<p>Hey everyone, our mid-term break started and I have a pretty lazy week in front of me so if anyone has any questions about Swarthmore I'd be happy to try and help out.</p>
<p>how are the girls? lol</p>
<p>i'm a freshman too and the girls are just as cute and hot as anywhere else and they are all intimidatingly sharp.</p>
<p>Well, before arriving at Swat one of my friends loved to remind me of a quote in, I believe, College ******* that goes something like, "My four years at Swarthmore were the most sex starved of my entire life." So my expectations weren't particularly high. But I have to say that after six weeks here I'm really impressed. I don't tend to like objectifying people, well I do but not in a public medium, so I won't go into too much detail. The one thing I will say is that I think the real difference between Swat and notoriously "pretty" schools is that the girls at Swat (and guys for that matter) simply care less about their appearance. This means that the people are just as cute but everyone looks more "natural". I personally prefer it.</p>
<p>Also, most of the upper classmen I've spoken with think that each year gets "prettier" as Swarthmore becomes more “mainstream”.</p>
<p>Anyway, looks are, of course, very subjective so this is just one person's opinion.</p>
<p>schoenhs:</p>
<p>OK, I'll bite. How have you found your experience so far at Swarthmore? Any big surprises? Or has it pretty much been as expected?</p>
<p>I think the toughest thing about choosing a college is that, as a high school student, you really can't know what college is like. Any words of wisdom from a new student's perspective that might help high school seniors better think about their options?</p>
<p>Mine would probably be:</p>
<p>a) There is plenty of partying at "non-party" schools.
b) Even though you might feel like you should be studying, you probably won't actually study 24/7 and that will be just fine.
c) There isn't the same kind of "busy-work" as in high school. It's usually possible to discern some value in, or reason for, each assignment.</p>
<p>I've loved my experience at Swarthmore so far. I honestly couldn't imagine a better place for me. I love waking up every morning and walking to class realizing how beautiful where I am is. I know not everyone has had such a great experience though. Probably the single thing I dislike most about the school as a whole is that Sharples (the main dining hall) closes far too early. This won't be so much of a problem next semester as I'll be able to use points at Paces (the other dining facility). </p>
<p>If I had to say one thing to seniors it would be this, there is no way you're going to be able to get a comprehensive feel for a school in the little time you have there. So, how then can you choose a school? Well, eliminate prestige, and irrelevant information (famous alums, etc.) and take the real information (do they have courses that I want to take, is the social scene what I want, etc. and choose a couple schools based on that. Then, forget everything, visit the schools that are about equal and think, “would I be happy waking up here every day for the next year?” and then go with your gut instinct.</p>
<p>I agree with your three points. There is a lot more partying than many people would lead you to believe. Generally, people go out to parties at least twice a week but there’s a lot socializing beyond that. I can’t count the number of times I’ve thought to myself, “Okay, I should go to sleep” and on my way to brush my teeth I start talking to someone, playing poker, or watching a movie. Then, three hours later I think to myself, “What happened?”</p>
<p>As to the amount of work, I don’t think I can really comment. I’ve found that there’s not as much work as I had anticipated and I’m not taking an intentionally easy curriculum. That said, I’m still in the pass-fail period so I don’t think I can comment. </p>
<p>If there were one thing I had to say about Swarthmore that surprises me every day is that everyone is both so unassuming and gifted at the same time. I’ve yet to meet someone here who doesn’t have some extraordinary ability in addition to just being really smart. It’s something that’s both daunting and exhilarating all at once.</p>
<p>Great points. They echo almost to a word some of the things my daughter has said.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I cant count the number of times Ive thought to myself, Okay, I should go to sleep and on my way to brush my teeth I start talking to someone, playing poker, or watching a movie. Then, three hours later I think to myself, What happened?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's one of the things that's hard for high school students to understand: how much of the social life revolves around just hanging out in the dorm. From my daughter's descriptions, even studying is often a "social" affair.</p>
<p>
[quote]
As to the amount of work, I dont think I can really comment. Ive found that theres not as much work as I had anticipated and Im not taking an intentionally easy curriculum. That said, Im still in the pass-fail period so I dont think I can comment.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>My daughter said that the workload increased sophmore year. But, so much of that depends on the specific mix of courses each semester. She signed up for a pretty heavy reading load last semester and had to be pretty diligent to (more or less) keep up with it. Part of the deal is learning to prioritize the work and make sure you get the essential reading done. I think she was quietly relieved after her first semester to know that, while she wasn't the smartest person on campus, she could do the work and hold her own in the courses.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If there were one thing I had to say about Swarthmore that surprises me every day is that everyone is both so unassuming and gifted at the same time. Ive yet to meet someone here who doesnt have some extraordinary ability in addition to just being really smart. Its something thats both daunting and exhilarating all at once.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yep. My daughter had almost exactly the same comments. That the students were mostly friendly and down to earth (with some notable exceptions, of course), but she quickly learned to just assume that pretty much everyone was pretty hot stuff in one way or another.</p>
<p>My number one observation, from a parent's perspective, is how smart my daughter has gotten. We've gotten into discussions about something she's studying and it is just clear that whatever Swarthmore does must be working.</p>
<p>Another thing that will also affect your work load is involvement in EC's. My daughter does have a relatively heavy course load, and the work (along with professor expectations) is not insignificant. However, she wouldn't complain about the work so much if she didn't also have to work in all her meetings, leadership responsibilities, campus jobs, interviews (she writes), etc. I suspect it's the same with most Swatties--it's a happy (mostly) but frenzied to-do list that never seems to end!</p>
<p>schoenhs:</p>
<p>Thanks for agreeing to take questions. I've been wondering about some of the stories I've heard of people who think they will love Swarthmore, do enjoy the first year or two, and then become "jaded" and regret their choice. It's hard to tell how much of that is the mock-complaining that goes along with things like misery poker and how much is actual unhappiness caused by Swarthmore's intensity. I know you haven't gone through the whole process personally yet, but do the upperclassmen in general seem friendly and happy to be at Swarthmore? Not everyone will be happy at any school, but have you noticed many juniors and seniors who have a significantly less positive view of the school than you do?</p>
<p>I'm not entirely sure. As you said I haven't actually gone through the process myself and so I can't personally comment. Most of the upper classmen seem happy although certainly the "honeymoon" period will have ended some time ago. One thing that I have observed is that a lot of juniors go away on a year abroad. I'm not sure how this number compares to other schools but it seemed really high to me (like 50%). One of the seniors I was talking to said that people tended to go away junior year to an easier school as a kind of "cool off" period and then come back ready to start.</p>
<p>Again, I really can't comment too much on this. Someone who has been at the school longer would probably be able to do a better job.</p>
<p>My daughter is a junior. She likes Swarthmore as much as she ever did.</p>
<p>College is lot like anything else. After a couple of years, the newness wears off, but you aren't close enough to the end to get caught up in senior year exit-process. That's why a semester abroad junior year is a great way to break up the four years.</p>
<p>My daughter is a senior and still thinks Swarthmore is the perfect college for her. She did go on a study abroad semester in the fall of her junior year. She is busy now working on her senior thesis, and says she really enjoys all her classes this semester.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I was talking to said that people tended to go away junior year to an easier school as a kind of "cool off" period and then come back ready to start.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think that just about all study-abroad programs are easier academically than Swarthmore. Most, but not all, of them are pretty much a joke academically. To the extent that the programs are challenging, it usually comes from cultural immersion experiences. For example, moving to Beijing or India or Ghana for a semester presents its own set of challenges and rewards unrelated to whatever courses you may be taking.</p>
<p>JP2249.
My S is a senior honors major, also home on break from Swat. While he doesn't feel like posting right now, he is sitting in the room with me and told me that he thinks that the concept of negative feelings about the school coming from the academic intensity is sort of an "urban legend." He feels that most of his classmates still do enjoy school. He says that of course some people get "burned out" and of course they would be the ones who are negative about the school. He's been there all 4 years-no junior year abroad for him. He is really enjoying his classes this year and yes, they are a lot of work, especially since he is an honors major.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the input- I'm glad to hear about so many people having great college experiences. The problem with hearing from most current students or parents, though, is that it is usually the happy ones who would choose to post on a board like this. It's great that there are people as devoted to Swarthmore as interesteddad, but I didn't really expect him to announce that his daughter hates it there! The rumors that I've heard (and they really are rumors, either second-hand or over the internet, and so none too reliable) is that disillusionment is far more common than at schools like Pomona, Brown, or Haverford, which I'm also looking at. I was hoping to get the first impression of someone who has been exposed to the atmosphere of the school far more directly than any parent can be, but who hasn't yet had the chance to potentially lose his love for the school and stop posting himself, and schoenhs's post is generally reassuring. </p>
<p>I'm not trying to be too cynical or critical. I guess it's more that, as early decision deadlines approach, I'm trying to convince myself that this school can really be as good as it sounds, so I'm probably magnifying any possible flaws out of proportion. I get to go for an interview next week, so hopefully that will convince me.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The rumors that I've heard (and they really are rumors, either second-hand or over the internet, and so none too reliable) is that disillusionment is far more common than at schools like Pomona, Brown, or Haverford, which I'm also looking at.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I doubt very much that's true. I know that my daughter's close high school friends going to other colleges were ready for a study abroad break after sophmore year, just like my daughter was.</p>
<p>I didn't go to Swarthmore, but I was ready for a break after sophmore year. In fact, I took a year off, did something else, and came back fully-recharged and loved my final two years. My wife didn't go to Swarthmore. She was ready for a break and spent her junior year in Italy. She came back, fully-recharged, and loved her final year.</p>
<p>The phrase "sophmore slump" doesn't really refer to grades as much as it does the months before you get over the halfway hump.</p>
<p>Honestly, there are some questions that just can't be answered. I truly haven't gotten such a feeling from the kids here. The thing is that you never know whether or not you will end up truly liking the school after a month let alone two years. That's not to say it's not a legitimate concern, only that you should get as much information as possible but not let it influence your decision too much. The atmosphere, again, really doesn't convey any such sentiment.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The atmosphere, again, really doesn't convey any such sentiment.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Ok, thanks for the help.</p>
<p>JP,
I guess you have to choose whether to "listen" to current students and parents on this board or "listen" to rumors. ;) But, since you're going for an interview next week when school's back in session, perhaps you'll be able to pick up a "vibe" which will help you with your decision. Do you think it might help if I could persuade my S to actually input an answer. He's a really straight shooter and won't sugarcoat it. Do you have a question for him as a senior having spent all 4 years on the Swat campus?</p>
<p>When it comes down to it, no one can tell you whether or not Swat. is going to be right for you. You can get opinions from people, but you really are going to have to try it out for yourself. </p>
<p>I loved swat as a high school student. I visited twice. I applied ED. And I ended up transfering out. Even I couldn't tell what I wanted! Dissillusionment happens to people, regardless of the school.</p>