Swarthmore College Top Questions

Swarthmore is known for being populated by students who are brilliant, awkward and unattractive with a limited attention to personal style, but added special attention to social activism and political issues. However, there is a small minority of well-rounded students who "have it all." Swarthmore itself is known for being an idyllic arboretum, with the feeling of being closed off from Chester and other surrounding areas. This is referred to as the Swarthmore "bubble."

Swarthmore students work all the time, are extremely passionate about what they do, are incredibly socially awkward, highly stressed and incredibly talented. Swarthmore is known for its diversity, smart students, beautiful campus, and small student body.

students are extremely nerdy and introverted generally unattractive student body all work, no play

The stereotype is that Swarthmore students study all time and have time for little else besides playing "misery poker"--a game of bragging to your hallmates about the ridiculous level of work you have to complete within the next few days. (Example: "Tomorrow I have to turn in an 8-page paper in Russian, complete a research paper on ancient Christians, read half my chemistry textbook, and do a 10-hour weightlifting marathon in the gym to make up for all the phys ed classes I skipped. I am so dead." Response: "Oh yeah? In the next hour I've got a 300-page thesis due and I haven't even figured out what I want to write about yet.") This can go on for hours.

there are those who are overly studious, others who you wonder how they get any work done with all the drinking/late nights, and others who are just plain weird. nerd/obnoxious athlete/party frat girl/science nerd/earth health nut

that we're socially awkward but very smart, passionate about political issues, extremely liberal, unattractive.

The stereotype about Swat is that its students' and teachers' commitment to academics is impressive bordering on masochistic, its beautiful but claustrophobic campus is filled with nerdy weirdos, who are lacking in social skills, and who are not the most physically attractive grapes in the bunch.

When I was starting to look at colleges, I heard that Swarthmore students were really weird. I thought they were all a bunch of extremely liberal tree-huggers.

We joke a lot about how awkward we can be. It stems from another stereotype that everyone here is brilliant, may so much so that we cannot function. You'll also hear that we are over dedicated and extremely motivated. Additionally, we have the reputation of being very liberal.

Swatties are nerdy and boring.