First-Year Applicants
Application Requirements
Pomona accepts the Coalition Application, the Common Application and the QuestBridge application. We give no preference in the admissions process based on which of these applications you submit. All applicants for first-year admission must submit one of the following:
The Coalition Application with Pomona-Specific Questions
The Common Application with Pomona-Specific Questions
The QuestBridge National College Match Application
Additional Requirements for All First-Year Applicants
Official high school transcript(s): For most students, this means asking your high school counselor to submit your official transcript(s) with grades through your junior year.
School Report and Counselor Recommendation: Submitted by your high school counselor. We require all disciplinary questions to be fully answered on the Common Application School Report. Leaving the questions blank or answering "School policy prevents me from responding" is not acceptable. We will be unable to release an admissions decision without a completed disciplinary history from a school administrator.
Mid-Year Report by Feb. 15.
Two letters of recommendation from teachers of core academic areas (English, foreign languages, math, science and social sciences), and whose classes you took during your junior or senior year.
One-time, non-refundable application fee of $70: If the fee represents a financial hardship, a fee waiver can be requested on the Common Application or the Coalition Application. The QuestBridge application is free.
If you are applying from a school where English is not the primary language of instruction, you must also submit official scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). If providing these results presents a hardship, please contact us for alternatives.
Scores from the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT: Please send all your scores directly to Pomona from the testing agency. We will consider your highest section scores on either the “old” or the “new” SAT by superscoring; we will not superscore across the “old” and “new” SAT tests; we will superscore ACT section scores. The writing section on the SAT and ACT is optional but recommended. SAT Subject Test scores are optional. In addition to the SAT or ACT test results, homeschooled students must submit scores from four SAT Subject Tests or a combination of four SAT Subject Tests and AP or IB Higher Level examination results in a variety of fields.
Transfer Applicants
Transfer Application Requirements
Common Application for transfer students.
Final Report: Your high school advisor or counselor must complete this Common Application form. The Admissions Committee may waive this rule if: you've already completed at least two full years of college work and/or you've been out of high school for more than two years. Please contact us to discuss a waiver.
Transfer College Report: This Common Application form should be completed by your current registrar or student records-keeper. If you've attended more than one college, your most recent college's administrator should complete this form. If you aren't currently enrolled, you may attach a letter from your employer with the College Report.
Two Academic Evaluations: Completed by two of your college instructors, these should be submitted through the Common Application. Students may submit another optional recommendation of any type (e.g., employer, volunteer coordinator, high school teacher, etc.).
Official Transcripts: Submit these from each college or university you've ever attended. Include a final transcript from your high school or secondary school (including graduation date) or official documentation of a GED.
Transfer Mid-Term Report: Submit this form with mid-term grades and comments from the current term's faculty due before February 15. We will not make an admissions decision without these grades.
Scores for the SAT Reasoning or the ACT: Send all scores to Pomona College directly from the testing agency. Note that SAT/ACT scores are usually sent four to six weeks after the test administration, so the last recommended testing date is December.
If you are applying from a school where English is the not the medium of instruction, you must also submit scores from The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or The International English Language Testing System (IELTS). While we welcome cultural and linguistic diversity, we do not have English as a Second Language or other remedial programs for foreign students.
International Applicants
High school students studying outside the United States may apply using the same forms as all first-year applicants and are subject to the same application deadlines. If you are currently enrolled full time at a postsecondary institution (college or university), you must apply as a transfer applicant. The application deadlines for international transfer students are also the same as those for other transfer students.
ARE THERE DIFFERENT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS?
All applicants follow the same application guidelines and application deadlines. The overall admit rate for international students is roughly the same as that for students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. A few other tips:
You do not need to supply the Common Application international supplement.
You may apply for any program (Early Decision 1 or 2 or Regular Decision).
If sending paper documents, mail your materials early enough to accommodate for delivery times.
If your transcripts are not in English, you will need to provide official English translations.
If secondary school in your country is 3 years (10th-12th grades), you will need to submit transcripts from both your 9th grade year and from your 10th-12th-grade years in secondary school. There is no need to recalculate your GPA.
If you are not applying for financial aid, you are not required to submit the International Student Certification of Finances (ISCF) when applying to the College.
WHAT ARE THE TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS?
If English is not the primary language of instruction in an applicant’s secondary school, they must submit official results of either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum scores for admission are 100 on the TOEFL or 7 on the IELTS. There are no minimum requirements for subscores. If providing TOEFL or IELTS results presents a financial hardship, please contact the Office of Admissions for possible alternatives.
All applicants must also submit either SAT or ACT scores; we have no preference for which you submit, and there is no minimum required composite or section score(s). The writing section on both tests is optional but recommended.
