checking in at the beginning of each paragraph: how does this relate to my thesis? Moreover, don’t let yourself get bogged down with organization. If you are having trouble with structure, go back to the basics:

• Topic sentence: How does this relate to my thesis?
• Lead into the quote
• Quote (and cite the source)
• Analyze the quote
• But don’t you dare just repeat your topic sentence!

Step 5. Edit.

Check your argument to make sure you stuck with the prompt and your thesis. Double-check your evidence to see that you supported your point. See if your organization makes sense, and that you included some transition sentences between paragraphs so it flows. Now, copy-edit. Check for repetitious word choice, tense shifts, grammar, and spell-check. If you can delete any words from a sentence, do it. Repeat, as many times as you can, until you submit your essay.

Step 6. Sleep.

Job well done, so take a well-deserved nap.

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Breaking Down the Pomona Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

Padya Paramita

October 1, 2020

Pomona College has consistently ranked among the top 5 liberal arts schools over the past decade. This year, it came in at  #4 in the US News rankings. At Pomona, students can take advantage of studying at a small college with an average class size of 15, along with the opportunities offered by a larger university thanks to its connections to the other members of the Claremont Consortium — Scripps College, Pitzer College, Harvey Mudd, and Claremont McKenna. If you have your eyes on Pomona, you must communicate to admissions officers why you’re a strong fit through the Pomona Supplemental Essays 2020-2021.

Pomona is known for its challenging academic programs, liberal arts curriculum, close relationships between students and faculty, and a range of student research and leadership opportunities across different fields. To be amongst the 7.4% students who are accepted each year, you must showcase how you would take advantage of the school’s resources and contribute to campus by writing stellar essays. In this blog, I’ve outlined the different prompts for the Pomona supplemental essays 2020-2021 , how to answer them, and further tips to help you distinguish yourself from other applicants.

Pomona Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

Students at Pomona are encouraged to take a variety of classes before declaring their major(s) in their second year. Tell us what gets you excited about the academic interest(s) you selected or any other fields of study you hope to explore in college. (150 words)

The key to answering this question among the Pomona supplemental essays 2020-2021 lies in conducting appropriate research surrounding the major and college you’ve chosen. Think about what your experiences have looked like so far — and most importantly, connect your past to your chosen field at Pomona. You can write about unique courses that are only offered at Pomona that appeal to you within your major,

The word limit (150 words) is extremely tight, so make sure to assert your interest in the subject into your essay as well. Mention any example from your high school experience that conveys your passion for the field. Elaborate on how your experiences and exploration of the topics within the discipline so far make you a strong candidate for the program. If there have been any ways you’ve actively pursued your interest - such as directing a play for the Theatre major or starting your own nonprofit that supports women as a future Gender Studies Major mention them in a sentence or two. 

Since there’s not much space, you won’t be able to get too much into the details about other areas of academic focus, and that’s okay. Drive home your enthusiasm both for your intended academic field, and how Pomona can specifically hone your skills and contribute to  your growth as a student. 

Question 2: Quick Responses

All the questions in this section are entirely optional (and we mean it!). 

• If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (50 words or less)
• If not captured elsewhere in your application, please share with us how you have overcome challenges in your life. (50 words or less)

Although these questions are optional, answering them can help demonstrate your uniqueness to the admissions officer. You might wish to talk about your familial background or sexual orientation in response to the identity essay. You may also be compelled to answer the second prompt and briefly elaborate on a significant challenge you’ve faced. Discussing a part of you that’s personal can be a difficult and vulnerable experience so you shouldn’t feel pressured to talk about something you’re not comfortable with. But if something about your identity or a specific challenge you’ve overcome is central to who you are, we encourage you to use this space accordingly. 

At the same time, be careful if you’re answering the question about a challenge you’ve overcome. Failing a math test might seem shallow in comparison to a student who may have tackled serious issues like losing someone close or facing homelessness. . Only use this space if, when thinking of the general application pool, your challenge was objectively significant.  Think carefully about your response, and answer if you feel comfortable.

Before jumping into the required essays, you have the option to show us a little more of your personality. You can answer one, two, three, or none of the following questions. (1-50 words each)

• What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
• What’s your favorite way to eat a potato?
• You’re relaxing on a Friday night. Suddenly, your favorite song pops into your head. What is it?

The key to writing these very short answers is to make sure you’re being truthful. Don’t just try to aim for what you think the admissions officers want to read. Clearly, these answers want you to get creative and showcase a more fun side. You might think McDonald’s fries are the best way to eat a potato or maybe.... Don’t overthink it — write it down. The same tip applies to your favorite song. You’re a high schooler — no one is expecting your favorite song to be a classical jazz piece. If that is truly the case, of course you should say that. But if you prefer a pop group or emo band, be honest. Admissions officers just want to get to know you!

Pomona College requires two short essays (200-250 words each) to complete your application. Please choose two of the three essay prompts for your responses. 

Choose one of the following two prompts:

Tell us about an experience when you dealt with disagreement or conflict around different perspectives within a community.

This can be a challenging essay to tackle if you were involved in a controversial disagreement. However, if there was an incident that could show your honesty and integrity — and your unique perspective — you should definitely choose this prompt. Think about how the incident would reflect on your character and whether you’d want such a person at your school if you were in the admissions officers’ shoes.

In your essay, outline what happened and how you dealt with the conflict — but focus most of your words on what your takeaway was from the situation. You can try your hand at this essay if you encountered a situation where you acted with integrity. It might be a good chance to showcase your qualifications as a leader and desirable candidate. Or if you made a mistake - yet the situation respects boundaries and won’t portray you negatively - and you have learned from the incident since, you could also try that angle. Admissions officers want to know how you act when faced with a tough situation and whether you’re someone who is either reliable under pressure or someone who has grown from their mistakes.

Tell us about one of the communities you belong to and what it means to bring that shared belief and/or perspective to Pomona.

Since the prompt does not mention specific boxes which your choice of community has to check, think about a place where you’ve actually made the biggest impact. Think about how to differentiate yourself - while service trips abroad definitely could count as community service, they won’t help paint a memorable picture of you because lots of students participate in them. You could write about smaller circles such as your family, friend group, or neighborhood. You may have helped the community as a whole or you could have helped one or two individuals who belong to it. 

To think about the kinds of contributions to elaborate on, ask yourself the following questions:

• How have you collaborated with others in your community?
• Have you taken any risks to help others? How have they paid off?
• Have you spearheaded any initiatives towards change?
• Are there any service examples that portray your curiosity and creativity?
• Why do you care about this community? How have you shown it? 

If you choose a larger community - like your whole school or city - make sure your essay still focuses on your own contribution and role. A response to such a prompt needs to follow the classic “show, not tell” advice. Admissions officers won’t be satisfied with just “I helped my family.” You need to dig deeper and convince them through the Pomona application essays 2020-2021 that you are the kind of hardworking and passionate individual who can thrive at Pomona.

Further Tips for Answering the Pomona Supplemental Essays 2020-2021

• Be Careful About Repeating Your Personal Statement - Pomona College is a member of the Common App, so there’s no point repeating what you’ve said in your personal statement , especially considering that Prompt 1 in Question 2 is very similar to the Common App prompt: “ Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?” Because admissions officers want each essay to add something new to your profile, don’t repeat yourself. Or, if your Pomona and Common App questions overlap, write about a different experience for Pomona. If you keep repeating information, your application is pretty much bound to bore the admissions officers. That’s the last thing you want.
• Be succinct but confident - The Pomona supplemental essays 2020-2021 have a tight word limits. The longest word limit is only 250 words. So in a matter of 100-200 words, you have to confidently answer questions by convincingly telling a story, providing a clear picture of yourself, and outlining your goals in relation to the programs at Pomona. Don’t beat around the bush. Get straight to the point and go through multiple drafts while internally reflecting on how Pomona is the right school for you.

The best way to stand out from your peers in the Pomona supplemental essays 2020-2021 is to emphasize qualities and experiences that are unique to you and the school itself. If admissions officers come away from reading your responses knowing you’re making a well-informed decision, they’re more likely to go to bat for you. Ultimately, make sure your responses have highlighted the perspective you’ll bring and how Pomona resources can help you achieve your goals. Best of luck!

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How to Write the Pomona College Essays 2016-2017

Check out the pomona college application essays for 2017-2018, about pomona college.

Located an hour east of Los Angeles, California, in sunny Claremont, Pomona College is one of the five Claremont Colleges in the Claremont Consortium and is often considered one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Pomona boasts a steep acceptance rate of 9% and average SAT scores in the range of 1450-1570 (25-75th percentile); since the applicant pool is highly competitive, the students you will meet as a Sagehen are amongst the brightest.

The campus is beautiful and spacious at 140 acres in size, and massive buildings like the Campus Center and the Rains Center provide ample room for the 1,600 undergraduates. Sagehens have 48 majors to choose from , and access to classes throughout the Consortium provides over 2,000 courses. Classes range from relaxing to intensely challenging, and are generally small in size, but teachers are known to be remarkably passionate about their work and enjoy sparking heated debates and forums amongst students.

There are 14 residence halls in total, all well-maintained and large with plenty of singles and suites to live in, but no two residence halls feel the same. The students are known to be intelligent yet laid-back; the classmates around you will push you to be your best, yet there is little sense of judgement and antagonism. Additionally, Pomona students rave about the on-campus dining, and many students are involved in competitive Division III athletics.

Pomona College Application Essay Prompts

Most Pomona students enter the College undecided about a major, or they change their minds about their prospective major by the time they graduate. Certainly we aren’t going to hold you to any of the choices you’ve made above. But please do tell us why you’ve chosen the major or majors (or Undecided !) that you have (in no more than 250 words).

At its core, this prompt is a “Why this major?” essay, so there are some straightforward guidelines to follow when crafting your response. However, keep in mind: the word count is limited to 250 words, and this prompt goes out of its way to explain that they understand if you don’t feel committed towards a single major.

Many students feel compelled to deliver that ‘hard sell,’ and convince the admissions department they were born for that major, even if their interest may not be that strong. In other cases, school supplements often ask “Why X major?” and expect that you are committed to that field, especially at STEM schools and applications to specific engineering/business programs.

This prompt, on the other hand, emphasizes a more open approach to which major you are considering, so keep that open-minded mentality as you write this essay. If you genuinely feel passionate about a field, whether that be the future of machine learning or foreign relations, then great! You’ll be able to address this question with ease and fluidity.

To those that don’t have much of an idea what they want to do, take advantage of the leniency in this prompt and explain why you may be undecided. This is in keeping with Pomona’s philosophy of discovery through a liberal arts education.

Since this is a “Why this major?” essay, and your application as a whole is likely shaped around some specific interests (even if you are undecided or between several options), make sure to explain those passions or expand upon them if you have already discussed them in your personal statement. Beginning with an anecdote is by no means necessary; simply let the reader know what major(s) you are considering and why on an introductory level before delving into the body of your essay.

If you do have a good anecdote that explains your choice of major, then start with that. Reference the major name in regards to Pomona — you will look silly if the major you mention doesn’t exist (Pomona does not offer majors in pre-law, pre-health, and pre-engineering, but does have similar paths and special programs) or is under a different name, e.g., “biomedical engineering” vs. “bioengineering.”

Additionally, do your research on the major program(s) at Pomona, including the kinds of classes, the professors in that field, ongoing research, programs and opportunities available, etc. Wrap it up by saying what you would do with a Pomona degree in that field.

If you are undecided, make sure to explain why you would like to explore your options at Pomona in particular, and be careful to still mention some opportunities, classes, and potential majors you will explore during your early years at Pomona. Remember: if you are in doubt in regards to your major, express your interests in relation to what Pomona provides. For example, if Pomona provides a unique program in finance and you are undecided but have some interest in economics, you can mention this program.

Each year, the Pomona Student Union hosts a “Great Debate.” Thought leaders with opposing views on a certain issue are invited to make their case in front of the student body. What is an issue that you think has two or more sides and what views would be important to capture in order to understand the nuances of the debate? Why do you think it would be important for the Pomona student body to be exposed to this debate?

This is an uncommon type of prompt, since the Great Debate is unique to Pomona and professors at Pomona encourage lively discussion and the clashing of opinions. Don’t be intimidated by this option; this is really a way for admissions officers at Pomona to further assess your thought process, your views and values, and your ability to develop nuanced perspectives and understand both sides within an argument.

Since most of your application is built around your intellectual capacity and academic prowess, this is a chance for the admissions officers to see a new side of you. Pick an issue that is relevant to you and your interests, but don’t feel the necessity to choose an issue just because it’s global and humanitarian, e.g., widespread poverty. The issue can be small-scale if it is important to you, e.g., influence of certain dress code rules at your school. The more nuanced, the better. If you have taken Speech and Debate in high school, you might feel most comfortable with this prompt!

You can approach this prompt in several ways. Consider beginning  with a narrative or anecdote that relates to the issue before explaining the issue and stances, in a way where the narrative reveals the nuances on its own. For example, you could write about rapidly changing lifestyle in the ocean from the perspective of a whale before explaining the controversy over climate change, and whether or not we are causing the global rise in sea level and ocean acidification.

You could also initially state the issue and give background on both sides of the argument before explaining why this issue is important to you, what perspectives one could take on the issue (no issue is inherently binary, so this part is important), and how this issue has relevance to fellow Sagehens.

Don’t feel the need to take a side yourself; while you may agree with one side, neutrality might be beneficial when exploring all sides of the argument. The most difficult (or most obvious part) may be connecting the issue to why it’s important for Pomona’s student body, but be sure to talk about specific aspects of the school or students. If you take on the controversy surrounding the current presidential election, for example, you can state how necessary it is for current students to express their opinion and vote.

Tell Us About…

Tell us about a subject that you couldn’t stop exploring, a book you couldn’t put down, or a Wikipedia rabbit hole you dove into. Why did it fascinate you?

This prompt is best if you have a profound interest that isn’t necessarily mentioned elsewhere in your application, and you have the passion and excitement to write in depth about it. There may be some topics you have a strong interest in and can’t stop reading about, or that you have spent hours researching for the sake of self-interest.

This could take the form of online literature on string theory, a certain video series on Khan Academy, or a book that was so engaging you spent entire nights reading without realizing. Or maybe a YouTube subscription on medieval history, or a new musical artist or photographer you stumbled across two years ago and have pursued since. While the prompt seems to limit you to online searches or books you dove into, feel free to divert from this path a little.

Whatever this interest may be for you, a solid vehicle to frame your story would be a narrative. Begin in the heat of the moment, describing your reading or researching with intensity, and use figurative language to convey feelings and sensory detail. You can mix in a twist introduction, or employ creative language and writing to display your writing prowess, before zooming out and explaining your topic in a more general sense.

For example, you could describe in detail your mental process as you watch a science video before explaining what you are watching and why it interests you. You want to emphasize why it fascinated you, and why that fascination fits into your overall story and the theme of your application. Choose something genuine that you are interested in, whether it is quirky or oddball or completely unrelated to your academics and extracurriculars, and have fun with it!

Write About A Time…

Pomona has a long history of bringing together students of diverse backgrounds who want to push intellectual limits and who want to engage in a community that values difference. Write about a time when you were aware of your difference. How did it change you and what did you learn from the experience?

This prompt is best for you if a specific experience with this difference played a formative, consistent role in your life. This difference doesn’t have to be racial, an issue of sexism, etc. — don’t feel compelled to make this difference one of controversy, but one that has genuinely affected you.

If you are an immigrant and the language or cultural barrier was the difference, or your ethnicity caused you to feel different, be sure to take a nuanced and unique approach, since many applicants may have similar stories, thus rendering your theme cliché. This difference can manifest in skill-level disparities when you first joined a team sport and how you persevered, in a pronounced difference between you and a sibling that guided your family dynamic, etc.

Whatever it is, avoid broad clichés and generalizations that will weaken your overall message. Avoid saying something along the lines of “I overcame that difference and won” or “I put aside that difference immediately and was able to work things out.” It’s OK to be vulnerable here, and establish how you changed as a person by recognizing that difference and using it as a stepping stone in the right direction.

Keep in mind the first part of the prompt emphasizes diverse backgrounds and valuing differences. The key message you want to convey is that this difference has taught you valuable lessons in understanding who you are as an individual and how you will present this side to the student population at Pomona.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Pomona College 2017-18 Supplemental Essay Guide

Regular Decision: 

Pomona College 2017-18 Application Essay Question Explanations

Pomona starts you off with a fairly standard Why essay, but that’s just the appetizer. As a second course, they offer a platter of oddball prompts to inspire and challenge you. Luckily, you only have to choose one. While the prompts themselves may seem a bit off the wall, you can still be strategic in your selection. First and foremost, go with your gut. It’s a blessing to feel a spark when you read one of these, and it can feel like a curse forcing an oddball essay out of your brain when you’re not feeling inspired. Once you’ve picked your prompt, give yourself a little time to brainstorm and play around with a few ideas before you commit. These quirky prompts are all about showing your creativity so let you mind roam!

The Requirements: One long essay of 400-600 words, one short essay of 250 words.

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Oddball

Most Pomona students enter the College undecided about a major, or they change their minds about their prospective major by the time they graduate. Certainly we aren’t going to hold you to any of the choices you’ve made above. But please do tell us why you’ve chosen the major or majors (or Undecided!) that you have (in no more than 250 words).

This somewhat rambling prompt is nothing more or less than an academically-inclined Why essay. As you dig into the writing, aim to answer these two key questions: (1) What do you love about the subject? (2) How does Pomona’s specific program meet your needs or excite your curiosity? In other words, your goal is not just to geek out (although this is highly encouraged!), but also to demonstrate your fit for Pomona specifically. If you can demonstrate a knowledge or curiosity for your chosen major alongside some school-specific facts, you’ll show admissions that you’re motivated and dedicated to their institution. If that’s not a winning combo, we don’t know what is! So before you start scribbling away (or pounding out 250 words on your computer), remember that the backbone of any good why essay is research! Give yourself some time to dig through the Pomona website and get to know your department as well as any related programs, centers, and opportunities.

As you write the essay, think about how you will align your current interests and passions with Pomona’s offerings. Maybe you’ve become increasingly dedicated to saving the planet and learned the power of collaboration by starting a neighborhood composting program; so of course you’re drawn to the interdisciplinary and communal approach of the Environmental Analysis Program ! Or perhaps you think Southern California would be a great place to pick up a Chicana/o-Latina/o Studies Major . Or if you’re undecided, maybe you still have a list of subjects you’d like to try on for size and are excited by the scope of the 5Cs. Whatever the program and whatever your reasoning, build a bridge from your lived experience to your future life as a Pomona student.

Please respond to one of the three following prompts. We’d recommend an essay between 400 and 600 words, but yours may be longer or shorter.

Prompt 1: you have been given the option of having one superpower, but, in exchange, you have to give up one of your five senses. if you take this offer, what do you hope to accomplish with your new power and what would you miss about the sense you’ve given up.

Allow us to rephrase the question in non-Marvel terms: What cause or idea do you care about so much that you would be willing to make a significant personal sacrifice in its name? What are you willing to fight or go out on a limb for? We think it’s helpful to think about the power you would want to have or the change you want to see in the world BEFORE you decide what sense you’d want to give up. First of all, maybe you’ll discover that this prompt really isn’t for you because you haven’t quite settled on your passions, and that is okay! You have two other prompts to choose from, and skipping this one doesn’t make you a bad person. On the other hand, as you brainstorm superpower ideas you may surprise yourself or uncover a common theme that helps you decide what sense you would want to give up. Can you choose a sense that contributes thematically to your overarching idea? For example, maybe you want to live in a world where people can listen to and learn from each other despite their differences. So perhaps you’d want to heighten your sense of hearing to super-hearing while giving up your sense of sight as a way to avoid getting a prejudiced first impression. Whatever you choose, make sure you write from the heart and offer concrete examples of how you would use your superpower. How would it improve the lives of those around you? How might it have helped you in the past? Filling this essay with specific personal details will transform it from a creative sci-fi writing exercise into a memorable essay that shows admissions who you are at your core.

Prompt 2: For Pomona students, the College’s location in Southern California is integral in shaping their experience. Tell us about a location, real or fictional, that has shaped you in a meaningful way.

Psst… we have a secret for you. There’s something Pomona isn’t telling you about this prompt: you’ll likely be able to recycle the essay on other supplements. Questions about special or significant places have become fairly popular, so picking this prompt probably gives you the most bang for your buck. (And if you do a really great job on the essay, it might even be worth using when schools ask you to write about a “topic of your choice.”) Efficiency isn’t the only reason to choose this prompt, but it certainly could make a difference if you have a lot of writing ahead of you! This is also a great option because almost everyone has been affected by their environment in some way. Maybe living in a tiny apartment with your family after surviving a fire brought you closer together both physically and metaphorically. Or perhaps you have a favorite tree with a special nook that you lean against while you sketch, and maybe over time your drawings have captured gradual changes to both the environment and your perspective. And of course fictional locations are fair game too! So maybe the windy moors of Wuthering Heights taught you to see an alignment between your own emotions and the natural world. Or maybe you’ve spent the past several years fantasizing about how you would use your own Room of Requirement if only you went to Hogwarts. The point is: use the location to reveal something about yourself. Admissions isn’t looking for a detailed description of every physical detail, but rather a sense of who you are and what you enjoy. The more anecdotes and personal details you can include, the more your location will truly come to life.

Prompt 3: A recent Critical Inquiry course at Pomona, ”I Disagree,” poses these questions: What does it take to be the one juror out of twelve who votes innocent? What are the dangers of living with people who agree with you? How does a scientific or a religious community confront troublesome new ideas? Consider one or more of these questions and address ”the noble art of disagreement.”

This is the heaviest and most philosophical of the options, but its relevance may draw a lot of folks’ attention. The biggest challenge will be coming up with a concrete answer rather than an abstract musing. You’ll want to give yourself some time to brainstorm and outline before diving into this one, which requires a more structured argument than the others. Try to think of examples from your own life that relate to the questions or to the concept of disagreement in general. When was the first time you disagreed with someone older or more powerful than you? What did you do and what were the consequences? What patterns of agreement and disagreement have you noticed in your family, community, and beyond? Do they differ based on the size of the group? If this prompt reminds you of one of the questions from the Common App (#3) or Coalition (#3), we think that’s a valid interpretation. So if you’ve already written about a significant conflict or disagreement, you may want to skip this question. On the other hand, if this is still new territory for you, we’d recommend checking out our guides for more inspo.

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California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Cal Poly Pomona

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California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Cal Poly Pomona’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Common app personal essay.

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?