Hi Everyone!
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read this. As an out-of-state student, moving to California was a somewhat scary experience at first. I didn’t really know anyone coming into the school and had never visited California before. Moving from a city like Chicago to a more suburban environment like Claremont was definitely an adjustment for me, but it has been an experience that I have come to enjoy. I appreciate that my school is located in Claremont because I have the opportunity to explore smaller cities while also taking advantage of being near Los Angeles. Below are activities that I have found myself doing both on and off campus these past three years at Scripps! Hopefully this provides you with some insight on how students spend their free time.
On Campus
When I’m not in class, working, or studying you can often find me hanging around campus. One of the great things of attending a school in Southern California is the beautiful weather. There are multiple outdoor spots like the pool, the many lawns, and courtyards that students like to take advantage of. There are also almost always events happening across the Claremont Colleges. As a student at Scripps I have had the opportunity to attend the many speaker events that Scripps or clorgs bring in, but also get to take advantage of any other events happening across the colleges. I often have to end up choosing between events that I really want to go to.
Claremont Village
If I ever feel like stepping outside of the Colleges, but not worry about a long commute the Claremont Village is a perfect option. The Village is probably no more than a 15-20 minute walk from Scripps’ campus. My friends and I would go here if we ever wanted to treat ourselves to some boba or explore the delicious restaurants, bakeries, and ice cream shops. The Village is also a great change in location when it comes to studying. Whenever my friends and I felt we needed a change in space we would plan a day trip to one of the many coffeeshops that exist there.
Los Angeles
The Village also houses the train station that students can use to take straight into Downtown LA. The trip is about a 45-minute commute—which is often faster than LA traffic and super convenient. Not only are there many cities between Claremont and LA that students like to explore, but it has been great to be able to visit the city. There are always amazing events that are happening in LA and beaches that students will often go visit! One of the many things that students like to take advantage of is being able to attend music festivals or concerts.
I hope this was helpful to you all! Know that this is just a small sampling of a much bigger list that contains what students at the Claremont Colleges like to do in their free time. It’s been great to be located in a much smaller city/suburban like environment while still having access to nature and the city on either side of us. Remember to reach out if you have any other questions, I’m always happy to help!