More than 60 high school students from 31 states visited Pomona College last month for the Fall Perspectives on Pomona (POP), a fly-in program hosted every semester where prospective students spend two days on campus, free of charge, to experience what the College has to offer.
“For many students, especially those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to visit campus, fly-in programs such as Perspectives on Pomona can be transformative,” says Edward “Eddie” Pickett III, assistant vice president and director of admissions. “These programs reflect Pomona’s student-centered approach to outreach by meeting students where they are, affirming their potential and helping them see that they belong in higher education’s academically rigorous spaces.”
While prospective students may have heard about Pomona’s academic environment of small and tight knit classes, POP gives them that experience firsthand.
The latest cohort of POP students sat in on classes such as Introduction to American Politics with Professor David Menefee-Libey and observed the style of lecture and close discussions found at Pomona.
Current Sagehens hosted POP students in their residence halls, which gave them direct insight into campus culture and dorm life.
“It was amazing being able to connect with the [high school] students,” says Emmanuel Santiago ’29, who participated in the fly-in program in 2024. “I remember being in their shoes not too long ago, so I wanted to give them as much advice as I wish I could’ve had all those years ago.”
Throughout the day, visiting students also attended various programming to help them learn about Pomona and gain insight on how to tackle the college application process. Participants received advice from admissions officers on how to build a strong application and were able to talk with them over a shared lunch.
Similarly, they heard from Director of Financial Aid Paul Dieken to better understand the intricacies of the financial aid process. A panel of alumni also shared with the students their perspectives on how to succeed and take advantage of the opportunities available at Pomona.
“The goal of our fly-in program is to create meaningful opportunities for students to experience our Pomona community firsthand, engage with current students and faculty, and discover how a liberal arts education can help them pursue their ambitions while making a positive impact,” says Kenia Alfaro, associate dean of admissions and recruitment coordinator. “We want students to leave feeling informed, empowered and confident in finding a community where they can thrive.”
In 2023, high demand for Pomona’s fall fly-in program prompted the creation of two additional virtual sessions.
High school students who apply for POP are admitted into the in-person program or invited to participate in one of two online options. Virtual POP takes place a few weeks after the in-person program, and its programming mirrors the Claremont-based offerings.
This year, more than 230 students experienced Pomona virtually.
Current high school students who want to explore the College firsthand can find more information about other ways to connect and visit campus, as well as application deadlines on the Pomona admissions website.
Juan Florido ’29 is a current admissions student worker.