When I saw all of the campers I taught being recognized for accomplishing their activities, I felt like a proud mother­- proud of them and myself. Pushed outside of my comfort zone, I became responsible and more outspoken. I've always been independent, but combined with a newfound responsibility I learned to embrace my personal growth and transformation. In a year I will be thrown into another unfamiliar situation, but this time I will not be apprehensive. Instead, I now...

I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the Discover Scripps Program. Immediately, I was in awe of the natural beauty of the campus. It’s an aesthetic wonderland with many secluded spots great for studying. What I loved most about Scripps was the caring and friendly community. The faculty and students I met were welcoming and willing to answer any questions I had. I couldn’t help but smile when I noticed that a barista at the Motley had...

Describe the environment you come from—family, community, and/or culture—and tell us how that has helped to shape the person you are or want to become (Scripps) // There is a Quaker saying: “Let your life speak.” Describe the environment in which you were raised—your family, home, neighborhood or community—and how it influenced the person you are today (Tufts). No, my mom does not don a cape or have the ability to fly, but I still consider...

What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way? (University of Virginia - College of Arts and Sciences) I stare intensely at the photograph on the whiteboard up ahead, studying it, analyzing it. My eyes dart to the woman’s puffy black eye. Dark bruises color the skin around it and below her right eye. I can’t help but notice how the blood in the white of her eye...

We are a community with quirks, both in language (we’ll welcome you to Grounds, not campus) and in traditions. Describe one of your quirks and why it is part of who you are. (University of Virginia) I like to collect things. Numerous stuffed animals sit on the edge of my bed. Jewelry bought on the streets of Manhattan lay delicately in a box on my bedside drawer. However, the rest of my room looks like a mess. Piles of...

What does being a Diplomat mean to you? (Franklin and Marshall) In politics, diplomats are skilled in communicating with other people and developing friendly relations. Similarly, Franklin and Marshall promotes a supportive community. With an average class size of 19 people, students and professors interact on a personal level. Small class sizes also encourage intellectual discussion and diversity of thought. Instead of being stuck in full lecture halls, students work alongside with professors and collaborate. Even residential life echoes Franklin and...

Based on your interests, tell us what real­-world experiences you might pursue during your education at Syracuse as part of the University's Mission, Scholarship in Action? At Syracuse, there are many opportunities to use the knowledge I gain in the classroom and apply it to real­-world experiences. My photography would grace the pages of publications like The Daily Orange newspaper, Leaves of Orange magazine, and The Onondagan yearbook. Syracuse also has a partnership with NBC that allows students...

If I could change anything about my application process, it would be not procrastinating and starting earlier! Yes, I was that kid who spent their New Years' Eve working...

My extracurricular activities at college are running for the varsity track and field team and being a photographer for the student newspaper. Both the arts and athletics have played integral roles in my high school career. Therefore, I wanted to continue an activity in each field. Since Scripps (along with Claremont McKenna College and Harvey Mudd College) are classified as Division 3 institutions for NCAA competition, playing a sport is not considered a "full-time job" as opposed to Division 1. Don't get me wrong, I still run 6 days a week (5 days are practices and 1 day for meets that usually take all day),...

Scripps is located in Claremont, California, which is a large town that is 45 minutes away from Los Angeles. I have lived in New York City my entire life so I looked forward to college as an opportunity to live in a different kind of atmosphere that I am used to. I wanted to live in a town that's not too isolated from city life and that's exactly what Claremont is. In fact, Claremont has a cute little downtown area...

I ultimately chose Scripps because it offered me an incredibly generous financial aid package. Other factors...

Scripps is an amazing school and the admissions committee wants to make sure that people they admit are good fits for the college. One thing to include in your "Why Scripps" essay is our unique Core program. Core is a 3-semester program, which exposes students to modern intellectual thought and encourages them to challenge these thoughts by drawing from many perspectives. If you ask anyone on campus,...