Should we visit Swarthmore?
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Anonymous
| DC wants a selective, not-super-fratty SLAC relatively close to home and is interested in Haverford, which we will visit in September. I suggested we should look at Swarthmore at the same time, but DC says no, it has a reputation for being a "pressure cooker" where "every day is like finals." DC expects Haverford to have a less competitive/less stressful vibe. Is DC right? Should I insist we look at both just to know the options? It has been hard to develop a college list since DC does not want to go more than a few hours from the DC area (DC's criterion, not ours). Thanks. |
Anonymous
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I think it's rep is more crunchy. It can't hurt to visit, but it may not change your kid's mind.
In addition to Haverford, I'd also think about: Franklin & Marshall Bucknell Dickenson Muhlenberg Lafayette Lehigh Goucher Hood St. Mary's |
Anonymous
sister just graduated from swat. She says it has changed a lot and they are letting in more and more 'pre-professional' kids that you would find at upenn. You should look at both. If your DC is willing to drop the 'close to home' IMO pomona would probably be exactly what DC is looking for. |
Anonymous
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^ oh and the pressure cooker atmosphere has changed a bit. My sister coasted and still had very supportive professors in terms of deadlines etc
When i think pressure cooker i think places like Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Wharton, or large state schools where because the schools are so big and you have so many kids wanting to do the same jobs/internships that everything is a 'weed out' class or event. |
Anonymous
| and Swarthmore is extremely liberal. |
Anonymous
More so than Haverford? |
Anonymous
| Say no to Swarthmore. Craziest woman I have ever known graduated there and remains very active AND they let her represent them in DC. |
Anonymous
| Her name is Mary, right? |
Anonymous
| About 15 years ago, Swarthmore definitely had that reputation. Not sure how much has changed. |
Anonymous
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OP your DC is absolutely correct about Swarthmore's reputation. I hear this over and over again from parents -- competitive, stressful, pre-professional. My DC avoided it for the same reason.
There's no harm in looking but I don't know that its your place to insist. It sounds like your DC has some definite ideas about schools and good self-awareness so I would follow her lead. |
Anonymous
If OP's DC is applying to schools like Haverford and Swarthmore, the schools on this list would be safeties. |
Anonymous
I would say Haverford is roughly the same in selectivity as the schools on this list, with Swarthmore being much more selective, essentially in the realm of roll-of-the-dice schools like the Ivies and top ten schools. |
Anonymous
| Who told DC that, OP? Of course he should visit. Does his school have a strong college counselor? This is a question to explore. |
Anonymous
| Well, as the adult, yes force the kid to explore all the options. It's not like the kid has any experience in this. Maybe add one or two outside of the geo restriction(who knows, could be a boyfriend girlfriend the kids wants to stay close with). |
Anonymous
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I grew up in the area and Swarthmore is much more in your face liberal with a share of radicals. I didn't see many kids from my HS who applied to Penn even consider Swarthmore (someone above said Swarthmore was getting more of a pre professional Penn feel - I just don't see it and stay in touch with family members with kids of all ages who applied to these schools).
Now that I am older I daydream of going to Haverford and majoring in Classics. Smile. I would definitely recommend Haverford - my cousin taught there too. |