<p>I was pretty amazed to read what was said on the studentsreview site. I have parents who attended the school and a daughter who graduated with the fellow who posted. I know there are different points of view about everything under the sun. Wonder if the fact that the guy rates himself as “average” has anything to do with his happiness factor. I do believe that the sciences have larger introductory classes on the whole, but are not out of the realm of reason. Certainly liberal arts are the focus, and students leave Swarthmore with a very rich education if they choose their courses with that in mind. On the topic of being treated badly for political views, my daughter, a southern girl with no interest in debating (stated publicly in the school paper “I don’t care much about politics”) would have been “flushed out” long-since if the reviewer were correct. No one tried to force views on her or made her feel odd, but her strength is also not to let people modify her thinking or force their thoughts on her. Stubborn oldest child syndrome . . .it can help around other intense thinkers. She just focused her intensity elsewhere.
I suppose there are some who think the place difficult, and I am sorry that this fellow was so unhappy.<br>
Ironically, my father was less happy with the school in the supposedly marvelous fifties than my daughter was in the last four very wonderful years</p>