Swarthmore now?

[Anonymous]

(1) Contrary to online opinion, the majority of Swatties seem to really like their school. I think that the kids who really enjoy Swarthmore understand that it's rigorous and intellectual and that appeals to them. I suspect that the Swatties who don't enjoy Swarthmore are the ones who chose it because it was the best college to which they were admitted (even though they'd rather have gone to schools like Duke or Penn). I've seen a similar phenomenon with kids going to a school like Dartmouth even though they really wanted a bigger, more urban school. Anyhow, OP's DD sounds like she understands Swarthmore and would be a good fit.

(2) The workload is similar to Williams and Pomona and other top schools. I think Swat, Williams, Bowdoin, and Pomona are all extremely demanding in terms of workload. The difference, if any, seems to be cultural. Pomona and Swat have a domestic exchange, and participants seem to report that the workload is roughly the same at bother schools but that Pomona is more laidback about it. Whereas Swatties seem to embrace their intensity reputation more--e.g., the "Anywhere else it would have been an 'A'" t-shirts. That said, I think Swarthmore is backing off its reputation for intensity. At its best, Swat's intensity is simply a reflection of its students' organic passion for their studies, rather than pressure. At worst, it's the opposite.

(3) Swarthmore is very collaborative and not competitive. I think the internet echo chamber sometimes erroneously extrapolates that a school that is academically intense must also be competitive. But I've never heard a Swattie report any competition. Instead, in line with its Quaker ideals, Swat seems extremely collaborative. In short, Swatties work hard together, not against one another.

(4) IMO, Pomona and Swarthmore are pretty similar on a number of levels, notwithstanding their locations. Within WASP, both lean intellectual, progressive, and service-oriented whereas Williams and Amherst lean a little more toward preprofessional and institutionally conservative. DC's impressions of Williams students (and Dartmouth students) seemed to be that they were uniformly impressive and bright but a little more mainstream and buttoned up. Students at Pomona and Swat are equally impressive but a little more funky and individualistic. Pomona and Swat are also both roughly the same size and have a train station on campus that offers students access to a city. The biggest differences between Pomona and Swat are the obvious geographical location and Pomona's integration into the 5C Consortium. It doesn't seem like Swatties take advantage of the Quaker Consortium that often. Anyhow, if you like Swat, you might consider Pomona if you're okay with its west coast location.

Anyhow, I wouldn't worry too much about the interview for the moment. DC's interviewer really sold DC on Swat, telling DC about how she regularly made trips to Philly and other cities in the region while in school in the 90's. As others have recommended, I'd talk to current Swatties (https://www.swarthmore.edu/admissions-aid/ask-a-swattie) and, if admitted, attend SwatStruck.

[Anonymous]

Our friend is a department chair at Swarthmore. He sent both his kids to a different SLAC as he thinks most students at Swarthmore are miserable. Many of his colleagues do the same.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, when we toured a couple of years ago, DH, DC and I had different impressions:

me (went to HYPSM) - I really liked it, impressed by academic rigor in small environment. I was struck by the thesis defense for undergrads similar to a PhD dissertation. That's a big investment in undergrads.

DH (went to a top public univ) - thought it was way too intense

DC - agreed with DH that it was way too intense. Did not plan to apply. ED'ed to a lower ranked (T15) LAC known for a supportive vibe. Very happy there.

My takeaway: seems like a great school for the right student, but definitely not right for all. But what place is?

[Anonymous]

My DD is at Swat. While she does not find the atmosphere competitive, it is academically intense and not particularly fun (although apparently athletes are more social but tend to be exclusive). It works for her, but I wouldn't say that she "loves" it. Her younger brother is looking at colleges now and has crossed it off his list in favor of other SLACs that have a more upbeat vibe.

[Anonymous]

I’m an alum and would say exactly what this interviewer did. But of course I would not choose to be an interviewer. Odd that this person did.

[Anonymous]

(3) Swarthmore is very collaborative and not competitive. I think the internet echo chamber sometimes erroneously extrapolates that a school that is academically intense must also be competitive. But I've never heard a Swattie report any competition. Instead, in line with its Quaker ideals, Swat seems extremely collaborative. In short, Swatties work hard together, not against one another.

Alum here. This entire post is spot on, but this is particularly salient and rarely seems to be conveyed in accounts by those who don't know the school.

[Anonymous]

It’s not the best place to go if you want to focus on other things besides studying. It’s a bunch of nerdy, mostly left-wing, academic grinders in a boring suburb outside of an ugly, dysfunctional city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:(1) Contrary to online opinion, the majority of Swatties seem to really like their school. I think that the kids who really enjoy Swarthmore understand that it's rigorous and intellectual and that appeals to them. I suspect that the Swatties who don't enjoy Swarthmore are the ones who chose it because it was the best college to which they were admitted (even though they'd rather have gone to schools like Duke or Penn). I've seen a similar phenomenon with kids going to a school like Dartmouth even though they really wanted a bigger, more urban school. Anyhow, OP's DD sounds like she understands Swarthmore and would be a good fit.

(2) The workload is similar to Williams and Pomona and other top schools. I think Swat, Williams, Bowdoin, and Pomona are all extremely demanding in terms of workload. The difference, if any, seems to be cultural. Pomona and Swat have a domestic exchange, and participants seem to report that the workload is roughly the same at bother schools but that Pomona is more laidback about it. Whereas Swatties seem to embrace their intensity reputation more--e.g., the "Anywhere else it would have been an 'A'" t-shirts. That said, I think Swarthmore is backing off its reputation for intensity. At its best, Swat's intensity is simply a reflection of its students' organic passion for their studies, rather than pressure. At worst, it's the opposite.

(3) Swarthmore is very collaborative and not competitive. I think the internet echo chamber sometimes erroneously extrapolates that a school that is academically intense must also be competitive. But I've never heard a Swattie report any competition. Instead, in line with its Quaker ideals, Swat seems extremely collaborative. In short, Swatties work hard together, not against one another.

(4) IMO, Pomona and Swarthmore are pretty similar on a number of levels, notwithstanding their locations. Within WASP, both lean intellectual, progressive, and service-oriented whereas Williams and Amherst lean a little more toward preprofessional and institutionally conservative. DC's impressions of Williams students (and Dartmouth students) seemed to be that they were uniformly impressive and bright but a little more mainstream and buttoned up. Students at Pomona and Swat are equally impressive but a little more funky and individualistic. Pomona and Swat are also both roughly the same size and have a train station on campus that offers students access to a city. The biggest differences between Pomona and Swat are the obvious geographical location and Pomona's integration into the 5C Consortium. It doesn't seem like Swatties take advantage of the Quaker Consortium that often. Anyhow, if you like Swat, you might consider Pomona if you're okay with its west coast location.

Anyhow, I wouldn't worry too much about the interview for the moment. DC's interviewer really sold DC on Swat, telling DC about how she regularly made trips to Philly and other cities in the region while in school in the 90's. As others have recommended, I'd talk to current Swatties (https://www.swarthmore.edu/admissions-aid/ask-a-swattie) and, if admitted, attend SwatStruck.

Pomona alum with DC attending, and this is the perfect evaluation. I remember DC calling me first semester stressing how rigorous it was- they fully bought into the “lax” reputation but weren’t prepared for how much work goes into attending any of these colleges. Pomona has always been much more closely aligned with Swat because of their shared values and student bodies!
Often, people attracted to these environments may grow up a bit and realize this isn’t what they want and that can derail their experience a bit. It’s no one’s fault really but pre-academia/heavy theory environments can be just as taxing as pre professional ones.

[Anonymous]

Alum here - agree with earlier posts that many Swarthmore students lean into the "intense" vibe but the attitude is mostly self driven and not about competition with classmates. I am not sure it is really any more of a grind than similar schools, but if a student can't handle anything less than straight A's it's probably not a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not the best place to go if you want to focus on other things besides studying. It’s a bunch of nerdy, mostly left-wing, academic grinders in a boring suburb outside of an ugly, dysfunctional city.

This framing makes it difficult to take this post seriously. Sounds like an ax to grind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not the best place to go if you want to focus on other things besides studying. It’s a bunch of nerdy, mostly left-wing, academic grinders in a boring suburb outside of an ugly, dysfunctional city.

This framing makes it difficult to take this post seriously. Sounds like an ax to grind.

Seriously, Philly isn’t ugly. It’s gritty

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not the best place to go if you want to focus on other things besides studying. It’s a bunch of nerdy, mostly left-wing, academic grinders in a boring suburb outside of an ugly, dysfunctional city.

This framing makes it difficult to take this post seriously. Sounds like an ax to grind.

I laughed. I like Philly and live here but the post is not totally wrong. Swarthmore students have historically been a little “weird”, super smart, grinders, future academics, more lefty and lgbt than other SLACS. Somewhat like Yalies. They have a reputation for marrying each other. It’s a specific group.

I know athletes who do not fit the stereotype and are current students. But the alum interviewer might not be unrepresentative of the alumni.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it number one on the colleges with the most work list??

[Anonymous]

DC transferred from Williams to Swat and found the workload dropped. There's nothing like having nothing to do but study and look at cows on your campus. She says that swat people are more intellectual, while Williams students are very into the "grind."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it number one on the colleges with the most work list??

Doubtful when UChicago, Caltech, and Harvey Mudd exist.