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Zoom University: College of Pomona

Posted on October 29, 2020October 23, 2020 by Oluyemisi Bolonduro

Friends from French, featuring Oliver bunny

By Oluyemisi Bolonduro ‘23 Did you know I’ve never had my first day of classes on Pomona’s campus? Freshman year I started the semester walking to my class at CMC with my roommate, who was walking to Pitzer. This time around, we were chillin’ in our rooms at home, and I sent her a message that said, “annnddd this year it’s on zoom :,,,))”. I don’t know anybody who genuinely ...

Why I Defied, Rather Than Deferred

Posted on October 15, 2020October 23, 2020 by Nelia Perry

By Nelia Perry ‘24 I was excited to start college before even entering high school. I went on my first college visit when I was in seventh grade—okay, it was technically for my older brother, but bear with me. Watching my two older siblings go through the visiting and touring, essay writing, applying, deciding and eventually leaving phases of the journey to college I eage...

Enjoying Alone Time

Posted on October 12, 2020 by Hayeon Lee

By Hayeon (Kayla) Lee ‘23 During the first few weeks of my freshman year of Pomona, there were four questions that I was consistently asked when I met a new person: What is your name? Where are you from? What’s your dorm? Who’s your roommate? I could answer all of these questions quite quickly. My name is Hayeon Kayla Lee. I’m from Los Angeles but spent my h...

“Alexa, Play Yosemite by Travis Scott”

Posted on September 11, 2020 by Sophia Augustine

Sophia and friends swimming in Yosemite Falls

By Sophia Augustine ‘23 "OA, OA, OA. OA, OA, OA!!” The booming chants of the Pomona students traveled all across campus, gaining volume as us first-years filed anxiously into the Greek Theatre on South Campus, eagerly awaiting instructions and information regarding Orientation Adventure, also known as “OA.” “OA, OA, OA. OA, OA, OA!” The merry yells of the OA leaders seem...

The Chronicles of “MUDD2FRIED”

Posted on July 7, 2020July 7, 2020 by Sophia Augustine

By Sophia Augustine ‘23 As I’m sure you all know from doing your extensive Pomona research (and from many of my peers’ blog posts) all the first-years at Pomona are placed into groups called “sponsor groups,” which consist of the people you live in a hallway with your first year. Two sophomores (or, in my special case, three because our sponsor group was super cool like that...

A Letter for Incoming Black Students, from a Black Student

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Ebere Amadi

By Ebere Amadi '22 It was a 47-minute car ride from my house to Pomona College on Move-In Day, August 25th, 2018. I drove down the 60 freeway with a car full of family, luggage, and Frank Ocean’s nostalgic tunes. As the familiar melodies of Ivy and Nights boomed through my speakers, I almost cried as Frank beautifully sang “we’ll never be those kids again” because it was tru...

First-Year Tips on Surviving Pomona College

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Myles Ashitey

By Myles Ashitey ‘22 Being here for almost a full academic year, I am starting to feel comfortable amongst students and faculty alike. Not to sound overconfident, but I’m 90% sure that I know almost all the ins and outs of Pomona College. Whether I’ve experienced it myself or heard it through upperclassmen, I know what jobs to find, what dining halls to eat at, what activiti...

The Value of the Freshman Critical Inquiry Seminar

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Jacinta Chen

By Jacinta Chen ’21 Some of the best memories I have at Pomona come from ID1. What is ID1? Pomona’s Critical Inquiry Seminar, better known on campus as ID1, is a required writing and discussion-based seminar all first-years take during their first semester at the College. The approximately 30 sections are taught by faculty from across the disciplines and engage student...

Tips for Incoming New Students (or, Mistakes I’ve Made Over the Past Three Years)

Posted on September 25, 2018 by cyhg2015

By Cheryl Yau '19 As one of the Head Mentors for the International Student Mentor Program (ISMP), I have had the opportunity to interact with many new students. Questions I’m often asked include: what would you have done differently? What do you wish you had known as a new student? Unsurprisingly, there are many things I wish someone had told me, and, with that, here is Cher...