Scripps College is a small women’s liberal arts school in Claremont, CA. Scripps is small (about 1,100 undergrads) but it’s also one of the five Claremont Colleges, along with Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, and Pitzer. The acceptance rate is about 35% Here’s our advice on how to tackle the two-part supplement:
Why Scripps? Why have you chosen to apply to Scripps College? (200 words)
This question can essentially be read as “why Scripps?” We encourage all of our clients to build an academic niche for themselves over the course of high school. Your classes and extracurriculars should all demonstrate an expertise in some specific area. First, identify what your academic area of interest is. Now, for some research. Select the major Scripps offers that most closely aligns with your academic area of interest. Identify two upper-level classes within the major. Talk about these things and how pursuing this major at Scripps will be an extension of what you’ve been doing in high school. Discuss an extracurricular or club that relates that you’d want to join. Finally, talk about the location of Scripps.
Choose one of the following (150-300 words): (1) If you could trade lives with someone (fictional or real) for a day, who would it be and why?
This is an interesting question. We always tell our students that the essays are an opportunity for you to demonstrate a part of your personality not present elsewhere in the application. You might take this opportunity to talk about someone who has an opposite personality trait from you (let’s say you like to play it safe, swap lives with a thrill-seeker). You should choose someone whose life is really unattainable from something you have now (like a figure in history, for example). You may want to choose someone who’s been really successful in your academic area of expertise. Just make sure you don’t get trapped in a pitfall of touting your own privilege or coming across as complaining about what you have.
(2) You’ve invented a time machine! When and where is your first destination and why?
We think this is a fun one! The most important thing here is to tell a story. Again, let a new personality trait shine here. Don’t make this a big existential story. It should be simple. Feel free to write about your area of expertise. If you’re into Physics, travel back to a time and place where a major discovery was made. Get creative. Why not write this one as a play with dialogue in three short scenes?
(3) You have just been invited to give a TED talk. What will you talk about and why did you select that topic?
First thing’s first. Watch a few Ted Talks to get the rhythm, style, and form down. Next, do some brainstorming. Make a list of the things you can speak about with authority. You’re 17 (ish). On the one hand, you don’t want to come across as arrogant for speaking about something grandiose. On the other hand, there’s definitely stuff you really know about. In other words, have humility, but speak knowledgeably. This could be about anything at all, even something quirky that brings you joy. Feel free to write this like an actual script, as though you’re actually speaking.
Each school has its own unique personality and environment. You can usually get a strong sense for a school’s culture from the supplement prompts. If you enjoyed writing these, you’d probably enjoy going to Scripps. If not, you might re-consider your college list.
Need some help writing a standout supplement? Call us. We’re great at helping students edit their essays to perfection.