Swarthmore rightly prides itself on its diverse student body. A little research on the Swat website taught me that my graduating class (2026) includes students from 79 different countries and that international students make up 16% of the total student body. As I meet people from across the country and around the world, I’m always curious to hear their story of what brought them to Swarthmore. Two of my friends, Mya and Helga, were happy to share various aspects of what drew them to a small, liberal arts college outside Philadelphia and how it’s become a home away from home.

Interviews have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Myadaggarav Chuluundorj, ‘26

“I am from Mongolia. I spent a year in the US my sophomore year of high school as an exchange student and I decided that I wanted to go to college in the US. I also knew that I wanted to go to a liberal arts school, so I Googled ‘liberal arts school in the US’ and Swarthmore was one of the most prominent results. I am very glad about my decision because I’m really enjoying my experience and community here. Our international community is very close; we always help each other. We have the i20 club and then lots of clubs that are organized within our international community that help us make strong connections with each other. International student orientation is also great because it helps us navigate through our new experiences and make close friendships because we go through everything together. 

I started learning English in fourth grade, so I was fluent when I got here and I didn’t experience too much of a language barrier, but one thing that I still struggled with a little was the long academic readings that I needed to do for some of my classes. However, I’ve found that if you go to your professor and explain that you are struggling with understanding an advanced reading, they are very eager to help you. In Mongolia, I was taught that our teachers are our far superiors, but at Swarthmore I feel like I can consider some of my professors to be my ‘friends.’

I would definitely call Swarthmore my home away from home. As a sophomore, coming back here for the fall semester felt like coming back home because I’ve become so comfortable living and working here. My friend told me that your home is where your community is, and I definitely feel like I’ve made my community here.”

Helga Goncalves, ‘26

“I am from Cape Verde. I have wanted to come to the US since I was really young; I applied to 4 colleges in the US, and I decided to come to Swarthmore because it offered the best financial aid.

English is my third language, after Portuguese and Creole. I learned the basics of it from 3rd-7th grade, and then, since books aren’t translated to Portuguese very quickly, I started reading books in English— first children’s books, and then ones I was really excited to read. Back in Cape Verde, I didn’t have anyone to talk to in English, so when I came here, I could understand people well, but I needed to improve my speaking fluency. People here are really understanding, and I could understand my classes without much difficulty.

International student orientation was fun and very informational. There was a session called “How to Remain Legal in the US,” and even though deportation is a heavy topic, they made it lighthearted by making a funny play about it. The international student office is very nice; when the airline lost my suitcase on my way here, the International Student Director, Jennifer Marks-Gold, helped me replace the things. Swarthmore has so many other resources too that help us international students in getting acclimated to our new environment, like the yearly FLI coat bank, where I got my first winter coat.

I didn’t go home at all during my first year at Swat. I talk to my family a lot on the phone which helps with the fact that I can’t visit them. I keep very busy, so I don’t think about missing home that much. I want to be a doctor, and I need to get all the necessary things prepared to be accepted and receive funding for med school in the US so I can renew my visa to stay here after graduation. 

Swat is a really cool place. I am working harder now than I ever thought I would work, but I know it will all pay off when I reach my goal of being a doctor in the US. I totally think of Swarthmore as my home away from home. I feel like I have everything I need here, and I have really good friends that feel like family.”