Scripps College's Required Writing Sample... Why We Ask For It, How to Send It, What We're Looking For

Applying to college is exhausting enough without having to complete all of the fun extras like school-specific supplements and writing samples, right? While we feel your pain, we actually have some solid reasons for requiring a writing supplement with your Scripps College application. In addition to sending us your Common Application and the Scripps College supplement, we ask that you submit a 3-7 page, graded, analytical essay that you wrote in your junior or senior year. Let me tell you why.

Scripps is a writing-intensive environment. All of our first-year students engage in regular writing assignments through Writing 50: Critical Analysis and the first course (Core I) in the Core Curriculum.  As seniors, all Scripps students complete a senior thesis, an opportunity to produce a substantial and original piece of writing that contributes to knowledge in their field of study. While Scripps courses will help students develop as writers, we believe that incoming students should be able to demonstrate a solid grasp of analytical writing to ensure their success in our curriculum.

Another reason why we like to see a graded sample of your analytical writing is to assess what kind of feedback you have gotten on your writing. As you can imagine, teachers and schools vary in the quality of their instruction, so it helps us to see an actual sample of both your writing and the kind of writing instruction and grading you have experienced.

If your only sample is longer than 7 pages, go ahead and send it. We cannot promise to read every word, but we will read enough of it to evaluate your abilities. If you have no graded, analytical writing sample from a junior- or senior-year class, then submit a paper from a sophomore-year class. If you do not have any writing samples with your teacher’s comments, you can send a clean copy, but please indicate the grade you earned.

How can you choose your best writing sample? First, make sure that it is analytical rather than creative. An analytical paper is one that makes an argument or analyzes an issue (in politics, economics, history, etc.) or in a work (or works) of literature. Choose an essay that you are proud of, that you worked hard on, or that you feel represents your best work. You may submit a piece of creative writing as a supplement to the analytical writing sample. Please mail your writing sample to the Office of Admission (1030 Columbia Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711), fax it to our office (909-607-7508), or scan it and send it via email (admission@scrippscollege.edu). Please include your name, address, email/phone.

We look forward to reading your work!

Tina, Admission Counselor