Pitzer Welcomes New Students for 2025-26 School Year

“I'm relatively new here myself,” Pitzer College President Strom C. Thacker told the Class of 2029 during his Move-In Day remarks last weekend in the College’s Benson Auditorium. A graduate of Pomona College, Thacker arrived to lead Pitzer College in 2023. “You're all a part of the Pitzer family now, and you always will be.”

Thacker celebrated the rich demographic diversity of Pitzer’s newest students, who hail from across the U.S. and as far away as Singapore. The College welcomed 286 first-year students as well as 27 transfers and two students in the New Resources Program (which provides a pathway to a degree for non-traditional age students).

Some quick facts about the members of Pitzer’s Class of 2029 include:

• First-years come from California, New York, Oregon, and Massachusetts (among others) and from Singapore, Thailand, Ghana, India, Italy, Hong Kong, and more
• Languages: 173 of our new students speak at least two languages; 31 students speak at least three languages
• Most common language (after English): Spanish, followed by Mandarin and French

In addition to settling into their dorm rooms, students and their families participated in a Move-In Day program that included a welcome lunch, an information session about life at Pitzer (a Spanish session was also held); a First-Gen reception; resource fair; alumni gift reception; community dinner; a group meditation led by Noah Straus ’26; and a “cheers and tears” reception at the president’s house.

While President Thacker applauded parents and families during the evening reception, his morning remarks to the first-year students focused on offering five bits of helpful advice:

1. Take advantage of all that Pitzer and The Claremont Colleges offer.
2. Get to know your professors; they want to work with you. That’s why they’re here and not at a larger institution.
3. Take care of yourselves: Get plenty of sleep, exercise, food, and know your limits.
4. Reach out and build a sense of community.

And the fifth tip? 

Thacker asked the students to be nice to their parents and families. 

“Let them know how you’re doing because you’re not the only ones adjusting to a new life: They are, too,” he said. “They are so excited for you, but they’re going to miss you too.”

###

Parents, Don't Forget: Many families expressed their excitement at returning to campus in November to see how their students have settled into Pitzer life during Family Weekend 2025. Visit here for more information about that event. Hope to see you there!