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As a freshman at Pomona College, Jesse Last had a little fun with his friends from back East when they called. “I’d say ‘yeah, I’d love to talk more but it’s time to go for a swim in the pool,’” he says.

Jesse Last grew up outside of Boston, Mass., in a region full of prestigious colleges and universities. But his cousin kept telling him he really had to check out Pomona College.

So Last came to California to see for himself and quickly concluded: “She was right.” Pomona’s top-notch academics matched any other school he was looking at, but there was something unique about this place. “It was a different feel, from the weather to the students to the class sizes,” he says.

One of Last’s fondest Pomona moments came during the second week of his freshman year, when he and classmates were up late working on a project. They sat down by a fountain and wound up playing and wrestling in the water for about 15 minutes. Though his cell phone was a casualty, the moment came to epitomize his time at Pomona.

Late nights of study are common at this academically rigorous school, but Pomona students also find time for friendships and fun. “Each year I’ve met new people that I didn’t know before,’’ he says. “This year I made a bunch of new friends -- junior year. My experience here really comes down to people.”

“One thing I appreciate about Pomona is that people aren’t arrogant about their intelligence,” says Last. “They’re not just smart; they’re thoughtful people. And that’s really important to me.”

His favorite classes have included a U.S. Congress course in which students spent a week playing roles in a simulation of the U.S. Senate, trying to push through or block bills. “Almost all of my classes are so small,” he says. “If you want to stay after class and talk to your professor because you have a follow-up question, they’re happy to do that and they have the time to do that.”

As a career, Last intends to go into public service, either working for the government or a nonprofit agency. He recently earned a prestigious Truman Scholarship, providing $30,000 for him to attend graduate school. Pomona professors helped him prepare for the interview, grilling him in practice sessions.

“The professors care about individual students,” says Last. “I have professors who I’ve had dinner with, who are friends.”