Claremont McKenna College

Hallmarks and Quirks

Things I'm Good At:

  • Economics. My fantastic econ department is known as The Robert Day School, and it's probably what I'm most well known for.
     
  • Government. A close second to my econ program, my government department has some brilliant professors like Jack Pitney and Ed Haley. 
     
  • Golf. My men's and women's golf teams are some of the best (and most balanced) in the country.
     
  • Swimming. My women's swim team was recently ranked in the Top 20 for NCAA Division II schools and has an amazing record.

My Top 5 Must-Haves:

  1. Bro-tanks. Those guns aren't going to tan themselves.
     
  2. Sunscreen. Sun damage is a very real thing and rain is a rarity in these parts.
     
  3. The Constitution of the United States. I take a no-nonsense approach to government, so you'll be probably be pretty familiar with the Constitution by the time you leave my doors.
     
  4. An up-to-date LinkedIn profile. One word: networking.
     
  5. A swimsuit. On a nice day you'll see just as many people in bathing suits as you will in clothes. Now that's what's up.

Why You Might Have Heard of Me:

  • The Daily Beast recently ranked me as the Happiest Campus in the country. I'm not complaining.
     
  • I am one the most selective non-Ivy (or Stanford) schools in the country. I'm talking less than 12% and only getting lower.
     
  • My campus is always ranked among the most beautiful in the country. Don't believe me? Just ask BuzzFeed, Business Insider, and any one of my super happy students.
     
  • You may have heard about the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum, a small formal forum featuring renowned guests from every field for an evening of dinner, conversation, and enlightenment. I've hosted everyone from Bill Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Bono, Billy Jean King (who actually hit tennis balls into the audience), and many more.

On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...

  • Raging it up at whichever party is the place to be that night.
     
  • Milling around North Quad (red cups in hand).
     
  • Inhaling curly fries at the Hub at 2:00AM.
     
  • Chilling with friends in the dorms. The beautiful thing about living on campus is everyone is always close.

Favorite Hangouts:

  • The Fountains. During the spring and summer (which is basically year round), you'll see people lounging in either the Hub fountain or Bauer Fountain pretending to study but really just tanning.
     
  • Green Beach. The epicenter of all daytime drinking, tanning, and general debauchery.
     
  • Poppa Lounge. My infamous computer lab, where you will inevitably spend hours finishing your thesis, devouring McDonald's, and making questionable online shopping decisions next to all your best friends.
     
  • Eureka. A burger place to take the family when they visit. McDonald's isn't exactly sit-down dining.
     
  • The Village. Whether you want to eat, drink, get some shopping done, this is the go-to place for all of my students.

Quirks:

  • One of my most unique aspects is my focus on inclusivity. I want everyone to have fun with each other, so that means there are no sororities or fraternities. My small size helps, as there are only about 300 students in each class. This means you're friends with everyone, whether you like it or not. Muahaha.
     
  • I'm part of the Claremont Colleges consortium. While I have my own designated corner, I more or less share a campus with four other schools: Scripps, Harvey Mudd, Pomona, and Pitzer. I may be small on my own, but all five of us combined are home to more than 5,000 students.
     
  • Every year on the day senior theses are turned in, the Senior Class President provides everyone with champagne and the most epic party of the year ensues. We call it Thesis Day.
     
  • It's a tradition to get ponded—a.k.a. thrown into a fountain—on your birthday. Better watch your back.

Famous Alumni:

  • Robin Williams. The late comedian who didn't graduate because he tried to drive a golf cart into the dining hall
     
  • Mike Jeffries. Often-troubled ex-CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch
     
  • Henry Kravis. Billionaire extraordinaire
     
  • Thomas Pritzker. Philanthropist and member of the extremely wealthy Pritzker family
     
  • Robert Addison Day. A business executive and philanthropist