<p>hey guys! I'm a relatively new freshman at swarthmore but I'll be happy to answer questions about life here! I can't give specific info about departments but I can talk about social life, etc.
look forward to hearing from you!</p>
<p>Hi, i’ve heard a lot about the intensity in Swat. they say the only similar one in US would UChicago. How do you actually feel in it?
And how is the dorm?:)</p>
<p>it’s definitely intense, but since our requirements are pretty easy to fulfill, you’re working hard in subjects you generally care about. but yeah people are very into their studies and will study for hours a day. the magic of swarthmore is that they can also balance socializing and clubs too!
I promise we’re not at all as socially deprived as they say.</p>
<p>since the campus is so small, every dorm with the exception of the few off campus options is within a 6 minute walk of any building. I can’t say the condition of specific dorms but I promise they aren’t too bad</p>
<p>you’re better off talking to an upperclassmen because freshmen are still pass/fail…</p>
<p>What do you think made your essay/you stand out (I have been told that the essay is huge in admissions)?</p>
<p>I wish I could say that pass/fail lets me take it easy when I study but that’s not really the case - it’s more a safety net if I were to forget to set my alarm and sleep through the month of October (which I’m apt to do at this point haha)</p>
<p>Talking to people here gives me the impression that the essay plays a huge role in acceptance. I believe that it’s why I got in, because the test of my app must have been similar to many others. that being said, I honestly looked into swat as much as I could, talking about it’s quirks and things that you could only say about swarthmore and no other school. if you look at the essay you wrote and it can apply to another small liberal arts college with only small modifications, then you might want to draw out from deeper within yourself the reasons why you think Swat is for you.</p>
<p>How liberal is Swarthmore? From what I’ve read, the atmosphere is very left-leaning. Is this an integral part of campus or just a small facet?</p>
<p>It is VERY liberal.</p>
<p>yeah with the election fresh in mind, swat is INCREDIBLY liberal, i think I know 1 republican. and he says he only knows a handful. one thing we joke is that swat is tolerant of anything and anyone except for republicans.
but that’s an exaggeration. while there is definitely an overwhelming majority of liberal people, and they are often very opinionated, there’s really no problem with conservative and liberal people living together. unless you’re a socially conservative, then some parts of swat may unsettle you haha</p>
<p>My D is a social nerd (Dr Who, homestuck, liberal, gay, etc.). How easy/hard is it to find your social niche?</p>
<p>if your daughter knows tumblr then tell her tumblr people are safe here.
but yeah there are wild supporters of all sort of fandoms and we’re all massive geeks. but there are loads of people who enjoy partying and who enjoy staying in and watching sherlock</p>
<p>Know any fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Avatar: The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra? :)</p>
<p>Have you met any foreign language majors? I’m looking to major in German, but I don’t know much about Swat’s German program, apart from what I’ve read in old Daily Gazette articles from Lauren Stokes.</p>
<p>Generally how many hours of sleep you can get on weekdays/weekends? Have you ever felt stressed out/overwhelmed by the workload? </p>
<p>Also, is grading harsh? I’ve heard that grade-deflation is pretty common at Swat.</p>
<p>Another Swat freshman here!</p>
<p>@cruxclaire: You’re looking at a fan of Buffy and Korra right now! There’s definitely a big nerd population here. A typical weekend might include a humans vs. zombies Nerf Gun war, Firefly marathon, Homestuck meetup, Super Smash Bros Brawl tournament… (ok, that might be a lot for one weekend, but you get the picture).</p>
<p>I’m slightly more conservative-leaning than most people on campus. I was initially concerned about the extent of the liberal atmosphere, but though decidedly left-leaning, it’s still very conducive for conversations involving all viewpoints. There are some strong liberal movements on campus, but the student body discusses and criticizes all issues surrounding the movements pretty thoroughly. No one’s a sheeple here.</p>
<p>The essay is pretty important. Do your best to make it specific to Swat. (Speswatific?) My essay was pretty short and simple, nothing fancy, but I think it effectively conveyed the reasons I wanted to go to Swarthmore.</p>
<p>can’t answer about grade deflation.
about sleep, I say I sleep about 5-7 hours a night, 7-9 hours on weekends. others sleep more on weekends.
I’ve felt stressed yeah but the great place is that everyone else knows the feeling and is really helpful in making sure you stay sane and healthy. as rigorous as our academics are, not a single person will advise you or believe that work is more important than health.</p>