Pomona College has published its 2026-2027 supplemental admissions essays for applicants to the Class of 2031. This year, in addition to the Personal Statement on The Common Application, Pomona College applicants are asked to respond to one 150-word Why Major prompt and one of three 250-word short response essays.

2026-2027 Pomona College Why Major? Prompt

Applicants are asked to respond to the following essay in 150 words or fewer:

1. Strong communities are sustained by traditions. Pomona College’s annual calendar is marked with both long-standing and newer traditions that help shape our community. Tell us about a meaningful tradition in your family or community. Why is it important to you, and how does it bring people together or strengthen the bonds of those who participate?

This prompt is a classic “Why Major” question designed to distinguish applicants who have carefully researched Pomona from those who haven’t. For example, if someone truly wants to study computer science at Pomona, a generic answer about enjoying coding won’t be convincing. The admissions team wants applicants who recognize what makes studying their chosen major at Pomona, specifically, a worthwhile opportunity.

In their response, applicants should steer clear of listing professors or referencing courses, both of which are subject to change in the following academic year. Instead, they should focus on the program’s lasting qualities and core values. Pomona’s admissions officers are interested in how applicants aspire to make meaningful contributions to this discipline by leveraging opportunities only Pomona can provide.

By thoughtfully exploring the unique programs, resources, and support structures related to their major at Pomona, applicants can demonstrate their genuine interest in attending the college.

2026-2027 Pomona College Short Response Essay Prompts

Applicants are also asked to respond to one of the following three short response essays in 250 words or less: 

1. Reflecting on a community that you are a part of, what values or perspectives from that community would you bring to Pomona?

This essay prompt is a straight-up-the-middle community essay that is a goldmine for any student intent on taking advantage of the Roberts Loophole on their Pomona application. And what’s the Roberts Loophole, you ask? While the United States Supreme Court outlawed the practice of Affirmative Action a few years ago, Chief Justice John Roberts penned a loophole in the majority opinion.

Chief Justice Roberts wrote, “Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.”

With the limited word count available, students who choose this prompt may also consider ending on a few Why College specifics that underscore how they will translate their backgrounds into involvement on Pomona’s campus, thus addressing the “bring to Pomona” aspect of the question. 

2. Describe an experience you had outside the classroom that changed the way you think and/or how you engage with your peers. What was that experience and what did you learn from it?

When choosing an explicitly extracurricular experience to write about, heed Ivy Coach’s advice: think local, with global implications. In other words, don’t describe the time you witnessed something extraordinary while traveling abroad, or highlight an experience nearly every other applicant would be able to lay claim to, such as the COVID-19 pandemic (which you should also steer clear of because admissions officers don’t care about anything that happened to you pre-high school!).

Instead, think of an instance in which you were challenged to expand your awareness of ideological diversity, navigate a sticky situation with primarily intellectual stakes, or rise to the occasion and help out your community. No matter what you choose, you should demonstrate your capacity to learn from others and critically reflect on this experience with eloquent prose.

3. Choose any person or group of people in your life and share how they would describe you.

Most students who choose this prompt make the mistake of stringing together the adjectives they imagine a certain group or person would associate with them without undergirding these with any specific examples. But if you do choose this prompt, you’d better believe Pomona wants you to take it as an opportunity to describe a specific anecdote related to the pursuit of your singular hoo. And not just any anecdote. One that demonstrates the ingenuity, empathy, depth of knowledge, etc. that you brought to this situation or activity, as reflected through the prism of another’s experience.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Pomona College Essays

If you’re interested in giving yourself the best chance of earning admission to Pomona College by submitting essays that are highly compelling to Pomona College admissions officers, fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch with an outline of our college counseling services for seniors.