After three years experience at Scripps...

FishOutOfWater
Mon, 30 Mar 2015 16:46:40 +0000

Hi! I’m a Scripps alum. I haven’t posted at CC in ages but happened to see this topic.

1. Scripps is expensive. As is typical of women's colleges, they don't have the same endowment as comparably ranked co-ed schools. I wouldn't recommend anyone go who'd be graduating with massive student loan debt. Scripps does have a generous merit scholarship program and gives amazing fin aid to many. Studying abroad does save a little money because you don't have to pay Scripps' room and board. Tuition is still very pricey, but at least that's something.

2. Without work study I had a harder time finding on-campus jobs, but I did get something. I believe anyone can work at phonathon, and a couple of of my friends got jobs off campus.

3. Core is hit or miss. My friends' and my experiences varied dramatically based on which professors were leading their discussion section and later seminars. Those transferring in AP credits get an advantage, since they have first dibs on picking sections. As an alum I appreciate that core exposed me to a wide range of intellectual schools of thought.

4. I found cross-registration to be a breeze. I took half my classes off-campus in any given semester. A few departments are hard to cross-register into- econ at CMC is one. In many cases you'll need special permission and a convincing reason to cross register if Scripps offers the identical class.

5. I know many people who dual majored; it's relatively simple if you can combine both subjects into one thesis. It's more difficult if you need to double major and write a second thesis - ugh. I did end up dropping a possible second major to a minor because one of the departments' requirements made it impossible to write one thesis. A very motivated student absolutely could've done it, though.

6. The days of Scrippsies having their own gorgeous rooms starting sophomore year have been over for a long time. I say this as someone who started my JUNIOR year in a forced double. First year forced triples often get the opportunity to de-triple, and upper level students in doubles can also get moved to singles. For sophomores, the best chance to get their own room is to attempt to draw into a Frankel/Routt suite or try their luck at applying to the Senior Routt Apartments. I had my own room in a suite sophomore year, and junior year I got moved from the forced double into a nice single room (one a senior would usually get) 2 weeks into fall semester. I ended up with great singles my final two years.

Even though supply of housing at Scripps isn’t like the old days, I still think it’s quite nice compared to your average college’s dorms. Like others have said, you still also get nice common areas and perks like a designated dorm computer.