<p>I'm planning to write on the non-competitive community of swarthmore and slightly on how the non-competition makes the world a better place (as in we can all work together and stuff). Do you think that this will make a good topic? I dont want to directly talk about making the world a better place or Swarthmore's location or that it's a top school because most people will be writing about that. And would any of the parents care to read my essay when im finished with it in 1 or 2 days? thanx.</p>
<p>There is a lot of collaboration at Swarthmore if that is what you mean. But it is not a type-B kind of place if you meant that. The academic atmosphere is pretty intense and the science and pre-med types work long hours for their grades.</p>
<p>Well, why leave the humanities majors out? They work hard too for their grades.</p>
<p>Asim:</p>
<p>I think any essay topic with the phrase "make the world a better place" presents some real challenges -- very easy to cross the line into platitudes. However, I do think that one thing that gives Swat its identity is its stated mission of teaching civic responsibility...and, in fact, this is probably a reality for an above average number of Swat grads.</p>
<p>Here are two pieces of advice for the "Why Swat?" essay:</p>
<p>First, take a piece of paper and write down all the reason that you like Swarthmore. Do this around the kitchen table with your parents. It'll be fun. Then take the list and see which things you can associate with a specific example: from your visit, from reading about Swat, etc. For example, if one of the things you like about Swat is the prominent role of women in the history of the college, give us a specific example such as following in the footsteps of Molly Yard Brown, or Nancy Grace Roman, or Cathy Wilkerson (thanks Mini!). This list can make for a very easy "Why Swat?" essay. My daughter just picked four items from her own list, each one epitomized by a particular professor or staff member or student she met during her overnight visit.</p>
<p>Whatever you write about, make sure you have something specific to say. For example, I read one essay about loving to present off-the-wall ideas and knowing that Swatties would always be up for challenging and debating those ideas. The essay worked because it gave two or three specific examples of "wacky", but thought-provoking political ideas. The essay communicated very effectively that this kid was a Swattie.</p>
<p>I think the "Why Swat" essay becomes much harder to write when it deals with generalities, rather than specifics.</p>
<p>I do think you are on the right track. One of the items my daughter used in her essay was the strong sense of community and friendship she felt during her overnight in the dorm. One semester into her Swat experience, I would say that the bond with her fellow students is the number one quality. They really do "educate" each other. I had to laugh at dinner last night as my daughter described buying each others books at the close of the semester -- not textbooks that would be used to take that class, but rather particularly interesting books from friend's classes to read just for fun over Christmas. My daughter bought a contemporary Polish science fiction novel because her roommate loved it so much. Only at Swarthmore would the kids buy extra books to read just for fun!</p>
<p>achat,
Yes by non-competition I meant collaboration. I've been reading on the site about it and wanted to focus my essay on that.</p>
<p>Interesteddad,
About the "make the world a better place", the reason I said that was so I could connect myself in another way with Swarthmore. Actually, my essay is pretty much on the collaboration. I'm probably going to put only one or two sentences to link to making the world a better place ("I like working together so that everyone can benefit" or something of that sort). Also, I'm an international student from Pakistan, so I never had a chance to visit campus. My source for examples can only be from their site and this and other forums. Do you think all this is still ok?</p>
<p>I like the story about the book exchange ;). Right now it's hard for me to imagine reading one of my friend's book also, but I guess college can bring about a lit of positive changes. Your daughter must be one happy person for getting into swarthmore!</p>
<p>I'm sorry for confusing achat and interesteddad about my previous post. English is not exactly my greatest gift. Thanks to both of you for the help.</p>
<p>interesteddad, i need some advice of you :)
I'm an internationa student who's never been on campus and it's really hard to comment on specific things that attracted me in Swarthmore. Can I write about the many advantages an American college offers compared to that of Bulgarian Universities (talking about liberty of choosing what to study, warm college atmosphere, opportunities for research and scientific work, sci equipment, etc.) And just state briefly some information from their website. </p>
<p>I think to do the same for all of my Why ... essays. Do you consider it a good idea or would recommend me something else?</p>
<p>"Can I write about the many advantages an American college offers compared to that of Bulgarian Universities"</p>
<p>If you can replace Swarthmore with any other college, and the essay still works, it is not a good "WHY?" essay. You have to get a "feel" for Swarthmore - you can do it by reading old issues of Phoenix on line, looking at some interview videos on their web site, etc., and find something about Swarthmore that would be unique and important to you. You can get great education at many schools. What makes you want to go to Swarthmore in particular?</p>
<p>Wouldn't it them be full of Swat info but little info about me. Or this is not the kind of essay where you show your thoughts, just your determination for studying at that college?</p>
<p>A Why Swarthmore essay is about why you want to go to Swarthmore...not just any American college/university. The essay can show stuff about you, by showing how you think you would uniquely fit into the Swarthmore mold, I guess.</p>
<p>But then again, I am no authority on the subject.</p>
<p>"A Why Swarthmore essay is about why you want to go to Swarthmore...not just any American college/university."</p>
<p>That is absolutely right. The essay should be about you, not about Swarthmore (the adcom already knows everything you can tell them about Swarthmore), but it should show why Swarthmore is the right school for you (and it certainly is not the right school for everybody...)</p>
<p>When you haven't visited a campus, a good source for ideas comes from the website and on-line publications. </p>
<p>This page covers a lot of the key points about Swarthmore and might trigger some ideas for a "Why Swat?" essay. I believe that the points listed in the FAQ are not only accurate, but form the core of what makes Swat special.</p>
<p>BTW, one of the reasons that Swat likes some detail in the "Why Swat" essay is that is shows enough initiative to have researched the college. The website, the "Meaning of Swarthmore" essays, and the Unscripted student interviews would all be valid avenues for researching the college. That's why the stuff is there! I believe that a "Why Swat" essay enumerating three of the points in the website FAQ would accomplish the goal. That is essentially what my daughter's essay ended up being, although she used a specific Swat person she had met as the "embodiment" of each quality, i.e. the enthusiasm of Prof. XXXXX that was palpable when she toured the science labs. If you haven't visited, you could use three of our authors of "Meaning of Swat" essays as your substitute "Swat person". </p>
<p>Or, relate something about your individual situation to each point. This could be effective in comparing and contrasting education in your home country to that of Swarthmore. For example, an Asian applicant could talk about the rigid career-driven nature of higher education in his home country contrasted to the learning for the love of learning that takes place at Swarthmore...</p>
<p>Interesteddad said
"They really do "educate" each other".</p>
<p>Interesteddad, my son just came back from Swarthmore, last final at noon today. He said he pulled an all-nighter last night to study Bio but all the roommates (they are in a quad of 4 kids) also helped out one guy write his Philosophy paper and that, it seemed, was much more interesting that Bio.
The premise of the paper was, in a society where there are no objective truths, just only subjective ones where each individual's thought was considered equally valid (as in no 'self-evident' truths') how would you design a system of government and a society. So they spent proof reading and brainstorming with him till he completed his paper, then did not go to sleep! Then they gave their respective exams and came home.</p>
<p>So I guess that's what I meant by collaborating with each other.</p>
<p>yup thats what I meant by the collaboration. Thanks, now I can write my Swarthmore essay without adcom going ....????
Btw, will somebody be willing to read my essay after im done with it? Ill post it up here</p>
<p>Achat:</p>
<p>I have been getting very similar reports from my daughter...that the kids take an interest in each other's classes to a remarkable degree. I don't recall anything like that in my college experience. </p>
<p>There is also a contingent of Swatties who will debate any time any place, sometimes to an extreme. My daughter said she and her roommate have a "codeword" they use to change the conversation when somebody starts talking about 17th century German politics over breakfast. They look at each other and one of them says, "So.....let's talk about hot celebrities .... !" She has a couple of friends who insist on debating thermodynamics with the genius Physics professor in her seminar. As she says, "that's not going anywhere...." But, he humors them and the seminar runs over into the fourth hour.</p>
<p>My daughter brought home several hundred photos of her friends at various activities, which has triggered a million stories.</p>
<p>asim, you can send it to me by email when you are done. Interesteddad has given a lot of hints on how to start writing one. email is in my profile.</p>
<p>achat, can i send you mine too?!</p>
<p>ok. send it.</p>
<p>asim, I am on vacation from the 24th, noon (EST). If you need help, after that, ask here. I won't have a computer or access to the internet for about a week and well past your deadline if you should apply to Swarthmore. Besides, you have a wealth of information from this board (Interesteddad's comment especially) to help you with the 'Why Swat' essay.</p>