<p>Hello all. I was a long-time lurker, and I never posted because most of my questions could be answered by a simple search. </p>
<p>A few weeks ago, I was accepted ED to my dream school, Scripps. </p>
<p>This forum had a large impact on my research and applying. I feel I owe all you parents thanks for all your wonderful advice, even if you didn't know you gave it to me. You are truly a wonderful, insightful group of people.</p>
<p>Another Arizonian! Awesome...I'm not a parent, btw. In case you don't notice, I'm from AZ too..hehe. </p>
<p>My appreciation for CC is beyond words. Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>How nice of you both to express your appreciation!</p>
<p>And Tanstaafl, welcome to you as a new poster!</p>
<p>Mod JEM</p>
<p>Tanstaafl- shouldn't your name be Tinstaafl?</p>
<p>Hey, did I ever contribute any good advice for you!! lol</p>
<p>Tanstaafl, Congratulations!!!!!! I love what I have read about Scripps and am trying to interest D in your Dream School. Now help us all out and tell us what won you over. D has two major concerns- L.A freaks her out and she has worries about social life applicable to any women's campus. (Yes, I have shown her a map of both the colleges and the area.) I really like the school. It is an academic or at least statistical fit for D. I love the possibilities of empowerment Scripp's can expose her to and the proximity of the other Claremont campuses. D can't get past the L.A thing, but we haven't visited. Please share your thoughts.</p>
<p>First, L.A. almost freaks me out too. Since I was eight, when we moved away from the east coast, I have not lived in a city. Right now, I live in a largish town, and that is significantly larger than where we used to live, but I enjoy it. I think that living close to a city will be a major stretch for me, but definitely a good one. That's an experience I need.</p>
<p>Second, when I visited, I noticed that Scripps is suburban, not urban. We didn't spend much time in the actual city, but it was hardly ghetto. Claremont itself struck me as more of an artsy, upscale neighborhood. Pomona, only a few minutes drive away, was larger, but again, nice. True, downtown L.A. is near, but I think Ill be able ease into it, visit, rather than actually live in it.</p>
<p>The campus also seemed very safe. We walked around after dark and my host told me shed always felt comfortable alone. Campus Security, which I think is actually on the Scripps campus, patrols, and students have a whistle they can blow in case of an emergency. There is a several hundred dollar fine if you blow it irresponsibly.</p>
<p>SARLOStudent Activities and Residential Life Officeorganizes trips for the students, so that when you go into L.A., you can do it with friends. The brochure they gave me had weekly trips listed, such as Venice Beach, Disneyland, Knotts Scary Farm, Sea World and lots of on-campus things like a Self Defense Workshop and Core Paper Help.</p>
<p>I talked to several students and the general consensus was that students rarely left the campus on the weekend. They assured me that it was possible, but there seemed to be an unspoken attitude of Why would you want to? And that makes a clear statement about social life, too.</p>
<p>Even on a Friday night, when I spent the night, the campus was incredibly peaceful. Ive heard that over and over again, from the tour guide, to students, to my interviewer, that Scripps is the quiet campus, but there are parties and events just across the street. On the night I visited, there was a whole list of available events, such as a movie at Pomona, a Capella performance, several bands, and many other things Ive forgotten. My host was involved in planning an official 5c party to be held in her dorm. There were guys all over and in the class I visited. Scripps cafeteria is the most popular.</p>
<p>Not being much of a party person myself, I like the thought that Ill be able to go to things off campus and come back to sleep. Scripps seemed to have the best of both worldsa womens college focused on women and with a wonderful community, but with coed-opportunities.</p>
<p>I'd definitely encourage a visit, if you come out this way. Maybe it would reassure your D.</p>
<p>Calidan-why should my user name be tinstaafl?</p>
<p>Yes, due to sprawl of LA metro area Scripps and the 5Cs may look more city-near than they really are. It definitely feels more like the location of a city-near suburb; for example like Sarah Lawrence to Manhattan or Bryn Mawr to Philly.</p>
<p>Congrats Tanstaafi, Scripps is a great school!</p>
<p>Also, I forgot, Curmudgeon, and you've probably heard this already, that the Scripps website has a long list of clubs and such. Most of those are coed. Just scan down the list and see "five college" and "Claremont colleges" over and over again. There are a few that are Scripps specific, mostly things like the yearbook and things that pertain specifically to Scripps, but the vast majority are 5c. </p>
<p>I'm not entirely sure how to post a link, but try:</p>
<p>It is certainly pronounced, TANSTAAFL, but you don't see it spelled out terribly often. Must be There AINT no such thing as a free lunch.... but in your case, looks like you did get a free lunch!! :)</p>
<p>(As opposed to There Is no such thing as a free lunch, which would be TINSTAAFL)</p>
<p>Congrats, and good luck.</p>
<p>Hmmm... a definitely delicious lunch, but try telling my parents it's free! :) Lol. Heinlein is one of my favorite authors, and I just couldn't resist.</p>
<p>Hinting to Robert Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress was such a polite way to point the posters who objected to Tanstaafl's spelling in the right direction!</p>
<p>Congratulations on becoming a Scrippsie!</p>
<p>Congrats from me, too, and thanks for making the parents (and, I am sure, Xiggi) feel that they have helped to some degree.</p>
<p>Hey Tanstaafl! Congrats! I was really excited to see your post because I applied ED II to Scripps College. I was just wondering if you could post your stats and ECs/GPA etc. so I can see if I have a similiar chance. That would be appreciated a lot. I am just really anxious for Feb. 15th. Could you tell me what the acceptance packet looks like? How were they with fin. aid? Anything you could tell me would be great!</p>
<p>Well, what's "Tanstaafl?" I thought it was the econ. term "Tinstaafl" (i.e. There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch).</p>
<p>calidan, substitute "ain't" for "is" and you'll have it, double negative and all.</p>
<p>Tanstaafl is by far the more prevalent spelling (and the first one I encountered, by a good two decades or more). Try a Google search on both spellings and see for yourself.</p>
<p>Calidan, mootmom is absolutely right. The phrase comes from Heinlein's book The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, and I would imagine his spelling, with the ain't, is the original one. </p>
<p>I picked that name because Heinlein is one of my favorite authors, and tanstaafl is one of his more recognizable phrases. Actually, I've always thought it had a German or Dutch flavor to it, and I was somewhat hoping that you knew it as an actual word--at least if it was a good word. Now I find out it's an actual economic term. Bleh. How boring. :)</p>