Swarthmore College Top Questions

If I had one piece of advise to give a student making the transition to college it would be to not drink alcohol during orientation or the first weekend of the semester. Students often get excited about college night life, which is understandable. Don’t worry, you will have plenty of opportunities! During orientation and the first weekend of college, you will meet many new faces and begin to create extremely important relationships that will last over the next four years. Although substance did not interfere with my creation of relationships, I saw it happen amongst my piers. Substances can hinder developing relationships in two ways. The first occurs when a student gets too drunk at a party and does things he or she would never do sober. Although judgement is frowned upon, it is difficult to ignore terrible drunk first impressions. The second, and equally troublesome instance, occurs when a student creates friends but only feels welcome while drunk. Now, I am not saying to not go out, as it is a great opportunity to meet new people. Instead, my advice is to stay away from alcohol and give yourself a chance to create meaningful and long lasting relationships.

Relax, relax, relax! My advice would be to not stress about college admissions. There are students who are unhappy at their "dream schools" and students who love their "safety schools." It's less about the name of the school and more about the experience. I would tell myself to get involved early, but not overdo it. Sleep is important but hard to come by in college. It's more important to have a few close friends as a support group than dozens of friends. It's also more important to be committed to a couple sports or clubs than to be involved in many. I would tell myself to start thinking, but not stressing, about the future early. The four years fly by and it is important to think about potential majors early. However, it is important to take a few classes in something new. Take a dance class or a poetry class or perhaps even join a new club. I would tell myself to try new things but also recognize when I need a break from campus. Mostly, I would tell myself that college is a privilege and to enjoy every moment. Not everyone is so lucky.

I would tell myself that Swarthmore is not what everyone told you college would be. Your roommate will be your best friend, not someone you should be cautious about. I would tel myself to not be so homesick. Enjoy being away and that you had the opportunity to do so. I would tell myself not to be so shy. People are eager and want to make friends, and it's ok to go out and have a good time. You don't always have to be in the library studying. I would tell myself to relax and that I don't have to rush and take three science courses and a seminar the first semester. There is plenty of time to do the pre-med requirements, and most students at Swarthmore end up taking a year off before attending medical school anyway. I would also tell meself to not be afraid to speak up in class because everyone has something to share during discussions and that my opinions are just as important.

In order to explain what I would tell my high school self I need to explain a bit of my experience after high school. I decided to take time to travel and explore life after high school. I spent some time commercial crabbing to fund my travels. Over three seasons worth of fishing gained me over $15,000. Most of this went to multiple road trips into Mexico and then an apartment when I settled down to attend college. I now realize that if I had invested even a few thousand dollars that I could have greatly helped my first couple of years of paying for college. Even though I would not have traded my experiences for anything I believe I should have made that investment. So essentially I would have to tell myself that I should follow my heart; just save some money for college along the way.

If i could back in time to my high school senior year and give myself advice, it would be to search for ways to help my parents pay for my education. As a senior in high school I was never too sure of where I would be going with my life or how my first year of college would go. After living through my first year away from home I have learned the struggles my parents have been through in order to maintain being in school. I wish I could have been more helpful to them by finding better ways to help them pay instead of stressing them out with payments. I would have told myself to save up as much money as I could have instead of spending it on needless things. This is one of my biggest regrets and although I might not be able to go back into time and change it, there is no reason as to why it is still not to late to help my parents out.

Don't be so hesitant to join clubs due to fear of adjusting. Be confident, you're smarter than you think and the high level of intelligence around you should not prevent you from adding to discussions or participating in class. Try to plan out your course load for the next four years because there will be a lot of overlapping courses you'll be interested in. Try to sleep a bit too, it's important. I know this is not where you want to go but don't fret, you'll make some amazing connections and ties if you open yourself up a bit to vulnerability and uncomfortable situations. Make sure you're priorities are lined out from the beginning--it could be clubs, sports, academics or social life... just know what you want to focus on and think about how that will affect the other things you do. Don't get down on yourself for a less than satisfactory grade on a paper or quiz,--the professors can be a great resource if you seek them out. Also, don't let your pride get in the way of seeking help-- it will save you from struggling later on.

Be excited. Greet people. Buy a notebook for keeping track of people's names!

Stop being such a sheep! Don't just blindly go to college because that's what's expected of high school graduates these days. Think about things first, take a gap year, figure out what you love, and grow up a little. College is an exceptionally wonderful experience, but one you need to be ready for. If you go into it feeling forced-- just going through the motions to get a piece of paper to hang on your wall-- it will never provide you the social, academic, and personal growth it otherwise would. The most important thing is being happy with who you are, what you're studying, and your direction in life; without confidence and optimism, you will slip into a downward spiral and graduate feeling completely unaccomplished and unsatisfied. Do what YOU really want to do, do what makes YOU smile when you wake up every morning. No, it might not make Dad happy, but the only person you're living this life for is yourself, and you only get one chance, so stop worrying about everyone else, and just DO it. Oh yeah... and PLEASE don't check off ?Sci-fi/Fantasy Lover? on your roommate form.

Enjoy your fun and easy life!!!! HAHA

Daniel, as you in the future, I beg you to take that year off and assess your life goals clearly before gallavanting off to school. You need to be more secure in yourself and what you want. This step in your life carries more wait than you realise. You are taking the first critical steps that will determine who you are as a person. These are very trying years, and you have to be mentally and emotionally strong. At this very point in your life, you are unstable, brash and impulsive. You must prepare for these people because they are unlike anyone you have ever met, they will take you and break you in your vulnerable state, but they will lift and exalt you when you return astute and collected.

Visit, Visit, Visit. How else can you know whether you will be happy at a place unless you know what it feels like to be there. Think about this: you will live, sleep, eat, socialize, study, work, and do a whole host of other activities in this area for the next approximately 18, 816 hours. That's a lot of hours. You need to know what kinds of students go to the school, what they care about, what they want to do with their lives, what they after class, how they do in class. And when you do visit, try to do an overnight visit. When you get away from the parents, professors, and tourguides: then, you will see whether people really like the school or not. In order to make the most out of college, ask yourself this question every day: when I am 50, and I look in the mirror, what will I wish I had done with my life, what experiences will I want to have experienced. Then go out and do it. You're the only person who can. Not your parents, not your friends, not your professors. College is fun: enjoy it!

Find a college that fits you. How the college "rates" academically doesn't mean nearly as much as everyone seems to think, as you can easily succeed with a degree from any half-way respectable school. However, the college experience will be lacking if you do not take to its social aspect. Few of us get to choose what the social life of our high schools are. Now you have the chance to make that choice for your college education. Don't waste it. Find the place that you fit academically, and that fits you socially.

If you possibly can, visit schools and have interviews on campus. Also, speak to students.

Visit! If you can see yourself there, then that is the place for you. Know what you want experiences you would like to have in college. Know what the academic, social, and career options/goals you want. Most important besides visiting, be open to change. You may think you want to be a forensic chemist going in, but may find that political science speaks more to your mode of thinking.

Make sure you visit Swarthmore, take a tour and stay over night if you can to make sure the atmosphere is right for you. Political activism is very big at Swarthmore, as is reverse cultural trends such as promoting homosexuality and race by putting it RIGHT IN YOUR FACE. I'm neither homophobic nor racist, but after a while such militant accept-us-and-everything-we-say-or-else-you're-a-terrible-person becomes grating. The liberal stance works both ways for Swarthmore, as the drug and alcohol policies are virtually non-existant. I have drank and played beer pong on main walkways as tours have navigated around us. People have smoked pot openly on the steps of Parrish, the main administrative building. Swarthmore is not that small of a school--1400 enrolled, if I remember correctly--but after the first month or so of freshman year it will seem smaller because students self-segregate. Many Swatties don't do anything but study. Most of the crowd that goes to frats are athletes, which is good & bad, as you will probably get along with them as they are normal, but there is not exactly a ton of athletes.

Applying to college can be one of the most nerve-wraking experiences of your life, and there are bound to be a lot of people telling you what to think. Always remember that you are the one making the decision. No one but you can tell what school is right for you, so always listen to yourself. It is often difficult to verbalize exactly what about a school feels right or wrong to you, but usually you know. Follow that feeling, and don't let anyone tell you that it's wrong becuase it's not quantifiable. That being said, always make educated decisions and do your research; know what is important to you and don't give up looking for that. Be idealistic in looking for a college, but pragmatic when you choose. Another important thing to remember is that people are flexible; chances are you'll be happy at a couple different schools, not just one. So if you don't end up at your "dream school," don't worry and keep an open mind. You'll probably love whatever school you're at. After all, the school chose you. Once you're there, love every moment.

It isn't about which college you like the best, but about which college fits the best.

Visit the school and talk to students -- see if you remind them of a "typical" student, or one who would enjoy it. Sit in on a class -- tour a variety of schools and know which kind you prefer (liberal arts v. larger, north v. south, big on athletics and school spirit v. not so much). I think finding out that type thing is really important, because the differences between schools within these categories, though significant, is negligible compared to, say, the differences between schools in different categories. Read all the guides and student review books/ websites. Research, talk, evaluate, compare!

Start searching as early as possible (at the end of sophmore year in high school). Don't choose a school simply because of financial aid reasons. And if you aren't sure exactly what you want to go to school for then I would highly suggest taking a year off between high school and college to get to know YOU before you start the college path. Most importantly, travel abroad! As many places as you can go! And be active in college. Serving as the President of some random committee might seem like a waste of time now, but it will p ay of later when future employers see that you have leadership and management skills. Most of all, enjoy college and make the most out of it.

Talk to your guidance councelors.