Admissions stats

<p>~45% get in, I think? Unless it has dropped a lot in recent years.</p>

<p>CollegeDadX3:</p>

<p>The early decision data is included in each college's Common Data Set. The new one, for this fall's freshman class, has not been released yet, but here's the Common Data Set for academic year 2007-2008 (PDF):</p>

<p><a href="http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/administration/ir/cds2007.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/administration/ir/cds2007.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Page 14 has the info:</p>

<p>**424 Early Decision apps
151 Early Decision acceptances</p>

<p>36% Early Decision acceptance rate**</p>

<p>This was exactly double the overall 18% acceptance rate that year. I think that's a reasonable estimate of early decision's impact on acceptances for a solid, qualified applicant. I think Early Decision provides little or no advantage for an applicant who is not already an admissable, qualified, credible candidate. </p>

<p>Swarthmore has a very self-selected applicant pool and the Early Decision pool is the most self-selected of all. Good applicants who know Swarthmore well and who really want to be Swatties, plus guaranteed yield. What's not to like about that?</p>

<p>Thank you so much! When we visited, they said something that the yeild was higher for Ed applicants, but that the level of quality applicants is also considerably higher. Needless to say, the next month + should be very stressful for all those waiting for a decision. I guess there is nothing more to do than just wait.</p>

<p>Statistically, the enrolled Early Decision group is virtually indistinguishable from the overall enrolled **class of freshmen, which means that it may be slightly lower than the overall group of **accepted students (half of whom will enroll somewhere else - Harvard, Yale, MIT, CalTech, Harvey Mudd, Amherst, whatever).</p>

<p>However, "statistically" leaves out one huge factor: specific strong well-researched interest in Swarthmore and self-selected "fit" as a Swattie. Someone who has been looking at Swarthmore as a first-choice, probably an enthusiastic first choice, has a huge advantage in preparing an effective application that communicates that knowledge, excitement, and fit. </p>

<p>It's just human nature. An application to the fifth school on a student's list will communicate less knowledgeable enthusiasm than an excited first-choice application. Given that most of Swarthmore's applicants are well qualified academically, those intangibles are often the deciding factor.</p>

<p>So, the application is in, my son has gone ED, what are they looking for? I mean, what sets a kid apart from all the other great candidates? He wants to be a Swattie (I really think his heart is set on it), but, really, what factors in these decisions puts a student "over the top"? Another thing, we all know it is hard there and Swatties will study a lot. That is a given. So, if my son gets in, what will a Swarthmore education mean? What doors will graduating with a Swarthmore degree open up? If I seem a bit overwelmed and nervous, well, I am. Help!</p>

<p>I wouldn't worry about it too much CollegeDad. I think it's better to wait to see if your son gets in, first, and then start thinking about it seriously. I think Swarthmore is looking for students who are bright, active, enjoy learning and are willing to take academic seriously, and are just fun people to go to school with.</p>

<p>Of course you are correct, but it is fun to think about the possiblity of my son being a Swattie. Are there other great colleges out there, yes. Are there other colleges he will be happy at, yes. Swarthmore was really not on the radar until a few months ago, however, after his visit, everything changed. It just seemed that it fit him better than any other college we visited. I am not sure why, it just did. I am positive he is not the only one who feels this way about Swarthmore.</p>

<p>Here's an article in the Phoenix with data on applications for the class of 2013.
Applicant</a> pool shrinks for Swarthmore, peers - The Phoenix</p>

<p>Do you know the statistics of SAT or ACT scores?</p>

<p>25%-75% for Critical Reading is 680-760, for Math it is 670-760. This is for the current freshman class. ACT composite median was 31. You can find much more specific breakdown of the scores on the Common Data set for 2008-09. Check out page 12. <a href=“http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/administration/ir/cds2008.pdf[/url]”>http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/administration/ir/cds2008.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>How much does an international applicant’s target for particular majors(astrophysics, mathematics, computer science) matter during the admission and financial aid process?</p>

<p>I wanted to ask this question as well. My ‘Why Swarthmore’ essay talks exclusively about how Swarthmore would prepare me for my career, which is in a specific major.</p>

<p>I tend to think that showing interest in some of the less populated areas may give you a little bit of an edge. In such a small community they do put quite a bit of energy into choosing students who have different interests. Swat seems very interested in supporting the “hard sciences”. On the other hand, they don’t seem to take what high school seniors say they are planning to major in very seriously. They are well aware of how majors can change over time. I am quite certain that your intended major will not make any difference in financial aid.</p>

<p>do you think there are a lot of applicants applying ED with a psychology and or sociology/anthropology major in mind with a social justice focus to the application?</p>

<p>haha just wondering if thats common or valued or what with Swat</p>

<p>2009-2010 Common Data Set is a available. Admission stats in section C.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/administration/ir/cds2009.pdf[/url]”>http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/administration/ir/cds2009.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Does anyone know anything about the 4/year non-need based full scholarships that are in these stats?</p>

<p>I believe these are the Regional McCabe Scholarships. Here is what Swarthmore’s financial aid website says:</p>

<p>The Regional McCabe Scholarship
The Regional McCabe Scholarship is awarded to a few students from the Delmarva Peninsula and from Southeastern Pennsylvania (Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware counties). These awards provide a minimum annual grant of tuition, or a maximum to cover tuition, fees, room, and board, depending on financial need. In making selections for the McCabe Scholarships, the committee places emphasis on ability, character, personality, leadership, and service to school and community.</p>

<p>As you can see, you have to be a resident of the Delmarva Peninsula or one of 3 counties in SE PA to qualify.</p>

<p>Yep. The regional McCabe Scholars are the only “merit aid” scholarships awarded by Swarthmore. Some of them are pretty strong students. One of last year’s graduating McCabe students is a Rhodes Scholar:</p>

<p><a href=“http://media.swarthmore.edu/bulletin/?p=137[/url]”>http://media.swarthmore.edu/bulletin/?p=137&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>There is also a national McCabe Scholars program, but the aid is strictly need-based and a Philip Evans Scholars program that provides need-based aid plus a $1500 computer stipend, plus funding for a summer research/service program overseas.</p>

<p>[Swarthmore</a> College :: Financial Aid :: Special Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.swarthmore.edu/x11842.xml]Swarthmore”>http://www.swarthmore.edu/x11842.xml)</p>

<p>There’s an article in the Daily Gazette about admissions for the class of 2014:</p>

<p>Class of 2014: Ties for Most Selective Admissions Rate and Expects a Smaller Class</p>

<p>by ANGELA MENG, NEWS EDITOR | March 30, 2010</p>

<p>Swarthmore received 6040 applications this admissions year—an 8 percent increase over last year and the second highest in the history of the College after the class of 2012. The college only accepted 967 students from its applicant pool, reaching a flat admissions rate of 16 percent. Admitted students of 2014 tie with class of 2012 for the most selective admitted class of Swatties.</p>

<p>[Class</a> of 2014: Ties for Most Selective Admissions Rate and Expects a Smaller Class :: The Daily Gazette](<a href=“daily.swarthmore.edu domain has changed”>daily.swarthmore.edu domain has changed)</p>

<p>And the official press release:
[Swarthmore</a> College | News | 967 Students Admitted to Swarthmore Class of 2014](<a href=“http://www.swarthmore.edu/x29173.xml]Swarthmore”>http://www.swarthmore.edu/x29173.xml)</p>