<p>Well, how is it going? Would love to hear a report on life in Claremont when you get a chance to share.</p>
<p>Hello!</p>
<p>Scripps is going well. I am glad I made the choice to come here! I have met amazingly down-to-earth people and am always happy to see the sun shine every day and be able to walk around the campus. My current classes are Core, Writing 50, and AISS (Accelerated Integrated Science Sequence, if you're interested in science then ask and I can expand on it).</p>
<p>I would blabber on but I need to read! If you have any specifics you'd like to know feel free to ask.</p>
<p>Thanks for answering and I am so glad that things are going well, Is Accelerated Integrated Science an honors type class or is it an average class for an entering science major?</p>
<p>"Scripps is going well . . . I would blabber on but I need to read!"</p>
<p>Sounds about right. But Condorcet is behind you...it's all uphill from here ;)</p>
<p>Glad to hear that you're off to a great start. I hope you'll continue popping into CC periodically to let us know how things are panning out!</p>
<p>Gracieloo,</p>
<p>My daughter went to the Scripps preview day last year, and loved the idea of the Accelerated Integrated Science Sequence. I would love to hear more about this, and how it iw working for you.</p>
<p>I am glad you are liking your choice</p>
<p>AISS is the Accelerated Integrated Science Sequence in its second year. It's an interdisciplinary approach to biology, chemistry, and physics and is team taught by 3 professors (one from each discipline). It is a double course, meaning if you decide to take it, your first semester will be of Core, Writing 50, and AISS. The class meets ever morning for 2 and 3 hour classes.</p>
<p>It's pretty intense, being an honors level course, but is well worth it in the end if you finish. All of your intro science classes will be fulfilled, meaning you can start taking advanced classes at the beginning of your sophomore year. Labs are also during class, meaning no 4-hour labs in the middle of the day or at night from 6-10PM, which is VERY nice.</p>
<p>We just had our first midterm this Monday, and sadly it did not go well for me... there are a total of 4 midterms, and a final, then some other portion of your grade is homework and lab. The class size this year is about a little less than 30, with a large portion (I think over half of the class) being Scrippsies.</p>
<p>The class is by application, and from what I can tell they really do attempt to pick students who are genuinely interested in all disciplines or conveyed something like that on their application. I have not taken AP Chemistry or AP Physics, and I got into the class while I know of someone who has taken AP Biology and AP Chemistry, did well on the exams, and did not get in. There are many students in the class who haven't taken ALL of the AP sciences in high school. One person in the class took AP Chemistry but has not taken AP Biology or AP Physics.</p>
<p>You are pretty much required to have a good math background though- you will be learning calculus-based physics. I took AP Calculus AB and got a 5 on the exam (although that was junior year, so my math is EXTREMELY rusty). Most of the people in the class have at least taken AP Calculus AB, if not BC.</p>
<p>It is definitely a good class I think! It takes up the majority of my time though, being as it meets everyday for 2/3 hours, which is a lot for a college class. I'll be honest and say that it has definitely been a bit of a struggle for me so far since my chemistry and physics is weak, and sometimes I find the majority of my freetime is for AISS, but I am enjoying it very much and finding it extremely interesting. The class and material goes VERY fast, so it is important to keep up.</p>
<p>If your daughter is interested tell her to definitely apply for it- when I went for SADIOS in April, I went to a session on the sciences and wrote down my email, which I got my application from later on in the summer. If you don't do that, you can email the coordinator for it, Newton Copp (although he doesn't teach the class) or just email one of the professors for it later on if you decide to attend Scripps.</p>
<p>Hope this helps! If you have any more questions feel free to PM.</p>
<p>Thank you Gracieloos. I shared your answer with my daughter, who is still interested. She took Chemistry and Physics, but not AP, and is currently in IB Higher Level Biology and Higher Level Math. She took the AP calc B/C test last year and scored a 5, so I think her math background would be fine. Scripps is definitly high on her list, so your information is very helpful. </p>
<p>Keep us posted on your first year at Scripps.</p>
<p>thanks gracieloos. The class sounds right up my D's alley. I will share your post with her as well.</p>
<p>Of course, you're welcome! If your daughters do an overnight visit sometime, feel free to tell me and I can possibly sign up to be their hostess and talk to them more about it (I've volunteered to be a tour guide/overnight hostess).</p>
<p>best of luck to them!</p>
<p>I'm also enjoying my first year Scripps experience so far. The people here are amazing. They're my favorite part :) There is a LOT of reading, though. Especially for core. Right now I'm taking core, writing 50, music theory, and Italian. If you have any questions about those subjects feel free to ask. And any other questions.</p>
<p>Do you know anyone who is playing on a women's CMS varsity sports team?</p>
<p>Karen, my DDs attended soccer camp there and became acquainted with a couple of the CMS women's soccer players who were their coaches. I know one of the was a CMc student not sure if any were Scrippsies but will ask.</p>
<p>Thanks, I'm just wondering if a student athlete is common there, or would be out of place.</p>
<p>Karen I just re-read the c011eje Pr0uu1er take on athletes at Scripps and what I get from it is that though overall sports are not even remotely central to the college atmosphere at Scripps there are still quite a few athletes and they have many ways to get involved on an IM, Club or CMS level. My take on Scripps women in general is that no one would feel out of place for being an athlete and finding others who appreciate athletics would only take the effort of finding a team. </p>
<p>Hey and if your sporty D and mine both end up there they will have each other ;)</p>
<p>Student athletes are very common on campus, and my daughter, a freshman, seems to have already built friendships both on her team (softball) and with non-athletes as well. Athletes are mainstreamed as opposed to large universities where they frequently have dorms set aside for them. </p>
<p>If there is interest in a specific sport, speaking to the coach prior to applying is a great idea, as walking on to a team may not always be realistic.</p>
<p>Thanks, we are just starting the college hunt, and I am happy to collect this kind of info for D who is a junior. I think Scripps would be a nice fit for her, but will need to make sure she hears the message that there ARE boys in the area. </p>
<p>She isn't planning to walk-on. Is that even possible at any colleges now days?
(Back in the dark ages, when I was in school, it happened occasionally (we were also in the SCIAC conference and had a few, not many walk-ons.)</p>
<p>Hi gracieloos,</p>
<pre><code> I just got accepted at Scripps for the class of 2013, and I had a few questions about the AISS program. I would really like to take the AISS curriculum in addition to Core, but I'm not sure how competitive it is to get in. Currently, I am taking AP Calculus AB, have taken Honors (non-AP) Chemistry and Physics, and I have taken AP Biology with a 5 on the AP exam. I want to major in Biology or Biochem, but do you have to take the AISS curriculum to be a science major?
In addition, do you have to be invited to apply by Scripps, or would I just let them know I am interested in AISS? Also, what does the AISS application require? I'm really looking forward to attending Scripps, and would love to take the AISS curriculum.
</code></pre>
<p>Hi asr52991,</p>
<p>First of all, congratulations on being accepted!</p>
<p>As far as competitiveness of the application for AISS:
From what I remember one of my professors saying, about 60ish people applied this year and the class has 26 students right now. In both years the course has been offered, the majority of applicants have been from Scripps. There is only 1 Pitzer student in our class right now (Pitzer had a low number of applicants this year apparently) and there are 7 CMC students from what I'm counting. The rest are Scripps.</p>
<p>I honestly can't really say much about if getting accepted into the course is really competitive; it is only in its second year and when I did the application, I didn't take it too seriously. I would say though that I think they really do try and pick students who are genuinely interested in the interdisciplinary studies of the 3 sciences. I know people who have taken all 3 of the AP science classes and did well on the exams, but did not get in. I don't remember exactly what I wrote on my application, but I did try and emphasize that I genuinely am interested in learning the sciences and how they integrate with each other.</p>
<p>The classes that you are taking though seem to make you qualified for the class, so I wouldn't worry about that part. I don't remember if I said before, but the only chemistry I've taken is 2 trimesters sophomore year, and the only physics I've taken is a trimester in my freshman year (that was honors, but really it's just a freshman class; I didn't get anything out of it). I took AP Biology and AP Environmental Science my senior year (I got a 2 on biology that I never studied for and a 4 on environmental that I didn't really study much for either; senior year does that to you). I took AP Calculus AB my junior year (w/ a 5 on the exam), AP Statistics senior year (4 on exam), 700 on SAT math and 34 on ACT math. You do need a pretty good math background I would say, so if you are doing well in AP Calculus that is great.</p>
<p>I'm sorry if that part was wishy-washy! I honestly don't know myself really how they do choose students, so I can't necessarily give you a concrete answer about the competitiveness except that a strong math background is a prerequisite at the least. I HAVE heard that for Scripps students, JES students who apply get priority (I think almost every Scripps student in AISS was invited to JESS weekend, minus me and maybe 2 or 3 others). But I don't know if this is necessarily true.</p>
<p>You do NOT have to be in AISS to be a science major:
You can be a science major by taking the regular route, and it is perfectly doable. The Scripps website has several routes to take as options: Scripps</a> College : First Year Advising for Pre-Meds, Biology, Neuroscience and Bio-Chem Majors I know a lot of people who are not in AISS and still plan on being science majors; some of them are taking both biology and chemistry right now, with 2 labs and they are doing fine. A friend of mine is a sophomore right now and did this instead of AISS, and is now taking physics this year along w/ organic chemistry, core, and another class.</p>
<p>Taking AISS is beneficial though for your scheduling because all of your introductory courses will be out of the way by the end of your first year; you are finishing 6 semesters worth of courses in 4 semesters, since it is a double course that counts as 2 credits each semester. This gives you a bit more leniency for your scheduling, especially if you want to study abroad. Also, labs are during class rather than 4-hour blocks in the afternoon or evening every week.</p>
<p>You do NOT have to be invited to apply:
Did you ever visit, asr? I found out about AISS when I had visited for SADIOS, Prof. Newton Copp gave an information session on the sciences at Scripps, talked about the AISS course, and got a list of names and emails. I got the application a few weeks later. If you are interested, I would ask the admissions office or email Newton Copp. I had to send in my application by late June, and received an acceptance around mid-July.</p>
<p>Even if you do get accepted, you do not have to enroll; you can choose to decline and go the regular route. You can also stay in the first few days of class and see how you like it if you are accepted, and if not, you can switch out to the regular route as well. Also, if you are not accepted but someone dropped the course in the first few days of class, and you were a runner-up I guess, you could be invited to the course and enroll.</p>
<p>The AISS application requires:
My application asked for your high school science background; chemistry classes you've taken, physics classes, biology classes; if they were AP or Honors, the grades you got in the class, etc. They also asked for any test scores you have for science APs or IBs, as well as SAT or ACT math and reading scores. They also asked for my math background and test scores. Then they had a few general questions such as anything else you want to say about your high school background, what you plan on majoring in if you've decided and your scientific interests, if you are premed or want to do the 3/2 engineering program, and why you are interested in AISS.</p>
<p>I hope this helps. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask or PM me! :)</p>
<p>Doesn't it seem slightly unusual or contradictory to have an accelerated advanced math and science program in AISS and then come out with a B.A. and not a B.S.?</p>
<p>Dear gracieloos,</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your reply! You definitely helped me understand the AISS program a lot more than I did before:) I have visited Scripps a few times, as I have a sister at CMC, but I have never taken an official tour or sat in on a class, so I was wondering about SADIOS. What exactly is it, and has it already taken place this year?</p>