It’s a classic question almost every Swattie has been asked at some point: “Why did you decide to go here?” Whether it’s coming from a fellow Swattie, a professor, or a friend or relative who had previously never heard of Swarthmore, it’s a question that’s sure to come up many times. While I feel that our answers can get a bit repetitive and all seem to get at the same ideas (such as the classic “I really like the community here!”), they are still genuine and we all have our own unique reasons for liking these same aspects of Swarthmore. So, with all that being said, here’s my “Why Swarthmore.”
When I was looking for colleges back in high school, I had no clue what I was searching for. I knew I had hundreds of options, and I knew everyone stressed it was important to choose the “right fit for you,” but in the seemingly endless sea of college mail, emails, and advertisements I was getting, I wasn’t sure how to find this so-called “right fit.” I had no idea what would be right for me, whether I would find that perfect fit at a school close to home, a giant research university, or a tiny college. That was, until I opened some mail from Swarthmore.
Swarthmore’s admissions mail stood out for a couple of reasons. One, it was funny. I remember specifically one piece, in order to explain the liberal arts, performed an interpretive dance (or, well, had the phrase performs interpretive dance written on it). There was an email that was sent entirely in binary code, and then another sent in hexadecimal as well. But it wasn’t just the quirky nature of these materials that drew me in. There was also the promise of a place where I could study anything and take any classes I wanted. I could design my own major if I so chose, I could double major in two disciplines that seemingly had no connection to each other, or I could take a wide assortment of classes just for the fun of it. And to seal the deal, the campus was an arboretum.
All of this drew me in to Swarthmore, but as I have been here, there has been even more that’s kept me here. First, the community truly is amazing here. Friends and professors will always be there for you here, both in and out of the classroom, and all of your clubs and groups will be filled with friendly and inviting people. For example, one of my professors for religion classes I have taken, Professor Ellen Ross, has helped me with campus job applications, given me excellent feedback on class assignments, and even let me explain a research project I was working on in another class to her during office hours.
The arboretum campus is also amazing, as you can always just step outside and go for a nature walk. You will also always be challenged here, both academically and personally, but it will always be an exciting challenge that many people will be there to support you through. Friends across disciplines will do what they can to help, like my English literature major friend who still tries her best to help me with math and science work.
Swarthmore is indeed an amazing community full of creative, inspiring, and unique individuals, and all of them work together to create something that is nothing short of incredible. The community of Swatties will always be there to support you in any way they can, and you will always be able to find your people here. In short, Swarthmore lives up to the idea of being a close-knit community full of people who work together to make things better for everyone.
