Swarthmore College Top Questions

Professors not only know your name, but often who you're dating. They are often wonderful, warm, funny, nerdy people who are excited to teach small classes full of students who love to learn and make interdisciplinary connections. I had a phenomenal experience in my Avant-Gardes in 20th century art seminar because it was comprised of all the senior art history majors, who, at that point I knew somewhat well. Two years out of college, they're still my seminarmates and we still laugh at Duchamp references. Swarthmore is the quintessential small, liberal-arts college: we live and breathe our subject matter and love it. We also have great discussions with our friends in other disciplines and take on way too many activities, but it's because Swarthmore students really want to feel vibrant and useful and like they are participating fully in their community. Yes, we care about community and Swarthmore certainly feels like one academically and socially.

I knew before I came to Swat that I would have an invigorating academic experience . But that's not to say that there's competition, or at least in the competition with your peers type of way. Everyone wants to do good, but it's for our own sake. Grades are hardly ever mentioned and Swat doesn't even calculate GPA! That being said, I study a lot and spend most of my afternoons in the library preparing and doing homework for my classes. Class participation is also key to success at Swat, but also getting to know the professors is a must. All of my professors know my name and I always make it a point to visit them during their office hours. It's actually a lot of fun because they're all incredible people with so much knowledge and wisdom. I plan on majoring in studio arts. Perhaps a double major with sociology, but art is my forte. The department somehow succeeds in making us work are butts off while spoiling us at the same time. I love it!

of course professors know my name! even in my lectures. my favorite classes are those in which a (generally male) teacher postulates knowledgeably on his subject. students study all the time. students have intellectual conversations all the time and are uncompetitive. most unique class: acting 1.

All my professors know my name. Most classes have 12 or fewer students other than lower level Chemistry courses and Bio courses. Since Swarthmore doesn't not rank its students, there is a friendly non-competitive environment for students to enjoy. Swarthmore students almost always have intellectual conversations outside of class.

if you try to get to know the professors, most will remember you ad help you out on a more intimate level. my fav class right now is clinical psychology. it's not that easy, but th professor really loves what she does and is totally approachable. sometimes i think she assigns more than she knows one can do, but the class interest is so profound that mostly everyone grits their teeth and bears it, including myself. i don't like math as much as i thought i did.

Professors def know all their students by name. My favorite class was a first year seminar (limited to 12 students) called "Reason, Power, and Happiness." It was scheduled from 7-11 pm Wed nights but we would often be there past 12 continuing our discussions. Readings included everything from Aristotle to Harry Potter. The Prof really got us to think about every topic we covered and questions or assumptions and rethink our initial reactions. When you said something in class he really listened to what you said and treated more like a peer than a student. Often times the feedback on our papers would be almost as long as the paper because he was just so eager to discuss your ideas with you. It was an amazing experience. My least favorite class was Bio II, it's one of the few big classes and I went to Swat because I didn't want to have to deal with large lectures. While the amount of time students spend studying varies person to person, most people do study a lot. Similarly, not everyone participates in class but it is not unusual to do so and many professors are good at getting responses from everyone. Students def have intellectual conversations out of class but they can also deteriorate into beautifully immature and amusing topics as well. Students do not tend to be competitive. People are great about sharing notes, and studying in groups. I don't even know what kind of grades most of my friends get because its just not a usual topic of conversation. Education is eared toward learning for its own sake. But people still end up getting the kind of job (or into grad school) they want after Swat.

All the professors know me by name. I have yet to come across one who didn't remember me. Class discussion and participation is a huge part of Swarthmore and one of the benefits of small class sizes. I love how I can strike up an intellectual discussion randomly in the middle of lunch. I'll off-handedly will mention something about classes in america and three people around me will join in. Students, with an exception for the pre-meds, are not competitive at all. I've spent time with a few professors outside of class and each time has been rewarding. I've heard a few friends who smoke with their professors and go visit their homes for class. Swarthmore does not prepare you to get a job. It prepares you to get into grad school.

Professors certainly know the names of their students. Students study very frequently for classes. Class participation is the norm. Intellectual conversations outside of class is as common as class itself. My major is biology and it is the best department on campus! We definitely see professors outside of class, as many live near the college. The academic requirements are amazing and leaves a well-round student at the end of their Swarthmore career. The education is more for learning but certainly helps in getting a job later in life.

Professors make an effort to know my name. My favorite class is engaging, has a lot of reading of which I enjoy all of. My least favorite class is in the Engineering department, and I do not enjoy it because it is extremely difficult for me personally. The motivated students study from upwards of 8 hours a day (including readings) outside of classes, while many study for perhaps 3-4, and a small number do not study at all or study for 1 hour or less. Class participation is common and encouraged. My major is English and it is a great department, very strong. I rarely spend time with professors outside of class. I feel that Swarthmore academic requirements are challenging but not at all outside of anyone's limits. The education is geared toward learning for its own sake.

Professors know my name, but perhaps not after I'm out of their classes for a while. Favorite class- so far, adolescence and FYS ways of seeing and telling. Least favorite- almost everything I took first semester of Freshman year, stat, french 12, intro philosophy (lies, bullshit and bias)...but it's all good now. Participation- common. Intellectual conversations- yes. Competitive- just some. but most are very over-achieving. Unique class- I love adolescence, but don't know if it's unique or not. Major- undecided, but definitely will incorporate education. Prof outside of class- no. Academic requirements- don't like the departmental distribution of credits... Education at Swat- learning for its own sake.