EC info

Colleges and Universities A-Z Swarthmore College
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<p>ok, i don't know if this has already been addressed somewhere else or what but i thought i would throw it out there....right now from what i have read about the atmosphere, Swat seems pretty near perfect for me (i have other favs but this is #1)...on nagging doubt however is my ExCurr....Even though i know they aren't deciding factors or anything, they are still important to me and I want to be sure others will share my interests....
So, my question is....Where does Swarthmore stand in debate, student govt., and string orchestra?</p>

<p>Oh yeah, and since I have this thread going, I am from down south, so can someone give me a good idea on what the weather is like there? (sort of silly question, but enquiring minds need to know! lol)</p>

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<p>Swarthmore has a very strong and active debate society. You can compete as much or as little as you want (parli debate).They have an orchestra, and I think you even get some academic credit for playing in it. I don't know anything about the student government, but I am sure that will not be a problem to find out.</p>

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<p>Oh, and it's cold in the winter. Lots of snow.</p>

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<p>Debate is no problem. It's a parliamentary debate team that competes against Harvard, Yale, Columbia, JHU, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Amherst, UPenn, etc. There's a novice division for freshmen. The debate team has its own endowment and they give great parties when other teams are visiting campus. My daughter says, "Only at Swarthmore would the Debate Team be famous for the best parties!"</p>

<p><a href="http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/org/daily/index.php?year=2005&month=03&day=29%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/org/daily/index.php?year=2005&month=03&day=29&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Music: As Mini has convinced me, Swarthmore's music department is probably not big enough for someone looking for a professional career in music. However, there is a student orchestra, chamber orchestra, and a chamber music ensemble (a .5 credit course). Some Swatties are also members of the Philadelphia Orchestra's Youth Symphony. In addition, there is a private non-profit orchestra, Orchestra 2001, run by a Swat professor. They do a lot of new works and students participate from time to time. They will also pay some or all of the cost of private lessons (either on campus or elsewhere), also a .5 credit course.</p>

<p>Link to a recent master class by the Phila Orchestra's Concertmaster for the Swat string section:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/org/daily/index.php?year=2005&month=03&day=29%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/org/daily/index.php?year=2005&month=03&day=29&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Link to music department:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/music/faculty.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/music/faculty.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Student gov? There's the College Council and the committee that doles out money for activities and entertainment. Pretty easy to get involved as far as I can tell.</p>

<p>Weather? Phila is pretty mild. A lot like the mountains of North Carolina, Washington, DC. etc. You will get two or three decent snowstorms in winter, but usually melting in between. It is significantly milder than New England. Enough to have four distinct seasons, but winter is short enough.</p>