<p>So I am trying to choose which campus to applying Early Decision to. While I know my chances are much higher at Davidson, part of me really likes some aspects of Swarthmore, but I have been unable to visit Davidson yet. Could everyone just give me their respective opinions regarding the two schools, academically and socially. I'm ideally looking for a school with an intellectual atmosphere, but still strong school spirit, a certain quirkiness in the student body, a good amount of interdisciplinary connection in academics and a politically active student body (that is politically moderate).</p>
<p>I've never been to/ looked at Swarthmore but I have visited Davidson and I spend a good deal of time on CC looking at it, haha. So I'm going to answer these questions to the best of my knowledge and ability.</p>
<p>"Intellectual atmosphere" for years Davidson was ranked #1 for hardest working students, above HYPS, MIT, and CalTech and it is still in the top 10, so it is definitely academic.
"Strong school spirit." Sports wise, from what I understand WildCats are crazy about their sports teams, especially basketball. For example, the board of the college paid for every Davidson student to go see the basketball team play in the NCAA tournament.
As for the quirkiness and politically active student body, I know that the Young Democrats has over, I think, 700 members with the Young Republicans around the same. So, in a school of only 1700, if 1400 are members of a political club I can guess that the student body is generally politically active.</p>
<p>If I am off base in these assumptions please correct me. This is just my personal opinion.</p>
<p>If you're having to debate about which school you should apply ED to, you probably should be applying regular decision to both. Yes, ED/EA programs usually increase your chances of admission, but think about it: you're stuck if you get in.</p>
<p>Davidson does, however, fit all of your criteria. People here are very much academically focused. There's a lot of partying, too, but lemme give you an example.
At a FIJI (Phi Gamma Delta) semiformal, which was held at a fancy country club at Lake Norman, the restaurant played only international music from all over the world. A boy at my table had been in Davidson's music class "World Music" and so had a girl at a table across the room. Every single time the song changed, the girl from across the room would run over to the boy across from me and they would debate about whether the song was from Burkina Faso or Ghana; whether it was contemporary or late nineteenth century; etc.<br>
The kids here LOVE applying what they learn or discussing it in every day conversation. That's not to say we don't have fun, but to us, learning is fun, too.</p>
<p>We're a pretty quirky group, but in a good way, overall. Most everyone is extremely studious -- but for every five people who lock themselves in their room and study every single day (this is exceedingly rare) there are another twenty who are goofing off with friends down the hill.</p>
<p>I wouldn't characterize us as the most politically-active school, but I probably wouldn't put Swarthmore on the top of the politically-active list, either. If you want super-charged politics, go to American, Georgetown, or GWU; however, as rfwcphs1 said, there is quite a large number of people in political/activist groups.</p>
<p>We're incredibly proud of our sports team, most particularly basketball. Games are almost always sold out and packed, and the nice thing about Davidson is our student body is small enough that we still can all go to the games and don't have to tent. No K-ville here.</p>
<p>My advice: visit both schools at least once each. Sit in on classes and try to arrange to stay overnight with a freshman or sophomore.</p>