Haverford vs. Barnard vs Smith

jennigarden
Mon, 24 Apr 2017 01:29:30 +0000

She’s mid-visit right at Barnard right now. We did just do our Haverford visit yesterday and today, and I have to say, I think it might be a match. Don’t want to predict until the Barnard visit is done but - it was right in so many ways. First, the social fit was great. Here are my impressions: Haverford kids tend to be quirky, nice, very smart kids that seem quite grounded. Character seems to be a factor in admissions. These are kids that are not just high-achieving but want to make the world a better place, aren’t full of themselves, and look out for each other. As one student put it, “We take our studies seriously but not ourselves seriously.” My D liked almost every student she met at Haverford, could see herself being friends with them. She liked the presence of boys, too - especially the boys she met there, who seemed “chill” and “nice”. It is a better social fit, we think, than Smith, which is a little too alt for my D’s taste. She’s artsy and all, but basically a pretty normal kid. It seems like a good academic/ interest fit too - A brand new arts center is opening in the fall, called VCAM (Visual Culture, Arts and Media Center). We met the chair of the English program and loved her. Activism and social justice are integral at Haverford, as part of the Quaker culture, with lots of opportunities like the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship. There is a strong music culture, with school bands and several places to gig on campus, and an art house covered with student murals and filled with supplies to paint and draw anytime you want. The community seems very warm, welcoming and close. This could work! Stay tuned.