<p>From Swarthmore's Daily Gazette on Friday, March 30:</p>
<p>Swarthmore received 5,244 applications for admission to the Class of 2011 and admitted 890 students in all for an acceptance rate of seventeen percent. The number of applications represents an eight percent increase over last year and a forty percent increase over three years ago. According to Dean of Admissions Jim Bock '90, "this is the most selective admitted class in history."</p>
<p>152 students were admitted in the two Early Decision rounds and 738 were admitted during Regular Decision. Bock expects these acceptances to yield a class of about 365 for next fall. The yield for the Class of 2010 was about forty percent between Early and Regular Decision, and "we took about twenty students off the waitlist." This year over 900 students were offered a spot on the waitlist.</p>
<p>Have Swarthmore's SAT statistics been falling relative to the national average and relative to those of other elite academic institutions in the last decade? I seem to recall that Swarthmore's used to be about average compared to those of the US News top 10 national universities and the top 5 liberal arts colleges, but it's 707 critical reading average, 700 Math average, and 700 writing average would seem to put it behind nearly all of the top 10 national universities and top 5 liberal arts colleges (and behind Pomona (ranked 7th in 2007) and Harvey Mudd as well). Am I remembering incorrectly, or has this trend of being on the low end among elite schools in terms of SAT scores always been the case?</p>
<p>The numbers from my previous post were from the link interesteddad posted in post #18, in that pdf. But, even still, your numbers say the same thing when compared to the figures for the top 10 national universities and top 5 or so liberal arts colleges.</p>
<p>On the USNWR web site (uses 2005 data), when you request a ranking of LACs by 25%-75% SAT scores, this list gets spit out:</p>
<p>1.Harvey Mudd College (CA) 1380-1560
2.Pomona College (CA) 1380-1530
3.Amherst College (MA) 1350-1560
4.Swarthmore College (PA) 1350-1530
5.Williams College (MA) 1340-1530
6.Vassar College (NY) 1340-1450
7.Carleton College (MN) 1320-1500
8.Bowdoin College (ME) 1320-1470
9.Claremont McKenna College (CA) 1310-1490
10.Wellesley College (MA) 1310-1480
11.Wesleyan University (CT) 1300-1490
12.Washington and Lee University (VA) 1300-1450
13.Haverford College (PA) 1290-1470
14.Barnard College (NY) 1290-1450
15.Grinnell College (IA) 1280-1480
16.Middlebury College (VT) 1280-1475
17.Reed College (OR) 1280-1470
18.Davidson College (NC) 1280-1440
19.Colgate University (NY) 1280-1430
20.Colby College (ME) 1280-1430
22.Bates College (ME) 1280-1410
23.Oberlin College (OH) 1270-1460
24.Scripps College (CA) 1270-1450
25.Hamilton College (NY) 1270-1440
26.Macalester College (MN) 1260-1450
27.Wheaton College (IL) 1250-1440
28.Connecticut College 1250-1390
29.Whitman College (WA) 1240-1450
30.Bard College (NY) 1240-1440 </p>
<p>
[quote]
On the USNWR web site (uses 2005 data), when you request a ranking of LACs by 25%-75% SAT scores, this list gets spit out:</p>
<p>Swarthmore's top 4 ranking isn't shabby.
[/quote]
That list is two years old now, and my post was specifically asking about a downward trend, implying that current data would imply a decrease in relative SAT scores since then.
<p>
[quote]
On the USNWR web site (uses 2005 data), when you request a ranking of LACs by 25%-75% SAT scores, this list gets spit out:
[/quote]
Also, this is still in keeping with my statement. It's near the bottom of the top 5 liberal arts colleges (and at the bottom now in 2007), and below all of the top 10 national universities. I'm wondering if it has been this way for a long time, or if this is the result of a downward trend.</p>
<p>30% of Swarthmore's acceptance letters have gone to African American and Latino/a students for the last two years. Last year's freshman class at Swarthmore had the highest percentage of African American students in the history of elite LACs or universities: tying Swarthmore's own previous record and UNC-CH's record for universities. Statistically, the 75th percentile remains unchanged since 2000. The 25th percentile had dropped slightly with the increasingly aggressive affirmative action (see the national percentiles for African American and Latino/a test takers).</p>
<p>Basically, instead of using the rapidly increasing number of apps (acceptance rate is now down to 17%) to increase SAT scores, Swarthmore is using it to increase diversity.</p>
<p>Of course, they also aren't playing games with "SAT optional". 97.3% of Swat freshman submit SAT scores. 24% submit ACT.</p>
<p>Would I be at a significant disadvantage if I was in that 2.7% that didn't submit the SAT and only sent my ACT? I really just feel as if once was enough for entrance exams and feel like saving $40 because I hate CB!</p>
<p>Call the office get to know someone there by phone and develop a relationship. Let the Admission office know you really want to go to Swarthmore.</p>
<p>Also, you can find out which admissions officer represents your region on Swat's website, and then can email them any questions you may have. Instead of calling and saying, "I WANT TO GO TO SWARTHMORE," ask the admissions office (or even better, your regional rep) an informed question about the school, and keep a conversation going on with them. Buena suerte amigo!</p>