Tell us about Swarthmore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No football team? No school spirit.

False.

[Anonymous]

As an HYP grad there aren't many people I've felt intellectually intimidated around. But two of them have been Swarthmore grads. Smart kids.

[Anonymous]

Swarthmore is similar to Pomona, where my DD attends. They even have an exchange program, but apparently only the Swarthmore kids were interested in switching for a semester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s SJW?

It's an acronym for social justice warrior, but it means nincompoopery enthroned.

A rather elegant term. Perhaps too elegant for the ugly phenomenon it's being used to describe.

~zzzzzz~

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swarthmore is similar to Pomona, where my DD attends. They even have an exchange program, but apparently only the Swarthmore kids were interested in switching for a semester.

Hard to give up that Pomona weather! Plus honestly what’s the point? Who want to go to another school where you know no one, leaving all of your friends behind? It’s not like a cool study abroad experience. It’s just...another college with strangers. I suppose there might be some class that’s offered but I don’t get it. I’d be surprised to hear that either school participated much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is a junior and loves Swarthmore. She is being recruited for a sport but unfortunately she doesn’t have an SAT score, nor in all likelihood will she have one by pre-read season. Anyone been through this process at Swarthmore? Wondering if they’ll just drop SAT/ACT requirements or push back pre-reads.

I’ll guess that SAT’s become optional/not considered and that pre-reads will be pushed back as long as possible. Another possibility is that ED decisions get pushed back a month or two.

[Anonymous]

New science/engineering building which looks near completion is gorgeous.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think there is a SLAC anywhere that’s not SJW liberal. Need to find a state school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think there is a SLAC anywhere that’s not SJW liberal. Need to find a state school.

Sorta true. However, if you major in the natural sciences or economics, you can ignore the worst of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's like Carleton, except it's in the East.

No. Carleton is a lot more happy and laidback, though just as academically serious as Swarthmore. Carleton's closest east coast competitor would be Williams.

Swarthmore is more like a mini-UChicago.

Nah -- both are great schools, but Williams is way sportier and preppier than Carleton. (I'm a Williams alum, parent and aunt, and the godmother of a Carleton student).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New science/engineering building which looks near completion is gorgeous.

Yes, new engineering/science building is gorgeous. Next is a much-needed student center.

[Anonymous]

What is the town around campus like?

[Anonymous]

My main qualm about Swarthmore is the town. it is really sleepy. It makes Oberlin, Ohio and Grinnell, Iowa look like Greenwich Village. However, you can walk to the SEPTA station and take a commuter train into Philadelphia.

I have a bunch of friends who went to Swarthmore. All were brainy and most loved it, but one did not. She said she had more fun during her first year at one of the most competitive law schools in America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the town around campus like?

Not much town hit in addition to Philly there are a number of other bigger, cuter towns nearby. Or the shuttle to Haverford brings you to a cute little town.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone speak to the honors program and seminar-style teaching?