Swarthmore, Williams or Pomona

[Anonymous]

Which is the best fit for a straight male (non-recruited athlete) who is social (would do Greek life if offered elsewhere).
Work hard, play hard attitude.
Environmental sciences or studies /Econ majors. Maybe history or Am Studies type minor….interested in sciences & humanities.

Obviously, this would be a dream to have this choice, but thinking ahead for my junior….

Looking for some sort of quick distinction between the three.

Planning to visit all next year.

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t matter. He won’t get into any of them.

[Anonymous]

All very different locations and vibes. My DC personally liked Pomona due to the consortium and ability to cross-enroll among the 5 C’s. LA is a day trip away for beach and cultural life.

Williams is almost all athletes (like 40% or so) and if you aren’t an athlete can be socially barren plus school in middle of nowhere.

Swarthnore has a grinder reputation and doesn’t seem to be popular around the DMV. Or maybe just no one getting in! In a good part of Philly and also has a consortium. Lots of other SLAC’s nearby plus Penn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All very different locations and vibes. My DC personally liked Pomona due to the consortium and ability to cross-enroll among the 5 C’s. LA is a day trip away for beach and cultural life.

Williams is almost all athletes (like 40% or so) and if you aren’t an athlete can be socially barren plus school in middle of nowhere.

Swarthnore has a grinder reputation and doesn’t seem to be popular around the DMV. Or maybe just no one getting in! In a good part of Philly and also has a consortium. Lots of other SLAC’s nearby plus Penn.

That's not almost all, that's less than half.

[Anonymous]

Gettysburg sounds like a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All very different locations and vibes. My DC personally liked Pomona due to the consortium and ability to cross-enroll among the 5 C’s. LA is a day trip away for beach and cultural life.

Williams is almost all athletes (like 40% or so) and if you aren’t an athlete can be socially barren plus school in middle of nowhere.

Swarthnore has a grinder reputation and doesn’t seem to be popular around the DMV. Or maybe just no one getting in! In a good part of Philly and also has a consortium. Lots of other SLAC’s nearby plus Penn.

Both seem to be the case at our magnet school.

[Anonymous]

^^last year I believe only 6 applications and no admits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All very different locations and vibes. My DC personally liked Pomona due to the consortium and ability to cross-enroll among the 5 C’s. LA is a day trip away for beach and cultural life.

Williams is almost all athletes (like 40% or so) and if you aren’t an athlete can be socially barren plus school in middle of nowhere.

Swarthnore has a grinder reputation and doesn’t seem to be popular around the DMV. Or maybe just no one getting in! In a good part of Philly and also has a consortium. Lots of other SLAC’s nearby plus Penn.

That's not almost all, that's less than half.

Fine-a large percentage for such a small school and is reportedly stifling. Read the student newspaper.

[Anonymous]

Really different locations. CA, rural Western Mass and suburb of Philly. Pick based on that.

I am a Williams grad - I loved it but it is truly isolated. And, yes, athletic culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which is the best fit for a straight male (non-recruited athlete) who is social (would do Greek life if offered elsewhere).
Work hard, play hard attitude.
Environmental sciences or studies /Econ majors. Maybe history or Am Studies type minor….interested in sciences & humanities.

Obviously, this would be a dream to have this choice, but thinking ahead for my junior….

Looking for some sort of quick distinction between the three.

Planning to visit all next year.

Williams or Pomona. Look at Midd instead of Swarthmore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All very different locations and vibes. My DC personally liked Pomona due to the consortium and ability to cross-enroll among the 5 C’s. LA is a day trip away for beach and cultural life.

Williams is almost all athletes (like 40% or so) and if you aren’t an athlete can be socially barren plus school in middle of nowhere.

Swarthnore has a grinder reputation and doesn’t seem to be popular around the DMV. Or maybe just no one getting in! In a good part of Philly and also has a consortium. Lots of other SLAC’s nearby plus Penn.

That's not almost all, that's less than half.

My understanding is that the Williams social divide is primarily between uber-wealthy kids and normal ones. There probably is some overlap with athletics. We really liked the school when we visited, but they don't have a serious club for DC's niche sport, it truly is in the middle of nowhere, and just feels so small. I think socially it either works for your kid or really doesn't. DC probably won't apply. DC wants academic diversity too, took Pomona off the list after reading that 1/3 of a class wanted a CS major. Not sure what the admissions office was thinking there, but not the kind of cohort DC wants to be a part of. Swarthmore's rep is indeed of being a harsh grind, doesn't sound like a good fit for your DC socially. Easy to visit though and see if the vibe is off-putting or not. It's similar to Hopkins, but progressive and with less of a pre-professional focus.

[Anonymous]

To the Williams poster-I am curious to know if most of the non-athletic males at Williams are gay. It does seem to be the case at most SLAC’s. Seems like it would create a strange divide in the campus.

[Anonymous]

Check out Claremont McKenna too for business/Econ. More pre-professional and a part of the 5C’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the Williams poster-I am curious to know if most of the non-athletic males at Williams are gay. It does seem to be the case at most SLAC’s. Seems like it would create a strange divide in the campus.

Not at Bucknell, Colgate, Union, or Gettysburg. Lafayette, too. They frat HARD and smash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is the best fit for a straight male (non-recruited athlete) who is social (would do Greek life if offered elsewhere).
Work hard, play hard attitude.
Environmental sciences or studies /Econ majors. Maybe history or Am Studies type minor….interested in sciences & humanities.

Obviously, this would be a dream to have this choice, but thinking ahead for my junior….

Looking for some sort of quick distinction between the three.

Planning to visit all next year.

Williams or Pomona. Look at Midd instead of Swarthmore.

The above is a great response in my opinion.

Among the three schools listed by OP, a straight male might be uncomfortable at Swarthmore College.