Swarthmore College Top Questions

Swarthmore definitely feels too small when I'm on campus for a long period of time, especially since I am used to living in NYC. Although there is always either something to do or something that needs to be done, things are not especially exciting around here. Everyone becomes pretty caught up in their own routine, and life becomes pretty repetitive. I generally don't get much of a reaction when I tell people I go to Swarthmore. People usually just ask where it is and I answer "close to Philly" and they nod and move on with the conversation. I don't really care though. It doesn't create any high expectations. I spend most of my time on campus between my room and the Science Center. I enjoy working in the Science Center just because there are usually a lot of people there and it makes studying much less lonely. When the weather is nice, I like to spend time outside, though I can never get any work done that way. Throughout the week, I'm pretty caught up in my routine of going to class, studying, going to practice and working. The only real time I set apart to socialize is during lunch and dinner, so I usually like to take my time during meals. Eating together is usually the only time I get to catch up with friends I don't have classes or play frisbee with, so I often ask friends to do a meal with me when I haven't seen them in a while. I rarely leave campus except during breaks. Every now and then, a band I like performs in Philly and I take the train in. Otherwise, I usually don't have a strong enough initiative to go.

I love Swarthmore! I would say the major disadvantage of our campus is that we don't have anything besides our campus--that is, we have no college town to speak of. If you want pizza or food after midnight, forget it. There is exactly one pizza place and some crappy Chinese places, but for anything more than that you'll have to be willing to drive or take the train to a neighboring town, which is kind of a pain. Besides that, however, there is practically nothing to complain of. The academics are excellent, the campus size is excellent, and life is generally great. You know all your professors and the people in your class (there are 350 students per class) and that gives daily life a very intimate feel. It's kind of like being in a giant family.

Swarthmore is a small school with big resources and enough students around who are excited about doing new things and taking risks with you. If you've never directed a play before, you can apply for funding from Drama Board, audition your cast, and put on a production of "Medea" in the amphitheater. There's a great amount of trust in the student body on the part of the administration, and a subsequent willingness to collaborate on student proposals. The college will give you great amounts of access to funding for projects, and be your partner in most reasonable endeavors. I'd love to make it easier to take classes in the Tri/Co. Though there are tons of great classes at Swarthmore, smaller departments may require some travel if you want to take classes with a broader variety of professors and having to skip a meal (almost inevitable) in order to get to Bryn Mawr/Haverford is a tiring pain in the ass. Swarthmore is a small place, which means that you'll feel safe, known most everywhere you go (good or bad - depending on your drinking/partying habits), and supported by the administration, faculty, and student body. It does mean that a gossip team would be able to run a relay faster than our track team (Swarthmore is also not known for its athletics. Its athletes are true student-athletes - emphasis on students). What I remember best as controversial was the living wage campaign: an effort to secure a living wage for our environmental services and dining staff. There were concerns that the student interest in a living wage was greater than staff interest and that staff involvement in determining possible pay structures was limited.

At Swarthmore we love to learn. The reason why the only parties are on the weekends (and Thursday nights for Pubnite) is because every other day we're studying. Well, not to say that we exactly like to write papers and study all the time, but I'd say that academics is the number one priority for most people here. The school size is just perfect for me. At 1400, I've seen most faces and I'll admit that it can get awkward when you semi-know someone and don't know if you should say 'hi' or not. That happens a lot by the way. But other than that, the small size really lends itself to the close-knit community we have here. That also means that alums are more likely to want to help you when they hear you go to Swat. Swarthmore is not as well known as the Ivies. But it's a diamond in the rough. In fact, I've noticed that the people who "matter" (grad schools and people in high places) have definitely heard of Swat. You should know that Swat is on an arboretum and is absolutely gorgeous most months of the year. We have this great spread of green grass in front of the admissions building and when it hits the 60s you'll see loads of Swatties camping out on what we call "Parrish beach." It's great! There are a lot of other great spots on campus where I study. The library's are all great (we have 3) but I especially love the music library where they have imacs with wide screens for maximum efficieny. The Crum Woods which are basically on campus is the perfect place to go for a walk in, as well as the little gardens in random areas of the campus. The traditions at Swat are Superb. We just had "Screw your roommate" which is where you set your roommate up with a blind date and come up with a theme so they can dress up, go to dinner and try to find their other half. It's as awkward as it sounds, and more. But it's a riot that night when more than half the campus is dressed up in ridiculous costumes and having even more ridiculous conversations with their screw dates. FOOD! I love food and Swarthmore has mediocre food, at best. It's the sad truth and I hate to admit it. But really, they need to work on making better food. Not only is it bad, but the meal plan stinks too. I'd say that this is the sole complaint of almost every student at Swat. Freshmen 1st semester get 20 meals a week and if they miss a meal, they can't redeem it later on. It's terrible. I'm surviving though...luckily we have a couple other cafes where we can use meal points. Still, Swat is #1! I love it now and will always love it. I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else.

best thing: all the genius kids who have some ridiculous talent/passion. i'd change: either all the kids who whine about there not being enough pretty girls, or the (low) percentage of pretty girls. size: just right. okay, maybe a little claustrophobic if you don't think about opening up your friend group to include new people every once in a while. people's reactions: "what?" "where's that?" "huh, i didn't know you were smart." (all true) i spend most of my time on campus: in my room, it has a plurality because i sleep there. other than that, the cafeteria. what college town? swarthmore, pa sucks. the highlight is a dunkin donuts. administration: chill! they don't care if kids smoke or drink or take shrooms, because they know it's all just experimentation and that we'll all end up straightened out with good jobs. controversy: the soccer team getting in fights? school pride: at sports games, somewhat. i do think, however, that 'swatties' are proud of being as such, and are proud of their school's reputation as being... swarthmore. unusual things: kids that dress weirdly (i.e. men wearing skirts) and kids that act weirdly (i.e. two guys i saw walking around singing "sexy back") slowly but surely 'weirdify' most of the 'normal' students eventually.

The most common complaint: 'I hate the food at the dining hall' However, relatively speaking, most colleges do not have very high quality dining. Swarthmore is a tiny little suburban town in which the main urban attractions are Target and Dunkin Donuts. Although, there is a delicious little Chinese-American restaurant within walking distance of the school. When I tell people I go to Swarthmore, the most common reaction is "Swarthmore?... Where exactly is that?"

swat is very small, but it gives you the chance to get to know the people you are with on a more intimate level. i spend most of my time either in mccabe library, or kohlberg coffee bar! swat administration is very close with the students, very close for our benefit! frewuent complaints are that one of the dorms in particular is very far from campus, and sometimes the shuttle doesnt come in time. swarthmore is very, very challenging. but they make it so that its hard to fail/get expelled!

The best thing about Swarthmore is the "Quaker atmosphere" - the people here are very open and caring. It would hard to find a place filled with as many genuinely good people anywhere. If I had to changes something I would build a new athletic facility and give people more team spirit and pride for their athletics. Many people are afraid to come to Swat because it is so small, but it really isn't that bad. I love being able to walk around and run into people I know, but at the same time I'm always meeting new people. The most common reaction when I saw I go to Swarthmore is: "isn't that an all girls school in upstate NY?" The answer is "No, that's Skidmore and they've been co-ed for like 40 years." Also, Swarthmore has been co-ed since it was founded in 1864. The town of Swarthmore is def not the most exciting place you'll ever go. But the fact that Springfield is within walking distance and Philly is only a 20 min train ride away makes that ok. There are so many things that I will remember forever about Swarthmore. Some are just little things like taking our trays from the dinning hall outside and eating in a tree. Others are ridiculous traditions like "Screw your roommate" (roommates set each other up on blind dates and to find you date you go to the dinning hall in a costume and find your counterpart. Then everyone changes for the formal). Others are exciting moments on the pool deck during meets. I've had some of the most fun of my life at Swat and I will treasure those memories forever. Most frequent student compliant: the food.

People don't know what Swarthmore is, they think it's an all girls school in New York. It's a small liberal arts college in the middle of nowhere which facilitates academic learning but we get caught up in a Swarthmore bubble that makes us forget that an outside world exists. The administration is accessible but turn a blind eye to huge problems such as alcohol and secual assault on campus. There is a great deal of school pride. I feel like everyone here either applied early decision or came here on a whim but everyone has a love hate relationship with the size of the school. The food is passable but there aren't a lot of healthy options which the dining hall is trying to remedy. I love the campus- it's absolutely beautiful. I played in front of Parrish, the main building, with my string quartet at dusk. It was incredible.

The best thing about Swarthmore is the community that is made here. It is truly a place where everybody knows your name. We are very eager to help one another and we are truly analysts and deep thinkers. We care about what everyone has to say and everyone's opinion is valued, heard, and considered. When someone hears that you attend Swarthmore they are really impressed or either have no clue about where and what Swarthmore is. The administration cares for the student and really holds the student responsible for his/her actions. We are treated as adults and our opinion is highly valued by the administration. The biggest controversy on campus right now is the 2008 primaries. There is not a lot of pride in an athletics sense, but certainly pride in an academic sense at Swarthmore. All students, although we certainly complain a lot about the never-ending work, know that it's for our betterment post-college.