Some questions before visiting, *might* apply ED

Colleges and Universities A-Z Haverford College
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<p>I have been reading up on Haverford recently in my college search, and have seemed to really connect to it, especially in the descriptions of the students. It is uncanny how much they sounded like me! (If you're wondering, I've heard the students described as friendly, smart and hardworking but also have other interests, slightly awkward but not socially hopeless, usually have some type of athleticism, among other traits)</p>

<p>Unfortunately, right now I have little time to make a visit, so I would like to ask questions on a few concerns before deciding to make the time to do so. I will strongly consider applying ED if I am comfortable with the answers and enjoy the potential visit.</p>

<p>Also, for comparison purposes, I am mainly considering (in no particular order): Haverford, Cornell, Northwestern, and Oberlin (visited the 3 except Haverford). </p>

<p>Also considering Kenyon, Denison, and Wooster (haven't visited). I will consider other schools though if anyone thinks of good matches.</p>

<p>Now on to the questions (sorry I'm typing more than I planned)</p>

<p>My main hesitance is the size. Do any students consider Haverford too small? I want some room to explore and push out of the edges of my comfort zone, but at the same time I don't want to feel lost in the crowd at a big school. Do most students stay on campus, or is it worthwhile to go in the surrounding area? Are there any good natural areas around campus? How often do students take advantage of Philadelphia's close distance? </p>

<p>Related to size - I am considering both national universities and LAC's, as long as there is a strong undergraduate education and a liberal arts foundation.</p>

<p>Also, I've read that the food is considered tolerable. Exactly how tolerable? I know, this probably isn't the best area to base a college decision, but as I thought about my high school's rubbery, watery chicken patties, I realized I would definitely want food better than that if I am going to be eating it almost every meal for 4 years. As long as you aren't filled with dread before every meal, I would probably be able to stay satisfied.</p>

<p>Now, connected to that, I've heard you can eat at Bryn Mawr and take classes there and at Swarthmore. Considering that Bryn Mawr itself is an all-girls school, can Haverford guys take the classes/eat at Bryn Mawr too, or is it limited to the women? I wasn't too sure because I know Haverford has more girls than guys and I was wondering if this had something to do with it.</p>

<p>Library -- very important. As important to me as the size concerns or probably more important (and certainly more important than the last few questions). Thankfully, from what I've read it sounds nice and comfortable. To any students: Even though it may not have the collection size of Cornell, do you still feel that you have a wealth of resources? Just tell me in general what you think of it.</p>

<p>One last bit, I am interested in going into medicine or medical research, and will most likely major in biology, even if I change my mind about pursuing medicine. I heard bio there is good but I would be grateful if anyone has more info they want to share. </p>

<p>I feel like I had a few more questions, but this is good for now. All answers will be greatly appreciated!</p>

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<p>Okay, so I may not be the best source of information because I still have yet to actually attend the school, but I am packing my bags as we speak to start school at Haverford in about two weeks. That being said, I feel I can at least help you somewhat, talk to me again in three months and I’ll be able to provide a much deeper wealth of knowledge. </p>

<p>So I highly suggest you visit and interview. Haverford, more so than most schools, is tremendously concerned about finding the right fit for their tiny community. People with better scores or higher grades are often trumped in the admissions process by other students who present themselves as intellectually curious, engaged and quirky. </p>

<p>About the size, as far as I know, students love the small size. In fact, some efforts by the admissions committee to expand the size of the school have been resisted by students in the past because the small community adds such an incredible dimension to college. Most students do stay on campus I hear but having Philadelphia so close I’m sure is not a disadvantage, whether it be a concert or a museum or a day trip. One of the great things about Haverford is that in all the top LACs, it is one of the few actually near civilization. Middlebury, Bowdoin and Bates, as stunning schools as they are, are extremely far off the beaten path and very distant from any major metropolitan city. Then again, small size isn’t for everyone; some students have said by the end of the four years at Haverford they feel a bit suffocated. </p>

<p>The college is making efforts to improve it’s food. Bryn Mawr does have better food and it is always open to any Haverford student, regardless of sex. In fact, Haverford students can major, study and even live on Bryn Mawr’s campus as Bryn Mawr girls can ours! The relationship is truly remarkable between the two schools, basically like two schools in one. Bryn Mawr has a pool, Haverford doesn’t.</p>

<p>In regards to the library, I have yet myself to get aquatinted with it but i have only heard good things, and to my knowledge it is quite extensive and Swarthmore’s and Bryn Mawr’s library are also open to Haverford students. </p>

<p>For medicine, Haverford reputedly has a very strong pre-med program with students usually advancing to the strongest graduate schools afterwards and Haverford boasts an extraordinary, nationally regarded Biology program. </p>

<p>Needless to say, I am enamored with the school; I think it is just the greatest place and i haven’t even gotten there yet.</p>

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<p>If you are interested in a book or journal not in the Tri-Co collection, you can request it from one of 73 cooperating college libraries in PA and NJ (including the University of Pennsylvania, Penn State and Rutgers). That has covered pretty much anything I ever wanted. On the off-chance that you need a title that is not carried by any library in state, you can file an interlibrary loan request and a librarian will track the item down for you out of state.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the answers from both of you! I felt good about Haverford before, and your responses definitely helped me like it even more. Although I think I may do ok at a larger school, the reality is Haverford probably would suit me better. Hopefully I can visit soon. And good luck to you this year, HailThief!</p>

5

<p>I still haven’t visited and I’m not sure if I will have a chance to anytime soon. But now I’m starting to consider Bowdoin and Middlebury too. For one, they both are somewhat larger than Haverford so they may have a little more breathing room, yet they are still small and may share some of the advantages of that. Bowdoin seems like it has really nice facilities and the Outing Club there is also interesting. I like the natural environment more than the city so I may appreciate that more than I would Philadelphia. At the same time, I don’t want to be completely isolated.</p>

<p>I am still very interested in Haverford, though. I feel like the people there may be friendlier and and more comfortable to be around. From what I have been reading, I get the idea that the people at Bowdoin and Middlebury may be more preppy. Not to say I have anything against any groups, but I just may find the people at Haverford more relatable. Truthfully, this is one of the main reasons I am somewhat hesitant about the other schools.</p>

<p>Hopefully someone could share their thoughts about these 3 schools.</p>

<p>Also, any suggestions where to best make a thread for this so I could get a variety of opinions? Should I just put it on the Bowdoin and Middlebury forums also or just on some general forum? Thanks!</p>

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<p>Unless you can not financially afford to, you really must visit! All of these schools have a different “feeling.” We know many, many kids at Midd who are athletes and who just love it. I would say, in general it is a school much more focused on athletics than HC. Having lived in Maine for many years, Bowdoin is much more " yankee blue blood" than HC and both MIdd and Bowdoin are are more isolated geographically than HC. They are all very much the same in that they offer a wonderful education but as I said before have a different feel. This is not something easily described, so again, unless you cannot afford to visit, it is important that you fine the time to set foot on each campus, interact with the students and profs and then you will know. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Hey Biorunner3-</p>

<p>Here’s my perspective on some of the questions you raised:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Size. You asked: do ANY students consider Haverford too small? Well I’m sure if you looked hard enough you could find one who would say that. You’d also find some who think it is too big. My point is every campus will have people who think there campus is too large and others who say too small. If you want to know about the majority of students, they would overwhelming say the size is just right. Let’s talk about why… HC has about 1200 students which makes it smaller than many of its peers. But in talking to friends from other LACs, I found that, generally speaking, they often concentrated friendships with people in the same year (really only using 1/4 of the student body). At Haverford because it’s smaller, there’s a lot (even more than our peer schools) of cross-class friendships between the class years (above you and below you). It doesn’t feel uncomfortably small because people really get to know others from the two or three classes ahead of you and then the the two or three classes below you. So, with one quarter of the student body changing every year there are plenty of people to meet and interact with if you have a culture where class year distinctions doesn’t serve as a significant bar to genuine social interactions/friendships. If you want a school of 30,000, HC will be too small. But if your seeking a LAC experience, I think HC is great. And, I do not think HC students feel that a slightly larger LAC (1600 or 1800 or 2100) would be better. In fact, quite the opposite. FWIW, when the issue was raised for discussion about 5-10 years ago, students were the most adamant against expansion.</p></li>
<li><p>Pushed out of One’s Comfort Zone. Here’s what CP (another website CC doesn’t allow you to write the name of says about Haverford): “[S]tudents are satisfied with their experience at Haverford. Most seniors look back on their Haverford education with a distinctive appreciation. It is a fondness that comes from understanding how profoundly the College has changed them. Haverford teaches its students more than just school subjects: it teaches them to lead honorable lives. Students feel that they have learned just as much from each other and the Haverford community as they have from their courses and professors. Many alumni do not realize the scope of their education until years later, but the impact is almost always felt. In this way, Haverford is unique.” </p></li>
</ol>

<p>I mention this to say that so many students would not find the College to have “changed them” if people stayed in their comfort zones.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Bryn Mawr Relations. All of the benefits of the HC-BMC relationship are open to both HC men and women. All of the classess, the dining hall, and the housing exchange is open to HC men. </p></li>
<li><p>Food. Although Haverford is working on it, I am willing to concede that Bowdoin has better food. (The Haverford Dining Center management team was just merged with Bryn Mawr’s, which has always had the better food between the two campuses, so we are optimistic that improvement will come.) But, then again, Bowdoin is known to have the best food of all LACs. I will say that Haverford has the amazing freshly baked desserts everyday.</p></li>
<li><p>Library. It’s all that you need and more. First, remember in the grand scheme of colleges in the nation, Haverford is very wealthy and in the top 1% in terms of endowment per student. They put a lot of resources into making sure they have a first-rate library. I would venture to say Magill is better than most libraries of colleges 8-15 times Haverford’s size. Is it as large as Cornell? No, but it has a very large collection and is part of several consortiums so that they can get anything you need very quickly. The staff is great.</p></li>
<li><p>Location. Just to clarify Haverford is a suburban town about 15-20 minutes from Philadelphia. Many think it is perfect because the campus is still a “retreat” that allows one to think and enjoy nature, but it has easy access to one of the nation’s great cities (allowing for trips to the city by students and great visitors to campus). </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Good luck.</p>