It's Summer! Here's a recap of what our graduates are up to...

Wondering what Scripps students do after graduation?

With a strong background in interdisciplinary humanities and a rigorous liberal arts education behind them, Scripps graduates are prepared for just about anything.

On May 15, 212 Scripps seniors received their degrees at the college’s 81^st Commencement ceremony.

Scripps had 14 Fulbright finalists this year, an impressive number for a small college. Eight members of the Class of 2011 will be Fulbright Scholars in countries ranging from Germany to Mongolia; six will be teaching English and the remaining two will be working on agricultural issues in Brazil and a political science project in Slovenia. Another student, a recipient of the Davis Project for Peace grant, will be working at a Community Education Center in Mali.

Other members of the graduating class will be entering the workforce at places such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Ernst & Young, Facebook, Teach for America, and Deloitte Consulting. They have been offered positions as teachers, marketing analysts, neuroscience lab research assistants, consulting associates, and one, as a professional ballerina. Their work will take them to France, Spain, and Thailand to teach English. Several will be working at embassies abroad or beginning their terms as Peace Corps volunteers.

Many of the Class of 2011 will be entering graduate school. They have received acceptances at Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, UCLA, USC and many other institutions. Members of the college’s recent graduating class will be pursuing masters’ and Ph.D. degrees in fields such as education, science journalism, city planning, history of art, biostatistics, cell biology, chemistry, ancient history, architecture, and social work.

While members of the Class of 2011 are scattered about the country and the world on their new adventures, we in the Admission Office have officially begun our summer. The director’s blog will be taking a hiatus for the next few months.

We wish you all the best for your summer, whatever it may bring.

Warm regards,

Margaret

Admission Counselor

Thinking About A Gap Year? Read This!

The idea of taking a “gap year” between high school and college has been gaining ground in the US in the past few years, while it’s been a popular option in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand since the 1960s. Many choose to apply to colleges during their senior year but then defer admission for a full year while they travel, volunteer, work, or some combination of these activities for the year after high school graduation.

The idea of stopping the clock for a year might sound appealing. The twin impulses of taking a break and jumping into new experiences and activities can motivate different students to make this decision. Whether it’s taking the time to reflect on your goals and beliefs or having the time to travel and volunteer, a gap year has undeniable benefits. Many students feel “burnt out” by the time high school graduation rolls around, and the notion of slowing down and taking a break from school can be enticing. Other students might be frustrated by the lack of time to “do something” in high school, to make a difference in other people’s lives, because they are too overwhelmed with studying, test-taking, and college applications.

Several prestigious colleges and universities have publically come out in favor of students taking a gap year because they believe that students might just enter college better-prepared for that year off, and better-prepared students tend to graduate at higher rates. Keep in mind that three out of five students who enter a public, four-year college do not manage to graduate in five years, and nearly 30 percent of all first-year students do not return for their sophomore year.

So, what do students do during a gap year? The most popular option is probably participating in international education programs that combine language study and homestays with community service and independent study. Whether it’s teaching English to kids in Thailand or promoting healthy practices in Panama, opportunities to experience the world and help create a positive change are plentiful. Costs of these programs vary, of course, and parents may have conditions for their kids before financing such a trip. Students and parents should have a frank discussion about expenses and how to finance such an adventure.

If foreign travel is beyond your budget or expectations, you might choose to work and earn money that will help you pay for college or future travel. You might look into volunteering opportunities closer to home. This could be your chance to dive into a political campaign or to commit to a Habitat for Humanity project that you couldn’t do while in school. Or maybe you want the time and mental space to devote to creative projects like writing a novel, composing a symphony, or choreographing a show. Colleges will look favorably on endeavors that show you have challenged yourself in some way during your time off of school.

Of course, it’s safer to get into a college before you take time off than to put the whole college application process off for a year. Most admissions offices will gladly grant a year’s deferral to admitted applicants; just contact the admission office by email or phone to make your request. However, some students who are not satisfied with any of their college choices do take a year off and re-apply during that time to different colleges. In these cases, be sure you have some productive activities to show for your time off, whether it’s working, volunteering, studying part-time, or contributing in some way to your community.

Tina Brooks

Admission Counselor and Transfer Coordinator

Thinking of Transferring to Scripps College? Read this!

We are looking forward to changing gears next week from our first-year application reading to considering our wonderful pool of transfer applicants. April 1 is our deadline for transfer applications for fall 2011, and, every year, we field a talented and interesting pool of applicants who think Scripps might be a better college fit. As the Transfer Coordinator, I am excited to start reading our transfer applications and selecting those students who will contribute special qualities to our community.

Every school is right for someone, but no school is right for everyone. Many students decide to transfer to Scripps because they haven’t found a sense of community at their first college or university. Others find that classes are not challenging enough or that their area of academic interest is too limited. Still others apply to transfer from a community college, after completing many general requirements. It’s important to feel both socially and academically “at home” at your college or university, and we hope that you will find a better fit through the transfer process.

Applying to transfer is not simple—let’s just admit that up front. Although you might be more experienced with the whole application process, you are probably trying to complete your transfer applications in the midst of balancing your college classes and, perhaps, struggling with the decision of whether to transfer and where to transfer. Having learned a few lessons about what you really want and need in a college, you are probably better able to narrow your choices down. If you are considering transferring to Scripps, we hope that you’ll take the opportunity to learn more about us by visiting campus, interviewing with one of our admission officers, and/or fully exploring our website. Feel free to email me with any questions or concerns.

If you attend a large university, it can be difficult to know who to ask for recommendations. We understand. Do your best to ask at least one professor even if the class is large. Faculty at large universities are used to such requests. One recommendation for a graduate student instructor (or TA) is fine. Some applicants also have difficulty in providing a graded essay if they have not taken writing-intensive classes. Again, do your best with that requirement. If you have any writing sample from a college class, we’d like to see that. If you do not, you can provide a sample from a high school class.

Good luck, and let’s hope that you’ve written your last college application essay!

Tina Brooks

Admission Counselor and Transfer Coordinator

Experience Matters! Internships, On-Campus Work, and Summer Work at Scripps College

Whether you want to earn money to help pay your tuition or just to have some extra cash, Scripps College offers more than 100 employment opportunities right on our campus. Some positions are reserved for students eligible for work-study, while others are open to all students.

Federally funded work-study is a part of some students’ financial aid packages. It’s meant to help students pay for books and personal expenses while offering them valuable job experience. Hours are flexible around students’ schedules and range from 6-9 hours a week. The Offices of Financial Aid and Career Planning & Resources assist work-study students to find positions on campus, and students are paid their wages directly. Positions include, but are not limited to, helping to plan events for the Humanities Institute or working as a Public Relations assistant, writing press releases or articles for the alumnae magazine.

Career Planning & Resources (CP&R) is a great place to go for any student job-seeker. You can find a variety of jobs of all kinds through their online database, The Gateway. On-campus jobs might include tutoring for the Tutoring or Math Spot programs or lifeguarding at the Tiernan Field House’s gorgeous outdoor swimming pool. If you’re willing to go a short distance off campus, restaurants in the nearby Claremont Village might post listings for wait staff, and faculty might advertise with CP&R for childcare or pet-sitting. Every little job helps!

Paid internships are also available on and off-campus.  As part of the Nationwide Internship Consortium, Scripps partners with other schools across the country to find and post internships for you.  Additionally, the Wilson Internship in Arts Administration grants Scripps students exposure to and experience in the field of arts administration at our very own Williamson Gallery.  Interns conduct research on photographs, prints, and paintings and assist with the conservation of Asian textiles. Several competitive grants also provide funding for off-campus summer internships.

If you want to stick around our beautiful campus during the summer, look into working as a Summer Conference Assistant.  Students work full-time in the summer to help with special on-campus events.  Students also work with faculty on research during the summer or assist with our award-winning Scripps College Academy (an on-campus summer program for high school students).

As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities to earn money without leaving the Scripps campus.  If you have questions or concerns about jobs on campus, Career Planning & Resources is always happy to help!

Connie Wu, Admission Counselor

"Winter" at Scripps College

While the rest of the country has been digging out from an especially cold and snowy few weeks, Scripps students have been enjoying some lovely weather. With high temperatures often hitting the mid-70s and low-80s, we do “winter” a bit differently here in Claremont. It’s not that we don’t get our fair share of rain storms and chilly nights during this time of year, but the scale is relative – typically it only takes a dip down into the 50s before the scarves and fuzzy boots start to come out around campus.

One of the perks of living in Southern California is that most outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, tennis, running, beach bumming, and amusement park going can be done year-round. For example, this Sunday, the 5C Outdoor Women Leaders club will be guiding a day hike to Joshua Tree National Park. The forecast? Sunny with a high of 68 degrees. And though many of us in Claremont appreciate looking up at the pretty snow from the safety of the valley floor, just a short drive to Mt. Baldy or Big Bear lets skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts enjoy their version of sport too.

Another bonus to spending winter in a warm climate is citrus season! Now and in the months to come, students can be seen picking oranges, kumquats, and other popular fruits right here on campus. In fact, Scripps is home to 27 varieties of fruit trees – so many that there’s even a special fruit map that can be found in our student-run Motley Coffeehouse. Citrus groves used to dominate the landscape in Claremont and surrounding communities, so it’s fitting that Scripps students can harvest their own crop.

Whether you’re hoping to sip some fresh-squeezed OJ while heading to the (outdoor) pool on a Saturday in early February or to “bundle up” for a day of hot cocoa and sledding up on Baldy, Claremont may be the kind of place you want to spend the winter months.

Cassie Hall

Assistant Director of Admission