<p>so haverford has been one of the few LACS that is still on my college list. I've read all college guides and student reviews. And i really thought that I would really fit in this school. However, recently when I started the honor code essay, I am getting an impression that there is no secret on campus, and I'm getting a lil scared. My question is, does everyone follow the code? I don't think i can trust everyone to do their own tests. I mean I woudlnt' want to cheat, but I wouldn't want to compete with students who do either. Also, do studetns actually argue and discuss ALL THE TIME? I am just scared if that Honor Code is some kind of rule that I have to constantly worry about. I dunno if i'm making sense, for example, our high school lists the punishments for bring drugs to school. See... I don't give a damn about those rules because I know that I will never take drugs. But if it's a punishment for not buckling seat belt, then thats something that I've to worry about because everyone might forget about it. </p>
<p>My question: Is the honor code some kind of new rule that we have to learn to adapt, memorize it, and run the risk of breaking the code if we're not careful? Or is it just a general code that as long as students are within the "normal range", studetn's won't worry too much about it?</p>
<p>If you don't think that you can trust other students at Haverford to"do their own tests" (take their tests on their own without proctors, etc.) even though their professors trust them, perhaps Haverford is not the college for you.</p>
<p>well, after a day to revise my college list, i decided to apply Swarthmore. I love Haverford, but i needed more of a reach school (i've too many safties and matches). Thankyou for everything</p>
<p>Athough Swat is a good school, i myself chose Hav orver Swat... and i must say, going to a school now that has an honor code it really is a great idea and is a great institution to have. It is so much easier not to have to worry about those stupid little things like locking up your stuff and our teachers really respect us and our work load and all the other stuff we are doing....so im pro-honor code! :)</p>
<p>You can go thru 4 years at HC and not cheat, but if you don’t learn how to trust others, then you won’t be getting all that a HC education can offer. The “not cheating part” is not the goal but rather is 1 way HC kids build trust and respect with each other, the faculty, administration and hopefully the staff too. THAT is the goal. This separates HC’s code from other colleges with honor codes because those usually are “don’t cheat” statements alone.</p>
<p>During finals week, students take self-scheduled unproctored exams. This basically gives kids the freedom to go to the designated exam site (like Stokes) at 9AM, 12PM or 3PM on any day to pick up their exams and complete them in any of the classrooms within a 2 hour time period. “Form, content, degree of difficulty (of the test)” are taboo subjects to discuss during exam week. During the regular semester, much of the grading is on papers and homework assignments so it’s really difficult to “cheat”. Occasionally, there are take home exams, but these are usually open note and unlimited time or written so that time constraint is not an issue. I only took 1 take-home, limited time and closed book exam… it was advanced general chemistry my sophomore year. One of my best college memories (that I’m willing to share publicly) was walking into the library at around 11pm and seeing the majority of my classmates (maybe 11 out 15 people) cramming for the same exam… the other kids were probably at home stressing as well.</p>
<p>I’m sure that some students cheat, but, in my experience, they do it not to be on top but rather just to survive and not fail. I’m not sure how common it is now, but when I was a student, there use to be 1 honor code abstract each semester where a student or an alum would contact honor council themselves to report that they cheated. Seeing such things and learning optimism at a young age is really a phenomenal thing.</p>
<p>I agree with Dadx3. The whole honor code thing is not for everyone and may not be for you… it’s really a paradigm shift in education. Swat is a great choice too if you prefer the more "traditional" LAC experience. I have to comment that I find it a little strange that you are selecting/ eliminating colleges based on the very tenuous terms of “reach/match/safety”. While such things need to be considered so that you are not left stranded with no place to go, your primary goal should be to get into the college with the best resonance for you, not necessarily a college that appears to be a touch more selective by the numbers. Especially at this level of discussion, using tiers to describe the selectivity or academics at any of these schools (which are more similar than different) seems like an artificial construct.</p>
<p>D1, who is currently a junior, just returned to Haverford this morning. She has a tendency of phoning while walking across campus. During one of those random phone conversations (after her last final exam) last yr, we were interrupted by "call waiting." Of course, she took the call. ;) It turned out that one her friends (more of an acquaintance) was in the library working on his take home exam...and didn't realize that the library had closed on him!! He was locked in the building and had 10 minutes to turn in his exam. D1 rushed over to the library, grabbed the papers that the friend slid under the door, and delivered the exam for him! :) That story always brings a smile...</p>
<p>You can be sure that memory will be one of those things your daughter will cherish and smile at many years after she has graduated. My friends and I have a few stories like that and, when we get together, we'll tell them... usually with embarrassment cause non-HC people may be in the room and think us insane but there's always a little pride underneath. </p>
<p>What makes it funny is to think that the kids are so "earnest" like that... to try to live up to certain standards and not let professors and peers down but I think we all know in truth that the professor would have accepted the test late and would have gotten a smile out of it as well.</p>
<p>We missed you and your D1 at the career networking event in the Palisades. If she has any science related questions, she can PM me.</p>
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D1, who is currently a junior, just returned to Haverford this morning. She has a tendency of phoning while walking across campus. During one of those random phone conversations (after her last final exam) last yr, we were interrupted by "call waiting." Of course, she took the call. It turned out that one her friends (more of an acquaintance) was in the library working on his take home exam...and didn't realize that the library had closed on him!! He was locked in the building and had 10 minutes to turn in his exam. D1 rushed over to the library, grabbed the papers that the friend slid under the door, and delivered the exam for him! That story always brings a smile...
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<p>teehee I can imagine the friend still locked in the library but relieved that his test was turned in :]</p>
<p>Miss Z...You are not far from the truth. I believe his parting words (behind the library doors) were: "Don't worry about me...just turn in my exam!"</p>
<p>HC Alum,
I relish those stories as well. There is nothing more satisfying than to know that D1 found the perfect fit in Haverford. She has had opportunities come her way at HC that her father and I are convinced that she would not have had elsewhere. This year, Xmas break started a week later than usual, so the family gatherings here and in OC ran back to back...which made everything seem more hectic than before. Then D1's BF spent the 1st week of 2007 with us. Thanks for the offer...I will pass that on to her. From what we have heard thus far...grad school is in her plans...the details will be forthcoming this summer. ;)</p>
<p>Yes it does. D1 always finds a way to hook up with a classmate when she lands at Phil Intntl in order to either share the cost of a taxi to campus or help slump her stuff to the train. This time she and a friend from Wisconsin landed within 1 hour of each. What a small world...</p>