<p>S is looking at all 4 of the above schools. Obviously, some similarities but more differences...wanting to hear Pros or Cons of choosing each school.</p>
<p>Looking at possible pre-law preparation with possible majors in Poli Sci, Econ, or Psych. May major in one with minor in another.</p>
<p>Also, plans to play soccer.</p>
<p>Swarthmore if wants a SLAC, Chicago if a research university. Haverford is great, but Swat is absolute top drawer. S, H and C all strong for pre-law (although that is not really a major or discipline), Econ and Psych.</p>
<p>Swarthmore has a very strong men’s soccer program. They made it to the NCAA DIII tournament in each of the past 2 years. The men’s soccer team is currently in Greece for a 13 day preseason trip. [Swarthmore</a> Soccer Teams Set for Preseason Tours of Europe - Swarthmore](<a href=“http://www.swarthmoreathletics.com/Soccer_Europe_Release]Swarthmore”>http://www.swarthmoreathletics.com/Soccer_Europe_Release) If your son is interested in playing soccer at a strong DIII program, I strongly advise speaking with the coach.</p>
<p>Of the other schools, Swarthmore and Haverford are the most similar to each other, as small liberal arts colleges, both with Quaker backgrounds and in suburban Philadelphia. Even between Swarthmore and Haverford there are differences: Swarthmore has significantly more money (endowment) and has its unique honors program. Haverford is probably more Quaker influenced than Swarthmore, is significantly smaller (though some would say you should add in Bryn Mawr which is close by), and has a strong honor code. Chicago is a university in the middle of a big city, and has its own unique take on the core curriculum. Dickinson is a very good liberal arts college, but not quite in the same academic league as Swarthmore, Haverford or Chicago. Of course, it is also easier to get admitted to Dickinson than the other 3.</p>
<p>Freshman D narrowed her final choices to UChi and Swarthmore. After visiting both, decided on S. The absence of grad students and TAs, combined with a more intimate learning environment seemed to carry the day. Also liked 1st semester P/F, honors program and profs not obsessed with the publish/perish syndrome, as well as collaborative rather than competitive learning model. Best option for a 17 year old.</p>
<p>Your daughter accounted for the absence of publish-or-perish syndrome in her decision?</p>
<p>Kids these days!</p>
<p>why doesn’t your son ask for himself… also notice that none of the people who responded are students… except for maybe apollue – it’s vague</p>
<p>I guess then that all parents should stop seeking counsel on this websight then???</p>
<p>first of all, you know that your interpretation of my very clear post is ridiculous. take note that the parent may be seeking some form of counsel in this post, but they have written as though they are representing their child and their child’s interests – which, apparently, the child cannot explore themselves. if the student wants to know the pros and cons why doesn’t he take 5 minutes to make an account, ask for himself, and sift through the incredibly biased posts from people who aren’t even students at the school… himself. </p>
<p>what i am most definitely asserting is that parents should definitely seek counsel for themselves on this webSITE – it’s a decent tool – but the kids should have enough initiative to look through all this crap up themselves if their the ones who want to know.</p>
<p>but really what’s most irksome to me is that this OP isn’t even getting responses from actual students.</p>
<p>I think current student input can be very valuable for specific questions about the college they attend. The OP is not asking those questions, however. He is asking for pros and cons of 4 different schools. Since virtually all Swarthmore students have only attended Swarthmore, they may not be in the best situation to compare the pros and cons of Swarthmore and Chicago, for instance.</p>
<p>While most parents haven’t attended more than one undergraduate institution, either, they may have other perspectives to offer: they may have gone to one of the LACs the OP is interested in and then done graduate work at Chicago, they may have children at several of the schools, or know recent graduates, have hired or work with graduates of the various institutions.</p>
<p>liminal, maybe the “kid” doesn’t feel like it. What is your point? So, should the parent not ask unless “actual students” are likely to respond?</p>
<p>they’re* whoops</p>
<p>dadx3 you make very valid points about the knowledge and perspectives that parents/non-students/alums can offer (which, in some cases, is more valuable than what a jaded freshman can offer). however, i don’t think it’s absurd to claim that a thread that doesn’t contain involvement from ANY students or alums could be improved upon in how it describes the current experience provided by the institution. parents dominate the discussions on this site all the time, but this thread irked me because it demonstrates how removed actual students are from the process sometimes. i don’t see the point in getting defensive when someone is questioning the source and effectiveness of information that is being put out there. i also find it surprising that the student, who is considering top-notch institutions where motivation and research skills are presumably possessed by those attending, hasn’t taken the initiative (or, perhaps worse as plainsman has pointed out, does not feel like taking initiative) to explore these things himself. it certainly would be nice if i had my parents to do everything i didn’t feel like doing.</p>
<p>as for actual advice:
being pre-law doesn’t really matter. all schools will prepare your son well and make him competitive for applying to law schools (dickinson is solid but it’s not in the same league as the other 3 as dadx3 pointed out – but one might be able to argue that it’d be easier to have a higher GPA at dickinson so that would make him competitive vs.having a slightly lower GPA at a more competitive school).</p>
<p>hford swat and uc are all in/near city – dickinson is not. uchicago is dI (and most likely has a club), the other schools are all dIII and in the centennial conference. swat men’s soccer came off of a strong season but also lost their top player so that may affect their standings in the coming season. regardless, it’s a very competitive program; for instance, a few people get cut at the beginning of the year despite their having been recruited.</p>
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<p>The University of Chicago is DIII. (It competes in the UAA.)</p>
<p>liminal,</p>
<p>I am a Swarthmore alum and parent of 2 recent Swarthmore grads. I also have close relatives who have attended Haverford. One reason this thread may have so few current Swatties posting is the OP’s question: “wanting to hear Pros or Cons of choosing each school” - Swarthmore vs. U of Chicago vs. Haverford vs. Dickinson. If I were a current Swattie I’d feel a lot more knowledgeable commenting on the social live in David Kemp, or whether or not Swarthmore was staid or how tough it is to be pre-med at Swarthmore. Comparing Swarthmore to 3 other schools I may know little about with specific pros and cons of each school? Not so much.</p>