Swarthmore vs. Yale

[Anonymous]

I haven’t looked through all replies so not sure if it’s been mentioned, but the residential college system at Yale should help to give a smaller feel to a relatively large school.

Given Yale’s overall reputation and superlative programs in math and especially music, I’d probably choose it over Swarthmore. It’s a spectacular school, but I understand that it can be a stressful academic experience from what I’ve heard from friends who attended.

[Anonymous]

I would (and did) pick Swarthmore. I also felt more comfortable - it is intense academically, but wonderful socially for an introvert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t looked through all replies so not sure if it’s been mentioned, but the residential college system at Yale should help to give a smaller feel to a relatively large school.

Given Yale’s overall reputation and superlative programs in math and especially music, I’d probably choose it over Swarthmore. It’s a spectacular school, but I understand that it can be a stressful academic experience from what I’ve heard from friends who attended.

I think my answer would depend on how serious she is about music. I think math would be perfectly strong at Swarthmore/Penn.

[Anonymous]

If she wants to go to graduate school then choose Swarthmore. Yale is better for music.
Two amazing choices regardless. She can't go wrong. Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not turn down Yale. It will open more doors and terms of employment and grad school. Also, the residential colleges provide a small social community. The dining is very communal and it’s a good way to meet friends. So it’s not really a large university in that sense. They break it down into smaller communities and then you also have the option of meeting people outside of your college

Do not worry about name recognition or opening doors if your daughter goes to Swarthmore. I guarantee anyone who matters for her professionally knows of it and respects the heck out of it. It used to be that Swarthmore sent more folks to grad programs than the Ivies on a per capita basis—I would guess that’s still true but haven’t had a reason to look lately. And I don’t know anyone who thought grad school was harder than Swat Honors—your daughter will have to decide if that’s a pro or a con!

[Anonymous]

Whatever she likes better based on research of the two schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both are great schools. Among the Ivies, I really like Yale. But, personally, I think the "opens more doors" notion is a fallacy. The same high-achieving kid will be able to do whatever they want to do in the future at either school. And if there were employers who turn their nose up at an amazing school like Swarthmore, why would you want to work with such insufferable snobs anyway? In that vein, one advantage of Swat is that there will be a smaller percentage of kids who chose brand over fit. My DC is at another WASP and one of its best qualities is the brilliant-but-laid-back nature of the student body. That said, the majority of Yalies I've personally worked with have been pretty cool.

Differen poster here. Just so you’re aware, Swatties are definitely not laid back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids I know at Yale are very happy. The kids at Swat, not as much, and one transferred. I would have to be convinced the fit was perfect to send my kid to Swat, which in this case, maybe you are.

I know a few kids who dislike their yale experience- it’s abut the kid, not the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is torn in deciding. She likes the beautiful, smaller campus of Swarthmore and the arts programs but she doesn’t know if that’s enough reason to turn down the name of Yale. Majoring in music and math. I would say a touch immature for her age where a smaller feel might be the difference between surviving and thriving. Don’t know how to advise her!

Thoughts?

Wow, congrats to your DD on two amazing choices!

I would not prioritize name over fit. If she feels more drawn to Swarthmore, she should go there. There’s been plenty of research that shows the most engaged have the best experiences and outcomes, so if she suspects that’s going to be Swarthmore, great! It has a great reputation too, especially in academia, which could be helpful if she goes to grad school.

Here’s something discussing student engagement you might find useful to read over as she decides…

https://ed.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/challenge_success_white_paper_on_college_admissions_10.1.2018-reduced.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is torn in deciding. She likes the beautiful, smaller campus of Swarthmore and the arts programs but she doesn’t know if that’s enough reason to turn down the name of Yale. Majoring in music and math. I would say a touch immature for her age where a smaller feel might be the difference between surviving and thriving. Don’t know how to advise her!

Thoughts?

Recently at Swat. A lot of construction everywhere but not for dorms: almost no suite/apartment-style living all four years. Spoke to many students: without accommodations or being an RA, you won’t be assured a single room until senior year. Chances of a single as a junior are around 40-50% at best. Meanwhile, down the street, Haverford has mostly singles — for freshmen.

That's true at many schools, including Yale. And no one deciding between Yale and Swarthmore cares about Haverford.

No, at the very least, for the richest liberal arts schools in the country, it goes like this: freshman live in doubles, 1/2 sophomores live in singles, all juniors live in singles, seniors live in single rooms in cool suites/apartment style living. Swat is unusually bad.

And as for the whataboutism. You want to tell me that you don’t get a single room at Yale until senior year? Not. True.

The vast majority of students at Yale who stay on campus are not in single bedrooms until senior year. And it’s really not a big deal because suites are spacious and residential colleges have plenty of common areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is torn in deciding. She likes the beautiful, smaller campus of Swarthmore and the arts programs but she doesn’t know if that’s enough reason to turn down the name of Yale. Majoring in music and math. I would say a touch immature for her age where a smaller feel might be the difference between surviving and thriving. Don’t know how to advise her!

Thoughts?

Recently at Swat. A lot of construction everywhere but not for dorms: almost no suite/apartment-style living all four years. Spoke to many students: without accommodations or being an RA, you won’t be assured a single room until senior year. Chances of a single as a junior are around 40-50% at best. Meanwhile, down the street, Haverford has mostly singles — for freshmen.

That's true at many schools, including Yale. And no one deciding between Yale and Swarthmore cares about Haverford.

No, at the very least, for the richest liberal arts schools in the country, it goes like this: freshman live in doubles, 1/2 sophomores live in singles, all juniors live in singles, seniors live in single rooms in cool suites/apartment style living. Swat is unusually bad.

And as for the whataboutism. You want to tell me that you don’t get a single room at Yale until senior year? Not. True.

The vast majority of students at Yale who stay on campus are not in single bedrooms until senior year. And it’s really not a big deal because suites are spacious and residential colleges have plenty of common areas.

Poor kids: they have bad housing, no AC, and need to force community through residential colleges to distance the student body from one another. No wonder bulldogs are always trying to convince everyone else they’re happy all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is torn in deciding. She likes the beautiful, smaller campus of Swarthmore and the arts programs but she doesn’t know if that’s enough reason to turn down the name of Yale. Majoring in music and math. I would say a touch immature for her age where a smaller feel might be the difference between surviving and thriving. Don’t know how to advise her!

Thoughts?

Yale.

End of thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is torn in deciding. She likes the beautiful, smaller campus of Swarthmore and the arts programs but she doesn’t know if that’s enough reason to turn down the name of Yale. Majoring in music and math. I would say a touch immature for her age where a smaller feel might be the difference between surviving and thriving. Don’t know how to advise her!

Thoughts?

If she selects Swarthmore, be sure to purchase a Yale hoodie to prove that she got in as know one is likely to believe her otherwise.

Quite a few kids turn down Yale for other Ivies and top SLACs. Yale has lost some of its academic prestige. It's basically Brown now with a larger endowment and a worse location.

Um no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is torn in deciding. She likes the beautiful, smaller campus of Swarthmore and the arts programs but she doesn’t know if that’s enough reason to turn down the name of Yale. Majoring in music and math. I would say a touch immature for her age where a smaller feel might be the difference between surviving and thriving. Don’t know how to advise her!

Thoughts?

If she selects Swarthmore, be sure to purchase a Yale hoodie to prove that she got in as know one is likely to believe her otherwise.

Quite a few kids turn down Yale for other Ivies and top SLACs. Yale has lost some of its academic prestige. It's basically Brown now with a larger endowment and a worse location.

Um no

DP but what really is the major difference between Yale and Brown-they're pretty similar other than Yale's residential college system which I'm sure impacts the culture. Both have strong programs in the humanities and a more lax, supportive academic culture.

[Anonymous]

This must be a joke.

Yale.

Of course.