What kind of students does Swarthmore accept?

Average GPA: 4.09 With a GPA of 4.09, Swarthmore requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

What kind of student does Swarthmore look for?

Creative and proactive problem-solving: We are intrigued by students who are flexible in their approach to learning, who are comfortable with experimentation, and who are willing to take intellectual risks that move them out of their comfort zone.

Who gets into Swarthmore?

The average AMCAS GPA for accepted Swarthmore applicants was 3.70. Our experience at Swarthmore is that a strong A- average is a solid basis for applying. This places a student in the top half of the graduating class, which had a median GPA of A- in 2023.

Why is it so hard to get into Swarthmore?

Admissions officials at Swarthmore College consider a student's GPA a very important academic factor. An applicant's high school class rank, when available, is considered very important and letters of recommendation are considered very important for admissions officials at Swarthmore College.

Is Swarthmore a little ivy?

Swarthmore is considered one of the “Little Ivies”, a colloquial term for smaller colleges with ample academic prowess that rivals the Ivy League universities. Swarthmore provides each student the opportunity to design their own major by choosing from more than 40 courses.

q&a about college, admissions, and swarthmore!

Is Swarthmore an elite college?

Awarded one of America's Best Colleges

Swarthmore is an elite and demanding liberal arts school founded by the Quakers in 1864. Though relatively small, with about 1,600 undergraduates, the private school offers students unusually expansive opportunities.

How intense is Swarthmore?

The academics are extremely challenging at Swarthmore. It is sort of hard to describe, but the courses at Swarthmore are going to be very hard.

Is Swarthmore prestigious?

Swarthmore College is ranked #4 out of 211 National Liberal Arts Colleges. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

Is Swarthmore academically rigorous?

Aside from offering one of the most vigorous academic experiences in the world, what's unique about learning at Swarthmore? Your first semester is pass-fail, so you can learn for learning's sake. We have a one-of-a-kind Honors Program.

What is Swarthmore known for?

Swarthmore is known for its Quaker roots and mission. Besides its great academic opportunities, the college's beautiful 425-acre campus is a nationally registered arboretum with rolling wooded hills. Iconic Parrish Hall is the heart of the Swarthmore campus.

What majors is Swarthmore known for?

The most popular majors at Swarthmore College include: Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Mathematics and Statistics; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Visual and Performing Arts; Engineering; Physical Sciences; Foreign Languages, Literatures, and ...

Why is Swarthmore acceptance rate so low?

Swarthmore is impressed by applicants who pursue their unique academic and extracurricular passions. So, the admissions team focuses on building a well-rounded and diverse Swarthmore undergraduate enrollment cohort. Swarthmore's acceptance rate is low because nearly all applicants have high grades and scores.

Is Swarthmore worth the money?

Below Average Value Nationwide

Based on our analysis of other colleges at similar price points, we believe Swarthmore College is overpriced for the quality education it provides. (This takes into account average financial aid and may not apply to you if you have further scholarships, grant or aid provided to you.)

Is Swarthmore a Tier 1 school?

Tier 2 represents selective private liberal arts colleges (like Williams, Smith, Swarthmore, and Amherst Colleges); Tier 3 refers to public research universities (like UT Austin, Brandeis, Occidental, and UCLA);

Does Swarthmore care about demonstrated interest?

Applicants who do not interview are not at a disadvantage, and Swarthmore does not practice 'demonstrated interest' in its application review process. Why should you interview with us? While your application gives us a lot of information, a face-to-face conversation helps us learn more about you as an individual.

Is Swarthmore better than Cornell?

They are both world class institutions. Cornell is much larger, significantly more engaged in research, and therefore, more well known. But where it matters, in academe and industry, Swarthmore is as respected as Cornell.

Is Haverford or Swarthmore better?

In summary, both schools offer excellent academics, closely-knit communities, and generous financial aid. Academically, the choice between the two largely depends on your intended major and preferred academic environment.

Is Swarthmore better than Williams?

According to US News rankings, Swarthmore, Amherst, and Williams are consistently among the top liberal arts institutions in the nation. Most recently, Williams has been ranked at #1 in the US, Amherst at #2, and Swarthmore at #3.

Why is Swarthmore special?

With a curriculum unmatched among liberal arts colleges of its size, Swarthmore offers more than 600 courses and undergraduate research opportunities—from the humanities and performing arts to the social and natural sciences and engineering.

Are Swarthmore graduates successful?

Thirty-seven percent work in fields related to their major, and nearly one-quarter (24%) are working in the field of their major. Most often, those alumni not currently employed are pursuing further education (4% of all respondents). The rates at which Swarthmore graduates earn advanced degrees are very high.

What is Swarthmore best at?

Swarthmore is great in that the college is pretty strong across all of humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

What are Swarthmore students called?

Swarthmoreans before a certain period would never be caught calling the College “Swat” or themselves “Swatties”—not just avoiding the appellation, struggling against it. Quaker roots and such. Never a nickname synonymous with a blow. Sad to see paddleboard hazing become common parlance. Perhaps it's a different era.

Is Swarthmore all girls?

Swarthmore College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,625 (fall 2022), with a gender distribution of 49% male students and 51% female students. At this school, 96% of the students live in college-owned, -operated or -affiliated housing and 4% of students live off campus.