<p>What are some matches for Haverford applicants that are similar to Haverford in terms of student body AND atmosphere?</p>
<p>It depends on what you mean by student body (diversity, size, political leanings, ect…) and atmosphere (academic, cultural, social, drinking, ect…). What is it that you like about HC that you want to find elsewhere? What schools are already on your list?</p>
<p>And then there are the academics. Do you want a comparable school academically, or are you looking for a safety/match?</p>
<p>davidson...similar selectivity, honor code, kids that might be classified as "normal"</p>
<p>Haverford Matches:</p>
<p>Among Uni's: Brown (though significantly larger school with lower-tier classes measureably larger, fairly similar student body). Lesser overlap with UChicago, Yale. </p>
<p>Among LACs (ignoring issues of city/suburban/rural geography): Swarthmore, Carleton, Grinnell, Wesleyan, Pomona, Vassar, Oberlin)</p>
<p>I would mention Davidson as well. I ended up choosing to attend Davidson over Haverford (it was a money issue, Haverford has always been my top choice), but they're practically the same place academically. They both are very serious about their honor codes, have self studied exams and that sort of thing, and have the good LAC teaching style with lots of interaction between student and teacher and fairly intense academics. The student bodies aren't that similar, though, Davidson is definitely more preppy and athletic (which was a turn off for me), but I actually found the people at Davidson to be more warm and outgoing. Davidson is also in North Carolina, which has a different culture. But, if you're talking academic scene and integrity of the student body, you'd be hard pressed to find a school as similar to Haverford as Davidson.</p>
<p>hey bluetissues
i was rooting for you... i'm happy that Davidson was able to offer you that music scholarship! Clearly, I'm a little disappointed that you won't be going to HC though... HC use to have the most endowment/student out of any college in the 1960's but fell out of the top 20 in the 1970-80's and is slowly recovering... I believe it's now #7 or 8. Hopefully, in the future, HC will be able regain its wealth and offer better finanical aid... maybe for your kids or grandkids? :)</p>
<p>one interesting thing to investigate when you're at Davidson. While both schools are similar and have strong honor codes, I think the traditions behinds them are a little different with HC's rooted in Quaker tradition and my impression of Davidson is that their code has its history in southern "gentility" and chivalry... like UVA's and the military academies. Not sure how that flavors each school's respective honor codes, but it would be an interesting anthropologic analysis. regardless, honor codes are a good thing.</p>
<p>bluetissues,
I have never visited Davidson. However, from what I've read, the student body is more conservative politically and frat life is a more prominent part of student life. Also, Davidson has less economic and racial diversity than Haverford although these may change with its new scholarship program. Obviously, location in NC and student population drawn more from the South come into play, too. Would you say these are some of the major differences between Davidson and Haverford? Both are great schools.</p>
<p>conn college is quite liberal and the honor code is taken very seriously</p>
<p>pmyen- did your son apply this year or is he applying for next year?</p>
<p>huskm- I saw Conn College featured on ABC News a few months ago. It was very pretty. I wasn't aware that conn college has an honor code. I'd be interested if you could describe it more or provide a link. I know several colleges have honor codes but I think each is flavored by the history and culture of the school... as I described with HC and Davidson and so each are unique.</p>
<p>For example, HC's comes out of the Quaker idea of "inner light", that all people have a goodness or "divinity" already inside. This is a little different than other religious philosophies such as Puritanism et al where "divinity" is above and out of sight. In such traditions, people try to act a certain way (do's and don'ts of religious law) so that they can be closer to this divinity. My understanding is that for Quakerism, as there is assumed goodness inside already, people find consensus through debate and reflection and the "act of goodness" is the product of this awakening rather than the other way around. Thus, you have the idea of "immediate respect" rather than "earning respect"... and this immediate respect and the idea of finding consensus through discussion, debate and sometimes confrontation is what HC's honor code is all about.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.conncoll.edu/about/abo_honor_code_shared_gov.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.conncoll.edu/about/abo_honor_code_shared_gov.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.conncoll.edu/about/abo_hc_honor_code.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.conncoll.edu/about/abo_hc_honor_code.htm</a></p>
<p>So, Conn College’s honor code seems to be based on the traditions/wisdom of Ancient Athens and an ideal democratic society?</p>
<p>"ideal democratic society"
that sounds about right :)</p>
<p>HC Alum,
My second son was very interested in Haverford but unfortunately was not accepted this past year. My youngest will apply fall 2008. He would like to play soccer in a Division III school with strong academics. Will probably visit H and your cross-town rival in the fall to meet coaches. He would be interested in schools like Haverford which have a good balance between academics and sports.</p>
<p>pmyen</p>
<p>sorry to hear that. :(
You can mention "Swarthmore" here... I won't bite, much. :)
It's a wonderful, wonderful school... I just have occasional issues with what seems to me to be a little "inflation" going on over @ the Swat forum sometimes by otherwise very helpful people who sometimes may have their "Swat goggles" on a bit too tightly. My brother, college GF and ### friends went there and I may have too if it wasn't for my brother going there and the culture of HC just resonating a bit better for me. </p>
<p>When your son visits, he should definitely take the blue bus over to BMC cause that opportunity is what makes an otherwise great HC education even better. </p>
<p>Regarding soccer, a little history trivia... HC had the 1st varsity soccer team in America and the 1st intercollegiate soccer game was between HC and Harvard, whose team was founded by several HC alumni in grad school there. Can you imagine the cheers on the sidelines... how confusing for the players!
Most recently, I believe the guys' team had their summer training in Brazil last year and got schooled terribly but had fun in the process.</p>
<p>pymen i'm on the hford soccer team, feel free to message me to chat about nehting involving the team or visiting</p>
<p>Thanks Presto. Will pass on info to son who is a rising junior. He plans to go to the Elite 300 soccer camp at Swarthmore next month. Don't know whether Haverford coach participates or not. He may want to visit H once practices and season are underway. We live in the mid-Atlantic area so it is not too much of a trek to get to Philadelphia.</p>