Hi everyone,
I am a student-athlete who is thinking of applying ED at Swarthmore.
The coach has given me a verbal commitment and the pre read looks good.
I’ve heard a lot about the academic rigor and was wondering whether I would be able to cope up and perhaps have a social life as well.
I am currently doing IB and I’m in my senior year.
My current IB grade is a 35/42.
I would love to get your opinion on this as this is a key factor in me applying ED.
Thanks in advance 
My daughter was an IB diploma high school graduate and one of her concerns about Swarthmore was about working so hard in college after a very demanding high school program. She did participate in athletics in high school and for a couple of years at Swat, though she wasn’t talented enough to be a star (she said she liked practice a lot more than the meets).
She did work very hard at Swarthmore, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Like many who perform at a high academic level at Swarthmore, she probably did not get as much sleep as she would have liked. There’s a saying at Swat (possible not unique to Swarthmore): Academics, Friends, Sleep: Pick Two.
OP. our D played a sport all four years. She was also an RA, a TA and a tour guide. Needless to say, she was very organized (she got that from her mom). She is now pursuing a Ph.D.at her dream school. (Several of her teammates are now in med or dental school.) More importantly, D really enjoyed her time at Swarthmore.
A sport will compel you to manage your time. Son has plenty of friends on and off the team. His academic transition from his “average” high school went well.
There’s a saying at Swat (possible not unique to Swarthmore): Academics, Friends, Sleep: Pick Two.
The cliche for college athletes is; Academics, Sport, Social life…pick any two.
Sounds like Swarthmore (and similar schools like U of Chicago), are; Academics, Sport, social life, sleep…pick any two!
Can a school like Swarthmore be that much more work that other top LAC’s? Would a Middlebury, Carleton, or Davidson be much different?