About

See what students say:

Academics

Just outside of Los Angeles, Pitzer College is a “socially responsible and progressive” liberal arts and sciences college with “great academics” and “active students” and that “feels like a second home.” Students prize Pitzer’s “flexible graduation requirements,” especially “the ability to create your own major,” and “the options and resources offered throughout the Claremont Consortium,” which includes the ability to take classes at any of the other five Claremont Colleges. Because the school is so small, with an enrollment of just under 1,100 undergrads, students feel they belong to a close and caring community: “Pitzer College is basically a year-round summer camp where people go to grow as individuals through liberal arts studies and through relationships that they build.” Current students praise the school’s “interdisciplinary focus and non-Western centric studies.” Furthermore, students say they “love the academic support” they receive at Pitzer, especially the professors, who are “well connected but incredibly caring.” “All my professors know me by name,” students tell us, “even in introductory courses. [Instructors] all have PhDs from prestigious universities and demonstrate love for teaching.” Experiential learning opportunities “[extend] far beyond the classroom to community service projects, the dorms, and abroad,” and, because of the school’s size, students often get the chance to conduct research with their professors as well. “By my second semester of my first year a professor offered me a research position,” one student tells us, which “is typical for many students since class sizes are small, so we get to create intimate relationships and have direct discussions with professors.”

Student Body

While Pitzer’s student body contains diverse personalities and backgrounds, in one respect these Sagehens are the same: “Everyone is passionate about something. You won’t find a single student who isn’t somehow involved on campus outside of the classroom.” At Pitzer, “most students tend to lean far left in ideology,” and they are generally “outspoken about their views ... but open-minded students of any political ideology should not fear the liberal environment.” “I cannot count the number of nights I have stayed up until 2:00 a.m. discussing issues ranging from Middle Eastern politics to growing up in the inner-cities,” one student tells us. Students speak highly of one another and judge that their peers “are sincerely pursuing passions that they believe are reflective of themselves, as opposed to doing things for jobs/other forms of external validation.” Many students are focused on “social justice” and environmental issues, though some reject the “Pitzer hippy stereotype.” More than anything, they seem to agree that Pitzer students are “intellectual, and seeking to use that intellect to do good in the world.”

Campus Life

Because of the mild southern California climate, Pitzer students can be found “around the pool or in the Grove House” (a student center), as well as enjoying other idyllic locations. “I manage the school garden and care for chickens,” one student tells us. “I spend a lot of afternoons just hanging out in the garden doing homework or talking to friends.” Weekends are spent taking advantage of the surrounding landscapes by “hiking in the mountains by the school or [driving] into L.A. to shop or go to the beach.” Students here are serious about their academics, but they do “study together and mix chatting in with homework.” They also take a lot of ownership over how the campus is run: “We sit on hiring committees and our Student Senate has more power than the administration.” “Multiple student-run eateries [and] strong student organizations” create a ”collaborative atmosphere.” On-campus there is “a very active party scene,” and “on weekends, [themed] parties are usually hosted by the school.” Students “love that Pitzer provides a super progressive environment.”

Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Address
Admissions Office
1050 N. Mills Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711

Phone
909.621.8129

Email
admission@pitzer.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
Grove House
McConnell Center
Gloria and Peter Gold Student Center
Marquis Library
The Mounds
http://www.pitzer.edu/admission/campusvisit.aspThe Claremont Colleges Consortium Pitzer students may cross-register at any of The Claremont Colleges, and may utilize all Claremont facilities, including Honnold Library, the third-largest academic library in the state, with more than 2 million volumes; Huntley Bookstore; Baxter Medical Center; McAlister Center for Religious Activities and Monsour Counseling Center. Pitzer sponsors the Joint Science Program with Claremont McKenna and Scripps colleges, and the five undergraduate colleges offer a wide range of recreational facilities, student gathering places and dining areas. Pitzer combines with Pomona College for NCAA Division III sports.

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Universal Studios
Disneyland
Victoria Gardens Shopping
Joshua Tree National Park
L.A. County Museum of Arts
Situated at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountain range, Claremont, is located approximately 35 miles east of Los Angeles. The desert, beaches and mountains are within an hour's drive. Pitzer students can take advantage of a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, rock climbing, rollerblading, snowboarding, surfing, and swimming. The Mexican border, San Diego and San Francisco are one or two hours away by car or plane. Ontario International Airport is a short drive from campus. The community of Claremont, population 35,000, has the atmosphere of a small town, with several parks, many trees, numerous churches and a downtown area with a variety of restaurants and shops.

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center
Monday-Friday and Saturday
8am-5pm and 9am-noon
909.621.8129

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Mon-Fri, and during academic year, Sat mornings
Average Length: 1 hour

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
Yes

Information Sessions
Available

Times
30 minutes prior to tour, spring and summer

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Advance Notice
2 weeks

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Available

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Limitations
Mon-Thurs, 1 night stay; college covers all expenses related to visit

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Ontario International Airport is 12 miles east of Claremont on I-10 (the San Bernardino Freeway). Direct or connecting flights are available from all parts of the country. Hotel shuttles (Claremont Inn, Sheraton Fairplex, and Ramada Inn), taxis, and rental cars are available for the ride to campus. Los Angeles International Airport is about 50 miles west of Claremont. Air and ground connections are available from there to Ontario International Airport. Greyhound buses serve Claremont; the terminal is just south of I-10.

Driving Instructions to Campus
From any area except Pasadena, take I-10. Exit Indian Hill Blvd & travel north toward the mountains for 3 miles. Turn right on 12th St. becomes Platt Ave. Turn right on N. Mills Ave. Turn left on 9th St. Pass Pitzer Road (before Claremont Blvd) & turn left into East Mesa Parking Lot driveway. Admissions Office is in Pitzer Hall facing the parking lot. From Pasadena & the San Fernando Valley, take I-210 E. Exit Baseline & turn left. Turn left at Monte Vista, right at Claremont Blvd, cross Foothill Blvd. & take first right at 9th Street. Right turn into driveway of East Mesa parking Lot.

Local Accommodations
Double Tree Claremont (formerly Claremont Inn) Sheraton Ontario Airport Sheraton Suites Fairplex Doubletree Ontario Airport Hotel Marriott Ontario Airport La Quinta Inn and Suites Ontario Red Roof Inn Country Suites By Ayres Shilo Inn Suites Hotel Pomona Hilltop Embassy Suites Covina

Admissions

Applicants: 3,753
Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average HS GPA: 3.89






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