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Swarthmore College Reviews

Average Rating Details

Academic Rigor

See Swarthmore College reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending Swarthmore College. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free Swarthmore College reviews, or contribute your own Swarthmore College review if you're a current student there.

  • 7 out of 7 people found this review useful.

    NY

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Swarthmore is known for being one of the most academically rigorous college in the country. This is true but studying what one is truly interested in and passionate about makes the heavy reading and problem sets worth while.
    Am enjoying being here

    Swat has a social life that is a leap forward for some and a step back for others. There usually is something for everyone, but going into Philly to fill in the gaps is a good idea.
    Tips for prospective students

    Ask for help! Seek academic tutoring and personal advice from peers, upperclassmen, profs, and deans. Everyone is willing to help but only if they know you need it.
    Great for these types of students

    Intellectually curious, hard working, self-motivated, open-minded, loves challenges, values intimate settings

  • 7 out of 7 people found this review useful. 1 person found this inaccurate.

    Tucker from Brentwood, NH

    Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Will learn a lot

    The classrooms and teachers are wonderful. Along with people that really want to learn something. Anyone would be lucky to go here.
    Will enjoy being here

    The campus is beautiful, there are tons of student organizations, and you are less than 30 minutes away from Philadelphia.
    Bang for the buck

    Sort of expensive, but they give out plenty of financial aid.
    Tips for prospective students

    You need a good GPA and test scores. If you don't have that then don't even apply you have no chance. Also try to get an interview with somebody at some point because that will help a lot.
    Great for these types of students

    Anyone that can get in should go here.

  • 5 out of 5 people found this review useful.

    Some Swattie

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Swarthmore is one of the toughest colleges in the country, but it pays off. Aside from major intro classes like Psch 1 and Bio 1&2, class sizes are very small. Professors are brilliant and AVAILABLE--unlike profs at huge research universities, they only teach undergrad and therefore have time and patience for undergrads.

    DO: Take advantage of the Writing Associates, your professors and advisor, and first-year seminars.

    DON'T: Underestimate the amount of work you'll be doing.
    Am enjoying being here

    Swarthmore is small and can get feel a little cramped sometimes, and often you'll find yourself with too much work to fully take advantage of all the other things going on. That aside, I love it.

    The people here are not only brilliant but really interesting and friendly. Everyone has a pet project. The campus is gorgeous and very walkable, dorms are quite good, and there are plenty of parties on the weekends as well as lectures, exhibits, film screenings, weird traditions, and various other get-togethers.
    Bang for the buck

    The school is expensive but has a big endowment, which translates to a lot of financial aid. Appealing for more aid does help if you can point out some concrete reasons--I appealed my first financial aid offer and got a better one. About half of the students here are getting some sort of assistance.
    Tips for prospective students

    Take advantage of everything the school offers! Create a project.
    Great for these types of students

    Quirky people who want to work hard academically but are also interested in making some kind of social change.

  • 2 out of 2 people found this review useful.

    Elizabeth

    Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Will learn a lot

    I felt that the academic rigor of Swarthmore is exactly the type for which I am looking. I love how Swarthmore aims to eliminate academic competition by making the first semester of freshman year all shadow grades.
    Will enjoy being here

    I love the people and the feel of the campus at Swarthmore. I can really see myself prospering in the type of environment Swarthmore has.
    Bang for the buck

    Swarthmore is expensive, but there is a fair amount of financial aid and they do all they can to help you. It is a great school and worth every penny.

  • 1 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Cally from North Potomac, MD

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    One of things I like most about Swarthmore is that sometimes you don't even realize just how much you are learning and not just in class. Hanging around all kinds of different people with different majors and interests means you'll pick up on a lot of new things.
    Am enjoying being here

    It can get a bit stressful when everyone is worried about exams but usually the campus is full of very relatively happy, diversely entertaining individuals.
    Bang for the buck

    It is quite expensive, but I feel as though it is worth it, so long as you are willing to make it work for you.
    Tips for prospective students

    Swarthmore likes well-rounded people. I have friends who are fluent in 12 languages and worked for corporations in NY, or are ultimate frisbee playing, theater performers majoring in engineering, etc.
    Just do what you like and don't feel the need to limit yourself to one thing.
    Great for these types of students

    Swarthmore in the past has had a reputation for drawing in swawkward students as they say but really the school is nicely mixed between all types of people. The thing we all have in common is we came here knowing we were going to have to do a lot of work because we wanted to learn.

  • 1 out of 14 people found this review useful.

    Iyanie from Steelton, PA

    Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Bang for the buck

    Verry expensive!
    Great for these types of students

    If you like rich, private, liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania, than Swarthmore is for you!