<p>In terms of pre-med, Swarthmore has historically been an M.D. factory, not only with very high placement rates, but also a large number of pre-meds. Biology is consistently one of the three most popular departments. Having said that, Williams and Amherst also have strong pre-med programs and high rates of placement, too. To be perfectly honest, I don't think you could choose one over another on that. All three are great pre-med schools.</p>
<p>Comparing rates is an exercise in futility because you have to look at the details. For example, is the quoted rate just for graduating seniors? Or does it include alums applying to med school? Does the rate include only first-try applicants or second-try applicants, too? Does the school support ALL pre-meds with recommendations or only selected applicants?</p>
<p>In 2005, Swartmore acceptance rate for graduating seniors applying directly from college was 100% (7). The acceptance rate for alum applications was 86% (31 acceptances). That means that, about 11% of a typical graduating class goes to med school. Swarthmore will prepare a recommendation package for any pre-med student; there is no cut-off. The advisors office stats that a 3.3 GPA is a solid basis for applying to med school (i.e. you are all but assured of getting in, all things being equal). Below a 3.3, it just depends on the strength of your application. 3.3 GPA is about average at Swarthmore.</p>
<p>You can find everything you would want to know about Swarthmore's pre-med program here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.swarthmore.edu/Admin/health_sciences/first_year_guide.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.swarthmore.edu/Admin/health_sciences/first_year_guide.html</a> </p>
<p>As far as work, I don't think there's any difference in how hard a serious pre-med student works at Swarthmore, Williams, or Amherst. All three schools have students who work very hard, students who slide by, and students in the middle. There are three reasons Swarthmore has a well-deserved reputation for hard work. The school has an above-average percentage of students who really enjoy the academic challenge and, therefore, has professors who push them. Second, Swarthmore's Honors Program is very intensive; so the third of the student body opting for the Honors Program works very hard, especially senior year when they are preparing for four sets of oral and written exams by outside experts in their fields. Third, you have to have a C average to graduate from Swarthmore. So, the low end of the scale cannot really coast. The whole school is centered around small, highly interactive courses. It is difficult to hide in the back of a lecture hall.</p>
<p>My daughter says that she works hard, but that the work is manageable. She finds plenty of time for socializing. She says her weekday schedule typically includes about five hours a day of reading/studying, although Friday afternoon's study slot often turns into a nap. Sunday afternoon is usually chore day...laundry, shopping, whatevever. Sunday night is a study night. Saturday is usually an off day reserved for fun, but if she has an hour or two to kill before dinner, she'll try to do a little reading. That varies throughout the semester. You can slack off a bit more early in the semester, grind a little more during exam weeks.</p>
<p>The amount of sleep you get depends largely on how late you stay up socializing at night and how early your classes start. My daughter's roommate had 8:30 language classes and went to bed at 12:30 like clockwork. My daughter is probably more typical. She tries to aim for 9:30 classes and probably goes to bed more like 2:00 am after a couple hours of socializing or whatever. I'm sure it varies. She's seen dawn a few times playing poker or watching movies, like most college students. College is college.</p>