Scholar Communities at Claremont McKenna College bring together a select group of students into an experience designed to support their transition to college and beyond. Read how early engagement, personalized mentorship, and dedicated resources have become a part of the college experience for our students.
Berger
Grace Zhang ’28
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Major: Philosophy and Psychology
“I’m glad to be part of a Scholar Community because of the additional support we receive on developing professional skills, such as networking and public speaking. I'm also very grateful for the first-year mentorship program and all of the useful advice my mentor gave me on navigating CMC!”
Interdisciplinary Science
Cooper Danielson ’27
Home State: Falcon Heights, Minnesota
Major: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) and Biology
“The support the ISS Scholar Community gives me extends beyond the classroom. The assistance from my scholar advisors has been instrumental in securing real-world, practical experience in healthcare consulting and policy positions.”
Kravis
Ryu Nakase ’26
Home State: Honolulu, Hawaii
Major: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) and Leadership Studies Sequence
“Throughout my time here, the Scholar Communities have helped me in many ways from help with interviews and resume building to funding for internships. Especially during my freshman and sophomore year, the help from the Scholar Community and the Soll Center was instrumental in helping me land my first internships.”
Lingdaoli
Wonder Wang ’26
Hometown: Shenyang, China
Major: Economics and Financial Economics Sequence
“I have received generous support from alumni, faculty, and friends on campus in every aspect of my life. At first, I believed that CMC’s greatest gift to me was its unparalleled resources made possible through this uplifting community. Now, I realize that what’s even more precious is how CMC teaches us to live with kindness, enthusiasm, and a genuine willingness to give.”
McKenna
Eliot Advani ’26
Hometown: Westwood, Massachusetts
Major: Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE)
“Being a McKenna Scholar has profoundly shaped my CMC experience through mentorship opportunities, international internships, and case competitions. As a freshman, I was paired with an older scholar who advised me on CMC life and taught me the skills to interview and land a successful internship. That summer, I used the McKenna Scholarship summer stipend to support me while I travelled to India to work for a non-profit. Now, I am a mentor to younger scholars, which has allowed me to feel more confident as a leader (and make some great friends).”
Podlich
Amar Toric ’27
Hometown: Cave Creek, Arizona
Major: Economics
“The Scholar Community has been an invaluable resource to me during my time at Claremont McKenna. The network provided me with access to mentors who offered guidance on discovering professional opportunities and building a strong foundation for my future career. Through these connections, I secured competitive research fellowships and internships while developing the professional skills and confidence necessary to pursue my long-term goals.”
Questbridge
Luna Turk ’28
Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon
Major: Economics
“Through the Scholar Community programming events, I have had the opportunity to meet other scholars and learn from their experiences. I also received Sponsored Internships and Experiences (SIE) funding through QuestBridge, which allowed me to travel across Europe and complete an independent research project. Overall, QuestBridge has helped me grow both academically and personally during my time at CMC.”
Seaver
Elia Ching ’27
Hometown: San Jose, California
Major: Economics & Government
“The Scholar Community at CMC has been a big part of my college experience. Not only did the professional resources help me understand my career path, but more importantly I met some of my closest friends through Scholar Community programming.”
St. Dennis
Fallyn Buckner ’26
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Major: Data Science
“The Scholar Community helped me start my website in San Francisco during my freshman year and provided me with funding for my cybersecurity internship in New York this past summer. The guidance from the Scholar Community has helped me leverage my data science coursework in cybersecurity focused endeavors.”
Wagener
Mia Kelly ’26
Hometown: Lafayette, California
Major: International Relations
“The Wagener Scholar Community has broadened my understanding of the diverse career pathways within global studies. Through Wagener Scholar funding, I have been able to take specialized coursework aligned with my interest in global health and attend distinguished professional conferences focused on global health innovation and technology.”
Quick Resource Guides & References
The Soll Center for Student Opportunity provides many resources to help our students achieve their personal and professional goals. Below are a few of our most popular resources.
Handshake Resources
Handshake is the 7C’s Career Services online platform. Log into Handshake to gain access to all the resources you need for your career development journey.
Interest Clusters
Interest clusters are groupings of similar industries that CMC students are most excited about exploring.
Find Employment on Campus
There are many opportunities for working on campus at CMC and across the consortium.
Applying to Grad School
50% of alumni complete a graduate degree within ten years of leaving CMC. The Soll Center offers a step-by-step guide as to how to apply to graduate school.
In-Semester Funding & Room Reservations
The Soll Center offers in-semester experiential funding and interview rooms to support your career development.
Transition to the Real World
CMC offers a number of ways to help you transition from college to the “real world.”