I’m surprised that Haverford has fallen down the rankings because I don’t believe that it has lost its high academic quality so it must be something superficial or unimportant. It is every bit as strong an institution as the other colleges on your DD’s list. That being said, it has a completely different atmosphere than any other school. It does have a very strong sense of community, but you will not find it on a football field. It’s in the Honor Code and the pride that the students feel about their school. They are very enthusiastic about being open and welcoming to everyone and being self-governing. They don’t need a football game to bring them together because they have Plenary (where they vote on the guidelines of the Honor Code). The school is what they decide it will be, and that’s quite unique.
If your daughter is not looking for a new experience and would rather bond over a football game, then Haverford is not for her. It takes a very unique type of student to find the real value of a place like Haverford. It’s not just about the academics, which are stellar by the way, but it’s a feeling within the community that their ideas matter, and how they interact with others is vitally important. They are usually very liberal thinkers and openly discuss their views but never their grades. I would highly recommend she visits Haverford since her counselor is telling her it would be a good fit, and I’d be interested to hear what she thinks.