Recommendations for transferring to Pomona College?

I'm working on my application to transfer to Pomona College and was wondering what kind of recommendations make an impact. Should I focus on getting recs from professors, or will professional/mentor recommendations work too?

For transfers to Pomona College, recommendations play an essential role. The school requires at least two recommendations from college professors who can speak directly to your ability to succeed academically. These instructors should ideally be from courses related to your intended major, where you demonstrated strong performance.

Given the emphasis Pomona places on intellectual curiosity and academic rigor, recommendations from professors who can attest to your intellectual engagement, critical thinking skills, and motivation in the classroom would be impactful. They can focus on your participation in class discussions, thoughtful input, the quality of your written and analytical work, or your ability to grasp complex concepts.

While you can certainly submit professional references, academia-focused ones are of higher weight at an academic institution like Pomona. However, if you feel that a mentor or employer can provide a unique perspective on your dedication, leadership qualities, or other characteristics related to your ability to succeed at Pomona, it could complement academic references.

Remember, it's not just about who writes the recommendation, but also what they say about you. Letters should offer specific examples of your strengths to truly help your application shine. Ultimately, you want your recommenders to capture your potential holistically, through both academic achievement and personal attributes.

Good luck with your application! Transferring can be a complex process, but with careful planning and thoughtful choices on your references, you're taking the right steps toward making it successful.