<p>I need help. Swarthmore or Duke. I love both schools. Deadline is approaching</p>
<p>Wow. For schools with nearly identical admissions "stats", I can't think of how two colleges could be more different than Duke and Swarthmore. There is almost nothing in the mission, focus, structure, housing, social scene, or campus culture that is similar. About the only two things they have in common is gray stone buildings and gardens on campus.</p>
<p>interesteddad, you took the exact words out of my mouth!</p>
<p>Perhaps an appropriate way to highlight one of the differences is to look at how Swarthmore's Athletic Director handled its own "racial slur" incident this year (the only such incident that has made the student newspaper in several years).</p>
<p>At a women's basketball game in February against the historically black college, Lincoln, an assistant coach said something to the effect, "Come on girls, push the ball up the court on offense. Black players are too lazy to play defense; I know, I've coached 'em".</p>
<p>Only two Swarthmore players heard the comment (both white players). The players met with the co-captains after the game, including an African American player, and decided to bring their concerns about the comment to the Athletic Department. Less than 24 hours later, the Athletic Director met with the assistant coach and accepted her resignation.</p>
<p>As I read about the incident, I thought that it highlighted a community in which both the students and the administration send a clear, unambiguous message that derogatory racial comments are unacceptable.</p>
<p>accenthighlighter- tell us a little about what you want in a college, and maybe we can help to steer you in the appropriate direction.</p>
<p>I visited colleges with my college bound d. - swat quickly became her dream school which she is happily attending. After 10 minutes at Duke, she asked if we could get outa there. Have you visited? If not, I recommend it!</p>
<p>casualresponder sounds a lot like ID.. LOL</p>
<p>Interesting that both have D's and both visited Swat and Duke. ........</p>
<p>accenthighlighter - so much depends on your interests and where you see yourself for the next four years. DS1 was top 1% of his class in a large public school, played varsity soccer for four years, but never felt connected to his HS. He wanted a school where he was surrounded by other bright students, a school where there was a real school spirit, and something larger than where he attended HS. Although he visited both schools, he fell in love with Duke, applied ED and is currently a jr. there. He liked Swat, but he found the atmosphere more intense than he liked, the school too small. On the other hand, DS2, #2 in his private school, a writer and theater kid, visited Swat and loved everything about it. Good size, loved the vibrancy of the intellectual atmosphere, etc. He wouldn't even look at Duke. My sons are completely different in their interests and their choices in schools are completely different as well. While I don't doubt that you could love both schools, you really need to look at yourself and the schools and ask which fits you the best - will you feel overwhelmed by the size of Duke or stifled by the size of Swat? Do you like the idea of a school that rallies around it's basketball team and becomes "Cameron Crazies" or does that sound over-the-top to you? Both schools will certainly provide you with excellent educations and there is no doubt that you will be surrounded by brilliant students at both. But the atmosphere at the two schools is on opposite ends of the spectrum.</p>
<p>From 1sokkermom:"casualresponder sounds a lot like ID.. LOL</p>
<p>Interesting that both have D's and both visited Swat and Duke. ........"</p>
<p>Did I somewhere miss interesteddad's visit to Duke with his daughter? Or are you implying that he has a double identity? Somehow, I don't think he has time, or need. We did used to have a troll...am waiting for the metamorphosis.</p>
<p>I visited Duke with my daughter early on in the initial college survey visits. I'm pretty sure we aren't the only New Englanders who have done a southern swing through Virginia and North Carolina.</p>