<p>Bored, not a lot of work to do because it's the first week of classes. I've been here for a while so throw some questions my way and we'll see if I can answer them.</p>
<p>female
midwest
major in political science, minor in a language</p>
<p>What language are you studying?</p>
<p>PM’d, don’t want to out myself</p>
<p>Thanks, Ridic. I asked because I visited Swat in Nov and loved it, but I keep hearing that it’s a “science” school. How do you feel about the humanities/art/music scene there?</p>
<p>A “science” school??? I don’t know who told you that, but I totally disagree. Of all my 15 or so close friends, one is a hard science major - the rest are a blend of social sciences and humanities. I’ve only taken 1 science class and 2 maths, which is pretty standard for non-sciency folks. In terms of the departments, all of the social sciences and humanities are strong. We have the better library by far. As far as arts and music, I can’t speak to the strength of the individual departments but there’s definitely solid student interest. The final dance performances (student run dance and department) are always packed - you have to get there at least 30 min before to get seats. Music performances are also really popular and we have a bunch of a capella, band, orchestra, choir etc. Hope that helps, let me know if you have more specific questions. I definitely would not call Swat a science school.</p>
<p>What you’re saying was my impression, so I’m glad to hear a current student back it up. I loved the Swat theater and the amphitheater (!) and imagined playing music/singing there. </p>
<p>What about daily life? What’s your typical mid-semester Friday like?</p>
<p>Now, all I have to do is get in. :)</p>
<p>Typical friday? Hmm… welll…let’s see, typically on Fridays if I have class I would never schedule it before 10:30am (11:30 unless I really need the class to graduate). So I’ll scrape myself out of bed around 10 if I have class, 12 if I don’t, and mope around feeling hungover for a bit (I always go to pub nite on Thursday nights, which is the best part of Swarthmore’s social life, but makes fridays hard haha. Pub nite is 9-12 thursdays and is three hours of all you can drink beer for $4. someone different does the playlist every week, and the mixes always include songs everyone knows and sings along to. there are drinking games, etc…it’s really chill, and really fun.). Then I’ll go to class or whatever, and probably hit the gym for an hour or so. In the afternoon depending on what time I’ve gotten mobilized I’ll probably go to the library for a couple hours and do some work. Probably eat dinner in Sharples, although… well, Friday nights are usually the slowest of the weekend, because Thursdays have pub nite and Saturdays are the night people kind of goes all out, so there are parties and stuff on Fridays, but a lot of upperclassmen end up staying in and working and people in general tend to keep it more low key. So anyway because of all that, if my friends and I decide to go to dinner elsewhere (in Media a few train stops away, Philly, or on the Pike) we usually do it on Fridays. And then depending on what is going on on campus, I’ll come back and get ready and go out to a party, or go hang out in someone’s dorm and drink and/or watch movies orrr just have kind of a slow night doing some reading and whatnot. </p>
<p>Hope that helps… it’s not the same for everyone here at Swat, obviously, but it works for me.</p>
<p>I was wondering your thoughts on a) theatre at Swarthmore and b) the rumors that everyone’s socially awkward.</p>
<p>Oh, how fun…OK…Questions:</p>
<p>Pub Night, $4 Beer. Is that on campus or off?</p>
<p>On our tour, the guide said there were dances every xxx night, late, I want to say…tell me about that.</p>
<p>Is it a dry campus, or is beer available?</p>
<p>What do you see more of…Drinking or Smoking Pot? Would you call it a pot or alcohol school? Or a none of the above school?</p>
<p>Are you happy with your school choice? </p>
<p>Do you get to philly very often, or pretty much stay on campus?</p>
<p>Do you ever get to Haverford or Bryn Mawr?</p>
<p>Pub Nite is a long-standing tradition: a senior class fundraiser each Thursday night. It’s held in Paces Cafe which is a room in the back of Clothier Hall, next to the bell tower. It’s the building with the bookstore in the basement and the snack bar. Paces is at the very back of the building behind the snack bar with big windows, tables and chairs, and a linoleum dance floor that can be easily hosed down. Pub Nite is kind of the on-campus version of a neighborhood dive bar.</p>
<p>Hey guys, sorry it’s taken me a bit.</p>
<p>~I was wondering your thoughts on a) theatre at Swarthmore and b) the rumors that everyone’s socially awkward. </p>
<p>Theater at swat is great. I’ve done stuff with drama board and the theater department and I had a great time. the performances were all very professional and the other students were very very dedicated. The theater department is pretty small but the professors I know are incredibly nice, passionate about what they do (their own theater careers and their teaching) and interesting. the department puts on several shows each year, usually associated with the different classes. You don’t always have to even be in the class to be associated with the show (i.e. acting in or doing lighting or set design for the directing II night of scenes). You don’t have to be a major to take classes and get involved. drama board is the biggest student run theater group and they get a lot of funding to put on shows big and small. They have a big play or musical every semester, and a lot of smaller student-directed shows as well. Again, very dedicated students, cool and interesting people. surprisingly unpretentious, in my experience. Lots of opportunities for people to get involved in all aspects of show production. You don’t have to be a major. I’m a big fan of swat theater, and others are as well - shows are often really full.</p>
<p>as for everyone being awkward, that’s not a rumor…all of us are a little bit awkward, and the awkwardness grows as you stay here because everything can become so academic and sort of removed from actual reality. That said, it doesn’t have to be like that and it’s not always a bad thing. the frequent awkward scenarios give us something to laugh about and help inject some humor into day to day life. and personally I’d rather be here with the slightly awkward people who are ALSO very interesting and fun than be elsewhere with people who were socially competent but like… something out of elle woods’ sorority house, let’s say</p>
<p>~Pub Night, $4 Beer. Is that on campus or off?</p>
<p>I think interesteddad did a fine job of explaining this (lol interesteddad, you were on CC when i was applying to schools! hasnt your child long graduated??)</p>
<p>~On our tour, the guide said there were dances every xxx night, late, I want to say…tell me about that.</p>
<p>Ummm yes, usually on Saturdays and most Fridays there will be dance parties at Paces, usually thrown by student groups (i.e. frisbee party, swim team party, soca party, enlace party). free and open to everyone as are all campus events, with party associates at the door to check ID’s. usually sort of generic top-20 music and lots of bump and grind. it loses its appeal after sophomore year, for the most part, but hey we all get nostalgic and go sometimes.</p>
<p>~Is it a dry campus, or is beer available?</p>
<p>beer is pretty available</p>
<p>~What do you see more of…Drinking or Smoking Pot? Would you call it a pot or alcohol school? Or a none of the above school?</p>
<p>drinking, but I would say neither, because there are enough people who partake of neither</p>
<p>~Are you happy with your school choice?</p>
<p>couldn’t be happier. I’ve made such good friends here, learned so much, grown up a lot and had the best time of my life. I wouldn’t trade it for anywhere. i have a great plan for the next few years after graduation and I wouldn’t have been in a position to set it all up if it hadn’t been for the resources I’ve had here academically, career services-wise and just in terms of personal growth. love the campus, love my friends, classes have been for the most part good and I’m lucky enough to really enjoy my major. it was good to go away for a semester and study abroad, but when I came back i was more pumped than ever to be back. it’s just the right fit for me.</p>
<p>~Do you get to philly very often, or pretty much stay on campus?</p>
<p>I go to philly about 1x/month maybe twice or once to Media for dinner if i’m feeling adventurous. It’s just kind of a hassle, always expensive, and everything on campus is free so it seems pointless unless i’m really itching to get dressed up and go out to dinner. That said, now that I’m “of age” it’s been fun to get in to the city and go to bars etc, which wasn’t really an option before. i was swamped with work all last semester and didn’t really make time for it, but I’m taking a lighter courseload this spring so hopefully I can get in there more.</p>
<p>~Do you ever get to Haverford or Bryn Mawr? </p>
<p>never. I took a class at haverford a couple years ago, which was fine (I did the whole eating in their dining hall thing as well) but I’ve never gone to a haverford or bryn mawr party or event. sometimes bryn mawr girls come to our things but no one I know ever goes into the trico unless they’re taking a class</p>
<p>~ Are u Hot? </p>
<p>I go to swarthmore, if you know anything about this school you should know the answer to that</p>
<p>~~~~</p>
<p>Hope that helps guys! good luck, let me know if there are followups.</p>
<p>"~ Are u Hot? </p>
<p>I go to swarthmore, if you know anything about this school you should know the answer to that"</p>
<p>Ok, that was not a question I asked, and not an answer I really care about, but…</p>
<p>what does that mean?</p>
<p>^^
Although I’m not ridiculousperson, I think the implications of her “hot” comment was pretty clear. </p>
<p>Let me refer you to what a popular College review website, which CC doesn’t allow you to name, writes this in reference to this matter about the statement above: “Swarthmore students are not the most attractive students in the country. If Arizona State students are at one end of the spectrum, Swatties are probably at the other. If you are looking for a school where curvaceous blondes and rugged, chiseled Abercrombie models outnumber textbooks, you should start reconsidering Swarthmore right now. It’s not that Swatties are downright ugly, but their general apathy toward outward appearance sometimes makes them seem that way.”</p>
<p>Duhvinci is a classmate of the OP. I don’t think his question was serious. And I don’t think ridiculousperson’s answer was meant to be taken deadly seriously, either. </p>
<p>The quote pointoforder cites is not without truth, though I think anything from that site should be read with a few grains of salt. (Really, that’s true of CC too.) I can tell you that there actually is an Abercrombie model in Duhvinci’s and the OP’s class, and plenty of other nice looking kids in that class and the other three. What you won’t find at Swat is a big population of people who put a huge amount of time and attention into their day-to-day looks. Most of them clean up pretty well, though. :)</p>
<p>Gay life on campus?</p>
<p>Hi, I’m a freshman at Vassar looking to possibly transfer to Swarthmore. I have, as my title stated, some brief questions.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Several people have told me that if you’re not at the honors program at Swarthmore, it’s very difficult to get into a good law school. This is a big concern for me since I’d eventually like to get a JD. How much harder is it to get into a good (U.S. News top 10) law school if you’re not in the honors program</p></li>
<li><p>More on the honors program. How hard is it to get into, and how much harder are its classes than normal classes?</p></li>
<li><p>Most people tell me Swarthmore is challenging. I’ve had people tell me it’s like the U Chicago, and that graduating with even a 3.5 or 3.6 GPA is very rare. Just how hard is Swarthmore? More specifically, since I’m a humanities/social sciences guy, how hard are those areas?</p></li>
<li><p>Finally, is Swarthmore’s difficulty the result of professors grading harshly, lots of work, or both? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for reading this and I look forward to your answers.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I’ve never heard anyone say that being in the honor’s program helps or hurts your chances of getting into law school. I’m fairly sure that law schools, and probably every grad school that isn’t a phd program, don’t care if you were honors or not.</p></li>
<li><p>You basically need a B+ average, and probably a B+/A_ average in the major to be accepted into honors. It is not so hard to get in, it is basically self selecting. It might be tough to do honors transferring in as a junior, but perhaps not. In the hum. and social sciences, the classes are more intense and more work that normal classes, although it isn’t necessarily harder to get a good grade, and I’d say in general they are not quite twice as much work as a normal upper level class. </p></li>
<li><p>How hard is it? Probably the texts you are reading and the difficulty/ number of assignments will not be too different to Vassar, but perhaps your classmates will be a little bit more on the ball. If you are not struggling somewhere else, you probably wont struggle at swat. </p></li>
<li><p>I think there is a fair amount of work, your classmates will do good work, and there aren’t really very many easy classes, so you probably wont take many or any credits of fluff.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I think I’ve read that the average GPA at Swarthmore is about 3.3. Keep a 3.8 and you are likely elected Phi Beta Kappa. Based on that, a 3.5 or 3.6 is possible, but not easy. On the other hand, Swarthmore has a very good reputation with graduate and professional schools. Call or email the pre-law advisor if you want more details.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>To get into top Law schools you need a high GPA, and a high LSAT score. To get into Yale, Stanford and Harvard you may need some “soft factors”, but all the others pretty much accept by the numbers, and it has nothing to do with honors program.</p></li>
<li><p>There is a GPA requirement for the honors (3.5, if I remember correctly), and you have to have certain classes completed - it varies by department. All the info is on the web site, if you really want to know.</p></li>
<li><p>How hard it is depends on the classes you are taking. Usually you will take 3-4 2-credit seminars. They are not always reserved only for the honors program, but those in honors will have the first pick.</p></li>
<li><p>You are expected to produce some high level work. I’ve read some papers that my non-Swarthmore children got A/A- on at highly respected schools, and I am pretty sure that they would have been lucky to get B/B- on such papers at Swarthmore.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It’s always difficult to discuss GPA because it varies so much from student to student and course to course. Each of us sees a different piece of the “elephant”. Having said that, in the class of 2008, a 3.7 GPA did not make Phi Beta Kappa (top 15%), so we know that at there were significant numbers of Swatties above that mark. I think it’s fair to say that they all earned the respect of their classmates, too.</p>
<p>I don’t think GPAs in the 3.5 to 3.6 range are unusual at Swarthmore. That’s above the median, but not by that much.</p>
<p>My sense is that Swarthmore’s difficulty isn’t from taskmaster professors who grade like ogre’s. Quite the contrary, my D thought the professors were at times a bit too accommodating. My sense is that, over a long period of time, Swarthmore has developed a campus culture where it is “cool” to be engaged with academics and enjoy the courses. That, in turn, leads to a higher than average number of students doing the assignments and showing up to class prepared and ready to engage (obviously colllege students don’t read every page and don’t always get enough coffee before class, but we are talking on average). This, in turn, makes for an enjoyable, highly motivating environment for the professors who consistently talk about how invigorating their students are. They teach well; the students are demanding. This whole thing is self-reinforcing to the point where there is a shared-learning experience and high level of academics – not because the professors are whipping the students, but because it’s all kind of fun (except for exam week, of course).</p>
<p>As for Honors. There are good reasons to do the Honors track. There are good reasons not to do the Honors track. Some of Swarthmore’s best student choose both tracks. Law school admissions probably isn’t a very good reason to choose Honors or not. It’s really more of an issue of learning style and course selection, plus a demanding set of oral and written exams at the end. The decision also depends a bit on the Department. That stuff will sort itself out once you are a Swattie. I don’t know how anyone could make a good decision without first-hand experience.</p>