|
Swarthmore College is located 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia – far enough away to have a 425-acre campus that is designated as an arboretum. The school was founded by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), but has no religious affiliation today. The school has more than 100 organizations that students can get involved in on campus, and about 40 percent of students study abroad. Swarthmore has about 20 NCAA Division III varsity sports teams cheered on by mascot Phineas the Phoenix. Its Greek life is limited to two fraternities and one sorority. Although only freshmen are required to live on campus, less than 10 percent of students live off campus.
Swarthmore College students can take courses at Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College through the Tri-College Consortium. Unlike most other liberal arts colleges, Swarthmore also offers an undergraduate engineering program. Swarthmore has many unique traditions, including the Crum Regatta, where students race homemade boats down Crum Creek; and Worthstock, which features live music, dancing and food. Notable alumni include Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief of astronomy in the Office of Space Science and "mother of the Hubble telescope”; former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Michael Dukakis; and Robert Zoellick, former president of the World Bank.
School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):
Swarthmore College, a highly selective college of liberal arts and engineering, has empowered students to pursue their intellectual interests with purpose for 150 years. What lies at the heart of our community? It is passion. We do not trade in the type of motivation that is extrinsically imposed on you. That is coercion. We do not value a superficial reward. That is a pat on the head. We believe that it is hard to motivate in a vacuum, and that is why the caliber of the people around you makes such a difference. Everyone at Swarthmore embarks on an intellectual journey. The students are compelled to find their calling --- undauntingly and unceasingly. The faculty is inspired to collaborate with students on joint research projects, which helps students find themselves as scholars and leaders and doers. That sparks the kind of discussions you cannot stop thinking about. Before long, you are thinking of ways to apply your ideas, to make them more relevant to the world. Whether that means advancing sustainability research, starting a microfinance incubator, founding a dance-based youth empowerment program in New Orleans, or making adaptations for blind students in the engineering curriculum, as a Swattie, you will have what it takes to apply your knowledge with meaning and purpose. The Honors Program brims with intellectual exploration, celebrating the free and spirited exchange of ideas through small-group interactions and challenging students to assert leadership with discussions. The College's Quaker roots manifest themselves in a cash-free campus, as the annual activity fee covers everything from digital printing and sporting events to campus movie screenings and dance performances. Swarthmore's robust financial aid program ensures affordability --- without loans. More than half of students received aid in 2014-15, with an average award of $43,250. Swarthmore makes admissions decisions for U.S. citizens and permanent residents with no regard for a family's ability to pay. If you are admitted, it carefully considers various factors and offers up to 100% of your family's demonstrated need.
|
|