Semester Wrap Up: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

two bags of coffee
By Nelia Perry ‘24 With the semester coming to an end and finals fast approaching, I thought I could shine some light on what the end of a (virtual) semester looks like at Pomona. There are good things, bad things, and maybe a few ugly things thrown in as well. While “the good” comes first in the saying, I like to save the best for last, so let’s start with “the ugly.” Fi...
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My Favorite Places on Campus

view of bare legs on lawn chair facing pool
By Darien Corrales ‘22 Coming from North Carolina, I found the Southern California atmosphere a warm welcome. Without the worry of freezing temperatures or heavy rainfall, most outdoor places lend themselves as study places or hangout spots. With this in mind, here is a list of places where you are likely to find me on campus. (1) The Library Honnold Mudd Library is un...
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Post-Finals Feels

Screenshot of CCF’s Christmas party on Zoom with everyone holding paper snowflakes
By Oluyemisi Bolonduro ‘23 Well, I did it… I finished my first full semester of virtual Pomona (hopefully just one more to go). To sum up the semester in one sentence: I think I experienced things that I never expected to live during my college years… mainly bad. This was most evident around finals season. This past semester, I had three papers and one final exam to submi...
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A First-Year Survival Guide to Midterms: Zoom Edition

Sonam giving two thumbs up
By Sonam Rikha ‘24 AHHHHHHHH! Screaming late in the night during the middle of the semester is definitely not ideal. Especially when your family members get out of bed to see why you’re shouting at your laptop and punching the air in frustration. I’d always heard of all-nighters and the grave amount of caffeine that college students consumed to get through midterms, but I...
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Caffeine in Claremont: A Comprehensive Guide

Mr. Hot Dog Lip
By Elias van Emmerick ‘21 Back when I was young, naive, and blessedly free of endless reading assignments, I believed that college would entail sitting in aesthetically pleasing coffee shops and drinking tasty caffeinated beverages. As it turns out I do spend a good chunk of my time doing exactly that, albeit with a slightly more utilitarian intent than I’d originally expect...
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Grades at Pomona

sunset at the beach
By Daphne Chapline ‘22 In high school, I used to obsessively check my PowerSchool app to see my grades. I put so much pressure on myself to get perfect grades. It’s safe to say that the relationship between my self-esteem and my grades was not exactly helping my confidence. My feelings of self-worth were too contingent on how I was doing in school; if I received what I...
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Some Studying Tips (That Almost Guarantee You’ll Pass All Of Your Tests)

two students in dorm
By Toran Langford ‘21 In short, Pomona is really difficult. To this end, throughout your blood, sweat, and tears, you will have many papers and tests. All-nighters sometimes happen, but try to limit them—these tips should make your life easier. Also, remember that Pomona College has resources available to help students. Practice a little bit every day Example: review l...
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The Writing Center: Pomona’s Peer-Powered Model

Writing Center sign
By Sarah Binau '19 When I was in high school, asking for help with writing meant you were a bad writer. It is (unfortunately) commonplace to be taught that some people are good writers and others are bad writers. But the truth is that everyone starts with a blank page and a wondering mind. When I started college, I thought of myself as a good writer because I’d done well ...
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Pomona’s Amazing Academic Support

By Jacinta Chen '21 During my sophomore year of high school, I attended the Pomona admissions info session and was so excited to hear about the intellectual and collaborative nature that Pomona would offer me. Essentially three and a half years later, I can say that Pomona’s academic environment has not only met, but exceeded my expectations. I’d like to share five key compo...
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Lessons from a Community College Transfer Student

By Blake Plante '19 It’s moments like sitting in front of a disheartened community college counselor when you realize how little is expected from you by this world. Don’t get me wrong. I met inspiring and encouraging people at community college, and it was their encouragement that gave me the confidence to aim high. But, like the motto of the TV show Community goes, if you g...
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