Pomona College
The founding member of the Claremont Colleges Consortium, Pomona pairs a tight-knit liberal arts experience with cross-registration access to four neighboring schools.
- Next deadline
- Nov 8, 2026Early Decision
- Essays
- 4Prompts
- Supplement
- Required2025-2026 cycle
- Platform
- Common AppAccepted platform
- Selectivity
- 7%Highly selective
- Enrollment
- 1,764Small undergrad
Build your Pomona College application plan
Track the deadline, review every supplemental essay prompt, and shape each response around one clear admissions story.
Application deadlines
Supplemental essay prompts
- Supplement150 words2025-2026
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.
- Supplement250 words2025-2026
Reflecting on a community that you are a part of, what values or perspectives from that community would you bring to Pomona?
- Supplement250 words2025-2026
Describe an experience you had outside the classroom that changed the way you think and/or how you engage with your peers. What was that experience and what did you learn from it?
- Supplement250 words2025-2026
Choose any person or group of people in your life and share how they would describe you.
How to approach Pomona College's supplemental essays
Choose a role before you draft
Decide what this essay should add to the application: evidence, range, bridge, or a new window into your life. Avoid repeating the Common App essay in miniature.
Choose a role before you draft
Decide what this essay should add to the application: evidence, range, bridge, or a new window into your life. Avoid repeating the Common App essay in miniature.
Choose a role before you draft
Decide what this essay should add to the application: evidence, range, bridge, or a new window into your life. Avoid repeating the Common App essay in miniature.
Choose a role before you draft
Decide what this essay should add to the application: evidence, range, bridge, or a new window into your life. Avoid repeating the Common App essay in miniature.
Use this as a blank structure for a Pomona College supplement response, then replace every bracket with your own specifics.
- Open on [specific scene, object, problem, or conversation].
- Show what [choice/action/constraint] reveals about how you think.
- Connect that trait to [school program, community, lab, class, or value].
- End with the contribution you want to make at Pomona College, not a compliment.
Need more help with this application?
Use our guides to plan your supplement, sharpen your Why Us research, and review your draft before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
How many supplemental essays does Pomona College require?
Pomona College has 4 supplemental essays listed for the 2025-2026 application cycle, in addition to the shared application essay.
Does Pomona College accept the Common Application?
Yes — Pomona College accepts the Common Application.
What is Pomona College's acceptance rate?
Pomona College's most recently reported acceptance rate is 7.0%.
When is Pomona College's next application deadline?
Pomona College's next listed application deadline is the Early Decision round on November 8, 2026.
What is Pomona College's "What draws you to the subject(s)…" prompt (#1, 150 words)?
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.
What is Pomona College's "Reflecting on a community that you…" prompt (#2, 250 words)?
Reflecting on a community that you are a part of, what values or perspectives from that community would you bring to Pomona?
What is Pomona College's "Describe an experience you had outside…" prompt (#3, 250 words)?
Describe an experience you had outside the classroom that changed the way you think and/or how you engage with your peers. What was that experience and what did you learn from it?
What is Pomona College's "Choose any person or group of…" prompt (#4, 250 words)?
Choose any person or group of people in your life and share how they would describe you.
Sources and verification
We prioritize Pomona College's official admissions pages for school-specific prompts and deadlines, then use application-platform and federal sources as cross-checks. This record was last verified on July 19, 2026 for the 2025-2026 cycle.
Review official source →