Diversity at Scripps College: Why We Strive to Build a Multi-Cultural Community

“Indeed, rooted as Scripps College is in the work of liberating women's minds through education, we should be even more committed to the work of diversifying our community than most educational institutions.”

This line from the Principles of Diversity resonates strongly across Scripps College. It is a belief that, because we are a women’s college that fundamentally believes in the equality of the genders, we also believe in respecting and celebrating the many forms of diversity that people bring to our campus. The Principles of Diversity, along with the Principles of Community, are the two guiding documents of our campus. They establish the tone of the College we strive to be, and inform the decisions we make every day.

At Scripps, diversity is more than a buzzword. Thirty-four percent of the students of this year’s incoming class come from traditionally under-represented backgrounds. While this is a number to celebrate, our goal of a multi-racial and multi-ethnic community has not yet been reached. Scripps College is a community of students, staff, faculty, and alumnae who are committed to encouraging individuality through diversity. One of the central organizations on campus that works with students to promote diversity is Scripps Communities of Resources and Empowerment. SCORE is an office that provides support and resources to empower students so that they may further promote social and political awareness.

Scripps is also a proud member of QuestBridge, a non-profit organization that links high-achieving, low-income students with opportunities to attend some of the nation’s best colleges without paying a penny.  Our first class of Quest Scholars graduated in May 2010, and we have a strong and active club on campus called Scripps QuestBridge Scholars.  The aim of this club is to support and mentor Quest Scholars on campus. Elayna Tillman, a current Quest Scholar, serves as the QuestBridge Intern in the Office of Admission, and is excited to answer any questions that students may have about being a Quest Scholar on campus.  You may contact Elayna at elayna.tillman@scrippscollege.edu.  The QuestBridge application deadline is September 30, 2010.  For more information about the QuestBridge application process, please visit www.questbridge.org/students/program.html. 

The final paragraph of the Scripps College Principles of Diversity sets the tone for who we want to be and the values we hope to instill in each of our students. “Our goal is to have students think clearly and independently, acknowledging and using a variety of perspectives. Our goal is to have our graduates live confidently, courageously and hopefully, not because they are certain of a particular set of truths, but because they have learned to live with uncertainty, to balance their own strongest convictions with the knowledge that others may not share those convictions.”

Respect for the opinions of others while also establishing your own strong voice is a worthy goal that we strive to move toward every day.

Ashley, Assistant Director of Admission

Making the Most of Your Campus Visit

Whether Scripps College is the first campus you visit or the twentieth, we want you to enjoy yourself and make the most of the experience. If you are a first-timer, you might be nervous for your interview or you might wonder how to meet students to get real answers to your pressing questions. If you’ve already done grand tours of east coast and Midwest campuses, you might be burned out on college tours and glossy brochures. Either way, let me offer you some free advice on how to approach the college visit.

Be yourself. The “be yourself” advice might sound clichéd, but, really, who else are you going to be? If you’re a T-shirt and jeans kind of person, squeezing yourself into a suit and heels will be physically and mentally uncomfortable, and that will show. What you wear shouldn’t be overly distracting, but it’s important that you feel like yourself. And wear comfortable shoes! Campus tours do involve walking.

Ask questions. Whether it’s your interviewer, the official tour guide, or a random professor or student in the dining hall, these are your sources of information. Asking questions shows that you are interested, and most people love to play expert. Spend a little time before your visit (or, in the car on the way to campus), imagining what you’d like to know about being a student at Scripps. What is important to you academically (small classes? strong course offerings in a particular department?) and socially (clubs or sports? off-campus life?)? It’s perfectly appropriate to write your questions down and refer to them. Also, don’t hesitate to approach a student on campus with a question. They are usually more than happy to chat with you. And if your parents embarrass you by asking a dumb question, you might actually thank them later (or not).

Take notes or photos. Although Scripps is completely unique, college tours do have a way of blending together. Take a few photos on campus that will remind you of special places. Jot down a few notes during or immediately after your visit so that you will remember your impressions.

We love having prospective students on campus because we think it’s the best way to evaluate if this is the place where you want to live and learn for the next four years. Welcome to campus!

Tina, Admission Counselor and Transfer Coordinator

Admission Ambassadors: Meet Our Current Students!

When I made my first visit to campus, I took a tour, just like I had done at every other campus visit.  Sure, the breathtakingly beautiful campus, warm cookies from the dining hall, and unbelievably nice weather were nice, but it was the Scripps students that I met as a prospective student that truly made a significant impact on my perception of Scripps. Not only did my tour guide practically have Scripps-love spilling out of her pores, but she took a genuine interest in my interests and activities, and even took me to the Motley Coffeehouse after our tour to meet some her friends who had similar interests. Little did I know then that my tour guide’s enthusiasm for Scripps, impressive academic achievements, and authentic personality were part of every Scripps student.

Over 200 Scripps students volunteer for the Admission Office in a variety of ways: tour guides, overnight hostesses, special event volunteers, and college fair representatives. Our volunteer group is affectionately known as the Admission Ambassador Team. There are four coordinators who work to schedule all of your tour guides, overnights, and the big Admission events – you can find our profiles on the Staff portion of the Admission website!

Volunteering as part of the Admission Ambassador Team is definitely a highlight for many Scripps students because they enjoy sharing their Scripps experiences, answering your questions, and helping others in the complex (and sometimes grueling) admissions process. Sarah Mikhitarian ‘11, a tour guide for the past 3 years, says “I genuinely love giving tours and sharing my enthusiasm for and knowledge about Scripps. It is especially rewarding when I see some of my prospective students the following year.” Natalie Sipos ’11 adds, “"I'm very proud to have the opportunity to represent Scripps.  I'm passionate about my school and I enjoy sharing that with prospective students."

If you come to campus, you will surely meet one of our Admission volunteers – whether they are leading you on a tour of our gorgeous campus, showing you the “Behind-The-Scenes” of Scripps life on your overnight, answering your questions at a local college fair, or simply helping you find your destination at an on-campus event! We absolutely love to get to know prospective students and answer any questions they might have about applying to Scripps or college in general!

On behalf of the Scripps students Admission volunteers, I hope that you can come visit our campus so that we can meet you and give you a glimpse into our lives at Scripps! For more information on visiting campus, click on the “Visit Campus” button on the Scripps Admission homepage!

Hope to see you soon!

Hannah ‘11, Admission Intern

On The Road Again: We Can't Wait To Meet You!

Over the next few months, Scripps College admission officers will begin traveling across the country visiting high schools, attending college fairs, hosting receptions and offering off-campus interviews. Each fall, we look forward to meeting with prospective students and their families. These visits provide us with the opportunity to answer questions about the College, our admission process, and meet with prospective students in their hometowns.

We notify all students on our mailing list if we plan to visit their high school or host an event in their area. If you haven’t already done so, you can sign up for our mailing list by clicking in the Request Info tab on the admission homepage.

If you see us at a college fair or at your high school, please don’t hesitate to introduce yourself. We enjoy meeting with prospective students and hearing about the many reasons why they are considering Scripps.

By visiting with students and exploring the various schools, we get a better sense of where our applicants come from and the communities they are a part of. Since we are away from home, we also enjoy getting recommendations for great places to eat and sights to see. We have learned about some of our favorite restaurants and shops from prospective students.

Although we can’t bring the Campus with us on our travels, there is one resident that sometimes joins us on the road. If you have ever visited Scripps, you might have seen them… the rabbits and squirrels that call Scripps home. Our campus is home to many different animals, but there is only one that is an official member of the Admission team. Meet Susie Squirrel: a jet-setting critter who loves to share her Scripps pride. Susie often accompanies us when we are on the road. If you are curious to see all the different places Susie will be traveling to this fall, check out our Flickr account. We will be positing photos of her periodically.

Good luck with the start of school year and we hope to see you in your hometown soon.

Maricela, Associate Director

Welcoming Our New Students: Orientation at Scripps College

There’s a renewed sense of excitement in the air here in Claremont… the day that we in the Scripps College Office of Admission have been waiting for all summer has finally come: new student move-in day!

Last Thursday, all of our new students – 264 first-years and 24 transfers – arrived on campus with boxes and pillows, suitcases and stuffed animals, and family members in tow. Some came from down the road, while others traveled from much farther distances across the country and around world. Despite triple-digit temperatures, they all brought a wonderful energy and enthusiasm with them.

Highlights of the day included the New Student Convocation, where students were welcomed to campus by members of the Scripps College community and got to hear about the special, and sometimes funny, talents of their classmates; the Resource Fair, where students learned about programs and services offered on campus, around the consortium, and even in the Claremont Village (on this hot day, the delicious ice cream from Bert & Rocky’s was a big hit!); and the Peer Mentor small group meetings.

Over the next few days, new students will participate in a variety of New Student Orientation activities that will help them settle into campus, familiarize themselves with resources, and get to know one another and the Scripps community even better. They will meet with their faculty advisor, have their first official Scripps tea, learn about women in science, eat dessert with the Dean of Students, test for math and language placement, take a dip in the beautiful Scripps pool, get an introduction to Core, sample the famous In-N-Out burger, audition for music ensembles, find out about career planning and work-study, take part in the 5-College Carnival, and more!

All of us in the Office of Admission are so delighted to welcome the Class of 2014 and our new transfer students to campus. The vibrancy and spirit of Scripps College is found in our students, and we couldn’t be happier to have them here.

As you head back to school this fall, consider planning a visit to Scripps to experience our campus and meet our students... I promise, you’ll be so glad you did!

Cassie, Assistant Director of Admission

Tackling the College Essay: Tips from Margaret, one of our Admission Counselors

Few things generate more stress in the college application process than the essay. I’m going to give you some suggestions that I hope will make the experience more productive and, possibly, even fun!

First, try to think of the essay as an opportunity. At this point in your high school career, some things are out of your hands—three quarters of your academic record is already complete; you have chosen teachers who will write letters of recommendations. The essay is one of the few things that is still under your control. You have this chance to tell us something important about you.

Be thoughtful about the topic. Many private colleges and universities use the Common Application which suggests a number of possible topics and then gives you an option of “a topic of your choice.” Often students write about a significant person, place, or experience. Don’t try to guess what admission officers want to hear. What we want from your college essay is to get a better sense of you as a person. Think about whether the topic you’ve chosen will provide this insight.

Be yourself. The only way the essay will help show how you are unique is if you are genuine and write from your own “voice.” Read your essay out loud. Does it sound like you?

Don’t procrastinate on the essay. You should leave plenty of time for the process, from deciding on the best topic to drafting and polishing the essay. Rewrite and edit. Most good writing is not the result of a single session at the computer. Make this a piece you (and your English teacher) would be proud of. Don’t forget to proofread!

Be specific. Go for depth rather than breadth. The more detailed and descriptive you can be, the better you will get across your point. That does not mean that you have to use every adjective in your repertoire! It does mean that your essay will be stronger if you give specific examples of what you mean. Tell us a story in a way that allows us to picture what you are talking about.

Finally, remember that a well-told, compelling story about you can help your application stand out.

Good luck on your essay!

Margaret, Admission Counselor

A Time for Introductions! Welcome to our new website...

This time of year is all about introductions. You are introducing yourself to new teachers, new classes, new leadership positions, and new classmates. And this year is special because you are also introducing yourself to colleges and universities…one of which will be your home for the next four years.

Everyone here in the Admission Office is eager to meet you and introduce you to the wonderful opportunities that await you at Scripps College. I hope that the introduction to Scripps College will act as a springboard into the admission process, where you and your family feel comfortable asking the tough questions to figure out if Scripps is the right place for you.

It’s also my pleasure to introduce you to our brand new admission website. We hope you find the site easy to navigate and full of information about what type of student is happy and successful at Scripps College. On this site, you can learn about the academic and social life at Scripps and in the Claremont Colleges consortium, check the status of your application, and register for campus tours, preview events, and personal visits.

Finally, I am so proud to introduce you to Scripps College: our dynamic students, our wonderful faculty, and our stunning campus. At high school visits, college fairs, and receptions, I am often asked: “Who is a Scripps student (and would I fit in, find it challenging, be happy there, too)?” While there is no easy answer to this question and our students’ interests and aptitudes run the gamut, here are some common characteristics shared by our students:

·     Scripps students are interested in many different things, both in and out of the classroom. They are curious about the world around them and explore the intersections of their many passions.

·     Scripps students love a challenge. They enjoy discussions and collaboration with their peers and professors. They are high achievers, but relish the exchange of ideas and concepts in the classroom, in extracurricular activities, and in everyday conversations.

·     Scripps is a close-knit community where students support each other. With this support, Scripps students flourish, taking on leadership roles, performing research, and trying new things such as ballroom dancing and organic gardening.

Check this website regularly to learn more about Scripps College, the application process, and what our students and faculty are up to in the 2010-11 year. Hope to see you on campus soon!

Laura, Director of Admission