Hi! I’m trying to make a last minute decision for Smith and Scripps. My pro and con list is fairly even, as they are both women’s colleges in a consortium and have similar academics from what I’ve seen. I like the weather in California, but the seasons in Massachusetts. I want to study computer science or art or history or languages (I’m very undecided right now). I’ve visited both during COVID when they were emptier, so I haven’t really felt the vibe on either campus, but I love both towns. I want to play basketball, and Smith does not have a basketball intramural, but it’s not a dealbreaker. I come from a private school that I feel has prepared me quite well for college. I just don’t know where I’d fit in better.
Any thoughts would be very helpful, I really can’t choose!
I suggest you read student reviews on Niche. The vibes at both schools will be quite different. Being women’s colleges doesn’t mean all the women are the same. Smith is seen a politically and socially aware, driven, and liberal, with a change the world vibe. I don’t know much about Scripps, but I understand it’s more mainstream, though still liberal and a little more preprofessional.
Weather is really not an important factor, IMO. As a native Californian who lives in the Northeast, I’ll take a New England winter over a smoggy day in Claremont. Both have the consortium, which is much easier to take advantage of at Scripps.
Both will get you where you want to go in life, so consider the feel of the student body. Look at the school Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts. I’d go with the vibe you prefer.
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Thank you so much! That’s kind of where I’m at right now, and it’s been so hard to get the vibe during COVID. I’ve been talking to current students and going to admissions events and looking online, but still keep flip flopping on where I want to go because both are so good.
Are you an activist type or more middle of the road? If the former, Smith. If the latter, Scripps.
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In order to use consortium resources, you walk across a narrow street in Scripps but you have to take a bus in Smith. Most people say it’s a big difference, actually a deal-breaker.
However, we’ve also heard that cross-registration in the 5C became a little harder recently.
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If your main interest is computer science, you might want to investigate how available that major / those classes will be to Scripps students. Traditionally, they’ve majored in CS through Pomona or Harvey Mudd but there’s been some press in recent years about how those schools are finding it hard to meet the demand from the other colleges in the consortium. Scripps College unveils new data science minor - The Student Life
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How strongly are you considering CS as a possibility for a major. If it’s as strong a possibility as your other interests, then I’d say Smith. Their CS department has been around for more than 30 years. Overall Smith is strong in STEM. Scripps doesn’t have a CS major; their students who major in CS have done it through Harvey Mudd or Pomona. Demand is up, so they’re in transition for this major at Scripps.
On the other hand, if the consortium is a big part of the appeal for these 2 colleges, then Scripps is the winner. All the campuses are contiguous at Claremont while the nearest member of the consortium to Smith is 10 miles away, and the only road to get there gets congested at times.
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One thing to consider is that Smith College is having issues with how it is treating its staff. You can read more about that here:
It’s hard to know where this will lead. It might blow over. On the other hand, the lawsuits have started and other outcomes include a labor strike or termination of Smith’s President. So more uncertainty at Smith.
It’s not the different at the Claremont Colleges. Cross-registration is not guaranteed. Scripps is also much poorer than Smith, and this is immediately obvious.
One thing I would add is that the Claremont consortium is “right there”, on a contiguous campus. And one of the colleges is Harvey Mudd. I’m not a CS expert, but I’m guessing Comp. Sci at Harvey Mudd is going to be on another level than what you’ll get from the 5 college consortium. As wonderful as those schools are, there’s not a Harvey Mudd among them … or anything close. So there’s that. Also, the 5 college consortium is spread out. Amherst is 8 miles away from Smith. Mount Holyoke is almost 11 miles. You’ll need a car. My D did a post-bacc in Math at Smith (which was excellent btw), and her sense was that the consortium wouldn’t have been a strong pull for her because of distance, and she didn’t have the impression people really took full advantage of it. Maybe as between the 2 schools in Amherst, sure. But it’s a little bit of a pain to drive from Smith to South Hadley or Amherst for a class. If you’re at Scripps, HM is a walk away.
OTOH, Smith is one of the quintessential New England small college experiences to be enjoyed. The Pioneer Valley is beautiful, the Smith Campus is beautiful, the seasons, the traditions, etc. And Smith, IMO, is one of the two big names in women’s colleges along with Wellesley. Northampton is lovely and you’d get a fantastic education there. I just think it’s fair to say that Scripps does have its advantages.
Edit: sorry, I’m just realizing my points have already been raised.
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