The most accurate AI grader for Pomona essays.
Kolly was built and calibrated on hundreds of thousands of essays from students who actually got into Pomona College and the rest of the T20.
Pomona essay prompts for 2026-27
Copy the prompt you are answering into the prompt field above, then paste your draft, so the readers grade the answer against the question it has to answer.
These are the most recent Pomona prompts Kolly has verified, checked . Pomona may have updated them since, so check Pomona College admissions before you submit.
Academic Interest / Why Major
What draws you to the subject(s) you selected as potential major(s)? If undecided, share more about one of your academic passions or interests.
150 words max · Required
Out-of-Classroom Experience (Option B)
Pomona is home to a diverse community of faculty, staff and students who, through close ties and collaboration, enable each other to identify and explore their greatest passions. Considering this, respond to one of the following: Describe an experience you had outside the classroom that changed the way you think and/or how you engage with your peers.
250 words max · Required
Community / Values
Pomona College defines itself as a place where people are encouraged to ‘think boldly’ and ‘engage’ with each other and the world—especially across differences. Describe a specific conversation, experience, or moment that shaped how you engage with ideas, people, or communities different from your own.
250 words max · Required
Why Pomona (Item)
What item are you excited to bring with you to Pomona? How does it connect to what you’re looking forward to in college?
150 words max · Required
Open topic
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a personal experience, or a summer activity.
150 words max · Required
All Pomona supplemental essays, with word limits and the published source.
How Kolly grades a Pomona essay
The grade covers the same six dimensions as every Kolly read: hook, theme, detail, authenticity, reflection, and writing, each scored from 0 to 5. The big number is a percentile that shows where your draft lands among accepted essays of the same type from top US schools. Pomona readers, like their counterparts at peer schools, read fast and form an impression in the first paragraph. The verdict quotes the line that lands and names the weakest moment, so you know what to fix first.
Why Kolly instead of a ChatGPT read
ChatGPT and other general models grade against writing in general, which is not what Pomona readers do. Kolly grades against essays that got in, and four readers argue over the draft before they vote, so a polished answer that says nothing specific gets called out instead of praised. The quick read is free without an account. A free Kolly account adds the full review: a stronger scoring model, notes on each paragraph, and a fix-it plan.
Grading your personal statement?
Use the main college essay grader for a Common App essay that goes to every school on your list. For acceptance rates, test scores, and cost, see Pomona College admissions.