What makes Pomona College's acceptance rate so low?

I've been exploring different colleges and Pomona College has caught my eye. I'm curious though, why is their acceptance rate so low? What factors into this? Are they just super selective or there's more to it?

Pomona College, found in Claremont, California, is a highly selective liberal arts college that consistently ranks high among liberal arts colleges nationwide. Its low acceptance rate can be attributed to several factors:

1. High Quality of Applicants: Many of the students applying to Pomona College are top-of-the-class students with impressive grades, standardized test scores (considering the college is no longer test-blind), and extracurricular activities. With such a strong applicant pool, the acceptance rate naturally gets low.

2. Small Class Sizes: As a small liberal arts college, Pomona aims to maintain an intimate academic environment for its students. The college has stringent limits on its class sizes, which means it can only accept a relatively small number of applicants each year.

3. Rigorous Curriculum: Pomona College is known for its rigorous and intensive academic curriculum. Therefore, the institution tends to be extremely selective, aiming to admit students who will not only survive but thrive under such academic pressure.

4. Prestige: Pomona's reputation as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation attracts a high volume of applications. The more applications a college receives, the more selective they can be with their admitted students.

5. Selective Admissions Process: Pomona uses a holistic review process to consider each applicant. They look beyond just grades and test scores, evaluating elements like essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and the fit between the applicant and the institution. This comprehensive review allows for a more selective admissions process.

While it's true that Pomona's low acceptance rate signals competition, each application is considered carefully and holistically, and the most important thing is to demonstrate how you would make a unique contribution to the Pomona community.