Admissions stats - Page 5

CollegeDadX3 · 11-10-2008, 10:11 AM

So my son has applied Ed to Swarthmore. What are the stats for getting in ED? I know it is hard but what I would like to know is - how hard? Male, non-minority - I know - but really what are the chances?

arador · 11-11-2008, 12:26 AM

~45% get in, I think? Unless it has dropped a lot in recent years.

interesteddad · 11-12-2008, 12:11 PM

CollegeDadX3:

The early decision data is included in each college's Common Data Set. The new one, for this fall's freshman class, has not been released yet, but here's the Common Data Set for academic year 2007-2008 (PDF):

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/...ir/cds2007.pdf

Page 14 has the info:

424 Early Decision apps
151 Early Decision acceptances

36% Early Decision acceptance rate

This was exactly double the overall 18% acceptance rate that year. I think that's a reasonable estimate of early decision's impact on acceptances for a solid, qualified applicant. I think Early Decision provides little or no advantage for an applicant who is not already an admissable, qualified, credible candidate.

Swarthmore has a very self-selected applicant pool and the Early Decision pool is the most self-selected of all. Good applicants who know Swarthmore well and who really want to be Swatties, plus guaranteed yield. What's not to like about that?

CollegeDadX3 · 11-12-2008, 02:20 PM

Thank you so much! When we visited, they said something that the yeild was higher for Ed applicants, but that the level of quality applicants is also considerably higher. Needless to say, the next month + should be very stressful for all those waiting for a decision. I guess there is nothing more to do than just wait.

interesteddad · 11-12-2008, 02:52 PM

Statistically, the enrolled Early Decision group is virtually indistinguishable from the overall enrolled class of freshmen, which means that it may be slightly lower than the overall group of accepted students (half of whom will enroll somewhere else - Harvard, Yale, MIT, CalTech, Harvey Mudd, Amherst, whatever).

However, "statistically" leaves out one huge factor: specific strong well-researched interest in Swarthmore and self-selected "fit" as a Swattie. Someone who has been looking at Swarthmore as a first-choice, probably an enthusiastic first choice, has a huge advantage in preparing an effective application that communicates that knowledge, excitement, and fit.

It's just human nature. An application to the fifth school on a student's list will communicate less knowledgeable enthusiasm than an excited first-choice application. Given that most of Swarthmore's applicants are well qualified academically, those intangibles are often the deciding factor.

CollegeDadX3 · 11-12-2008, 06:22 PM

So, the application is in, my son has gone ED, what are they looking for? I mean, what sets a kid apart from all the other great candidates? He wants to be a Swattie (I really think his heart is set on it), but, really, what factors in these decisions puts a student "over the top"? Another thing, we all know it is hard there and Swatties will study a lot. That is a given. So, if my son gets in, what will a Swarthmore education mean? What doors will graduating with a Swarthmore degree open up? If I seem a bit overwelmed and nervous, well, I am. Help!

dchow08 · 11-12-2008, 08:24 PM

I wouldn't worry about it too much CollegeDad. I think it's better to wait to see if your son gets in, first, and then start thinking about it seriously. I think Swarthmore is looking for students who are bright, active, enjoy learning and are willing to take academic seriously, and are just fun people to go to school with.

CollegeDadX3 · 11-13-2008, 09:57 AM

Of course you are correct, but it is fun to think about the possiblity of my son being a Swattie. Are there other great colleges out there, yes. Are there other colleges he will be happy at, yes. Swarthmore was really not on the radar until a few months ago, however, after his visit, everything changed. It just seemed that it fit him better than any other college we visited. I am not sure why, it just did. I am positive he is not the only one who feels this way about Swarthmore.

dadx3 · 03-26-2009, 06:28 AM

Here's an article in the Phoenix with data on applications for the class of 2013.
Applicant pool shrinks for Swarthmore, peers - The Phoenix

sandypooh10 · 04-19-2009, 10:48 PM

Do you know the statistics of SAT or ACT scores?

momof3sons · 04-22-2009, 08:10 AM

25%-75% for Critical Reading is 680-760, for Math it is 670-760. This is for the current freshman class. ACT composite median was 31. You can find much more specific breakdown of the scores on the Common Data set for 2008-09. Check out page 12. http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/...ir/cds2008.pdf

barron · 10-19-2009, 02:09 AM

How much does an international applicant's target for particular majors(astrophysics, mathematics, computer science) matter during the admission and financial aid process?