Tell us about Swarthmore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ones I’ve known from Swarthmore are arrogant tools. I wish it wasn’t the case because it sounds like an amazing place.

Good friend with a fairly successful career yet still pulls that Swartmore card out whenever she gets the chance.

That comment is funny to me because My DS graduated from Swarthmore and lots of people are unfamiliar with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ones I’ve known from Swarthmore are arrogant tools. I wish it wasn’t the case because it sounds like an amazing place.

Good friend with a fairly successful career yet still pulls that Swartmore card out whenever she gets the chance.

That comment is funny to me because My DS graduated from Swarthmore and lots of people are unfamiliar with it.

Swarthmore might help with the first job out of college because of the alum network and profs’s recommendations. The average person can rely on alums and profs recs only so long out of college. It’s doubtful Swarthmore has much sway beyond first few years out of school.

[Anonymous]

One of the coolest people I've ever known went to Swarthmore. Smart, unconventional, kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the coolest people I've ever known went to Swarthmore. Smart, unconventional, kind.

Cool, smart, unconventional, kind people can be found in any group of people. But hey, thanks, Mr. Obvious.

[Anonymous]

The average random person on the street has never heard of the top LACs. The average Joe doesn’t know the difference between Goucher and Williams. Educated people know. Make of that what you will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the coolest people I've ever known went to Swarthmore. Smart, unconventional, kind.

Cool, smart, unconventional, kind people can be found in any group of people. But hey, thanks, Mr. Obvious.

NP. Love the irony of you calling someone Mr. Obvious after stating something obvious. Undoubtedly lost on you. Might want to ask yourself why it bothers you so much when someone says something positive about Swarthmore. Could help you let go.

OP, I’ll offer my perspective. My daughter went to Swarthmore so I can’t claim objectivity. She had an incredible experience. It is absolutely intense and demanding but not in a toxic, competitive way. It’s just a ton of difficult work. If your kid isn’t a hard worker run the other way right now. Kids are nerdy, ambitious, extremely smart and, most importantly, superb students (which is more important than smart). I have met lots of her friends from Swarthmore, many of whom she is still close to, and they are all as described. Cool is not a word that comes to mind. She played a sport so I spent lots of time on campus, at games, in the stands with them. Kids there are uniformly nice, frequently geeky, and always seemed to be having fun (even though we were mostly losing). I have five kids and she, a hard-working grinder, is the only one remotely suited to Swarthmore. My others would have detested the place. It is definitely not for everyone. The education she received was fantastic. It transformed her. She and and least half of her core friend group are in PhD programs at places like Stanford, Yale, Penn, Northwestern. She worked herself half to death (I remember quite a few teary phone calls early on) but she also loved her time there and returns to campus at least once a year to visit profs and catch her former team’s games. Admission is impossible. My daughter had almost perfect stats but without her sport she would’ve been chucked into the large pile of similar kids and would likely have been denied. So she was very lucky and has no illusions about that.

Hope that helps. Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the coolest people I've ever known went to Swarthmore. Smart, unconventional, kind.

Cool, smart, unconventional, kind people can be found in any group of people. But hey, thanks, Mr. Obvious.

NP. Love the irony of you calling someone Mr. Obvious after stating something obvious. Undoubtedly lost on you. Might want to ask yourself why it bothers you so much when someone says something positive about Swarthmore. Could help you let go.

OP, I’ll offer my perspective. My daughter went to Swarthmore so I can’t claim objectivity. She had an incredible experience. It is absolutely intense and demanding but not in a toxic, competitive way. It’s just a ton of difficult work. If your kid isn’t a hard worker run the other way right now. Kids are nerdy, ambitious, extremely smart and, most importantly, superb students (which is more important than smart). I have met lots of her friends from Swarthmore, many of whom she is still close to, and they are all as described. Cool is not a word that comes to mind. She played a sport so I spent lots of time on campus, at games, in the stands with them. Kids there are uniformly nice, frequently geeky, and always seemed to be having fun (even though we were mostly losing). I have five kids and she, a hard-working grinder, is the only one remotely suited to Swarthmore. My others would have detested the place. It is definitely not for everyone. The education she received was fantastic. It transformed her. She and and least half of her core friend group are in PhD programs at places like Stanford, Yale, Penn, Northwestern. She worked herself half to death (I remember quite a few teary phone calls early on) but she also loved her time there and returns to campus at least once a year to visit profs and catch her former team’s games. Admission is impossible. My daughter had almost perfect stats but without her sport she would’ve been chucked into the large pile of similar kids and would likely have been denied. So she was very lucky and has no illusions about that.

Hope that helps. Best of luck!

This is an old thread, from Jan 2020. It’s ancient given all the changes the world has experienced since.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ones I’ve known from Swarthmore are arrogant tools. I wish it wasn’t the case because it sounds like an amazing place.

Good friend with a fairly successful career yet still pulls that Swartmore card out whenever she gets the chance.

That comment is funny to me because My DS graduated from Swarthmore and lots of people are unfamiliar with it.

Agreed. The Swarthmore “card” is for potential employers, grad programs, and the occasional uncle who’s an academic. Which is fine. Matters when it should matter and keeps the toxic cocktail party bragging to a minimum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the coolest people I've ever known went to Swarthmore. Smart, unconventional, kind.

Cool, smart, unconventional, kind people can be found in any group of people. But hey, thanks, Mr. Obvious.

NP. Love the irony of you calling someone Mr. Obvious after stating something obvious. Undoubtedly lost on you. Might want to ask yourself why it bothers you so much when someone says something positive about Swarthmore. Could help you let go.

OP, I’ll offer my perspective. My daughter went to Swarthmore so I can’t claim objectivity. She had an incredible experience. It is absolutely intense and demanding but not in a toxic, competitive way. It’s just a ton of difficult work. If your kid isn’t a hard worker run the other way right now. Kids are nerdy, ambitious, extremely smart and, most importantly, superb students (which is more important than smart). I have met lots of her friends from Swarthmore, many of whom she is still close to, and they are all as described. Cool is not a word that comes to mind. She played a sport so I spent lots of time on campus, at games, in the stands with them. Kids there are uniformly nice, frequently geeky, and always seemed to be having fun (even though we were mostly losing). I have five kids and she, a hard-working grinder, is the only one remotely suited to Swarthmore. My others would have detested the place. It is definitely not for everyone. The education she received was fantastic. It transformed her. She and and least half of her core friend group are in PhD programs at places like Stanford, Yale, Penn, Northwestern. She worked herself half to death (I remember quite a few teary phone calls early on) but she also loved her time there and returns to campus at least once a year to visit profs and catch her former team’s games. Admission is impossible. My daughter had almost perfect stats but without her sport she would’ve been chucked into the large pile of similar kids and would likely have been denied. So she was very lucky and has no illusions about that.

Hope that helps. Best of luck!

This is an old thread, from Jan 2020. It’s ancient given all the changes the world has experienced since.

Nope, not at all. Thanks though. You can take off now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the coolest people I've ever known went to Swarthmore. Smart, unconventional, kind.

Cool, smart, unconventional, kind people can be found in any group of people. But hey, thanks, Mr. Obvious.

NP. Love the irony of you calling someone Mr. Obvious after stating something obvious. Undoubtedly lost on you. Might want to ask yourself why it bothers you so much when someone says something positive about Swarthmore. Could help you let go.

OP, I’ll offer my perspective. My daughter went to Swarthmore so I can’t claim objectivity. She had an incredible experience. It is absolutely intense and demanding but not in a toxic, competitive way. It’s just a ton of difficult work. If your kid isn’t a hard worker run the other way right now. Kids are nerdy, ambitious, extremely smart and, most importantly, superb students (which is more important than smart). I have met lots of her friends from Swarthmore, many of whom she is still close to, and they are all as described. Cool is not a word that comes to mind. She played a sport so I spent lots of time on campus, at games, in the stands with them. Kids there are uniformly nice, frequently geeky, and always seemed to be having fun (even though we were mostly losing). I have five kids and she, a hard-working grinder, is the only one remotely suited to Swarthmore. My others would have detested the place. It is definitely not for everyone. The education she received was fantastic. It transformed her. She and and least half of her core friend group are in PhD programs at places like Stanford, Yale, Penn, Northwestern. She worked herself half to death (I remember quite a few teary phone calls early on) but she also loved her time there and returns to campus at least once a year to visit profs and catch her former team’s games. Admission is impossible. My daughter had almost perfect stats but without her sport she would’ve been chucked into the large pile of similar kids and would likely have been denied. So she was very lucky and has no illusions about that.

Hope that helps. Best of luck!

This is an old thread, from Jan 2020. It’s ancient given all the changes the world has experienced since.

Nope, not at all. Thanks though. You can take off now.

Do you have something new to add, something more than the booster spiel? For example, if Swarthmore goes remote or or goes hybrid, can you address why anyone should pay $70,000+ per year for something similar to what they can get for free watching YouTube lectures? Unless you have something to add, let it go, cuz Swarthmore ain’t all that. Oh, btw, you blew your own bubble when you said your kid got in through sports. The college scandal tells you sports hooks aren’t very impressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ones I’ve known from Swarthmore are arrogant tools. I wish it wasn’t the case because it sounds like an amazing place.

Good friend with a fairly successful career yet still pulls that Swartmore card out whenever she gets the chance.

That comment is funny to me because My DS graduated from Swarthmore and lots of people are unfamiliar with it.

Agreed. The Swarthmore “card” is for potential employers, grad programs, and the occasional uncle who’s an academic. Which is fine. Matters when it should matter and keeps the toxic cocktail party bragging to a minimum.

Swarthmore alum here -- this is true in my experience. I loved it, and it was very intense, so the PP who said not to send a kid there who doesn't love to study is right. Most people I knew from pre-college didn't really know about it, which was fine with me. I definitely think I had a big advantage in graduate school admissions (which could not have turned out better for me), because grad schools know the school and because my professors knew me well. By contrast, my spouse went to HYP and, with a couple of notable exceptions, did not have that connection to professors (though he also loved his college experience).
I suspect I wouldn't get in today, but I'm very glad I went there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: For example, if Swarthmore goes remote or or goes hybrid, can you address why anyone should pay $70,000+ per year for something similar to what they can get for free watching YouTube lectures?

If this is what you think college is -- even remote learning college -- you are in for a bumpy ride when you (or your kid) gets there.

Unless you have something to add, let it go, cuz Swarthmore ain’t all that. Oh, btw, you blew your own bubble when you said your kid got in through sports. The college scandal tells you sports hooks aren’t very impressive.

Now you are just being nasty and bitter. You should take that back. It's also false. And I am not a parent of an athlete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the coolest people I've ever known went to Swarthmore. Smart, unconventional, kind.

Cool, smart, unconventional, kind people can be found in any group of people. But hey, thanks, Mr. Obvious.

NP. Love the irony of you calling someone Mr. Obvious after stating something obvious. Undoubtedly lost on you. Might want to ask yourself why it bothers you so much when someone says something positive about Swarthmore. Could help you let go.

OP, I’ll offer my perspective. My daughter went to Swarthmore so I can’t claim objectivity. She had an incredible experience. It is absolutely intense and demanding but not in a toxic, competitive way. It’s just a ton of difficult work. If your kid isn’t a hard worker run the other way right now. Kids are nerdy, ambitious, extremely smart and, most importantly, superb students (which is more important than smart). I have met lots of her friends from Swarthmore, many of whom she is still close to, and they are all as described. Cool is not a word that comes to mind. She played a sport so I spent lots of time on campus, at games, in the stands with them. Kids there are uniformly nice, frequently geeky, and always seemed to be having fun (even though we were mostly losing). I have five kids and she, a hard-working grinder, is the only one remotely suited to Swarthmore. My others would have detested the place. It is definitely not for everyone. The education she received was fantastic. It transformed her. She and and least half of her core friend group are in PhD programs at places like Stanford, Yale, Penn, Northwestern. She worked herself half to death (I remember quite a few teary phone calls early on) but she also loved her time there and returns to campus at least once a year to visit profs and catch her former team’s games. Admission is impossible. My daughter had almost perfect stats but without her sport she would’ve been chucked into the large pile of similar kids and would likely have been denied. So she was very lucky and has no illusions about that.

Hope that helps. Best of luck!

This is an old thread, from Jan 2020. It’s ancient given all the changes the world has experienced since.

Nope, not at all. Thanks though. You can take off now.

Do you have something new to add, something more than the booster spiel? For example, if Swarthmore goes remote or or goes hybrid, can you address why anyone should pay $70,000+ per year for something similar to what they can get for free watching YouTube lectures? Unless you have something to add, let it go, cuz Swarthmore ain’t all that. Oh, btw, you blew your own bubble when you said your kid got in through sports. The college scandal tells you sports hooks aren’t very impressive.

Not the PP you're responding to, but are you ok? You seem really angry. I think what people are paying for (though the prices of all private colleges are crazy now) is the normal college experience they expect to have once this pandemic has passed. But as an alum, I did get Swarthmore's plan for the fall, and it also offers students the option of taking a "pause" in their college education if they want to take a break now and return when it's normal. (They're doing on-campus for freshman/sophomores with many changes, and remote for juniors/seniors this semester. It's pretty similar to what I've heard about from other schools.)
But certainly, if you don't want to go there and pay the price tag, don't! No one needs to convince you and there are certainly many other great choices.

[Anonymous]

there are no dumb kids at swarthmore - however it isn't hard to find dull students in the ivy league.

that's the best part of elite lac's. You cannot find shitty students there. they get found out quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the coolest people I've ever known went to Swarthmore. Smart, unconventional, kind.

Cool, smart, unconventional, kind people can be found in any group of people. But hey, thanks, Mr. Obvious.

NP. Love the irony of you calling someone Mr. Obvious after stating something obvious. Undoubtedly lost on you. Might want to ask yourself why it bothers you so much when someone says something positive about Swarthmore. Could help you let go.

OP, I’ll offer my perspective. My daughter went to Swarthmore so I can’t claim objectivity. She had an incredible experience. It is absolutely intense and demanding but not in a toxic, competitive way. It’s just a ton of difficult work. If your kid isn’t a hard worker run the other way right now. Kids are nerdy, ambitious, extremely smart and, most importantly, superb students (which is more important than smart). I have met lots of her friends from Swarthmore, many of whom she is still close to, and they are all as described. Cool is not a word that comes to mind. She played a sport so I spent lots of time on campus, at games, in the stands with them. Kids there are uniformly nice, frequently geeky, and always seemed to be having fun (even though we were mostly losing). I have five kids and she, a hard-working grinder, is the only one remotely suited to Swarthmore. My others would have detested the place. It is definitely not for everyone. The education she received was fantastic. It transformed her. She and and least half of her core friend group are in PhD programs at places like Stanford, Yale, Penn, Northwestern. She worked herself half to death (I remember quite a few teary phone calls early on) but she also loved her time there and returns to campus at least once a year to visit profs and catch her former team’s games. Admission is impossible. My daughter had almost perfect stats but without her sport she would’ve been chucked into the large pile of similar kids and would likely have been denied. So she was very lucky and has no illusions about that.

Hope that helps. Best of luck!

This is an old thread, from Jan 2020. It’s ancient given all the changes the world has experienced since.

Nope, not at all. Thanks though. You can take off now.

Do you have something new to add, something more than the booster spiel? For example, if Swarthmore goes remote or or goes hybrid, can you address why anyone should pay $70,000+ per year for something similar to what they can get for free watching YouTube lectures? Unless you have something to add, let it go, cuz Swarthmore ain’t all that. Oh, btw, you blew your own bubble when you said your kid got in through sports. The college scandal tells you sports hooks aren’t very impressive.

Not the PP you're responding to, but are you ok? You seem really angry. I think what people are paying for (though the prices of all private colleges are crazy now) is the normal college experience they expect to have once this pandemic has passed. But as an alum, I did get Swarthmore's plan for the fall, and it also offers students the option of taking a "pause" in their college education if they want to take a break now and return when it's normal. (They're doing on-campus for freshman/sophomores with many changes, and remote for juniors/seniors this semester. It's pretty similar to what I've heard about from other schools.)
But certainly, if you don't want to go there and pay the price tag, don't! No one needs to convince you and there are certainly many other great choices.

Do you have anything to add other than what’s already known? For example, will Swarthmore refund tuition? Or following Williams, will it lower its cost going forward?