Recognized as one of the nation’s most prestigious liberal arts colleges, Claremont
McKenna College sets itself apart from its counterparts by its focus on leadership. The college’s
mission statement is to train “leaders in the making” and leadership is stressed
everywhere, from the classroom to dorm life to athletics. Many students pursue the
“Leadership Sequence,” which includes courses focusing on leadership across disciplines,
in addition to their major.
CMC is academically different because it provides its students with so
many opportunities outside of the classroom for them to gain experience and
knowledge that textbooks simply cannot offer. There are countless numbers
of fellowships and scholarships for students that will pay for interning in
another country, working for a nonprofit organization, starting up businesses,
and study trips.” —Joanna Respold, Class of 2007
One of the admissions criteria is leadership potential and the “typical” CMC student
excelled academically in high school and also participated in some sort of leadership role,
whether yearbook editor, swim team captain, or orchestra section leader. Students selected
for the McKenna Scholars program are chosen for their leadership activities in high school.
Consequently, CMC students are “doers.” They apply what they have learned in the
classroom at one of the college’s eleven research institutes or through internship programs.
They participate in more than 180 student organizations that support student activities
from skiing to vegetarian cooking. They play on one of CMC’s twenty Division III athletic
teams. They study abroad in more than forty countries internationally and have performed
volunteer work at a high rate compared to other colleges nationwide.
With especially strong programs in economics and government, the college excels in
preparing its students to pursue careers in business, government, and the professions.
CMC’s economics department is ranked first among liberal arts colleges and more than
thirty percent of students graduate with a degree in economics. However, CMC’s liberal arts
curriculum requires that students complete a broad distribution of courses across departments,
including mathematics, literature, and foreign language. More than half of students
choose to pursue dual or double majors, often combining fields as disparate as economics
and literature.
Employers note that CMC students are prepared for the work world. They are trained
to think analytically and to present their ideas both orally and in written form. Writing
skills are stressed from the freshman writing seminar through the mandatory senior thesis,
in which students present their senior research project in a paper which may range from
fifty to hundreds of pages. Also, CMC students are taught to present their ideas orally
through oral exams and research presentations, as well as through in-class debate with professors
or fellow students.
With approximately 1,050 students on its campus, CMC has a community feel. It is
not uncommon to attend a class dinner at a professor’s home in the nearby Claremont village,
and strong friendships are formed between students, starting from the ten-day freshman
orientation including WOA (Wilderness Orientation Adventure) and lasting far beyond
graduation day. More than ninety-five percent of students live on campus for all four years
and the dorms serve as hubs for on-campus social life, hosting various themed parties
throughout the year, and for student government. The Associated Students of Claremont
McKenna College (ASCMC) is one of the most popular on-campus organizations, as more
than one-third of the student body serve in student government as dorm presidents, class
representatives, and student senators.
Location and the Claremont Consortium
Claremont McKenna is located on a fifty-acre campus in the convenient and safe college
town of Claremont, thirty-five miles east of downtown Los Angeles. CMC is close to two
major freeways, and for beach lovers, Laguna Beach and Santa Monica are each about an
hour away; nature enthusiasts often head to Joshua Tree National Park for camping and
hiking; and on weekend evenings many students make the forty-minute drive west to
Hollywood or Universal City. It also is not uncommon for students to take weekend trips to
San Francisco, San Diego, or even Las Vegas!
CMC is also unique through its inclusion in the Claremont Colleges consortium. As
part of the consortium—a group of five undergraduate colleges and two graduate institutions—
located in one square mile—the atmosphere is that of a small college within a
larger university. Students take classes, socialize, and participate in activities across the
greater Claremont community but always have the home base of CMC. The consortium
makes CMC an ideal choice for students who want a small college experience academically
but also want the resources that a larger university would provide. Dining halls and
libraries are open to all students and it is easy to take classes that may not be offered at
CMC at one of the consortium colleges.
What kind of college education do you want?
Claremont McKenna College is not for everyone; it is
for students who would like to be challenged, who
would like to know their professors and have their
professors know them; it is for those who hope to
build relationships in a small setting, but still have
all of the options that a larger university would afford
them, it is for students who are considering a career in public service and the professions
and who would like to attend a school that will teach them the leadership skills and ethics
to pursue such a career. And the sunshine of Southern California doesn’t hurt either.
CMC students are smart and many of them had their choice of top-ranked schools.
But they chose CMC. Students choose CMC because they believe that it will be the best
school for them, in terms of education and environment. This is apparent when you meet the
students—they are active in campus life. The campus is crowded on weekends, attendance
at Ath lectures and sporting events is high, and—a rarity on some college campuses—
students attend class regularly. They also know that CMC supports them, their education,
and their future career development.
Claremont McKenna College
Academics
CMC students know that big is not necessarily better. The small size of Claremont
McKenna allows for an academic environment that is rigorous, yet personalized, as students
can count on a great deal of interaction with their professors. In fact, student participation
is expected at CMC, where the average class size is sixteen students (the average
in a laboratory is eighteen).
Majors
CMC students are known for their eclectic choice of majors as many students pursue a
double major or a dual major. (A student with a double major fulfills all course requirements
in both majors while a student with a dual major fulfills slightly fewer courses than
a full major in both departments.) Students are also allowed to complete a major at one of
the other Claremont Colleges that may not be offered at CMC. Another option is the selfdesigned
major, which must be planned with direction from a faculty advisor.
Requirements
CMC has various general education requirements that all students, regardless of major,
must fulfill. These include three semesters of social sciences, two semesters each of
science and humanities courses, and one semester of literature, math (calculus-based),
and world civilization. Additionally, all students must either demonstrate proficiency in a
foreign language or complete three semesters of foreign language study.
An additional requirement for all CMC students is the senior thesis, a major research
paper or project designed by the student. Normally completed during the senior year and
overseen by a faculty advisor, this one- or two-semester venture is usually on a topic of interest
within the student’s major field of study. Social science and humanities students usually
write thesis papers ranging from thirty to hundreds of pages, science students design
and carry out experimental research, and often students choose to do a creative project
such as a short film or a novel.
My professors introduced me to fundamental schools of thought that
bend my mind and make me feel more engaged in the rest of my life. The best
classes here leave me thinking about the basic values and truths of the world
after I leave the classroom. They also spark conversations about anything and
everything with my friends.” —Ethan Andyshak, Class of 2006
Professors
Do not choose CMC if you want to go through four years of college as an anonymous student
in the back of the classroom. The vast majority of CMC professors want to hear
your ideas and opinions, they want you to ask questions, they hope that you will come to
their office hours, and they would like to know how you are doing outside of school as well.
It is not uncommon to find professors eating lunch with students in the dining hall and students
are often invited to professors’ homes for class gatherings.
Feedback
However, the payoff may not be initially in terms of grades. The bar is set high and new
students may not also receive the straight As that they earned in high school. Students
must challenge themselves to master material and improve their knowledge and they do so
in an environment that is collaborative and supportive. Competition with one’s fellow student
is virtually unheard of and most CMCers note that there is a sense of solidarity when
exam or term paper time rolls around.
Grades at CMC are based on a 12-point, rather than 4-point scale, with 12 being an
A, 11 equal to an A–, 10 is a B+, and so forth. The Dean’s List credits students who have
achieved a GPA of 10.0 or higher during the previous semester, and the Distinguished
Scholar List is a mark of achievement for those who earned a GPA of 11.0 or higher.
Because there is a special emphasis on writing as part of a CMC education, first-year
students may be dismayed when they receive their first papers back. CMC professors work
to improve their students’ writing through the application of proper grammar, the use of
effective techniques, and clear structure. A popular government professor requires firstyear
students to review effective writing techniques before writing their first paper of the
semester, and one literature professor in recent years required that his students write an
essay on the correct usage of the word “like.” The Writing Center is a unique resource that
offers writing help and specialized workshops for students who would like extra help.
Writing at the college level can seem daunting at first but CMC grads report that their training
in writing has served them well in their professional lives.
Throughout their college career students can count on the advice and guidance of
their faculty advisor. Students are assigned faculty advisors in their interested field of study
at the beginning of their first year.
Research and Other Programs
CMC students have more opportunities to participate hands-on in original research than
at any other liberal arts college nationwide. While a number of American universities
house research centers, work at these centers is usually reserved for professors and graduate
students. Students at CMC are able to gain valuable experience in their chosen field by
initiating research projects, supervising fellow
student researchers, publishing in academic journals,
organizing and participating in conferences,
and attending group study trips organized by the
research institutes.
Off-Campus Experiences
Students may exchange at one of the following
liberal arts colleges in the United States: Colby,
Haverford, Morehouse, or Spelman Colleges. The
Washington, D.C. semester includes a full-time
internship with an elected official, government
agency, or public interest group, courses with CMC
faculty, and a major research paper requirement.
This experience infects many students with the
“DC bug” and has led to the start of many students’
future careers in Washington.
Study abroad programs are offered in more than fifty cities in Europe, Asia, Africa,
Latin America, Australia, and the Middle East. CMC also offers students many opportunities to complete internships in cities
around the world, in Washington, D.C., and in locations closer to home through opportunities
such as the McKenna International Internship program, the Community Service
Internship program, and other internship opportunities offered through the various
research institutes.
I studied in Oxford and had a wonderful time. This was my first trip
outside the United States, and it really showed me what the United States is like
from a different cultural viewpoint. Being in the UK for the election as well,
showed me how they see and interpret the U.S. and U.S. policy abroad, especially
in Europe.” —Justin Levitt, Class of 2006
Research Institutes
Family of Benjamin Z. Gould Center
for Humanistic Studies.
H.N. and Frances G. Berger Institute
for Work, Family, and Children.
The Center for the Study of the
Holocaust, Genocide, and Human
Rights.
Reed Institute for Applied Statistics.
Henry Kravis Leadership Institute.
Keck Center for International and
Strategic Studies.
Roberts Environmental Center.
Lowe Institute of Political Economy.
Henry Salvatori Center for the Study
of Individual Freedom in the Modern
World.
Rose Institute of State and Local
Government.
Special Degree Programs
CMC offers many special degree programs that allow students to combine fields of study or
to accelerate the completion of their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees through
various partnership programs. Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) is an interdisciplinary
major modeled after an Oxford University program in which students participate in small
seminars and tutorials with faculty. The Environment, Economics, and Politics (EEP) major is
a unique interdisciplinary program that trains students to analyze and develop policy solutions
for environmental issues. CMC sponsors cooperative programs with graduate schools that
allow CMCers to combine their study at CMC with eventual postgraduate study. CMC offers several
accelerated degree programs including: the Robert A. Day 4+1 B.A./M.B.A. with the
Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University; a 3+2 B.A./M.S. in Applied
Biology with Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences, and a 3+3 B.A./J.D. with
Columbia Law School. Additionally, students interested in engineering may participate in
accelerated programs in Economics/Engineering or Management/Engineering by combining a
B.A. from CMC with a B.S. from a top engineering school like Cal Tech or Claremont
Consortium partner Harvey Mudd College. Another unique degree program is the Management
Engineering program in which CMC students can earn a B.A. from CMC and a B.S. in engineering
from schools including Cal Tech or Claremont Consortium partner Harvey Mudd.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Claremont McKenna College.
CMC is highly selective and traditionally accepts approximately twenty percent of
applicants. What is this selectivity based on? There are the usual traits—each entering
class includes its fair share of valedictorians and National Merit Finalists, and the median
combined SAT score is around 2100. In addition, though, CMC seeks students who will be
engaged learners and active members of the CMC community. Admissions officers look for
students who have shown leadership potential, self-motivation, and interpersonal skills,
and emphasis is placed on extracurricular involvement and how these activities could
translate into success in the classroom and in the CMC community.
We’re not trying to maximize pure intellectual performance. Certainly,
we want to have good grades, test scores, and recommendations, but we balance
it a lot with other considerations. It is ultimately important whether or not the
student is a good fit for CMC, and vice versa.”—CMC Dean of Admissions, Richard Vos
CMC’s small size allows the Admission Office to build a comprehensive class made
up of individuals who will be well suited to the CMC community and CMC’s educational
style. The admissions officers will try to “get to know you” as they consider your admissions
materials. The components of your application that allow your personality to shine through,
such as your essays, along with other factors such as your test scores, will all be considered.
One recent graduate recalled being amazed when, during her first semester at CMC, one of
the admissions officers approached her in the dining hall to tell her how much she had
enjoyed the student’s personal statement.
It is equally important for you as an applicant to get to know CMC to determine that
CMC is the best fit for you.
The Admission Office regularly offers tours of the campus and it is also possible to
arrange an overnight stay in a dorm. Those who may be unable to visit the campus can write
directly to current students with any questions that they may have by using the “Ask a
Student” section of the Admission Office Web site.
Curriculum and Standardized Tests
An applicant’s high school education must have included four years of English, three to
four years of math, at least three years of a foreign language, at least two years of science,
and one year of history. All high schools are different however, and the availability of
advanced, honors, or AP classes at your school will be taken into account. Steady improvement
over the high school career is considered, and slacking during the senior year is not
viewed favorably. Admission Dean Vos said, “That last year is crucial because students who
carry their grades through to the end will likely be people who see projects through and
complete tasks to the best of their ability.”
The SAT is required. The median SAT score for the entering class in 2006 was 700 on
the Critical Reading portion and 700 on the Math portion. These are median scores, however,
not hard-and-fast standards that all candidates must achieve and the Admission Office
requests that applicants submit all scores earned for each and every time that an applicant
has taken the SAT. Interested students should plan to take the exam during their junior
year, or between October and January of the senior year.
Recommendations and Essays
It is also necessary to include three recommendations, one from a high school guidance
counselor and two from teachers. Two essays must also be included. These essays include
a personal statement and an analytical essay, and are one of the most important components
of your application. The personal essay is an opportunity to show your personality and
highlight your special achievements or personal experiences. The analytical essay should
identify a person who has shaped current events and culture.
It is also highly recommended that all applicants complete an interview with either
an admission officer or with an alumnus of the college in their city. This interview is
another opportunity for applicants to demonstrate the qualities that can set them apart
from other candidates.
Admission Plans
There is a binding Early Decision plan for students who view CMC as their top choice; it
should be filed by November 15th. Eighty Early Decision candidates were accepted into
the 2006–2007 class. Regular fall semester applicants should submit their applications by
January 2.
Financial Aid
Claremont McKenna has a need-blind, meet-all-need admission policy, a practice
shared by only thirty-five colleges and universities nationwide. Your application for admission
will be reviewed without regard for your ability to pay, and all admitted students’ determined
financial need will be accommodated.
Financial aid supports sixty percent of students who are enrolled at the college.
While most student aid is need-based there are also merit scholarship programs. One exciting
scholarship is the McKenna Achievement Award, a $10,000 scholarship renewable for
all four years, which is awarded to thirty incoming first-year students who have demonstrated
outstanding academic and personal achievements during their high school careers.
The average need-based financial-aid package in a recent year was $26,650. Family incomes
of students qualifying for financial aid range from $0 to six figures.
All students who wish to apply for financial aid must file the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Financial Aid PROFILE form that is processed by the
College Scholarship Service (CSS) in order to be considered eligible. The deadline for these
forms usually occurs soon after the admission application is due.
Though it may seem a long way off now, CMC graduates leave Claremont with less
debt than the average college graduate. The average need-based loan debt of students in a
recent graduating class was $10,769—less than ten percent of the four-year tuition bill.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Claremont McKenna College 3176th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best California scholarships and financial aid
It is often said that Claremont McKenna students study hard and play hard too.
Extracurricular activities and social life at CMC are part of the experience. They are a way
to meet new people, develop friendships, take a break from studying, follow hobbies, and
develop a support system.
Clubs and Organizations
There are a wide variety of clubs, sports teams, and other organizations for CMC students
to choose from. Everything from orchestra, to Debate Club, to religious and ethnic
organizations, to the student newspaper, to karate, is available.
It is also always possible for students to develop new clubs themselves if they find
that a niche is lacking at CMC. Students can apply for money from the student activity fund
and charter a new organization. In recent years, students have founded clubs and organizations
focused on everything from human rights to vegetarian cooking to boxing.
CMC also hosts International Place (I-Place), the heart of the international program
at The Claremont Colleges, which provides support to international students and hosts
weekly luncheons with presentations on international politics and culture.
The Associated Students of CMC often hosts concerts in Claremont Bridges
Auditorium. Recent concerts have included Claremont native Ben Harper, the Black Eyed
Peas, and George Clinton.
Community Service
Many CMC students take part in community service, ranging from tutoring to working
on Habitat for Humanity projects. CMC clubs and sports teams are also active in service
projects. An annual community service project is also part of the freshman orientation.
Every year two students serve as community service coordinators organizing service
projects in the local community.
Dorms
CMC does not have fraternities or sororities and the vast majority of students (over
ninety-five percent) choose to live on campus. As a primarily residential campus, the
heart of CMC social life is the college’s twelve dorms. Divided into North Quad, Mid Quad,
and South Quad, each grouping of dorms has a different feeling and most students develop
an allegiance to one residential area. In their fourth year, students can choose to live in oncampus
student apartments located on the eastern edge of CMC’s campus. Dorms often
host parties that range from simple gatherings to themed affairs including disco parties and
costume parties. Popular themed parties include Mardi Gras and Monte Carlo, complete
with blackjack tables. Another popular event is the semiannual SYR (“screw your roommate”)
dance in which students set their roommates up on blind dates.
Off-Campus
The “Village” of Claremont is only a five-minute walk from campus and offers restaurants,
coffee shops, shops, and a local farmers market. All that southern California has
to offer is only a car or train ride away from Claremont. Weekends often find students heading
into L.A. (forty minutes away by freeway and by Metrolink commuter rail train) or to
nearby beaches. Claremont is served by Ontario International Airport—only fifteen minutes
from campus—so going home for vacations is never a problem.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Claremont McKenna College?
CMC graduates leave Claremont with a sense of direction as they move into the workforce
or on to graduate or professional degree programs. On-campus recruiting by firms,
graduate schools, and the local and national government takes place throughout the senior
year and the majority of CMC students have a job lined up by the spring.
In talking with students who attend top colleges across the country, I
have yet to encounter a similar degree of generosity and support for the interests
of students. CMC seeks to make leaders that will leave their mark on society and
thus do all that they can to provide students with a well-rounded education that
can hardly be gained anywhere else.” —Joanna Respold, Class of 2007
CMC students are also competitive in the field
of postcollege scholarships and fellowships such
as the Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall, and Truman.
Claremont McKenna College has been ranked third,
nationally, among undergraduate colleges for the
number of Fulbright Scholars it produces, according
to a national ranking just published by The
Chronicle of Higher Education. Seven CMCers from
the class of 2004 were awarded Fulbright scholarships
that year.
The CMC Career Center is a helpful resource
throughout the process. Professional career counselors
and student assistants are on hand to help
fine-tune resumes, practice interviewing skills,
search for internships, and also keep alumni
informed about career development opportunities.
CMC alumni stay in close touch through the
Alumni Office, which organizes nationwide events,
publishes a newsletter, and sponsors class reunions.
Prominent Grads
Betsy Berns, President, Bvision Sportsmedia
Robert Day, Chairman of the Board,Trust Company of the West
David Dreier, U.S. Congressman and Chairman of the House Rules Committee
Ray Drummond, Acclaimed Jazz Bassist
Donald Hall, Chairman and CEO, Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Mike Jeffries, Chairman and CEO, Abercrombie & Fitch
Henry Kravis, Founding Partner, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
Robert Lowe Chairman and CEO, Lowe Enterprises
Nancy McCallin, President, Colorado Community College System
Harry McMahon, VIce Chairman, Merrill Lynch & Co.
Thomas Pritzker, Chairman and CEO, The Pritzker Organization
George Roberts, Founding Partner, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
Karen Rosenfelt, President of Production, Paramount Pictures
Tasia Scollinos, Director of Communications, U.S. Department of Justice
Julie Spellman Sweet, Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Julie Wong, Deputy Mayor for Communications, City of Los Angeles
Demographics – Main Campus and Surrounding Areas
Reported area around or near Claremont, CA 91711-6400
Surrounding community
Large suburb (inside urban area but outside city, pop. over 250,000)
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