Swarthmore College Top Questions

I'm sure many surveyors have commented on the incredibly diversity at Swarthmore, and I completely agree. To emphasize this fact, there are, to my knowledge, 5 distinct LGBT groups on our small, 1500-person campus: Swarthmore Queer Union, Queer Straight Alliance, COLORS (Group for Queer Minorities), QAS (Queer Asians at Swarthmore, and a group for omni- and pan-sexual identifying students.

The student body here is so varied, it's impossible to make many generalizations. There are certainly some identifiable groups, but it's hard to ever pick out any "loners." Whether you're a political maniac or a sports nut, you'll find a circle of friends.

The student body is mostly very accepting of the differences between themselves and other people. A preppy, party-hard student would feel very out of place here. Most students look like bums when they go to class. A lot of people look like they got dressed in the dark. Sometimes different types of students interact. Four tables of students include: jock/jock-wannabees; loud people; quiet people; other. Most Swarthmore students are from PA, NJ, NY, CA, and OH. They come from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds. We are predominantly left.

Everybody has a strong opinion about their group, and even strong opinions for those outside their own group. A certain few swatties will jump down your throat for an egregiously ignorant slip and put themselves on a self-righteous pedestal for being a corrective agent in making the world a more accepting place. What kind of student would feel out of place at swat?......A student that doesn't like to work, doesn't expect pressure, refuses to open up to new opinions and discuss them, expects to party it up at college without anymore parental supervision, patronizes the "harcore frat" scene....these kinds of students would feel out of place. there isn't really a way to describe what "most students wear to class". it ranges from ghetto fabolous to out of boarding school prep and all the flavors among them. There really are no "tables" at swarthmore. just the "frat table" for DU, which doesnt' really count... Most swatties are from the east coast? I'm not sure on that one though. there are a fair number from california and the midwest and the south. a fair number of international students (many of whom overwhelmingly come from south korea....? i do not know why) Students are generally very aware socially and also quite active (at least in theory and from their mouth) Most swatties tend to be fairly well off, but there are plenty who receive financial aid.

I personally find Swarthmore very diverse because my group of friends is very diverse, racially, religiously, and economically. I count myself very lucky that I am at a school where this is not only possible but not unusual. At the same time, there are plenty of tables in Sharples with just athletes, just white people, etc. There are only two kinds of students who would feel out of place at Swarthmore: a student who didn't take academics very seriously or a student who was conservative politically or socially. In addition, I think that while there are plenty of people who are politically apathetic by Swat standards, they are still better informed about politics than your average person. Most Swatties are from the East or West Coasts and upper middle class backgrounds. A good number of students are first generation American. I receive financial aid, and while 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of Swatties receive financial aid, there are times within my group of friends when I am made very conscious of the fact that my family is merely middle class and not upper "middle" class.

Swarthmore is super cognizant of racial, religious, LGBT, and socio-economic issues on campus. There are a million groups that look at the disenfranchisement and discrimination of these groups in the U.S. and the world. There are tons of activities, discussions, meetings, lectures, etc. about these issues. It really shows how tolerance and acceptance can be fruitfully realized in a community. I doubt any student would feel out of place at Swarthmore. There's always a niche to be found due to the diversity that Swarthmore provides. Unless you are a huge asshole or not interested at all in anything remotely intellectual, then you probably wouldn't fit in. That or if you were a zebra, then you would be pretty out of place. People wear all kinds of things to class, there's really no set dress because of the variety of people here. Style is unique, conformity is bland and Swat has got style for sure. Don't want to wear clothes? There's a Naked Club on campus. Different types of students interact all the time. Each student is a different type on his or her own, really. Tables of students in the dining hall: There are lot of groups on campus that will organize meals together to discuss intellectual issues or practice a foreign language. Sports team often eat together as well. Besides that, eat with your friends-that's what meals are for. Students are predominantly left but there is space for those who are right as well. There's no discrimination against any political inclination. People are very politically active, discussing political issues, organizing groups, and campaigning for Obama or Hillary.

It's easy to take for granted the value of the students around whom I live every day. I'm confident that I'll never find myself in such smart, aware, and artistic company ever again (that may yet be a good thing; being around so much intelligence and talent can be smothering). We're exceptionally diverse, but several things tie us together: political leftism, intellectual curiosity, a love of irony and a loathing of the mainstream that can both become tiresome. In general, Swatties care about too many things to be efficacious about any of them, but occasionally you'll find someone with one passion who works hard and explores his or her dream, and there I believe is a product Swarthmore can be proud of. Everyone can find a place at Swarthmore. It's not hard. But moving between niches gives me a feeling of the diversity of this place, and that's the trick.

I can't imagine any kind of student feeling out of place at Swarthmore. Unless a student has no motivation to learn, then I feel they'd find their place here. When it is cold, students wear many layers. When it is warm, students wear shorts, flip flops and a t-shirt. I've been to UPenn many times and seen what the students there wear to class. I think it's pretty ridiculous how much they dress up and it makes me appreciate Swarthmore that much more. You'll go to a random table in Sharples (the dining hall) and it'll resemble Model UN. Of these, many tend to be students that participate in the same student activities, e.g. sports teams, because many eat together after their activity. Students from the upper-middle class is most prevalent. Students are from all over the world, increasingly so with each incoming class. I've maybe run into one or two students who talk about their future income, but most people I know don't really think about that.

Brilliant, intense, passionate, politically active, diverse (in terms of race, class, geography). There are over 110 student run organizations at Swarthmore in everything you could imagine. Grad school after Swarthmore is a given.

Honestly, I don't really know too many people on campus yet. I am a freshman who played varsity soccer in the fall, and I had a boyfriend for the majority of the year so I kind of kept to myself and wasn't that social. I really regret that, but I am now ready to start experiencing the social life that swarthmore has to offer. In terms of the political spectrum...the majority of people are extremely liberal here, but I am ok with that and have no problems with anyone.