How to Apply

First-Year Application Requirements

The following items are required as part of your application to Pomona College and must be received by the appropriate application deadline.

Early Decision Agreement

A signed copy of the Common Application Early Decision Agreement [pdf] form is required of all students applying Early Decision 1 or Early Decision 2. Your signature indicates that you understand and accept the Pomona College Early Decision Agreement as stated below:

I agree to have my application reviewed under Pomona College’s Early Decision admission program. I understand that by applying as an Early Decision candidate, I am indicating that Pomona College is my first choice and the only active Early Decision application that I have filed. Further, if offered admission, I will accept the Pomona College offer, withdraw all other applications and will initiate no new ones. I also understand that with an Early Decision offer of admission, Pomona may share my name and my Early Decision agreement with other institutions.

Common Application

The Pomona Application is made up of the Common Application—available online at www.commonapp.org or in your high school guidance counselor’s office—plus a Pomona Application Supplement (see below). You can request a paper version of The Common Application by contacting the Office of Admissions. Please consult our application deadlines page for the exact dates.

Pomona Application Supplement

The Common Application (online or paper version) should be accompanied by Pomona’s required Application Supplement [pdf] . The supplement is available both from this Website and from the Common Application Website. You can request a paper version by contacting the Office of Admissions.

Application Fee

The one-time non-refundable application fee is $70, payable along with the Common Application. (Be sure to submit your payment only once). Checks or money orders should be made payable to Pomona College. The fee must be paid in U.S. dollars, drawn against a U.S. bank. If you apply electronically via the Common Application, you should submit your payment by credit card.

Secondary School Report

Through the required Secondary School Report [pdf] , a report on academic progress should be completed by your counselor and submitted by the application deadline. Additionally, a Midyear Report [pdf] is required in mid-February. See our application deadlines page for an exact date.

School Report Supplement

This form is not required of all applicants. Applicants are only required to have their counselors submit the School Report Supplement [pdf] if the counselor uses their own form and does not use the Common Application Secondary School Report.

Two Teacher Evaluations

Teacher Evaluation [pdf] forms should be completed by two teachers who know you well and have instructed you in core academic subjects for at least one full semester. Core academic subjects are mathematics, English, science, social studies, and foreign languages. Classes in journalism, yearbook, dance, or vocational courses are not considered core academic courses.

Required Official Transcripts

• Arrange for your high school to send us your transcript, complete through your junior year. 
• In addition, grades for the first term of your senior year must be received by our office by February 15, 2013. No admission decision will be made without receipt of a mid-year transcript. You may submit mid-year grades to us using the Common Application Mid-Year Report [pdf] if you choose. All offers of admission are conditional pending final grades.

Entrance Examination Results

The College Board SAT Reasoning Test and two SAT Subject Tests of your choosing or the American College Testing (ACT) Assessment are required. All examination scores must be sent to Pomona College directly from the testing agency. Students who have not attended a school where English is the language of instruction must also submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores with their application materials. If providing TOEFL results presents a hardship, please contact the Office of Admissions for possible alternatives.

Strongly Recommended

The following items are strongly recommended as part of the application process:

Interviews

Interviews are strongly recommended for all applicants. Southern California applicants are expected to interview and must do so on campus. If you reside outside of the Southern California area and wish to interview with an alumnus or alumna of the College in your home area, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Visits

The best way to gain a true appreciation for the qualities and opportunities that make this college unique is through a campus visit. We are always pleased to talk to students and learn about their interests and we invite you to meet our students, visit our classes, and see the community here for yourself. If a visit is impossible, we recommend you sign up here to receive notification of upcoming school visits and/or programs in your area.

Financial Aid Application

Pomona College is committed to awarding financial aid to each enrolling student found to have financial need. A student’s financial need is not negatively considered by the Admissions Committee and does not affect the admission decision for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Pomona College actively seeks to enroll an economically diverse student body. Learn more about financial aid.

Optional

The following items are optional but may strengthen your application.

Photograph

You may submit a photograph of yourself if you choose. You may include it with your Common Application or mail it with any other application item you submit. Pictures remind us that the application represents a person, rather than a mere collection of numbers, grades, and activities.

Arts, Athletics, And Science Supplements

In addition to your application, you can submit supplementary information related to the Arts, Athletics, and the Sciences. All supplementary materials should be submitted using the appropriate form, which can be found on the Special Interest Supplements page.

Special Requirements

Transfer Students

Transfer candidates should plan to apply using the Common Application. Learn more about applying as a transfer student.

International Applicants

International students do not have a separate application and should follow the same application instructions as first-year students. Learn more about how applying as an international student.

Special Instructions For Re-Applicants

If you have filed a Pomona first-year application in the past, you may not need to complete a new one. Please inform the Office of Admissions and you will be notified of materials required to bring your previous application up to date. You should submit an Application for Readmission-Reactivation [pdf] , which must be received, in our office, by the appropriate application deadline.

Other Information

Mailing Instructions

When mailing items to the Office of Admissions, please indicate on the lower left-hand corner of your mailing envelope the admissions program for which you are applying (e.g. Early Decision 1, Early Decision 2, or Regular Decision).

Send communication concerning admissions to:
Pomona College Office of Admissions
333 N. College Way
Claremont, CA 91711-6312

Notification

You will be notified by e-mail or mail when we receive your Common Application, and again when your entire application is complete. If you do not receive these two notifications regarding your application, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Should you submit your application on or just before the application deadline, it may take longer for us to provide notice to you due to the extremely heavy volume of documents that we receive in the days surrounding deadlines.

Important: If you provide an e-mail address in your application, missing items notification will be sent to that address, along with instructions for tracking missing application items electronically. If you do not provide an e-mail address, we will attempt to send a single notification of missing application items via mail. Pomona College cannot be responsible for messages blocked by SPAM filter programs or problems with Internet service providers or postal service delivery.

Application Deadlines

All application materials are due in our office by the appropriate application deadlines.