Pomona College 2025-26 Supplemental Essay Guide

Pomona College 2025-26 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 150 words, 1 essay of 250 words or fewer

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why, Oddball, Community

What draws you to the subject(s) you selected as potential major(s)? If Undecided, share more about one of your academic passions or interests. (150 words or fewer)

This prompt is asking you to describe what you want to major in and explain why you like it so much that you’re willing to dedicate four years of life to its study. The admissions officer reviewing your application will expect you to connect your intended major to some prior experience and/or passion, so tell a story. The essays that stick with us are the ones that jump off the page with concrete descriptions from real life. How did you first discover the subject that interests you? How have you gone about learning more about it? What will this degree allow you to do (if you’re going in decided)? How have you already explored your inclination? If you’re undecided, write about the range of subjects that interest you. Whether you’re decided or undecided, your story should showcase your unique connection to your chosen course(s) of study. 

Pomona is home to a diverse community of faculty, staff and students who, through close ties and collaboration, enable each other to identify and explore their greatest passions. Considering this, respond to one of the following: (250 words or fewer)

1) Reflecting on a community that you are part of, what values or perspectives from that community would you bring to Pomona?

This is a classic Community Essay, through and through. Admissions wants you to dive deep into a community you’re a part of and explain how they affect you and vice versa. The word “community” can refer to just about anything: your family, your racial group, your Science Olympiad team, or even the worldwide community of Manchester United fans. Where do you come from? What has shaped you as a person and how has that made your perspective unique? What traditions or aspects of your community would you like to share at Pomona? What you address can be reflective of larger cultural constructs or as specific as an ideology shared by your team of summer camp counselors. Consider why your particular background or experience will be useful in an academic setting. How will it help inspire and/or inform others? Were you raised in an intentional community? Do you identify as a LGBTQIA+? Have you lived on three different continents? What do you believe and how will your worldview bring something of value to the community at Pomona?

2) Describe an experience you had outside the classroom that changed the way you think or how you engage with your peers. What was that experience and what did you learn from it?

This is your opportunity to tell admissions about an interaction or experience that changed your mindset. Think about times you were shocked, humbled, or presented with a new perspective. How did this change your viewpoint or approach to others? What happened and what did you take away? Maybe you tutored a student experiencing homelessness who opened your eyes to the unique struggles facing students without a home address, reminding you to approach others with kindness and empathy. Perhaps you worked reception at your aunt’s dental office last summer and gained an appreciation for the hard work of client-facing staff that has influenced your future interactions with service workers. Whatever your example(s) may be, be sure to reflect on what the experience meant to you, whether that be acquiring a new perspective, feeling motivated, or developing a new skill. Bonus points if you can connect your past experience to the work you want to do in the future, hopefully at Pomona!

3) Choose any person or group of people in your life and share how they would describe you.

This prompt is Pomona’s take on an “additional information” essay. Rather than asking what else you would like to say about yourself, Pomona wants you to step into your friends’ and family’s shoes and share how you come across to others. To approach this prompt, think about aspects of your personality, background, or values you haven’t discussed yet. Then, jot down ways in which you embody those characteristics in your daily life and activities. Are you known among your crew team as the person who gives the best advice? Do you show up for every one of your best friend’s orchestra performances despite having no interest in classical music? Are you always keeping an eye out for vintage sneakers to add to your brother’s collection? What do these actions say about you? If you’re really stumped, you can ask your siblings, friends, teammates, or classmates how they would describe you and keep a list of their responses. Which responses reveal something new about you? Remember, this prompt is another opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants by painting a more detailed picture of who you are; so no matter what you write about, just be sure to tell admissions something about you that they couldn’t find anywhere else on your application.