<p>momuv2, I think sophomore year is the toughest. My son wasn’t even that great a student as your daughter, he did not get all As and A-s, he had a C and some Bs and some As. My son found his groove in junior year and was somewhat comfortable in senior year and enjoyed Swat (his grades improved too). Things will get better, I assure you.</p>
<p>Second semester sophmore year is the low point in just about everyone’s college career. The newness of college has worn off. You’ve just had to make decisions about majors. Yet, you’re not quite far enough along to see the finish line. That’s why they make semester abroad!</p>
<p>Picking her up at the airport after sophmore year was the only time my daughter said, “I’m not gonna lie, that was a hard semester, I’m ready for study abroad…” Then, of course, she came back from travelling the world and the final three semesters at Swarthmore flew by much faster than she wanted.</p>
<p>They don’t call it the “sophmore slump” for nothing and it doesn’t really have that much to do with grades. It’s a transition point.</p>
<p>I give a lot of kudos to Myrt Westphall and others in the dean’s office for taking a long look at initiatives they can take to better address the challenges members of the sophmore class face.</p>
<p>Oh no!!! Sophomore year is the worst?! Pass the Motrin and NiceNEasy - I’m in for it now! Lol</p>
<p>Momuvw - I also threatened to “yank her” outta school a couple of times. It seemed to start after she returned from winter break.<br>
When I met a Swat English prof in the ville this summer, we discussed the intensity and workload at Swat. I had already been told by a summer neighbor who works in Biology it was true. This prof told me the same and added that several professors felt it may a bit too much pressure. Yet, once again, everyone loves Swat! Despite the pressure, there is a “brotherhood” so to speak. They all know Swat is special and Swatties are unique.</p>
<p>I am heartened to hear that the Biology dept., in particular, is beginning to examine its practices. My D’s academic insecurities last year centered heavily on Bio 1 (BIO 1??!!!), which she took Fall of her Sophomore year. She had never had AP Bio in HS, and felt from the first week of class that she really needed that to succeed. The course is structured as a large seminar, really, with different profs responsible for teaching different aspects of mol/cell biology, but many focus on presenting details of their research without giving enough basic bio background. Very intense and, IMO, with structure and content inappropriate for an introductory class. I should say that she took Honors Chem her freshman year and had no trouble at all, so it wasn’t that she’s not a “science person.” The end result of that one EXTREMELY stressful experience in that one Bio class was that she decided she “didn’t have what it takes” to go into science, which had been her plan. I did think at the time that perhaps the reason that the Bio dept feels it can make that particular class so ridiculously out of reach (sorry, I know whereof I speak here, as I am an academic with a doctorate in Biology) for so many students is that most of the students taking the class are freshmen who, by design, are all taking the class C/NC. I’ve heard that Bio 2 (Spring semester) is more accessible.</p>
<p>I would also like to add that Swatties are not quitters. The qualities that got them there are the same ones that have them pulling out their hair, crying, etc, over the stress, rather than simply saying “You gotta be kidding. I’m gonna blow off the extra work. The demands are unrealistic.”</p>
<p>I found out after my DS graduated from Swat that sophomore year was not a highlight.
I think that part of his problem was his particular housing arrangement. Sophomores tend to get the short end of the stick with housing and he drew into a single in ML basement, a true dungeon which is no longer used for housing. I’m not discounting the work angle, just mentioning another issue for sophs.</p>
<p>Momuv2 - Yes! They are not quitters which I believe is what makes them attractive to grad school admissions and future employment. They are not just bright…they have the right “stuff”. I told my D I think there may be a sliver of masochism there as well. Lol. Just kidding - you know it’s a touchy subject with our Swatties (especially between stress bouts - as in summer break!) so I have to lighten it up a bit.</p>
<p>Momof3sons - I can’t even imagine ML basement! I told my daughter about your son’s dorm “room” and she actually shuddered and said, “They won’t even put anyone down there anymore!”. She had a great freshman dorm but as a soph is doomed to a dorm with a terrible freshman party rep which is not so ivy pretty.</p>
<p>Interesteddad - I can always depend on you for calm, sage advice! </p>
<p>I took the very daring 'rent step to open a discussion of this topic with a group of her Swat friends who had stayed around for summer jobs or research. I was a bit hesitant since it seemed discussing the stress levels and, at times, impossible workload along with feelings of self doubt and/or inadequacy was taboo. </p>
<p>However, the students, including my D, seemed relieved to be able to unload and I believe each thought it was “only me”. I am hoping that bringing it out in the open (and seeing the relieve of her friends as well) and sharing info from here will help her through sophomore year and make it at least a bit less stressful.</p>
<p>Btw, when she finally “spilled” all of it to me and I asked her why she waited until the end of the school year to tell me, she replied she didn’t want to let me, our family and friends or anyone else down!</p>
<p>
If that’s Willets, it’s actually a very good pick for a sophomore…</p>
<p>Willets is fantastic for sophmores. It was my daughter’s first choice sophmore year. Get to meet a lot of new people, it’s convenient to class, and it’s right next to the library!</p>
<p>@ interesteddad-What has Myrt Westphal done with regard to the sophomore issues? What issues do you/she think need to be addressed? Thanks so much</p>
<p>The deans have embarked on a campaign to help students meet the challenges of sophomore year. One of the first moves was to hold a “sophomore collection.” You can hear President Chopp’s speech from the first one, last fall, here: [Swarthmore</a> College Featured Events Blog Archive Sophomore Collection 2009](<a href=“Featured Events :: News & Events :: Swarthmore College”>http://media.swarthmore.edu/featured_events/?p=93) . (First collection is for first-years and last collection is for seniors.) </p>
<p>Here’s an article about the overall effort from last year’s Phoenix: [Administration</a> tackles the sophomore slump - The Phoenix](<a href=“http://www.swarthmorephoenix.com/2009/09/03/news/administration-tackles-the-sophomore-slump]Administration”>http://www.swarthmorephoenix.com/2009/09/03/news/administration-tackles-the-sophomore-slump)</p>
<p>Thanks for the links. The second link did not work for me-this one did: [Administration</a> tackles the sophomore slump - The Phoenix](<a href=“http://swarthmorephoenix.com/2009/09/03/news/administration-tackles-the-sophomore-slump]Administration”>http://swarthmorephoenix.com/2009/09/03/news/administration-tackles-the-sophomore-slump)
It is good to know that the administration reflects, identifies and takes action when they see areas that can be improved on.
The president’s speech was thoughtful, directed and encouraging for sophomores. I noted the authors of the new book Higher Education? have identified President Chopp as a college president/administrator they admire and, it appears, rightly so.</p>
<p>Cool! That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing.</p>
<p>That is very good news! I will say while my son loves it there and plays a sport, that both my wife and I were very concerned when we picked him up at Thanksgiving. He had lost weight and looked awful. I know it is an incredible college, I do think that the pressure is very intense and almost over the top. I do hope this year is a tad better pressure wise. I keep telling him that Junior and Senior years are better. Now, to make it through the Sophomore Slump. I will say, he can’t wait to go back and already has his textbooks ordered. I just wish it was just a tad easier.</p>
<p>My D actually had a horrible lottery number (second to last!) and was lucky to have a roommate from her quad who took her three roommates with her. They are close friends with a quad of guys who were their hallmates in Wharton . They are happy to all be together this year. :-)</p>
<p>tsprite, I feel as if I’ve heard something similar. ;)</p>
<p>Living with and near good friends definitely helps make sophomore year better. That’s something the housing office has emphasized, formally through their efforts to make the blocking process clearer to first years, and informally in communications with students who ask questions about their housing choices.</p>