Anyone familiar with Swarthmore?

[Anonymous]

I worked for a crazy woman who went to Swarthmore and, more importantly, was active as an alumni, with the school's endorsement. Run away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waaaay too liberal. I won't allow my child to even consider it.

"Allow."

Yes, you read that correctly. I will be paying the bill. No child of mine is going to an anti-Israel institution.

Oh. Dear. God. Its Jews like you who are so fanatical that you will ruin Israel by suppressing dissent. If Israel doesn't make peace with a Palistinian state, it will soon no longer have a Jewish majority and will therefore have to choose between being a Jewish state or a democratic state. I love Israel, and it makes me sick that fanatics like you who suppress dissent are destroying it.

Makes me want to send my DC to Swarthmore.

By the way, do you know what happens when you shove your politics down your DC's throat? Well, you'll find out.

You have it backwards. The Palestinians need to make the peace. All they have to do is say that Israel has the right to exist. That does not make me a fanatic, however, your knee jerk response makes me think that you are a fanatic.

Well Israel won't exist anymore if it insists on putting magic words above peace. When the arab population is the majority all they have to do is vote and Israel is no longer Jewish. Or . . . Israel could prevent their right to vote, in which case it ceases to be a democracy. This is fact, this is the future unless we have a two state solution. You can put your fingers in your ears and say lalalalalala but that won't save Israel. A Palistinian state in the occupied territories (with a land swap for Jerusalem) is an existential necessity for Israel. This is a perfectly mainstream view in israel, its only here that these voices are accused of being self-hating or whatever.

And byt the way, israel's founders -- ben-Gurion, Dayan, Meir -- did not have territorial ambitions (beyond unifying Jerusalem). They never envisioned an israel that was an occupier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked for a crazy woman who went to Swarthmore and, more importantly, was active as an alumni, with the school's endorsement. Run away.

It's too bad you had a crazy boss. I had one once too, so I know how awful it can be. Mine went to Harvard Law School. Should I conclude that HLS made my boss crazy? Hmmm -- now that I think about it, my boss's boss went to HLS too. He was a mesch and one of the smartest lawyers I've ever known. Maybe it wasn't HLS that made my boss crazy.

[Anonymous]

All my friends who went to Swarthmore are incredibly bright, interesting, intellectual people. They have typically gone to graduate school, where Swat has a great reputation, and many have done interesting things. I went to Reed, and the vibe actually seemed quite similar, although Reed has a reputation for being even more liberal, quirky, and off the wall than Swarthmore.

Small liberal arts schools aren't for everyone, but for the right student, the atmosphere is phenomenal. Swarthmore is a very selective school with a great reputation.

[Anonymous]

I was going to apply but ultimately found the small size stifling. Less than 400 kids per year, that was smaller than my high school. Has to be the right fit for the applicant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waaaay too liberal. I won't allow my child to even consider it.

"Allow."

Yes, you read that correctly. I will be paying the bill. No child of mine is going to an anti-Israel institution.

Oh. Dear. God. Its Jews like you who are so fanatical that you will ruin Israel by suppressing dissent. If Israel doesn't make peace with a Palistinian state, it will soon no longer have a Jewish majority and will therefore have to choose between being a Jewish state or a democratic state. I love Israel, and it makes me sick that fanatics like you who suppress dissent are destroying it.

Makes me want to send my DC to Swarthmore.

By the way, do you know what happens when you shove your politics down your DC's throat? Well, you'll find out.

You have it backwards. The Palestinians need to make the peace. All they have to do is say that Israel has the right to exist. That does not make me a fanatic, however, your knee jerk response makes me think that you are a fanatic.

you are kidding me right? Wow.

[Anonymous]

Swarthmore is a Quaker school, BTW, just like Haverford and Bryn Mawr.

[Anonymous]

I went to Haverford and took classes at Swat. Both are small liberal arts schools which as some pp mentioned are not for everyone. Swat is a bit bigger and has better reputation or name recognition and consistently ranked higher than Haverford and it has some frats clubs and classes that Haverford did not. Swat dining hall was also much better and we would trek there for dinner as we could eat there on our dining plan. Although part of the tri-co it was not as close a relationship as that between Haverford and bryn mawr.

Students are incredibly bright and very intellectual and take pride in that. When I was there the store sold at shirt to the effect that swat students always studied. They definitely lean liberal. Overall gorgeous campus incredible profs and small classes so the quality of education is phenomenal and bright students that challenge each other.

Fwiw Haverford was a great place also gorgeous campus bright students and fantastic place to learn. If you consider swat I suggest considering Haverford too

[Anonymous]

Very liberal, very intellectual, very very selective. Superior undergraduate education for those not afraid to work hard. Huge endowment. Expectation is to go to grad school. A bit snobby (like Amherst and Williams) but earnest.

[Anonymous]

DS wants to look at Haverford this spring but not Swat. He has heard Swat is too much of a "pressure cooker." Neither may be realistic for us anyway since there is no financial aid. It seems like this would make for a very stratified student body--the very wealthy and those who qualify for significant aid. Unfortunately we are in neither group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS wants to look at Haverford this spring but not Swat. He has heard Swat is too much of a "pressure cooker." Neither may be realistic for us anyway since there is no financial aid. It seems like this would make for a very stratified student body--the very wealthy and those who qualify for significant aid. Unfortunately we are in neither group.

Huh? I went to Bryn Mawr with financial aid -- I'd be stunned to hear that Swarthmore doesn't offer any. Or do you mean no "merit" aid? In which case, yes, all aid is need-based -- just like at every other top school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swarthmore is a Quaker school, BTW, just like Haverford and Bryn Mawr.

No, Swarthmore is not Quaker, it has Quaker origins. There are criteria to be considered Quaker that Swarthmore doesn't meet. if you look at the website, they do not describe themselves as Quaker, just Quaker influenced. Haverford is Quaker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS wants to look at Haverford this spring but not Swat. He has heard Swat is too much of a "pressure cooker." Neither may be realistic for us anyway since there is no financial aid. It seems like this would make for a very stratified student body--the very wealthy and those who qualify for significant aid. Unfortunately we are in neither group.

Huh? I went to Bryn Mawr with financial aid -- I'd be stunned to hear that Swarthmore doesn't offer any. Or do you mean no "merit" aid? In which case, yes, all aid is need-based -- just like at every other top school.

Right, I meant no merit aid. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS wants to look at Haverford this spring but not Swat. He has heard Swat is too much of a "pressure cooker." Neither may be realistic for us anyway since there is no financial aid. It seems like this would make for a very stratified student body--the very wealthy and those who qualify for significant aid. Unfortunately we are in neither group.

Huh? I went to Bryn Mawr with financial aid -- I'd be stunned to hear that Swarthmore doesn't offer any. Or do you mean no "merit" aid? In which case, yes, all aid is need-based -- just like at every other top school.

Right, I meant no merit aid. Thanks.

Virtually all the most selective schools do not offer merit aid. As for financial diversity, it is among to not diverse precisely because it is so wealthy. Admissions is completely need blind. Anyone who qualifies for aid gets it, and it is mostly as grants rather than loans. Most colleges are not in this fortunate financial position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS wants to look at Haverford this spring but not Swat. He has heard Swat is too much of a "pressure cooker." Neither may be realistic for us anyway since there is no financial aid. It seems like this would make for a very stratified student body--the very wealthy and those who qualify for significant aid. Unfortunately we are in neither group.

Huh? I went to Bryn Mawr with financial aid -- I'd be stunned to hear that Swarthmore doesn't offer any. Or do you mean no "merit" aid? In which case, yes, all aid is need-based -- just like at every other top school.

Right, I meant no merit aid. Thanks.

Virtually all the most selective schools do not offer merit aid. As for financial diversity, it is among to not diverse precisely because it is so wealthy. Admissions is completely need blind. Anyone who qualifies for aid gets it, and it is mostly as grants rather than loans. Most colleges are not in this fortunate financial position.

"among the most diverse"