Samuel Bogen ’23

Samuel Bogen ’23 knew early on that Claremont McKenna College would be a good fit for him and applied Early Decision II. 

“When the admission officer explained what learning for the sake of doing was, I fell in love with CMC and decided this is my place,” he said. 

But Bogen also recalls feeling skeptical about descriptions of the non-competitive academic environment at CMC. 

“While you hear from the admission office that students work together to succeed in the classroom, I did not truly believe it until I became a CMC student,” he said.

Now a rising senior at CMC, Bogen cites study groups with his peers and office hours with professors as prime examples of the CMC community working together. “I am grateful for the effort that my mentors, friends, and peers have put into making sure that I am successful,” he said. “The environment at CMC is truly one of collaboration, not a cutthroat environment that a lot of people worry about when they go to college.”

Bogen has seen the same caring spirit permeate life outside of the classroom. Describing the college culture as “open, inspiring, and supportive,” he appreciates the inclusive nature of social events and their general accessibility “no matter if you are in with a group or not.” This openness “makes it a lot easier to push your boundaries and meet new people, something that I value highly,” he said.

Bogen, who has previously interned in venture capital and investment banking, has accepted an offer to work as a Corporate Finance Intern at Visa in the Bay Area. He plans on making a career either in the financial services sector or in baseball operations after he graduates. During the past year, he maintained a five-class workload, served as ASCMC’s Academic Affairs Chair, and consulted for a group of 20 Major League Baseball pitchers.

The pandemic and return to campus made him feel even more appreciative of the bonds he formed on campus, especially with his close friends. “I am so grateful for the support system I built here at CMC with my friends,” he said. “And I am glad to have found an amazing group with ASCMC.”