<p>It's my lunch period and I came down to the library to finish up some work. I took a short break, went on the internet, and found a new post on this college review website. It surprised me. Read it, check it out. What do you think about it?</p>
<p>It's the last post, dated 11/27/04
http:// <a href="http://www.studentsreview.com/PA/SC_c.html%5B/url%5D">www.studentsreview.com/PA/SC_c.html</a></p>
<p>I had read this and took it with a grain of salt as it seems to be from a disgruntled recent grad or perhaps a fabrication from someone with an ax to grind. There is not a single comment in this narrative that I have heard from another Swat student or Swat alumnus or that has been identified by my d. who is a student. I would not be influenced by this tirade - there are always two sides, and this person is determined to only be negative. I am surprised he didn't transfer if he had such a terrible experience.</p>
<p>"What do you think about it?"</p>
<p>You will get a more meaningful answer from current students, I think. Try posting it on <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/community/swarthmore/%5B/url%5D">http://www.livejournal.com/community/swarthmore/</a> (you have to make a Live Journal account to be able to post). Usually many current students respond with detailed answers.</p>
<p>Anyone who complains that one of the things wrong with a school is that there are too many Jews, a la "The student body and faculty contain a large number of the Jewish left academics and their sons and daughters" is not someone whose opinion I am prepared to take seriously.</p>
<p>Yeah. I can't really take this person seriously either. I have never heard such things about Swat before. He/she must be bitter about something. There are always people who just may not fit in. Too bad they did not transfer so that could be happier.</p>
<p>All I know is that I love Swarthmore. It rocks my socks!</p>
<p>I was pretty amazed to read what was said on the studentsreview site. I have parents who attended the school and a daughter who graduated with the fellow who posted. I know there are different points of view about everything under the sun. Wonder if the fact that the guy rates himself as "average" has anything to do with his happiness factor. I do believe that the sciences have larger introductory classes on the whole, but are not out of the realm of reason. Certainly liberal arts are the focus, and students leave Swarthmore with a very rich education if they choose their courses with that in mind. On the topic of being treated badly for political views, my daughter, a southern girl with no interest in debating (stated publicly in the school paper "I don't care much about politics") would have been "flushed out" long-since if the reviewer were correct. No one tried to force views on her or made her feel odd, but her strength is also not to let people modify her thinking or force their thoughts on her. Stubborn oldest child syndrome . . .it can help around other intense thinkers. She just focused her intensity elsewhere.
I suppose there are some who think the place difficult, and I am sorry that this fellow was so unhappy.<br>
Ironically, my father was less happy with the school in the supposedly marvelous fifties than my daughter was in the last four very wonderful years</p>
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<blockquote> <p>Anyone who complains that one of the things wrong with a school is that there are too many Jews, a la "The student body and faculty contain a large number of the Jewish left academics and their sons and daughters" is not someone whose opinion I am prepared to take seriously.</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Yes. That was my initial reaction. </p>
<p>However, as I reread the post, I am more inclined to think that it is a sophisticated piece of satire. First, it is clearly written by a Swarthmore student. Every point has a basis in fact, but twisted in a propaganda Rush Limbaugh sort of way. </p>
<p>For example, the point about classes meeting only once a week is true. Advanced Freshmen physics seminars meet once a week for three hours and students do present problem sets. Left out, for the purposes of arguement is the two or three other weekly sessions that the students use to prepare their problem sets: student study groups, professors' weekly session the day before class to help with the problem sets being presented, etc.</p>
<p>The reference to the 40's and 50's is also somewhat interesting. Those were not really known as the height of intellecualism.</p>
<p>My conclusion: this is actually written by an intelligent Swarthmore student as a parody of every complaint ever made about the college. Just a hunch. It's too comprehensive and too well targeted to just be a rant.</p>
<p>His review got posted on Swarthmore LJ forum. You can see some of the students' comments following the link bellow:</p>
<p>Interesting theory. It makes sense, though, because he's clearly intelligent and knows Swat well.</p>
<p>I think you can find negative opinions of any school. Sometimes you can find one that is very explicit because someone who is disgruntled takes the time to write up a long essay about his feelings about the school. It is one view, however, eloquently expressed. </p>
<p>Students need to get a feel for the colleges where they are applying because a mismatch in environment and personality sometimes could lead to unhappiness. Sometimes kids learn to deal with new ideas and enjoy the new experience too. But depending on who the person is, it is important that the student knows pretty much what he is getting into. Fortunately most college kids do end up liking where ever they go. Swarthmore is not a school that I see on lists where kids tend to be unhappy with their choice.</p>
<p>Reading the replies in the link that nngmm posted would be a good think, imo. Thanks, nn.</p>
<p>Okay, there are only 13 people surveyed. This is not a simple random sample.</p>
<p>Yup, that's what I thought. To take the survey, you are not called on the phone or anything but actually have to go to a website and put your comments in. The sample size of 13 does not say much; and the participants either loved Swat to death or hated it like the November 27th participant - at least the people who put in written comments. Not a random sample.</p>