(Sorry in advance for the length of this post. First time posting on College Confidential) So I visited Haverford and absolutely fell in love with the school. I want to go to a top school to major in Economics (Have 35 ACT, 4.5 GPA through junior year, national merit, varsity Baseball and Basketball, president of young conservatives, math club, future busniness leaders of America, and a mentor in a Freshman mentoring program). I loved Haverford and thought the kids were geniuses and so intelligent and in general much more so than UPenn, Dartmouth, Brown, and more intelligent than many Harvard kids and very similar intelligence wise to the Yale and Princeton kids (I hope I didn’t offend anyone. There are smart kids everywhere and that was just my observation when I visited and sat in on classes). I thought the professors were amazing and all had the highest degree in their respective field. I also loved the small classes with no TAs and thought the quality of education is the best I have seen and I have visited 20 top schools throughout the country. I also loved the Quaker consortium where you can take classes at UPenn, Swarthmore, and Bryn Mawr as a Haverford undergrad and virtually everyone takes at least one class elsewhere. I loved how as an Economics major at Haverford, you can also take finance courses at UPenn and Wharton. The one concern I have is that Haverford isn’t as well known and not “prestigious” although I hate that term. I know people who need to know the caliber of school Haverford is know but it just concerns me that people think I’m selling my self short (although I don’t care too much about what others think). When I was visiting colleges I couldn’t find a school that was better for undergraduate education in the nation and the best fit for me. I just want the best teaching. My last point, is that I also want to peruse a MBA from a top grad school such as Harvard or Wharton. It seemed like it was extremely common to go to Penn grad schools and I heard the acceptance rate into UPenn grad schools is higher for Haverford undergrads than UPenn undergrads. Overall, I loved the school and thought no top University or Liberal Arts College could compare. I just want to make sure I am making the right decision. Thanks for all the help! Sorry for the length of this post this is my first time using college confidential.
You answered it yourself - those who need to know, know Haverford. Good employment outcomes, especially for econ. Great grad school placement. Don’t worry if the average Joe has never heard of it.
When submitting your application, make sure you really focus on Haverford’s supplemental essays.
It’s a great place. Good luck!
A very good school with a fantastic reputation. I would not be concerned about what others think. You sound so excited. Good luck to you! @rman0070
Thank you guys so much! I was just looking at some of the Ivy League schools for so long and just fell in love with Haverford. Thank you for your input!
My son is a senior at Swat (as you know, cohort of H’ford) and has great options for post-graduation. Yeah, I had to deal with “never heard of it” but that was from my contractor, so I try not to take it personally 
Great to hear your son is doing well! Swarthmore is a fantastic school as well. Thanks for the input!
I just wanted to verify that I am not selling myself short by using my early decision to Haverford vs. an Ivy League school such as Dartmouth, Yale, or UPenn. I have connections/legacies to those Ivy’s and would probably have a good chance of getting in. However, it seems like I should persue Haverford from the responses I’m getting. Thanks for the encouraging responses.
I don’t think you are selling yourself short. The kids at Haverford are every bit as bright and intellectual as those other places. Plus, the atmosphere is one of cooperation, acceptance, kindness and student governance. That’s worth a lot in my book.
Rman0070, you seem like a highly motivated individual who will certainly do well wherever you end up. I agree with everyone that Haverford is up to par with the academic rigor of the Ivy League schools. Plus, you mentioned going to graduate school which 70% of Haverford students end up doing. Not to mention almost all end up in the top institutions like Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Columbia, etc… It makes sense to go to those places for grad school when you can actually conduct research with many well renown professors in graduate school. But as an undergrad, there is no better place to learn than Haverford. The professors are truly amazing and almost all have Ph.Ds from the top institutions in the world. I think you have it all figured out and best of luck on your decision (which should be Haverford by the way). No Amherst, no Williams, no Swarthmore, for the very best LAC economics program and collaborative environment there is no question Haverford is the best.