Jerry
Swarthmore is diverse racially, with a good number of Asians, African-Americans, and Hispanic students. We have an outspoken LGBT community and practically everyone is accepting of that. Socio-economically, most people are well off: it's an expensive school. But Swat's financial aid tries really hard to help lower-income families pay for the school.
What kind of student would feel out of place at Swarthmore? A really preppy person who cares a lot about what they wear and how they look. Also, someone who flaunts brand-name things or takes pride in them. Also, conservatives, though the college Republicans has reemerged on campus, which I see as a good thing.
A lot of people are politically aware and have (liberal) opinions, even if they don't discuss them often.
Students often worry about how they're going to find a job in the "real world" and actually make money as opposed to living in a box or working in a Barnes and Noble.
Andy
There’s a decent amount of racial diversity on campus—a lot of international and queer students, who integrate well, and a lot of African-Americans, who integrate less well. Ideologically, there isn’t much diversity at all. People are over to the left, period, end of story. They do tend to be respectful of dissent, if you can defend your viewpoint. One of the most popular figures on campus is a College Republican with a great sense of humor. Socially, there’s a strong respect for “safe spaces,” which means, essentially, closed groups, although there’s an ongoing debate about this. The campus is very queer friendly and it’s currently working on being very trans-friendly too. I like being around leftists. I feel comfortable arguing when I disagree with the prevailing orthodoxy, most of the time, and I feel like there’s always something to think about.
Mello
Racial, religious, LGBT, class groups are all present on campus. We always have a month dedicated, groups are constantly throwing events to create awareness on campus, and there is a lot of discussions in class over these issues and there social construction.
I think anyone can feel out of place here depending if they find their niche or not.
Most students wear whatever they feel like wearing, no one adheres to any heteronormative, socially expected way of dress.
Different types of students do interact. We don't all stay with like people.
Four tables with all kinds of people. Maybe one will have the lacrosse team on it or the baseball team. Most of the tables are filled by teams coming from their practices, but the people on the teams are all unique and different.
Most Swat students are from NYC, PA and CA. I would say 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students are on some sort of financial aid.
Yes, very politically aware and active, all the time, except the republicans, they don't speak out too much. So we're predominantly left, although even within the left you'll find some mode of conservatism.
NO. We NEVER talk about earnings. Most students could care less.