What is it Like to Attend Scripps College

What is it Like to Attend Scripps College Hannah is a current junior at Scripps College. She is majoring in human biology, and specializes in elementary math tutoring, biology tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Scripps College: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Hannah: Scripps College is in a suburban area, but close enough to access all of the resources in Los Angeles. Its really easy to bring a car, otherwise you can walk or Uber downtown to Claremont Village. If youre looking to go into LA, which is about 45 minutes away, there are public transportation options. Additionally, I always feel extremely safe on campus. Scripps is part of a five-college consortium, so you can walk from Scripps to Pomona College, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont McKenna College, or Pitzer College in just a couple of minutes. Many people bike to class, too, and bikes are available to both rent and purchase. I definitely feel very safe on campus. If I need to get from one campus to another late at night, Campus Safety will pick me up and take me home if I feel unsafe. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Hannah:Professors are very accessible. One of the things I love about Scripps is the small class sizes, which make it really easy to meet with and get to know professors. Professors offer weekly office hours and many are happy to arrange one-on-one meetings. There are TAs for some classes, but they are often just an additional resource. Most professors are very personal and love to get to know all of their students. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Hannah:Scripps dorms are incredible. They are beautiful, homey, and you end up making so many friends with the people in your hall. As a member of the 5Cs, Scripps students can choose to dine at any of the seven dining halls located on the campuses. The food is excellent, and they put a lot of thought into making sure there are plenty of options for people with allergies or other dietary preferences or restrictions. Its super easy to make friends here as well. Scripps women are very friendly, and there are a lot of opportunities to meet people from the other schools through classes, student organizations, clubs, and sports. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Hannah:Common majors include biology, psychology, English, and ethnic studies. I study human biology. I think Scripps does a great job in promoting a large breadth of knowledge not only in ones desired area of study, but also in ones other areas of interest. In fact, its possible to follow a pre-med track (which I intend to do) with almost any major. The science department at Scripps is shared with Pitzer and Claremont McKenna Colleges, and most labs and lectures occur through the Keck Science Department. Since you dont have to compete with a large number of graduate students like you would at a big university, its really easy to find research opportunities by getting to know your science professors and lab instructors. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Hannah:Its extremely easy to meet people and make friends as a first year. Its also very easy to meet people at the other four campuses since we all share sports teams, many classes, clubs, and organizations. Greek life does not play a significant role in the campus social life. There are a couple of fraternities, but definitely not in the traditional sense. How helpful are the Career Centerand other student support services? Hannah:I just finished my first year, so I havent turned to the Career Center for any help yet, but from what Ive heard they are extremely helpful to students. The ladies at the Career Center help look at your resume, go over job applications, and are overall very supportive. Scripps has a pretty good reputation as a college, so I imagine that reputable companies recruit on campus. However, I have no personal experience, as I havent sought a job on campus yet. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Hannah:The library is pretty packed during finals week, but during the rest of the year its pretty easy to find a table or even a private room to study. The Scripps campus is also very spacious and there are great study spots like the Motley, the student-run coffee shop where I love doing homework during the week. Describe the surrounding town. Hannah:Campus always has a lot of fun activities, but if you want to branch out, Claremont Village is only about a 10-minute walk away from campus. Its a 45-minute drive to LA, which allows for fun weekend adventures in the city. It also allows for great internship, research, and summer job opportunities. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Hannah:I love the small class sizes. There are some lecture classes with over 60 students, but those often also have smaller lab sections or discussion sections during which you can really get to know your professor. Most of my discussion classes and labs are capped around 17 people. We can meet with professors during office hours or one-on-one, and dont have to rely just on TAs for help. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Hannah:Last semester I had an incredible calculus teacher. When I had trouble understanding the material, I would arrange to meet with her in her office. I always felt welcome and comfortable asking questions and seeking help. Because it was a really challenging class, I dont think I would have done as well as I did if it werent for the outside help my teacher was happy to provide. Check out Hannahs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.