Zion Culbreath
English 1102
March 10th, 2022
zculbreath1@gastate.view.usg.edu
Summary
Pomona college is a relatively small private school in Southern California that is esteemed for its high academic standards and commitment to excellence. The university prides itself on admitting students who are both diverse in their background and accomplished in their academics, best demonstrated by its 6.6% admit rate and the different 60 countries that students originate from (Pomona College Home). The Pomona website persuades students to apply to the school by appealing to rhetorical strategies, namely ethos and logos, and idealizing different audiences.
Analysis
Considering that the name “Pomona” and the town “Claremont” are not very popular among most people, the Pomona website is an important resource for promoting the school and the opportunities it presents. To accomplish this, the website features a plethora of rhetorical language and strategies that hold readers’ attention and shape their perception of the college. The most prominent strategies on the website are ethos, pathos, and the overarching theme of idealizing potential audiences.
Pomona is a very diverse school located in an area that is a hotbed of cultural agglomeration, which is a large part of the appeal of the school. For instance, on the Diversity & Access page, one can find that Black, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino students make up 39% of the student body and that 17% of the students at Pomona are first-generation students (Diversity & Access at Pomona). To highlight this concept, the website also imagines its ideal readers and appeals to them. An example of this is how the page references and details Pomona’s admissions process for undocumented students. Since southern California has a vast immigrant population, many applicants to the school are undocumented residents and this might pose an issue for them in applying to schools. To ensure that these students understand their value to Pomona, the school dedicates a page to this issue, stating that “Since 2007, in the admissions and financial aid processes, the College has fully reviewed applications from undocumented and DACAmented students who graduate from a U.S. high school by the same criteria as for all domestic students” (Undocumented/DACAmented applicants). In doing so, the website appeals to a specific group of readers and confirms their commitment to inclusion.
Pomona’s most distinguishing feature is its academic reputation, with Niche raking it #1 for liberal arts and #1 among small schools in the US (Pomona College Home). This is reinforced by statistics like the median ACT score of 34 and 29.6% of students who graduated as Valedictorians in High School. By establishing these high standards, the school appeals to students who want to challenge themselves academically and surround themselves with other overachievers. Though this portrays the school as rigorous, the website ensures that students will be well equipped to perform at high levels by referencing the 8:1 student to faculty ratio as well as the numerous research opportunities available for undergraduates. The website further establishes the school’s credibility by referencing the prestigious graduate schools that alumni attend after Pomona and the leadership positions that alumni hold. Specifically, the outcomes page states that “Pomona alumni have served in positions of leadership in practically every field of human endeavor – from medicine, public policy, and the arts to scientific research, journalism, business, and the law…” (Outcomes: Your Future). The website also imagines the potential reader’s perspective by taking into account the likelihood that students will see career success after Pomona, knowing that most applicants see college as a steppingstone. To appeal to these readers, the website asserts that upon graduation, 95% of students either accept a job/internship offer or are admitted to graduate school. The combination of statistics, appeals to credibility, and appeals to readers’ interest bolster the reader’s perception of Pomona as one of the more prestigious schools in America.
As a small school, community is an important aspect of Pomona’s identity. As part of a group of 7 colleges termed the Claremont Colleges, Pomona provides students the opportunity to interact with 8,000 students and 250 clubs (Pomona College Home). These numbers make it clear that potential applicants will have numerous options in terms of networking and forming relationships. Likewise, knowing that a sense of purpose is important to prospective students, the school ensures that its commitments extend beyond academics and include community service. This is best captured in the quote, “They only are loyal to this college who, departing, bear their added riches in trust for mankind” (Community Engagement). Through this quote, the website imagines its readers and their motivations and aligns them with the school. The school also provides numerous opportunities to conduct this service through its tutoring programs and community partnerships. In all, Pomona distinguishes itself based on its communal feel that other schools might not provide.
Response
After scoping the Pomona website and analyzing the rhetorical strategies that it used, I am convinced that I would attend this university. Considering that I am a minority student, inclusion is very important to me and my college experience, so their insistence on diversity appeals to me. I was unsure if this would be possible at a private university, but the information on the website assures me that I would feel a sense of belonging at the school. Another thing that draws me to the school is the idea of living in Southern California and experiencing that culture. The website details how visually appealing the area is and how many different activities are possible at the college. Though I have always lived in Georgia, I would be open to experiencing something new and different and California seems to be an attractive location. Though the website was persuasive in most areas, it did fail to convince me that the level of rigor wouldn’t be a stressor. The numbers regarding the academic profile of accepted students were intimidating, and though I understand that the school intends to challenge students, I feel that I would probably struggle in this environment. In spite of this, the statistics about the success rates of graduates are very encouraging and show that if one does work hard enough, they will be rewarded. Overall, I believe that Pomona is a great school, and the website demonstrates this through its rhetorical strategies.
Works Cited
“Community Engagement | Pomona College in Claremont, California – Pomona College.” Pomona College in Claremont, California – Pomona College, www.pomona.edu/life-at-pomona/community-engagement. Accessed 7 Mar. 2022.
“Diversity & Access at Pomona | Pomona College in Claremont, California – Pomona College.” Pomona College in Claremont, California – Pomona College, www.pomona.edu/admissions/diversity. Accessed 8 Mar. 2022.
“Outcomes: Your Future | Pomona College in Claremont, California – Pomona College.” Pomona College in Claremont, California – Pomona College, www.pomona.edu/outcomes. Accessed 8 Mar. 2022.
“Pomona College Home | Pomona College in Claremont, California – Pomona College.” Pomona College in Claremont, California – Pomona College, www.pomona.edu/home. Accessed 7 Mar. 2022.
“Undocumented/DACAmented Applicants | Pomona College in Claremont, California – Pomona College.” Pomona College in Claremont, California – Pomona College, www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply/undocumenteddacamented-applicants. Accessed 8 Mar. 2022.