Chances and a few questions...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
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<p>Hey! I just got deferred from Columbia. I discovered Swat in early December, so now I don't even want to get into Columbia RD. Swat is the one for me.</p>

<p>800v 760m, 800 World History, 800 Lit, 720 Writing (one sitting)
GPA/class rank on the low side: 3.7, top 16%...
Plenty of ECs (4 4-years, honors, leadership positions)
NMS semifinalist
Statewide journalism award and miscellaneous others.</p>

<p>With the raw stats out of the way, I'd like to summarize my outlook (I posted this in a Columbia thread originally, but it's still very true):</p>

<p>Yeah, the definition of type A <em>can</em> be pretty negative. I've known quite a few people with that personality profile, and none of them I particularly respect or value on a deep level. They tend to be overachievers and very competitive; I've also noticed that they tend to be pretty superficial when it comes to self-reflection or the question "why?". I hate competition. I'd prefer, 10 times out of 10, to be in a community of intellectual equals where the success of one or most does not equal the failure of others. Likewise, I resent achievement for its own sake: most of the people I know who have 4.0 GPAs I can't even have a meaningful conversation with--school does not encourage personal philosophical development (on the flipside, most of my friends have never seen the front side of a 3.2, and my best friend, an amazing musician and writer, dropped out of high school). It's not like I can't compete: I can, and often do, but it's not something I enjoy doing, nor do I care much for 'winning.'</p>

<hr>

<p>From what I've read, this means I'm just cut out for Swat.</p>

<p>Now, a few questions:</p>

<p>1) Do you think my low class rank will hurt me? If so, what can I do to offset it?</p>

<p>2) I unfortunately did not find Swat in time to schedule an interview. Will this hurt me?</p>

<p>3) Does anyone want to read my Why Swat when I'm done with it?</p>

<p>Thanks so much for your help!!</p>

<p>Edit: forgot to say, I'm applying Winter ED.</p>

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<p>email me with your why swat? when you finish it
<a href="mailto:seitzbrown@adelphia.net">seitzbrown@adelphia.net</a></p>

3

<p>i can read your why sway essay if you'd like.</p>

<p><a href="mailto:Socko973@msn.com">Socko973@msn.com</a></p>

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<p>antisthenes-
I was in the same position as you a year ago. I discovered Swat a bit after my deferral from Columbia, and I applied RD sometime early in January. Applying here was one of the best things I did senior year.
A note about the place based on what you said about yourself- You may or may not have the notion that Swat holds your hand. It is not a supportive, "type B" place. As a West Coaster on my hall put it, no one here is "chill". Many people are just socially awkward. Although Swatties do not do things for the sake of a transcript or because it is something to do, they are a generally intense and involved bunch. Social and political activism is pretty strong here, as is community service. Academics can be competitive, particularly the sciences. The workload is rough, no matter how tough a high school you attended. But the level of discourse is just awesome- I've had some of the most intellectually meaningful conversations of my life at random times. Everyone here has a lot of depth.
Also, I recommend that you think long and hard about applying Winter ED. I don't know how long you've known about Swarthmore or how much you know about it, but Winter ED can be a rash move. I have a friend who was deferred from Princeton early, applied Winter ED to Swarthmore, was accepted and ended up hating it and dropped out after a month. He's now applying to Georgetown. It sounds like you might like Swarthmore, so I totally think you should apply, but you might not want such a binding contract after applying ED somewhere else...who knows, you might end up getting accepted by Columbia in April.</p>

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<p>antisthenes- by the way, I felt the same way about a lot of high achievers in high school.
also, I never had an interview. I don't think it hurt my chances. Most of the interviews are very informal, conducted by a student on campus.
In order to help keep Swat's quirky culture, the admissions office places enormous importance on your essays. Your writing can make or break your application.
No pressure or anything, seriously.
Good luck to anyone applying ED!
ok, enough procrastination. primal scream is over and I have a final in 8 hours!!!!</p>

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<p>Hey, </p>

<p>Thanks a lot for your reply! It means a lot.</p>

<p>I want to apply Winter ED because, frankly, Swarthmore is the only school on my list that I feel passionate about. I haven't known about it for very long, but the only school that comes close is maybe Brown. </p>

<p>I don't want a hold-your-hand type place. Just the opposite: the more independence I have, the better I do and the more I get out of it. I couldn't find information on this on the site: how does the curriculum work? Is there a Core? I'm very humanities-oriented, so the fewer science/math courses I can get away with, the better.</p>

<p>Also, how much do you think my sample of academic work can help me? I'm submitting a chunk of a 20-page research paper on the role of decentralization in postmodern theory. I'm submitting the part that analyzes Derrida and Barthes. I figure that might give them a somewhat good opinion of me?</p>

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<p>There's no Core at Swat, just distribution requirements. When I started out the whole college process, I really liked the idea of a strict curriculum, all the great books, stuff like that. Now I think that a more liberal system is better. You do have to take three classes in the Natural sciences and math and theres a lab science requirement, but there's options. If youre not science inclined (im not either), you can take statistics and general intro courses. Theyll still be tough though. AP credit counts to a certain extent (I think one of the three can be fulfilled by AP or IB).
The sample can never hurt you. I'm not sure if it's a big deal or not, so you should feel free to send in anything that gives them a good picture of you and your writing abilities. I think postmodernism is kinda cool (yay for existentialism class next semester).</p>

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<p>Yeah, hopefully they'll take a 4 in AP Biology.</p>

<p>Do you feel that the fact that 91% of students there were in the top 10% of their HS class merely reflects their policy of accepting students that can demonstrate good ability to do work, or is it that they weigh class rank very heavily? I'm taking (and doing well in the ones I'm taking this semester) 3, possibly 4 or even 5 college courses this year; do you think that'll create a good impression and counterbalance my relatively low rank?</p>

<p>Also, I would love it if you could read my essay....</p>

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<p>Antisthenes, itsrainingpants is right about something: do visit Swat if you can between now and the time you apply preferably when classes are going on (probably not possible, don't know your deadlines). Swat is not for everyone; going there will give you a feel for the place and whether you would like it there. Columbia is an urban campus and Swat is not. It is in a pretty small town where nothing much happens. Philadelphia is nearby and pretty accessible but it is not like being in an urban campus.</p>

<p>If you read this forum (many threads down), you will see that there is a sense of quietness and tranquility in the campus. That is not to say people don't have fun, they do, but in smaller social settings; like watching a game collectively in the dorm; or a few of them going to Philly or NYC for the weekend.</p>

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<p>I think I can only visit after I apply, in January, since I live in the Midwest.</p>

<p>Do you go there? Do you know how good the history department is?</p>

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<p>No, I am a parent of a kid who goes there. Can't tell you about the History department, sorry.</p>

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<p>I think the whole 91% statistic is a result of accepting people who do well, I really doubt they weigh class rank any heavier than other schools of its caliber. I wouldn't worry about class rank so much- there's not much that can be done about it, at this point. My class rank was a little on the low side too, but my curriculum was pretty much the most difficult offered at my HS.
I havent taken a History class, but I hear its a decent department. Apparently it's a bit politicized for some people's taste. It's rather rigorous with lots of writing, even for Swarthmore.
ill read your essay- <a href="mailto:achat179@hotmail.com">achat179@hotmail.com</a></p>

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<p>Swarthmore ranks among the top five colleges and universities in per capita production of history PhDs. </p>

<p>Political Science, History, and the social sciences in general would probably be considered among Swarthmore's strongest departments -- and, certainly, the most popular.</p>