Pitzer College Top Questions

Students at Pitzer don't really like to wear shoes! Our norm-defying moments aside, Pitzer students are, I think, some of the friendliest and most open on the 5C's. While you do find the occasional 'dirty hippie' stereotype, Pitzer students are mostly your every day college students. I will say that conservative PZ students would have a hard time fitting in with the mostly liberal-skewed student body.

Pitzer students are focused on success, but not in the sense of trying to make the most money or get the best jobs. Most students I talk to have big aspirations, many to change the world. Therefore, their goal is to make a difference, whether that be through the non-profit or government sector or through success in the business world. I think one thing that shifts the conversation away from salary is the way in which being at Pitzer helps to develop your conscience. Students aren't just interesting in making money; they want to do it in a socially responsible way.

My classmates are dynamic, engaging, inquisitive, and everything else under the sun.

Friendly, alcoholic, stoned, brilliant, driven, well traveled, and filthy rich.

INSANE.

The pitzer student body is very diverse, and everyone is very friendly and open-minded with each other. The only person who would feel out of place at Pitzer would be an ultra-conservative, wealthy elite who hates having fun. In general, Pitzer students are from fairly well-off families, but there are many exceptions, and no one feels excluded because of socio-economic background. Pitzer students are predominately left, and many are politically active. Ive never heard a Pitzer student talk about how much they'll earn one day.

Determined, friendly, and enthusiastic.

Pitzer is very diverse, and there are many active students on campus. It's a predominantly liberal campus, and people are more concerned about global issues and having a satisfying life helping others rather than their eventual annual earnings.

Basically any type of open minded person can fit in at Pitzer. It not that hard, and almost everyone is accepted. The people who don't fit in, dont want to.

Filled with hippies and potheads. Most of them are pretty rich and very liberal. I'm a pretty liberal person, but I seem very conservative at Pitzer. A lot of the students are from California, which I see as a handicap. Yet they are very accepting of alternative lifestyles, almost to the point of excessive political correctness.

Pitzer is the most diverse college in the 5-C Consortium. Pitzer is in support, and in fact, does implement affirmative action policies. It prides itself as promoting and actively seeking diversity. There are few to none "spoiled brat" kind of personalities at Pitzer. Even those who are financially well-off, are modest in expressing their socioeconomic status. A right-wing, conservative, or someone abiding by strict religious ideologies would feel out of place at Pitzer; it is historically a very liberal-minded institution. There is no overarching clothing style characterizing Pitzer students, other than perhaps tie-dye and flip-flops. Intermingling between "types" of students is a constant natural occurrence at Pitzer. Most Pitzer students are from the Bay Area, Texas, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, New York, and Los Angeles.

There is a group or club for most minority (and some majority) groups. Racial, religious, and sexual orientations seem very well respected here. Students here come from a wide range of financial and socioeconomic backgrounds. The majority of Pitzer students are from th U.S. (many from California), but we also have quite a few international students. There are fewer politically conservative students at Pitzer, but they do exist.

During the beginning of my freshman year I was the only Pitzer freshman who was out and proud. The guys I knew were gay (I could sense it) did not come out until the end of the first semester or not until the end of the first academic year. it is as though being gay at Pitzer is taboo, but that's absurd, seeing how it is one of the most liberal colleges across the nation. Outside the college bubble, it's even worse. I was dating someone (NOT from the Claremont Colleges) and I walked down what we call "the village," which is an assortment of stores and restaurants, and we were holding hands. Everyone stared at us as if we were too taboo for Claremont. If you're gay and in Claremont, scream and run back to West Hollywood because Claremont is DEFINITELY NOT gay friendly. The colleges are, but the surrounding community doesn't seem so. The nearest (and shittiest) gay club is about a 15 minute drive - ew! Students here are also too rich for their own good. As someone from a lower socio-economic status, I have noticed that people are SOOOOOO ignorant when it comes to that subject. Just because they could afford everything does not mean that everyone else could too. And just because they could afford a certain lifestyle, such as going organic or buying super expensive biodegradable detergent, does NOT mean that someone from a lower class could do the same. They are also ignorant when it comes to LGBT issues, using gay as a synonym for stupid or vandalizing the Queer Resource Center (located on Pomona's campus). They are also ignorant when it comes to racial issues. Being Latino, I have noticed these things. Making fun of Mexicans, calling all Latin American ethnicities the same, when they are clearly not. Complaining that everyone should speak English. It angers me. A conservative bigot would feel out of place in Pitzer. Someone like Cruella De Ville would feel out of place too. Class attire ranges from PJ's in the morning to ties (I wear a tie to class! When I feel like it) to shiny tights and hot pink shirts it all depends on your taste. Different students do interact, but people usually stick to what feels comfortable. Four tables: The latinos, the jocks, the artsy people, and the Japanese foreign exchange students. That would be IF there were only four tables. In real life though, there really isn't such a segregation, but these are the prominent groups here. Most people tend to be affluent. The are politically active. When it comes to voting some people lie and say they voted because some students act as if the world is going to end if you don't. Students do not talk about how much they'll earn one day. At least not in normal conversation.