Difference b/w Swarthmore and Haverford

[interesteddad]

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I asked her what she thought was the main difference between the two schools; she replied that it seemed to her as though Swarthmore professors hold their students to almost unattainable, “impossible” standards for the purpose of keeping them from settling for average work. Thus, this would probably result in a stressful, pressure-cooker environment that the students actually create for themselves because they want to do well and were the type of students in high school that did, in fact, do well.

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<p>Actually, the demanding nature of Swarthmore appears to have just he opposite effect. Many students realize that the standards mean they are unlikely to get an “A” in every course. This can be quite liberating for high-achiever high school students and the message is further reinforced with the pass/fail first semester, when they get the opportunity (often for the first time in their lives) to be knocked down a notch or two. </p>

<p>For many Swarthmore students, the mindset becomes: take the course, enjoy the learning for learning’s sake, make a solid effort to do the coursework and participate in class, and let the grades fall where they may. When it’s an “A”, great. When it’s not, it’s not. Learn from it and move on.</p>

<p>The situation you describe where a student feels the same pressure to get all "A"s regardless of the standard to do so is actually one of the two kinds of students my daughter recommends not go to Swarthmore (the other being the “slacker”).</p>