Swarthmore now?

[Anonymous]

My Daughter is a senior and up until now Swarthmore has been her first choice. We have visited and it really seems like a great fit. She had kind of an odd interview over the weekend, however, that gave her pause. The interviewer cautioned her about applying and said only to attend “if she wanted to die from work in college” and not be prepared for any job.

I know Swarthmore students work really hard but I was under the impression it was a little more relaxed than 30 years ago. DD is also coming from one of the most notoriously rigorous high schools in the country so we hadn’t worried too much about the workload in college. She would, however, like to be able to do things other than study during the next four years.

I know there are some current parents who post here occasionally. If any of you would be willing to share your student’s experience I would be grateful. Thanks for any help!

[Anonymous]

Seems like an odd comment from an interviewer. I think it says something more about that person. Sound like she didn’t apply early?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t base any decision on a random bizarre comment from an interviewer.

[Anonymous]

Not a Swarthmore parent/student, but the interviewer's comment seems accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like an odd comment from an interviewer. I think it says something more about that person. Sound like she didn’t apply early?

No, she plans to apply RD. She didn’t ED anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a Swarthmore parent/student, but the interviewer's comment seems accurate.

Agree, Op, I’d find some local kids attending to talked to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a Swarthmore parent/student, but the interviewer's comment seems accurate.

If you're not a parent or student - how would you have any basis to know whether the comment is accurate?

[Anonymous]

Very strange comment. I interview for another college and those are comments would be so odd.
Also, DD’s friends from high school is there currently and loves it. Actually she went to a top 10 school and hated it so much and transferred into Swarthmore and could not be happier. Her friend sounds more like your DD. She also came from a super rigorous high school.

[Anonymous]

The interviewer's attitude seems odd. Swarthmore certainly has a population of students who are intellectually driven and into the work for its own sake, but they also have a lot of fun. DD graduated recently in the humanities and her boyfriend in engineering and both had plenty of EC fun, sports, and a social life and loved the college, in different ways. When I visit, it honestly seems like very much the same vibe as when I was there 30+ years ago. She has also repeatedly said that coming from a top day school that prepared her well, she was ahead of a lot of her classmates. If your kid loved the vibe when they visited, I would not let an interviewer comment scare them off.

[Anonymous]

My DS graduated from Swarthmore. He studied hard, but was also an athlete, an RA and involved in other clubs. He found Swarthmore to be a close community and professors who took the time to know you. At graduation, the Dean of his department came up to myself and my husband to talk about my son and his goals. My opinion is that interviewers and tour guides need to be vetted often because their words and attitudes can change a student’s mind. If your DD is lucky enough to be accepted, try to get a sit down with a professor in her chosen field. Best of luck to your DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very strange comment. I interview for another college and those are comments would be so odd.
Also, DD’s friends from high school is there currently and loves it. Actually she went to a top 10 school and hated it so much and transferred into Swarthmore and could not be happier. Her friend sounds more like your DD. She also came from a super rigorous high school.

This is good to hear. The interview threw her off so much that she ended up searching and reading (selectively probably) a bunch of negative reviews on Niche and unigo. I think she might just need a couple of weeks to put it behind her.

[Anonymous]

Was the interviewer an alumni volunteer or an admissions staff member? That’s a really weird comment.

[Anonymous]

^ which I mean as a reflection on the interviewer, no the school.

Not sure why an alum with a negative view of the school would bother becoming an interviewer for them. If it was a current admissions staffer, even stranger.

[Anonymous]

Woah. I'm a Swarthmore alum and coincidentally also did an interview this weekend. I would never make such a comment to a high school senior! I know current students and it's not accurate - they certainly work very hard but it's a self selecting situation. Please don't let your daughter be dissuaded but this negative conversation. This alum should not be doing interviews. I apologize on behalf of the College!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was the interviewer an alumni volunteer or an admissions staff member? That’s a really weird comment.

Alumni