Tag Archives: women’s college

“Confidently, Courageously and Hopefully” – Things I’ve Learn From My Women’s College Experience

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Given the recent events in Pakistan, I feel as though it is important to share how I feel my women’s college is benefiting me both now and in the future. I feel blessed to have been afforded an opportunity for an education and it saddens me that not all girls and women have education readily accessible to them. As a tour guide, I repeatedly get the question, “So, how do you feel about the umm…all-girl thing?” My response to this is always, “Oh, a women’s college?! I love it!” Before I came to Scripps—while already desperately in love with the school—I found myself having to justify my choice to both myself and to others. I’d explain that, “Scripps isn’t reallllly a women’s college because it’s part of a consortium.” Now, after having been at Scripps for over a year, I have found that one of the things I love most about it is the fact that it is a women’s college. Having experienced all-women classes, I have a different appreciation for a women’s education than I would have otherwise. And, most importantly in this context, I think that coming from a women’s college many Scripps students are more prepared than they might otherwise be, because of their women’s education.

Statistics show that women who attend women’s colleges participate more in the classroom, get better grades in classes than they would at co-ed colleges, are more likely to get professional degrees, attend grad school and hold higher positions in their careers. I’m the first to admit that I didn’t think being in an all female classroom would impact my class experience, but it does. I have found that even I—the girl who has never been afraid to show that she has a brain—feel more relaxed in the classroom. And, not only that, I also feel more inspired, creative and driven. I have found that in classes such as Core, my professors, my peers and I have challenged myself to come up with new ideas.

It is has been shown (mostly through the media) that people behave based on what they see happening around them. That is, when women are objectified in the media, society mimics those actions and interacts in the same way. However, Scripps comes along with amazing on-campus student leaders and highly successful alums. Every time I meet Scripps alumnae, have a conversation with a faculty member or strike a debate with my friends, it inspires me to work harder. I see highly motivated, strong and intelligent women surrounding me on a daily basis, and it encourages me to do the same.

It is so easy to take an education for granted when in the midst of finals, papers and reading. Our education is part of our key to success, but sadly there are many girls and women in the US and around the world who aren’t afforded the same opportunity. Are there any parts of your women’s college education you think will be particularly useful when you enter the work force? Are there any parts of your education you may have taken for granted over the years?

Click here for more information about Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teen who was attacked by the Taliban for demanding an education for girls.

Appreciating Women’s Colleges (Women’s History Month)

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March has come to an end, and before it is a distant memory I want to acknowledge Women’s History Month. Personally, seeing as women have existed all of history, I don’t know why we aren’t a more significant part of history all the other eleven months as well, but that’s a rant for a different blog.

At the beginning of March, I happened upon an article entitled “Women’s History Month: The Power of All-Girls Schools” by Tereza Nemessanyi on the Huffington Post. In addition to simply reminding me I go to an all-girls school (it can be surprisingly easy to forget with guys in the classes and once you get used to Diva Cups being sold at the Motley), it reminded me of many of the reasons I chose Scripps. And, on a related note, it reminded me of many of the reasons why employers would be lucky to hire any Scripps graduate.

The article lists influential women who went to women’s schools (high school or college) such as Hillary Clinton, Gloria Steinem, Meryl Streep, Martha Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Julia Child, and Lady Gaga.

If that list alone isn’t enough to feel some female pride, read the article. Take a deep breath and appreciate the unique skills that Scripps instills in its students, skills that these strong women have used to their advantage, skills that we will be able to use to ours for the rest of our careers – skills that are applicable whether we’re the next Secretary of State or the next pop star sensation.

Just another reason I’m glad I chose Scripps. I think this one might even rank above the fresh baked cookies.

 

Don’t Underestimate The Power Of A Small School

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Recently, I experienced by first official “Family Weekend” here at Scripps.  While I was excited to see my family, I didn’t think much about the various scheduled different events Scripps had planned. All I knew was that I would be forced to accompany my family to these events and fulfill the role as their own personal tour guide.  What I would have never predicted, though, was how much I would learn about  my Scripps education and the beauty of the liberal arts.

It all started with our president, Lori Bettison-Varga, who gave a speech Saturday morning in Garrison Theater. Prior to entering Garrison, I was expected to hear a typical speech about what is going on within the Scripps community, the news, and any major recent accomplishments.  I wasn’t wrong. I received information from Bettison-Varga that I had anticipated hearing. It was the question and answer session, though, that caught my attention.

So far from my experience at Scripps, I have come to admire the transparency between the administration and the students. When the U.S. News and World Report ranking for Scripps College dropped from the 23rd best liberal arts college to the 29th, Bettison-Varga wrote an email that addressed the overwhelming concern of what this would mean for our school. With that being said, I still began to feel uncomfortable and rather squeamish when parents started asking questions. I felt as if secrets were about to be unleashed that would cause me to be upset with Scripps.

For lack of better words, Bettison-Varga was getting “grilled” with questions that revolved around endowment, increasing tuition, the housing crunch, and what originally worried me the most: the career related questions.

While my parents completely supported my decision in choosing Scirpps, they have always been worried about my ability to find a job after graduation coming from a small liberal arts school that, unfortunately, seems to be rarely known.  They believe that if I had gone to a bigger, more well known university, it would alleviate some of the after graduation stress.

I can’t say I necessarily disagree with them. Scripps only has around 7,500 alumnae, and with this low number comes a lack of resources needed to make easy connections. But it wasn’t until this weekend that I completely shifted my mindset about the value and benefits of graduating from a small women’s college can have when applying for competitive internships and/or jobs.

In the audience, one parent asked Bettison-Varga how many seniors have secured jobs at graduation. While I don’t remember this statistic, I do remember having a flash forward to me at graduation with a diploma in hand, but zero job offers. This seems terrifying, but what Bettison-Varga ensured the crowd was that every Scripps woman has the skills to effectively find and have a job, I began to think realistically.  Our liberal arts education has unconsciously made us great writers, have amazing public speaking skills, and be passionate about anything we are committed to. What is not to love about that?

Similarly, I didn’t  know that I would be so moved and blown away by the CP&R hosted panel that was held this past weekend. Not only were the panelist so incredibly articulate when speaking on behalf of their career goals, but I was inspired by each and every one of their stories. Once again, though, I found myself feeling uncomfortable when parents began shooting questions at both the panelists and Vicki Klopsch, the Director of CP&R.

One parent asked the panelists if they had found that when interviewing for internships, did the specific name of their school, Scripps College, have any impact on them being hired? The panelists didn’t lie. None of them answered the question by saying that the reputation of Scripps is what helped them land the internship, but the more interesting answer is that indirectly it did.

From everyone who goes to Scripps and works here, we all know it is a unique, one of a kind place that is impossible to replicate anywhere. It’s a women’s college. How many women’s colleges can you think of in the country? Only a handful. Now if that doesn’t make a statement, I don’t know what else does.

As silly as it may sound, I had never thought of the benefits of attending a women’s college from the perspective of a future employer. I had internally recognized how attending a women’s college would benefit me, but I am now beginning to fully understand how beneficial and valuable my skills, that I am learning at Scripps, will be in the outside world.

I also began to internalize more reasons behind why the size of my school will NOT deter me from finding, applying, and being accepted to any internship/job I plan on applying to in the future. It will force me to work harder and be driven in ways that I may not necessarily have been before if I believed that I could rely on the reputation of my school. I am thankful for that and for the panelists that ensured me that nothing was stopping them from doing what they want in life.

While it is true that I might not be able to rely on the name of my college to get me a job (cough, “Insert Ivy League School Name Here” ), what I am positive that I will be able to rely on is the skills, leadership, and everything else I have learned here at Scripps. Everything will be transferable. Take that, large universities.