Pitzer vs. Scripps

Colleges and Universities A-Z Pitzer College
1

<p>Hi everyone!</p>

<p>I got into Pitzer and Scripps and I'm having trouble picking what school I want to persuade my parents to go to...</p>

<p>I've been researching about Pitzer and it sounds like the perfect place to go for me...interesting and diverse social atmosphere, flexible curriculum, VERY environmentally friendly (which is important to me hahaha), huge focus on the community, artsy (the murals sound so cool!), cool new dorms, etc.</p>

<p>I know I can't go wrong with either college since I will most likely be taking classes at the other colleges, but I don't really know much about the post-graduate statistics of the school or related stuff like that (I want to go to grad school at maybe CalTech or UCSF). I'm very interested in studying psychology, chemistry, and perhaps pre-med, and I hear Pitzer has a more humanitarian focus.</p>

<p>The reason why I'm torn is because I'm a very intense student (still studying REALLY hard for second semester....no slacking whatsoever!) and I hear Scripps is a quiet and very rigorous (not saying Pitzer isn't rigorous, but more chillax), but I'm really liking the freedom I can get at Pitzer and also the ease of which one can study abroad.</p>

<p>Anything will help! From your personal experience at either schools, your child's experience, your friend's experience, etc. Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Hi lkbanjo! I’m replying because no one else has yet, even though as a Pitzer mom, I’m not a good source of info on Scripps (although I think I might have liked it there because of its art classes and the quiet intellectual vibe I got when I walked on campus (no help that, I know)).</p>

<p>My son is very happy at Pitz and now cannot imagine ever having gone elsewhere. Generalizing about his Pitzer friends from those I have met, I am impressed with the depth and breadth of community involvement, diversity, involvement is school management, and commitment to each other. There are plenty of very serious scholars among them, also athletes, artists, and the occasional free spirit. The school truly makes parents feel welcome and appreciated. I don’t know of any students who do not study abroad. Son has had very involved and supportive professors.</p>

<p>You might ponder: Do you think you would prefer an all-women’s school? What do you think you will study? Remember that Pitzer and Scripps share the joint science program. There are plenty of class and social activities at which you can interact with studennts from the other schools, no matter which school is your “home.”</p>

<p>Also, if you can attend the admitted students’ weekends, I would encourage you to do so. I know that helped my son make his final decision (although it was not between Pitz and another consortium school).</p>

<p>You may also want to check whether either school has an admitted students site on Facebook. In the past, for Pitzer at least, current students have participated to answer questions and chat with prospective freshmen.</p>

<p>Congratulations and best wishes! I’ll be happy to answer any specific questions iif I can!</p>

3

<p>Just to add to what sewnsew said, it kind of sounds like you’ve made your mind on Pitzer. </p>

<p>Don’t worry about post-grad stuff yet. What a couple of my professors have said (talking about business schools) is that, employers or grad schools will look at the fact that you went to Pitzer or Scripps, know that it is a very good institution, and look more intently at your working experience. </p>

<p>If psych and chem are your choices for possible majors, psych is one of, if not the biggest major at Pitzer, because we were founded as a social and behavioral science school back in 1963. And along the chem line, going with what sewnsew said, we do share science facilities with Scripps and CMC through Keck Joint Science Dept. </p>

<p>I’d also recommend, emailing the heads of the departments that you are interested in, and basically ask them to convince you why you should choose their school. </p>

<p>You can find that, quiet, intense atmosphere at Pitzer as well, it may not be as common but its definitely available. I think that chillax atmosphere is what makes Pitzer unique, people are laid back but still work and study hard. If you are still looking for that atmostphere when you get here, you could always make friends with Scrippsies!</p>

<p>Regarding study abroad, while I am a Pitzer student, one of my only gripes is the Study Aborad options, we have 6 programs and 35 exchanges. The difference between an excnahge and a Pitzer program is on a Pitzer program you are doing a homestay, and an exchange you go to that country and enroll in that university as a student. While this works for most people, it doesn’t really work for people who want to study language, becuase the Pitzer programs, while they do have a language component, are more culture based, so if you want to study language Scripps is the way to go because they have more options, including the PZ programs. But the Office of Study Abroad will work with you to find an appropriate level language class if necessary.</p>

<p>But definitely join the FB groups for both schools, and try to attend both admitted students days.</p>