W&M vs UVA vs Swarthmore?

[Anonymous]

Can't speak for Swarthmore, but have one happy kid at UVA and one happy kid at W&M. If you're in state, it's hard to pass up such great options, but if $ not an issue then agree with PP to visit all 3 so student can determine best fit.

[Anonymous]

Swarthmore for undergrad. DC can always go to UVA for grad school.

People whom your DC will need to impress will be impressed by Swarthmore. UVA is a great school, but Swarthmore is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Don't pass it up if finances are not a concern.

[Anonymous]

I think the important thing is to reassure student (if they are stressing) that there is no "bad" choice among these 3. They're all great! So go with the one that feels good to them! It's a nice place to be. Congrats to this student!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they like small, William and Mary if you’re in state. I can’t imagine paying for Swarthmore when they have choices loke UVA and W&M.

Don’t listen to these penny pinching folks: Swarthmore is way more prestigious than UVA. It is not even close. Hard to believe this is even a serious question….

No it isn't. UVA is no. 25 in the nation and no. 3 of public schools in America. Wall Street Journal named it top public for finance this past week. It's almost impossible to get in and everyone knows that. UVA is the no. 1 public feeder to the Rhodes (other than west point).

Swarthmore is arguable the most prestigious SLAC in the United States.

UVA is another state public flagship.

But sure, they are both the same.

Congrats to the OP's kid...must be quite a student.

Uh, no. https://www.forbes.com/colleges/swarthmore-college/?sh=2bf7fe2e5fad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swarthmore is $82K a year. UVA instate is $37K. Small versus mid-sized public. UVA is more prestigious. Few know or care about SWAT.

This is really not the case. I live in New England and think of Swarthmore as one of the very most impressive colleges. I think of UVA as the place people wear ties to tailgates. That being said, Swat is truly TINY so that has to be a big consideration in this decision.

I’m not from the NE and had never heard of Swarthmore until two years ago and still have no impression of it.

[Anonymous]

I went to Swarthmore in the mid-‘90s and disliked it tremendously. It managed to be both intellectually masochistic and also smug. Fellow students were unusually self-involved. It’s been a while — it may have changed.

[Anonymous]

If you want the best known school go to university of Alabama will likely win in football again in next four years
If you want best undergrad education in the country go to swarthmore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they like small, William and Mary if you’re in state. I can’t imagine paying for Swarthmore when they have choices loke UVA and W&M.

Don’t listen to these penny pinching folks: Swarthmore is way more prestigious than UVA. It is not even close. Hard to believe this is even a serious question….

No it isn't. UVA is no. 25 in the nation and no. 3 of public schools in America. Wall Street Journal named it top public for finance this past week. It's almost impossible to get in and everyone knows that. UVA is the no. 1 public feeder to the Rhodes (other than west point).

OMG, the UVA booster is back!

[Anonymous]

UVA. Great education and brand for less than half the price. Swarthmore seems like it would appeal to a very particular type of student. If your dc was that type she would already know it and would have just picked Swarthmore.

[Anonymous]

In some ways, we are comparing the most academically rigorous LAC (for better/worse) with the most prestigious non-STEM public university. I can’t comment on money, and I know what I would do if I were 17, but this really comes down to personality. Just know what you are getting into with Swat- intense academics, hard work, and a highly respected brand but only within a small slice of the population that doesn’t totally overlap with the business world (whereas everyone everywhere knows and respects UVA). I don’t mean to give short shrift to W&M but UVA is a stronger brand - however a student with a smaller school preference might tilt W&M- but then why not go to Swat? Great choices, good luck

[Anonymous]

UVA. Swarthmore gets a lot of hype here, but it’s actually not all that special.

[Anonymous]

If money isn’t the issue, then think about size. Swarthmore is tiny, W&M mid sized and UVA pretty big. If your kid isn’t bothered by the insularity of a small place then go Swarthmore. It’s fancier. But I love W&M personally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA. Swarthmore gets a lot of hype here, but it’s actually not all that special.

As a LAC fan, and having seen the Swat campus (it’s nice), I just can’t get too excited about it. I know it’s the real deal academically but it just sounds like such a grind. Philly is nothing to get excited about. College is supposed to be fun and clearly UVA is fun and can get you anywhere Swarthmore can. But you obviously need to have a personality that can thrive at a big school and not have a problem with rah rah culture

[Anonymous]

Swarthmore is about 1/4 the undergraduate enrollment of W&M and less than 1/10th the size of UVA undergraduate enrollment. Factor in graduate students, and the difference grows. That is a big range. You said they prefer smaller community, which would suggest Swarthmore. But you say DC is worried about a limited number of courses in STEM, which might suggest UVA and W&M. W&M might be the middle ground overall.

In STEM, though, my understanding is Swarthmore is top notch. They are close to the top in producing graduates who go on to earn PhDs in STEM. You may not want to get a PhD, but this is an indicator of overall strength of the undergraduate program as it requires demonstrated proficiency and great recommendations (close work with faculty) to get into PhD program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA. Swarthmore gets a lot of hype here, but it’s actually not all that special.

Some might argue UVA gets a lot of hype here, but it is not actually all that special.