<p>My daughter has an interview at Swarthmore on 10/23 at 10:00 a.m. This is her first interview. One question is what to expect. I know she will be nervous. One potential issue is that she has not been involved in a huge number of after school activities. Rather, she has been very heavily involved in theater tech since the beginning of middle school, growing in position through the ranks. She has done a few other things but that has been her primary focus and passion, in addition to taking extra arts type classes (e.g., photography, instruments, etc.) and doing research.</p>
<p>The other question: is it possible and/or desirable to do Haverford in the same day. Before I call them to ask, I want to consider that it may be too much. On the other hand it would be less traveling.</p>
<p>Yes, you can do Haverford in the afternoon. While there aren’t any info sessions scheduled at Haverford in the afternoon, there are a couple of afternoon tours offered. The schools are about 25 minutes apart by car. When you say “do” Haverford, did you mean should she interview there on the same day, or do you just want to look at the school? I’m sure you know that Haverford strongly recommends that you interview on campus.</p>
<p>As for the Swat interview, it will last between 30 minutes and a hour, depending on how much your daughter has to say and how well she “clicks” with her interviewer. May I suggest that she spend as much time as possible looking over the Swat web site before she interviews. There is a link on the first page of the web site to “Why Swarthmore,” with input from a number of students. I would also have her look at the theatre department web site to get a feel for some of the different courses. She’d want to “sell” to her interviewer what she could bring to the campus community in terms of her passions. I wouldn’t worry about her being “one-sided” in that sense. A passion for something is a good thing. Of course, she can also discuss her research.</p>
<p>So tell your daughter to talk about theater tech! Swarthmore has a very active theater community with recent alums gaining a lot of acclaim in indie theater. She should listen to Professor Kuharski’s podcast lecture on the Pig Iron Theater Company. It will give her some idea of theater at Swat. The video clips of Pig Iron productions are “interesting” to say the least. Swat theater and Swat theater alums lean towards avante garde theater.</p>
<p>To be honest, I would rather apply to Swarthmore with one very strong interest than as a “well-rounded” jack of all trades. I think it’s a little easier to stand out from the crowd and give some identity to the application. The absolute best thing you can do is earn a nickname in admissions like “Theater Girl” or whatever.</p>
<p>You could easily do Haverford and Swarthmore in the same day. It only takes about 30 minutes or so to drive from Swat to Haverford except at rush hour. It’s just a few exits up the interstate.</p>
<p>I agree with ID regarding having one passionate interest, rather than multiple activities. My daughter was heavily involved in theatre in HS. When she did her interview at Swat, she also scheduled a meeting with Professor Kuharski afterwards. He is wonderfully welcoming and your daughter would enjoy meeting him, if you have time. My daughter is now a Jr at Swat and still heavily involved in Theatre. (although it is not her major) My daughter’s other main interest in HS was music. Singing, in particular. Those were her only extracurriculars in HS. She did not have tons of activities, but the ones she was involved in, she was (and still is) highly passionate about. Both programs (theatre and music) are very strong at Swarthmore!</p>
<p>I will have her listen to the podcast and see if he is around when we are going. Swatmom, can I private message you? </p>
<p>As it turns out, we will not be able to do the interview at Haverford on the same day because they both only have mornings. Haverford has noon but we don’t have a car and that would cut it too close.</p>
<p>Absolutely, you can PM me. My daughter said she would gladly talk to your daughter too, if she wants to talk to a student, who is involved in theatre!</p>
<p>SueMac, I checked today and yes, you can take the Tri-Co van that runs between Swarthmore, Haverford, and Bryn Mawr. My D and I are going to take it later this month when we visit both campuses on the same day.</p>
<p>My daughter is a sophomore who was also a theatre kid in high school, although she was involved in other clubs and activities as well. I agree with what everyone has written in making her “passion” come through. I LOVE Swatties for their passion! To me, it sets them apart from other colleges because they bring and share those passions.</p>
<p>My daughter did not major in theatre but was heavily involved in Drama Board productions as well as with a group of friends, started a Shakespeare (passion) company called “Yellow Stockings”. </p>
Of course, she can also discuss her research.</p>