Pitzer College Reviews

"I was a science major; therefore, I did not take many classes at Pitzer College. The science center was joint with CMC and Scripps, and it was outstanding. I would not have chosen to attend Pitzer College if I knew their reputation included: hippie, drugs and "the easiest Claremont school to get into." I was surprised with the loose and relaxed academic environment outside the science center. At the time I attended, no SAT was required and Pitzer did not require general education courses."

"Pitzer College is a wonderful environment for students to explore their interests, experience new things, and connect with a creative and service -minded community. In my experience Pitzer's greatest appeal lies in its international programs, including the Fulbright coaching course, which helped me land a Fulbright Student Fellowship to Hungary my first year after graduation. Pitzer is located in Claremont, CA which is 1-3 hours from Los Angeles, depending on traffic, but less than an hour from Mt. San Antonio, and only 2 hours from Joshua Tree National Park. It is a favorite among the hip, the sun-worshipping, and devotees of Rock Climbing. Pitzer is a fun school, without a doubt. When I was there, it was rated #7 "Hipster School" in the nation, and its tiny social scene puts one in mind of a Wes Anderson movie. This can be good or bad. The students are self-selecting, and tend to be charismatic, good looking, and extremely affluent. I was one of a handful of non-full-paying students out of a student body of roughly 1,000. Academically, Pitzer is strong on Linguistics, Media Studies and International Relations, and weak on everything else. However, it is part of the Claremont University Consortium, which includes 5 undergraduate and 2 graduate schools at which Pitzer students can take classes for credit. I took most of my classes at Pomona and Claremont McKenna Colleges, and their academic standards were excellent. Pitzer caters to a free spirited, rich clientele, and I do not recommend it for optimal career enhancement. However, a student who networks well and seeks out opportunity will always do well at Pitzer and after graduation. Pitzer is a place where students can study more or less whatever they want; students' choice of what to study determines how far their education takes them. I was also one of a VERY SMALL handful of minority students at Pitzer. This was rough at times, but then again, it's much the same at most expensive private colleges. Overall, I think that Pitzer is a great choice for self-motivated students who know what they want to do, and are not afraid to work for it. It is also a wonderful place for trust-fund surfers to pass a beautiful four years in the sun. It is a conundrum of a school, best suited for paradoxical people. Make sure you visit before enrolling, and a word to the wise: your experience there will be fullest if you have a car."

"Pitzer College is a small liberal arts college nestled in the flatlands below the iconic San Bernardino mountains of Southern California. You can pursue a myriad of future careers and interests here, from medicine with the Keck Science Center to Social activism and justice in with the Monroe Center for Social Inquiry. While your academic tastes are varied and vast, so too are the cuisine options, which resemble that of a 5 star hotel rather than an undergraduate campus. Pitzer has consistently been ranked in the top 20 schools in terms of admissions selectivity, and the the top 10 in terms of quality and healthy dining options. This breadth is mirrored in the students and educational focuses available on campus. Pitzer offers a specialized major design, for those interested in charting their own academic waters. There is a place for anyone who is lucky enough and impressive enough to be accepted here, you just have to find out what it is. Pitzer does a great job of doing that, and in so shaping the future careers of our world's next generation of change makers."

"It was a great choice - small classes, close-knit student community, amazing faculty-student relations --- phenomenal experience overall, nothing like it!"

"It was a great choice - small classes, close-knit student community, amazing faculty-student relations --- phenomenal experience overall, nothing like it!"

"Pitzer is a great small school for students who don't want to be a faceless number lost in a lecture hall. I never wanted to attend college, and Pitzer was the best place for me. I couldn't have asked for a better four years. I was surrounded by truly inspiring students and faculty. I was engaged in continually stimulating discussion, and had the chance to study abroad."