Choosing between USC and Scripps!!

College Search & Selection
1

I’m really conflicted between USC and Scripps. Anyone have any input?
Money isn’t a factor because I have similar scholarship amounts for both schools. Scripps would be slightly more expensive, but not by much.

I haven’t really decided what I’m going to study yet, but it will be something in the field of international relations, political science, public policy, etc. However, I may also do pre-med prerequisites if possible (although that’s something more my parents want). Maybe even pre-law. I have no idea.

My main concerns currently:

  • I’ve always dreamed of going to a small, close-knit LAC, so I’m a bit biased towards Scripps. I know people gush about their food, dorms, beautiful campus, etc but I don’t want those things to be the only reason I choose Scripps over USC
  • Academically, are USC and Scripps on the same level? USC has more specific majors in the fields I’m interested in, but Scripps covers all of them also. I’m not sure about the PoliSci department in each school.
  • Close relationships with professors?
  • USC is more prestigious and seems to have more opportunities (they are a bigger school of course). I’m a NMF so I have the Presidential Scholarship, which means I can live at the McCarthy Honors Residential College.
  • Scripps does have the 5C consortium, but how easy is it to actually do off-campus majors and such and mingling with people at other schools? I have a friend at Harvey Mudd who has told me that she interacts with people from the other schools fairly often and has friends at all of them, but I have also heard other people describe them as “neighborhoods” where people generally stay put at their own college.
  • Fitting in: I don’t know about this one yet, but I will be visiting Scripps in 2 weeks. USC will probably have more diversity, making it easier to find a niche, but Scripps is supposed to be a very close-knit friendly community.
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I hope this is enough to defer you from Scripps - https://heatst.com/culture-wars/scripps-college-white-students-should-pay-minorities-for-emotional-labor/

3

My D is a senior at Scripps and loves it there. Yes, she has close relationships with her professors. The regularly meet (a group of teachers and students) for lunch and her professors are always available when she needs help.

Yes, it’s easy to take classes or even to major at other campuses. (You can only major on another campus if your home campus doesn’t offer that major). There are some classes that limit the number of off campus students but generally it’s not difficult. My D has taken classes at all but one of the 5C’s.

Mixing with other campuses (or not) is an individual choice. I have heard some are quite happy to stay on their home campus while others get involved in all sorts of activities (and off campus classes) that have them interacting with students from other campuses.