<p>Swarthmore is one of the universities that considers applicant interest in their decisions. For future applicants, could you let us know how you showed interest in Swarthmore and whether or not you were accepted? Possible ways you may have showed interest (beyond sending in your $$ and application) is to have gone on a campus tour & information session, written to specific professors, visited labs, visited the campus multiple times, written to your admissions rep, sent flowers (lol), called admissions to discuss various issues, etc. </p>
<p>So, how did you show interest? Were you accepted?</p>
<p>I think when they say that it primarily comes down to the “Why Swarthmore?” essay. Obviously the other things can help, but visiting, for example, is simply not possible for many applicants so I imagine it’s not considered extensively. One to add to you list would be the personal interview (whether on campus or not). The effort to request and schedule one I think shows interest and the interview itself can be the perfect time to really convey your love of the school to either an admissions councilor or alumni. </p>
<p>I also think submitting additional supplements (music, scientific research, etc) may show interest, since again it requires extra effort while also strengthening your application in other areas. </p>
<p>We’ll see if I get in. Hopefully results will be sent out soon!</p>
<p>I got an early write this year and all I did was have an interview. However, in my “Why Swarthmore?” essay, I made sure that I expressed what I liked about Swarthmore. I was very specific and detailed in my essay which showed that I knew the school.</p>
<p>If you are a URM the best thing you can do is attend Discover Swarthmore. It shows them you are interested and the experience also tells you whether Swarthmore is for you.</p>
<p>I agree with the above poster. I attended Discover Swarthmore this year and fell in love with the school. It allowed the admissions officers to really get to know me and stand out in a sea of thousands of applications. </p>
<p>Other than that, they put great weight on the Why Swarthmore essay. It can really make or break an application.</p>
<p>If you can, definately visit the school. Doing so will help you write your Why Swarthmore Essay which I think is very important. Just get to know the school and why you truly want to be there.</p>
<p>Also, I was accepted this year and I felt like my Why Swarthmore Essay was really strong and showed the real me. Also, I went to Dscover Swarthmore which i also think helped me learn about the school and the school’s admissions faculty get to know me</p>
<p>I visited 3 different times, interviewed, and wrote a very sincere Why Swat essay. To be fair, I live pretty close by.</p>
<p>I recommend signing up for an interview since Swarthmore really wants to see how you are as a real-life person rather than just what’s on paper. If you can’t visit (though you should–beautiful campus!), try researching the school to get a feel of what little quirks and details you like most to include in your Why Swat essay. I was accepted early and I think they got the vibe that I truly loved their school!</p>
<p>My daughter visited twice - first time the tour and info talk and meeting with a professor in her interest area. Second time interview, overnight visit, attended some classes. Don’t know if it helped, but it didn’t hurt!</p>
<p>Wow everyone emphasises the WHY SWAT essay! Really gotta work on that one haha (:</p>
<p>We visited Swarthmore and admissions person emphasized strongly the Why Swarthmore essay. IRC, it’s the second thing they read (the first one is the general essay; stats are last). She said the following:
- Make sure “Swarthmore” appears in the essay.
- Make sure the essay does not say another college name
- Make sure the essay is NOT generic to the point you can substitute any college name in place of Swarthmore’s. Be specific.</p>
<p>I was accepted ED! Some ways I showed interest were:</p>
<p>Applied to (and was rejected from) the Discover Swarthmore program </p>
<p>Had an interview (which I prepared specific questions for)</p>
<p>Wrote a fantastic Why Swarthmore? essay with very detailed, specific reasons why Swarthmore was a good fit for me, my career goals and my interests. I included some classes that I thought looked interesting that were in my major, study abroad programs specific to my major, etc.</p>
<p>I never visited, or had an on-campus interview (although I’m only 2 hours away). I think the Why Swarthmore? essay was the most important factor in admissions</p>
<p>P.S
since I applied to the Discover Swarthmore program, I was given a fee waiver! Which is nice! So that’s why you should apply to it if you can!</p>