Mary Washington vs. Scripps

College Search & Selection
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<p>At first glance, this might not seem like a very fair comparison--public COPLAC to private women's college, opposite sides of the country--but, as usual, finances play a role. My list is already way too long and I have room for exactly one more $50-app-fee school. Which will it be? (This was originally Scripps vs. Carleton, but Carleton is free to apply, so that's resolved.)</p>

<p>UMW caught my eye as a good academic fit, but I'm worried about the gender ratio (approaching 70/30) and "suitcase" reputation. I've also heard that the wireless network infrastructure is terrible, which raises questions about the rest of the infrastructure/facilities. COA is 22k, a bargain but not any better than need-based aid for my family--does Mary Washington offer merit money aside from the single OOS Alvey full ride? My stats are competitive for the Ivies; would I be able to get that COA down to ~15k?</p>

<p>Scripps: a beautiful social fit but not so perfect an academic fit. I love the idea of a women's college in a coed atmosphere (and the quieter/cleaner dorms). I love California (or the idea of California, at least). I love interdisciplinary stuff, and the Core classes sound interesting--except that I also want to be able, at least, to feasibly double-major in English and Computer Science with side interests in Linguistics, Creative Writing, and French (study abroad). Two of those disciplines, CS and linguistics, are only available via the 5C consortium, and I'd probably take some creative writing outside as well because only a few workshops are offered at Scripps. There's a stated limit on consortium courses--how strongly is that enforced? And if I do end up as an English/CS major, how the heck do you write one thesis integrating them? (I would probably do a dual major at Scripps, not double, so that I wouldn't have to write two theses.) Financially, the 4k loan cap is generous but I don't know whether I would prefer Scripps, with all the possible academic wrangling, over a school of equal selectivity like Grinnell (2k loan cap, and I have race/geo diversity).</p>

<p>So, CCers, what do you think? Please give solid reasons; I don't care about USNWR rankings, although statistical jargon is always fun.</p>

2

<p>Keilexandra,
Thanks for the post. My D also has Scripps on her list, but we weren't aware of the restrictions on consortium courses until you brought it to our attention. This is unfortunate, and more than a little ironic in light of the statement by a Pomona admissions officer when we visited that the Claremont Colleges had the "only true consortium----the rest are all on paper." This irked my D to no end as we had recently spent some time at Haverford and Bryn Mawr which allow unlimited cross-registrations in a seamlessly unified joint registration system, which students at both schools frequently avail themselves of.</p>

<p>I don't know how strictly the cross-registration limits at Scripps are enforced. In fact, I think there's a good deal of ambiguity in their Spring 2009 Registration Handbook, where they say sophomores may register for "one off-campus (consortium) course." But does that mean one per semester, or one for the entire academic year? Similarly for juniors and seniors, the limit is two---but two per semester, or per year? Pomona's policy is more clearly stated: one in the second semester freshman year, one each semester sophomore year, two per semester junior and senior years, for a total of 11. I suspect that's what Scripps meant, but I'm not sure. Even at that level it's still pretty restrictive, though. as Scripps has a small faculty and a limited number of course offerings.</p>

<p>Two more data points on Scripps. They do seem to hold out the possibility that these limits can be exceeded with permission of your faculty adviser. I imagine this partly depends on who your adviser is, and how successful you are in persuading that individual of the merits of your course of study. And second, they list about 18 "joint and cooperative programs"; I would guess that courses within these programs don't count against the off-campus limit. But I'm really not sure. It's worth discussing with the Admissions office at Scripps, and with current Spripps students if you can contact them. It does strike me as uncommonly and unnecessarily bureaucratic, hobwever.</p>

<p>Balanced against that is the gorgeous weather, the beautiful campus, the highly appealing natural setting with the San Gabriel Mountains looming in the background, and the academic quality at Scripps and its sister colleges. To my mind it's a no-brainer as between Scripps and Mary Washington. But I might be biased.</p>

3

<p>There is someone who posts on the transfer board who is at one of the consortium colleges and doing a major at one of the others. So I would call Scripps and talk to them. Having HM there would be amazing for your interests and make Scripps the clear winner IMO.</p>

4

<p>I agree, BMC/HC is probably the best-administered consortium; the 5C's biggest benefit is proximity, which makes it a truly equal social consortium (and why a women's college is still on my list--I figure I'll meet plenty of guys in HMC CS). But given Scripps' core curriculum, and a semester lost to study abroad, I don't know if it's even possible to pursue all of my interests--and I'd like to figure that out before I end up there, because transferring would wreak havoc on financial aid.</p>

<p>There's also the issue of balancing selectivity. I don't need more safeties, but I do need more affordable safeties. UMW's sticker price is about the same as what we would pay under need-based FA at 100% schools, but it will still likely end up 5-10k more than UDel after merit there. (Best-case scenario is replacing UDel outright with UMW and then adding Scripps, but I don't think the parents will be amenable.)</p>

<p>So, any CC wisdom on Mary Washington?</p>

5

<p>
[quote]
Two more data points on Scripps. They do seem to hold out the possibility that these limits can be exceeded with permission of your faculty adviser. I imagine this partly depends on who your adviser is, and how successful you are in persuading that individual of the merits of your course of study. And second, they list about 18 "joint and cooperative programs"; I would guess that courses within these programs don't count against the off-campus limit. But I'm really not sure. It's worth discussing with the Admissions office at Scripps, and with current Spripps students if you can contact them. It does strike me as uncommonly and unnecessarily bureaucratic, hobwever.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Correct re: flexibility + joint/cooperative programs. At graduation, I'd taken almost exactly 1/2 of my courses on other campuses (though not all actually counted as off-campus because my major was joint). I had semesters where the majority of my classes were off-campus. Never had a problem. For whatever it may be worth, my favorite place to take class was Scripps.</p>

<p>Keilalexandra: Your questions require a level of knowledge that most posters here won't have. I know you've done a lot of working things out on your own, and if scheduling is still your primary concern, you should discuss it with admissions (and if you're able to interview with a professor, possibly there as well).</p>

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<p>Heh, hello again Student615! I won't be able to visit, due to the whole other-side-of-the-country thing, but perhaps I do need to email admissions. I just don't trust them very much, since it is the office of prospective student recruitment and thus likely to gloss over any issues that might arise.</p>

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<p>Definitely understandable, but I still think that your best bet for reliable info is speaking to the school directly. Info that you get here will likely be speculative at best, but in the end, that might have to be okay. Even drawing up a mock schedule is far from foolproof.</p>

<p>There are definitely ways to do versions of what you want to do, possibly even with relative ease. If you're content with joining a creative writing club instead of taking courses, or with living on the French hallway, eating at French table, etc. rather than taking very many French classes, then that knocks some things out of your way. Meeting ASAP with the study abroad office would help you figure out which GE and major requirements might be easiest to complete abroad. Take summer school one year. It's definitely possible, but you seem to be looking for more specific info. If what you want to hear is "Oh yeah, no problem," well...you have a lot of interests, and it'll take planning. As long as you know that going in, and particularly if you're willing to be flexible, then I don't foresee too big of a problem. You definitely want to choose a school that will let you do what you want to do (whether or not you decide that Scripps actually fits that bill), but your interests will likely change, and schedules will work differently than you imagine, etc., so be careful of giving too much weight to this criterion. </p>

<p>Re: thesis...I didn't dual or double, but I had some friends who did. Based on their experiences, it seems that writing two theses that interest you is a better idea than forcing yourself to combine degrees for the sake of writing a single thesis that you care less about. CS may be a one-semester thesis, but I'm not positive about that. Personally, I'm really not a fan of the double major thesis policy, but for the time being, it is what it is.</p>

<p>If you have Ivy-level stats, it's unfortunate that you weren't able to apply for Scripps in time for the JES deadline. Given that missed opportunity, combined with the fact that you've had these same worries for months, and the fact that you'll be unable to visit (even if accepted?), the balance might tip away from Scripps. I love the school and think it's a great option, but having spoken to you a few times about your concerns, I just can't imagine you actually feeling comfortable with the choice. Then again, we've been focusing on problems rather than positives, so I may have gotten a skewed perspective...I suppose another way to think about this is that if the school is still on your list in spite of no merit aid, lingering concerns, etc., then maybe you should listen to your gut.</p>

<p>Whatever happens, I imagine you'll have excellent options come spring. Best of luck :)</p>

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<p>^ I'm a (decidedly obsessive) junior, actually, so not applying until next cycle. If I do apply to Scripps (and I admit, my mock schedule wasn't very reassuring, but I still love it in my gut), I'll definitely make the JES deadline. I'd be counting on JES-finalist to pay for a visit, in that case.</p>

9

<p>Ah, okay. Makes much more sense...thanks for clarifying :)</p>

10

<p>So... CC opinions on the University of Mary Washington? I admit, it is less popular than Scripps. The huge gender imbalance (approaching 70/30) is worrying.</p>

11

<p>My S has applied to Mary Washington, and we attended the open house there on Monday. We were both very impressed with how friendly the students are and how closely they interact with the professors. If you're thinking about a women's college, why would a 70/30 ratio be a problem? Of course, the ratio is a great plus as far as my S is concerned!</p>

<p>I asked about internet access because I'd also heard about the bad wireless infrastructure. According to the students, wireless is much more accessable and is supposed to cover the whole campus soon. All of the dorm rooms are also wired for internet access.</p>

<p>The students said the "suitcase school" reputation isn't as accurate as it was in the past, and there are a lot of activities on the weekends.</p>

<p>I think most of your interests would be covered--the Department of English, Linguistics, and Communication also offers a concentration in creative writing. UMW also offers a major in Computer Science.</p>

<p>Financial aid may not be too great. According to their website, "Types of assistance may change yearly, therefore, do not expect an award package to be the same from one year to the next. Based on the volume of applications and available resources, if the EFC is 2000 or higher, financial assistance will be in the form of loans, possible employment, and if eligible, Pell Grant."</p>

<p>The Admissions Department holds a live chat on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 2-5 PM EST if you want more information.</p>

<p>I guess this sounds like a sales pitch, but I really liked what I saw on Monday.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the information! I was considering attending the Open House, but it ended up not working with my schedule. Scripps is a women's college, yes, but on practically the same block as four other coed schools (including a male-heavy tech LAC, Harvey Mudd).</p>

<p>The financial aid limitations don't sound great, but I think I'll try for a live chat to inquire about merit aid.</p>

13

<p>scripps is TOP notch but i don't know about all of our questions re it. my gut feeling is that you're way bright & need to be at a school with really smart people---class discussions/seminars will be SO much more interesting. mary washington is lovely, but i don't think you'd be challenged enough; however, i know somebody very smart who went there so i'll ask her. carleton was my d's 2nd choice. we both totally loved it, probably academically more than williams, but the berkshires & ease of transportation to williams ended up winning..... plus, williams has a J term which was a big plus for my d. good luck</p>