<p>Kind of scary that the only way you feel you can sufficiently defend Swarthmore is by stooping to the not-so-subtle ad hominem attacks at the end of your post.
(By the way, I was using the Oxford thing as an example- I have already chosen the exact foreign language immersion program that I would enroll in if at Swarthmore. Not, of course, that that has anything to do with what we were supposedly discussing, so whatever.)
I sure hope that your patronizing attitude is not an accurate reflection of the school. ("You are smart to listen to your gut.")
I will stop posting on this thread now.</p>
<p>What "ad hominem" attack? I was giving you sincere advice. I apologize if you you misinterpreted it.</p>
<p>Swarthmore is challenging school. I don't think it is unreasonably challenging, but for the sake of honesty, I think it's fair to say that it is possible that a Swarthmore GPA might be lower than the same student could achieve at some other schools, or that achieving a high GPA might take (on average) a bit more work. Therefore, if achieving a specific college GPA is particularly important, Swarthmore might not be the right school. The two key points are that, if you do the work with reasonable dilligence, you'll do fine and, whatever the GPA that produces, you will have gotten an outstanding education. I think that students who go into it with that attitude find Swarthmore reasonably stress-free. On the other hand, students who are "married" to a particular GPA expectation probably set themselves up for a more stressful experience. Listen you your own gut on that one.</p>
<p>I gave the same advice to my own daughter. No attack at all; just trying to shoot straight with you.</p>
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Swarthmore students think the DVD was too "polished", but I thought it was a refreshing change from the slickly produced infomercials most colleges send out - you know, the ones with the perky blond in full make-up staring doe-eyed at the beaker boiling away on a bunsen burner in a chem lab. I liked that the Swat DVD showed snow on the ground, messy professors's offices, real dorm rooms piled to the ceiling, and a range of students.
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<p>looks like you got beat to the punch :)</p>
<p>I happened to find my dvd as well the other day, but I lost it again :(</p>
<p>I'm gonna go find it, I'll let you guys know how it goes.</p>
<p>Hey, I know its pretty pointless to revive this thread, but</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who posted and contributed… I came to find my reassurance in applying early, and i’ve found it :D. To the extent that I feel stupid having that inkling of doubt :)</p>