How does Swarthmore differ from Haverford?

[Anonymous]

This has been discussed before (less emphasis on ice rinks!): https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1186629.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Over the past decade, Haverford College has become a poster child for "wokeness" and "political correctness" that interferes with developing a mature, accepting campus culture.

Swarthmore's rep is as a PhD candidate factory. Very serious students & faculty.

Did you hear this on Fox News regarding Haverford? I know a relatively apolitical kid who is politically moderate and possibly even leans right in the traditional sense (but is not MAGA) from outside the northeast who is very happy at Haverford.

Generally agree on Swarthmore.

Doubt that Haverford Colege ever made it to Fox News as it is a tiny, inconsequential college.

No, the campus turmoil over wokeness/political correctness was reported in the school newspaper & carried in other print sources.
Was discussed at length on other college forums.

Happy to read that you know one student at Haverford College who is not obsessed with being woke/political correctness, but that is not the reality for the rest of the kids.

You’re speaking on matters years ago. None of the students you’re blabbering about even attend Haverford anymore, move on and actually help OP.

Yes, the reported events occurred in 2020, 2021, & 2022 (campus strike).

Anyone who asserts that Haverford College is anything but far left liberal is not being truthful.

It produced noted lefty Howard Lutnick, whose name is on Haverford’s library and who is serving as Trump’s secretary of commerce, and tech billionaire Alex Karp, the CEO of defense contractor Palantir.

[Anonymous]

Quaker tradition matters a ton to Haverford students and informs how the college runs and how students think decisions should be made (and they actually have a say). It’s pretty much a footnote for Swarthmore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both of these schools are recognized for their arboretums, with Swarthmore placing 3rd in this site and Haverford 14th:

Impressive College Arboretums https://share.google/Hf1r1fodN65DZlrj5

Interested. I would have missed. Thanks for posting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both of these schools are recognized for their arboretums, with Swarthmore placing 3rd in this site and Haverford 14th:

Impressive College Arboretums https://share.google/Hf1r1fodN65DZlrj5

Interested. I would have missed. Thanks for posting.

What about this possibly matters to you?

[Anonymous]

Haverford is co-ed, but Bryn Mawr isn't. Because there is so much cross-registration for classes plus bi-college ECs and the ability to live on the other college's campus, as a practical matter, the social male/female ratio is even worse at Haverford than most co-ed LACs.

Swarthmore is more of a separate institution and the social scene is more balanced gender wise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haverford is smaller but it and Bryn Mawr are the only schools that offer cross-registration where I’ve seen people regularly take advantage—the campuses are very nearly adjacent, in upscale streetcar suburbs with restaurants, shops, cafes, movie theaters, concert venues nearby. Access to Philly is quick via train. Swarthmore is further out from the city in a smaller town. It’s more prestigious but seems less fun to attend for sure.

Not sure if you are commenting on just this tri-co, but more broadly in terms of colleges where students cross-register, campuses are actually adjacent, and there are real town amenities and a city nearby, you really can’t beat the Claremont Colleges / 5Cs: Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Scripps, Pitzer and Harvey Mudd. There is no other comparable offering is US higher ed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swarthmore has a senior requirement that's almost like a PhD defense. It seems more intense, more academic.

I was very impressed but DD thought it was too intense and DH agreed.

Haverford seniors are also required to do a thesis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haverford is smaller but it and Bryn Mawr are the only schools that offer cross-registration where I’ve seen people regularly take advantage—the campuses are very nearly adjacent, in upscale streetcar suburbs with restaurants, shops, cafes, movie theaters, concert venues nearby. Access to Philly is quick via train. Swarthmore is further out from the city in a smaller town. It’s more prestigious but seems less fun to attend for sure.

Not sure if you are commenting on just this tri-co, but more broadly in terms of colleges where students cross-register, campuses are actually adjacent, and there are real town amenities and a city nearby, you really can’t beat the Claremont Colleges / 5Cs: Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Scripps, Pitzer and Harvey Mudd. There is no other comparable offering is US higher ed.

And the mind numbing Claremont College boosting begins. No one wants to live in Claremont and the schools are tiny. Much prefer Haverford, Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haverford is smaller but it and Bryn Mawr are the only schools that offer cross-registration where I’ve seen people regularly take advantage—the campuses are very nearly adjacent, in upscale streetcar suburbs with restaurants, shops, cafes, movie theaters, concert venues nearby. Access to Philly is quick via train. Swarthmore is further out from the city in a smaller town. It’s more prestigious but seems less fun to attend for sure.

Not sure if you are commenting on just this tri-co, but more broadly in terms of colleges where students cross-register, campuses are actually adjacent, and there are real town amenities and a city nearby, you really can’t beat the Claremont Colleges / 5Cs: Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Scripps, Pitzer and Harvey Mudd. There is no other comparable offering is US higher ed.

And the mind numbing Claremont College boosting begins. No one wants to live in Claremont and the schools are tiny. Much prefer Haverford, Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore.

Lmao. No one wants to live in a gorgeous town in a highly sought after city 💀. Also all the schools you just listed are tinier.

Don’t live in such extremes.

[Anonymous]

Swarthmore used to be a bit more mainstream with more "regular smart" kids as compared to Haverford having more quirky. That seems to have changed where they are now about even. With Haverford seeming to have the edge on having more parties.

Swarthmore's athletic teams perform better, not sure if this impacts the culture. It might mean athletes have a greater impact on Swarthmore's culture.

They both have a lovely campus and great facilities. Swarthmore has a higher number of firms that recruit there.

Haverford is closer to Philly, but Swarthmore has the train at the foot of the campus so it is also really easy to get to the city.

They are almost identical but for seemingly arbitrary reasons Swarthmore is consistently ranked higher.

Just checked and it looks like Swarthmore's endowment might be three times more than Haverford's so this could mean more financial aid and student services at Swarthmore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haverford is co-ed, but Bryn Mawr isn't. Because there is so much cross-registration for classes plus bi-college ECs and the ability to live on the other college's campus, as a practical matter, the social male/female ratio is even worse at Haverford than most co-ed LACs.

Swarthmore is more of a separate institution and the social scene is more balanced gender wise.

You have a gay son or something? Why is this such a big deal?

[Anonymous]

The male to female ratio for the Bi-Colleges is 28% to 72%. For students of any gender who might prefer a balanced ratio, the Bi-Co ratio could be undesirable. — DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The male to female ratio for the Bi-Colleges is 28% to 72%. For students of any gender who might prefer a balanced ratio, the Bi-Co ratio could be undesirable. — DP

You have a gay son or something?

[Anonymous]

Swarthmore starts with an S

Haverford starts with an H