Scripps College Top Questions

The first thing I would advise any prospective student is to think about colleges not just as your potential school, but also as your life for the next four years. It's not a simple decision, and any choice should be make not only on academic merit or finanial viability; it should also be made on social and comfort level factors. One of the best starting points for this is considering what size of school you are looking for and what sort of academic atmosphere you are looking for (i.e. challenging but non-competative, cut-throat). With these cut your list down to no more than ten. More than that is too difficult to really get to know each school. The second piece of advice I have is trust the schools' admissions processes. They know what type of student are looking for and I believe that if a school does not accept you it is usually simply because they don't think it's best for you and you shouldn't stress about it. There is another school out there that is better for you. Lastly, remember you are interviewing the school as much as they are interviewing you.

To find the right college, know what you cannot live without and what you can sacrifice. If you need to be near a big city, then look for that. But don't automatically discount a college that doesn't seem like what you had pictured. There will definitely be changes from where you grew up and that's a good thing which will expose you to so much and help you to grow. Once you're on campus, you cannot be afraid to take risks. If there's anything you've ever wanted to do or try, take that opportunity because you might end up really liking it (or discovering that you definitely hate it).

It is important to visit schools before you apply to them, and when you're there make sure you spend a night and tour the campus. The most important thing to look for when you're there is how happy the students are. You can find social life anywhere; you can find academics anywhere. You cannot find other happy people everywhere.

I think finding the "right" college is a little overrated. As long as you know some of the qualities you are looking for there are probably a lot of schools that you would love. But there are going to be things about any school that you don't like as well, so don't put so much pressure on to make the "right" decision. College is going to kick your ass, it's going to be hard, it's going to be so much fun, it's going to be crazy and you're going to learn and grow and mature a lot. Just stick to it and enjoy the ride. It's going to go by fast, so cherish the good and the bad.

Pick a school that you think you will be happy attending - ambition and drive will only get you so far if you're miserable. College is important - but not as important as your happiness. In order to get the most out of your college education pick a school that will motivate you, push you, support you, and make you happy. Think about what's important to you. Do you like your moms home cooking? Then look for a school that has good food. Do you love swimming? Then make sure the schools that you're applying to have a pool. Do you hate the rain? Then maybe you shouldn't be looking at colleges in the Pacific Northwest! Think about the school's location, class size, student body, political views etc. Make sure they offer the majors you're interested in! Look at the clubs, sports teams, and outdoor activities that are offered. Browse the course catalog. Take a tour of the campus so you can get an idea of what it would be like to live there. Most importantly, try not to leave any details out - because transferring is a hassle.

Finding the right college requires that you contemplate who you are and what you are looking for in your life. It isn?t enough to consider the attributes of each college and stand back to compare them. Instead you must look at yourself and think about what kind of environment enables you to thrive, what kind of learning experiences you want to have, and in what ways you wish to engage with the world. If you examine yourself first, before looking at colleges you will be able to recognize much more clearly the right fit. If you have not taken the time to really understand what you want out of college, you will waste time examining the numerous possibilities with only arbitrary guidelines such as location, cost and reputation. Looking inward first will enable you not only to identify the college best for you, but you will also be able to hit the ground running once you get there. The key is that you know what you want and why you want it.

Looking back, my best advise is to use all your senses when finally selecting a college. Visit the campus and ask yourself how it feels to be there, even before rationalizing its merits. Can you imagine yourself walking around that space with pleasure? What does it smell like, look like, feel like under your touch? Physical comfort, both geographically and mentally speaking, is important to a student's well being. If the campus, feels like a fit, then assess the students. Can you imagine yourself as one of them? Do their image and ambitions offer you growth? Do you see some of your own interests reflected in the activities on campus? After narrowing down potential schools according to their "on paper" assessts, I hope these queries help the prospective student to make their final selection based on their own individualized, and quite personal, desires and hopes for their role in an institution of learning.

Don't go to the school that's supposed to be best for you -- research the heck out of all of your options. Take location into account in your decision, but I advise against picking a college based on which state or region it is in. Look at the area of the campus and the place you will be living and hanging out around for the next 2-4 years of your life. Also, make sure to pick a place that focuses on your tentative major, because many people cannot get into specific major classes if they are not a main focus of the school. In addition, you really can't tell (in my opinion) whether you will like the college or not until you have visited it. I never knew anything about Scripps College until I went with my parents while touring California, and after a quick interview and walk around the campus I knew I wanted to go here. Once in college, join as many activities as you can. Not because you're interested in the subject, even--do it just to meet a few new people, if nothing else. This ultimately makes college what it should be.

For parents: Parents need to realize that it is their child that is going to be living at the school, and not them. They should offer opinions about financial issues and academic goals. However, when it comes to setting and social life, the students should be able to make that decision for themselves. The parents should not make their child feel pressured about choosing a school. For students: Focus on thinking about where you want to live for 4 years and what kind of people you want to meet. College is an amazing opportunity to build friendships and gain extensive amounts of knowledge. Don't focus on social activities. Drinking, and parties will always be there. Focus on what will make you happiest and make for a good educational experience. To make the most of your college experience, you must try to take classes you are interested in and become a well-rounded individual. Try new things, this is your only chance. Find something you love and continue to build on it. Do not feel pressured by the future. Focus on the now and appreciate every day that you spend at school. Good luck!

Just understand that you're choosing an identity, not just a school. When making a decision, consider the types of people you'll be around for the next four years and think about if you want that to rub off on you. Once you're there, be as active as you can. You only get to college once. If you choose a place that's right for you, you'll want to get involved anyways.