<p>sdkddad, my son didn’t get anything as clever as “the fat envelope”. Just the very skinny one that made him very happy. The other letter I remember getting was in January or February. It offered assurance that he really had been accepted and gave us a timeline of when we could expect to hear from the college next. It was reassuring when there was a space of several months when we didn’t hear anything from Swat. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.</p>
<p>^^Oops, my previous post should say EDII. It just arrived today.</p>
<p>My D was accepted ED and was notified that Ride The Tide is April 16-17 (a Friday & Saturday). Isn’t this a change from previous years? We want to book her airfare early to use Frequent Flyer miles. Do you have any idea what time the activities start on the first day? If in the morning does the college provide lodging the night before? Any idea when things end on the second day? I notice there have been activities for parents. Do parents typically attend? We hadn’t planned to come. Any help you can provide is appreciated.</p>
<p>I can’t help you with dates. Usually Ride the Tide is during the week. You’d really have to check with admissions for a schedule. Usually, morning would just be check in and the like.</p>
<p>They have some parents events on day 2 for those who are picking up kids, but your instincts to just send your student is correct, IMO. We found that Ride the Tide was an excellent “dry run” for going off to college in the fall, far preferable for parents to drop them off at the airport or train station, and send them on their way.</p>
<p>Ours left with a high school frame of reference, came home with a college frame of reference, and was very excited about the fall.</p>
<p>Last year RTT was on Thursday and Friday and was immediately followed by Family and Friends weekend (The Swat version of Parent’s Weekend). I can’t imagine how the staff handled it. The programming started after lunch. RTT is directed more at undecided students but ED kids are certainly welcome. I think they probably like having them around because they are so excited and positive about Swat. My son spent most of his time with kids he had met through the Swat 2013 facebook group. The parent programming was ok, but you won’t be missing much. Large group discussions on FA, life at Swat, etc. I don’t think we picked up any new information. </p>
<p>All you EDIIers should check out the Swarthmore Class of 2014 Facebook page! There are some very helpful current students and it is a great place to get questions answered. Many of the kids my son hangs out with are kids he “met” on facebook.</p>
<p>One reason RTT isn’t linked to Family and Friends weekend this year is that Swat’s hosting the world’s largest collegiate fencing event that Friday and Saturday: [url=<a href=“http://usacfc.org/]USACFC[/url”>http://usacfc.org/]USACFC[/url</a>] </p>
<p>The campus will still have a lot going on. In addition to the usual comedy, musical, drama, and other RTT events, there will be home baseball, softball, and women’s lax games.</p>
<p>HarrietMWelsch,
Very interesting news that Swat is hosting this event. My fencer, who is waiting for Swat RD, will be quite interested to find out this info. ;)</p>
<p>How bad is the grade deflation in the hard sciences? What are the average GPAs for Math and Econ?</p>
<p>momof3, fingers very tightly crossed. Wouldn’t it be fun if my fencer and yours were on the same end of the strip for a couple of years?</p>
<p>Weird question, but hear me out: are any (freshman-allowed) dorms known for bug/insect infestations? Or even just issues like leaky windows letting them in constantly? I’m considering asking for a “special needs” accommodation for this except that the phobia is undiagnosed (well, I could get a letter from the school wellness counselor) and I’d probably just look like an idiot. Freshman housing is the only issue since after that, I can prioritize it over location/niceness in room draw.</p>
<p>Keil,
Freshmen can be assigned to any/every dorm as far as I know. My son graduated back in 07 but I never heard him mention anything about infestations. I have also been on campus many times and never noticed problems. Hopefully, some current students will check in about this question.</p>
<p>There have been problems with mice in many of the dorms. Particularly Mary Lyons as I recall. There was a big campaign to exterminate mice and get students to be more careful in how they store food, etc. in their dorm rooms. I don’t know whether this has solved the problem.</p>
<p>Mary Lyon (ML) was the one dorm my son didn’t have problems with mice. He had them in Willets & Wharton; I don’t remember if he had them in Dana. When we moved him out after graduation we were hoping that one of his little mice “friends” didn’t stowaway with us.</p>
<p>Mice are annoying but not a phobia problem for me. I meant more along the lines of ladybugs, roaches, houseflies… I heard that the Dana dorm has some weird native bug?</p>
<p>Keil: I suggest posting your question on the Swarthmore Class of 2014 facebook. You’ll lots of current students who will give you current information. My son is in Mary Lyon and I know they have had some mice this year. It hasn’t been a big problem though.</p>
<p>Right - Danabugs. But they’re not all that common, from what I hear.</p>
<p>How do the creative writing courses compare to those at Oberlin, Kenyon, Hopkins, Bard, etc.? I’m interested in Swarthmore for its intellectual vibe, but if it isn’t as strong in that department as are slightly less intellectual schools like Oberlin and Bard, it might get dropped from my list. Anyone?</p>
<p>The creative writing department is very genre-friendly (F/SF/H), the most genre-friendly collection of faculty I’ve found at any LAC. It was one component of my decision to apply ED.</p>
<p>Keil has the same phobia as my D! A mouse wouldn’t bother her but any kind of bug, roaches and ladybugs, will send her through the roof.</p>
<p>keilexandra,
i stayed in dana with my host (i was there for discoswat) and at night these little weird looking bugs came out, i mean i only saw like two in all though. And they were on the floor not in the bathroom or anything too bad. There weren’t any ladybugs or flies though so you’ll probably be fine :)</p>