<p>I'm thinking about applying to Swarthmore next year (although it's a huge reach for me), and I was looking at the application...I noticed it asks if you or your family are Quaker (a Friend, whatever). My family is..does this earn you a bonus point in admissions? Or is it just a statistical thing?</p>
<p>It is supposed to make a difference. But, the admissions office has openly stated that they don't give it much weight.</p>
<p>However, you could turn your familiarity with the Society of Friends into something interesting in a "Why Swarthmore?" essay by learning a bit of the history of the place, or attending the Friends Meeting House, or spending an hour or two looking through the Friends Historical Library. There is a very rich history dating back to the school's founders and intertwined with the Friends. In fact, the name of the college is taken from the British country manor home, Swarthmoor Hall, where George Fox essentially founded the Quaker movement. In addition, the Quaker style of governing by concensus pervades the campus culture in many ways. I think this, in fact, might be be Swarthmore's most defining characteristic.</p>