While it is a mishmash of old terminology (Achievement test → SAT II → SAT subject test were the official names), the test themselves were discontinued in 2020, so it is possible that some current students had taken them (consider non-traditional students or other students who took gap years of some sort).
It is a vassar.edu URL to the 2024-2025 catalog.
https://catalogue.vassar.edu/content.php?catoid=55&navoid=11677
correct- no more SAT subject/achievement tests. Gonzo.
As an alumnus of Georgetown law, I can say with confidence that attending Georgetown as an undergraduate doesn’t give you a leg up on being admitted to the law school. You describe yourself as “alternative” which leads me to believe that either Bowden or Swarthmore would be a good fit for you. But, you have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to school choices. Congratulations!
You have a couple overlaps with my D24, so I’ll chime in. I spoke to FA officers at both Bowdoin and Swat this week. Bowdoin indicated that its financial aid package does not include health insurance, which would cost us an additional ~$3,000. Swat’s financial aid package also did not include health insurance, but I was told that it would only cost an addition $200-$300. (Now that I write that, I wonder if I misheard.) We also have the option of keeping D24 on my current employer-provided health insurance.
Anyhow, my point is to talk with your parents and the financial aid offices at each school about health insurance, as it may or may not be a large additional cost.
Health insurance was not part of the initial FA award at Bowdoin, but was covered once current insurance was not approved for Maine. Below a quote from the wedsite, we did not have to apply for additional aid so unsure if that is a change this year.
“All students are required to have adequate health insurance coverage. Each student is automatically enrolled in the Bowdoin health insurance plan each fall semester. You may waive the coverage if you have adequate insurance already. If you need the insurance and receive aid from Bowdoin, you may apply to have the cost covered by an additional aid credit. Families receive information about health insurance in July and may contact Cathy Hayes with questions.”
I would say to call back for clarification, but Brunswick is being hit be a snow storm and power is out. Second time this semester and Bowdoin as expected has handled it very well. All dorms have heat and both dining halls are in buildings with generators.
Thanks. I wasn’t clear. I think all or most schools, Bowdoin included, offer the option of not using (or waiving) the school’s health insurance and staying on a parent’s insurance instead.
Yes. This was our experience too.
Huge congrats! Awesome options!
I’m at Vassar and have friends at most of these schools! All great options, you can’t go wrong! (not trying to convince you to come to Vassar, just a couple comments based on what I know) –
If you’re interested in Poli Sci, I really think you should go to each school’s course catalog and read about the specific profs. Look at where they’re from, where they were educated, what categories of poli sci they do, what they’re interested in… Vassar’s political science is very different than Georgetown’s. I love our Poli Sci profs but recognize that it’s not the exp everyone is looking for.
Beware preppy vibes at Georgetown (noted to me by a friend)! Though there will be preppy people at any elite school… 
Lots and lots of quirk at Vassar. A close friend’s twin goes to Williams, and they joke a lot about how people at Williams are more “normal” and sporty than us Vassar students. I hear similar things about Bowdoin.
Don’t doubt yourself with Swat’s academics! If they accepted you, they’re confident you’ve got what it takes to do well. At any of these schools, you could pick similarly difficult schedules, or pick classes that are on the easier side… plus I think Swat still has the pass/fail first semester to transition in right?
And wherever you go, make sure to connect with their programs for fgli students (you mentioned the clutch need-based aid, so I’m assuming you’d probably fit into that?). Many of my friends were part of the Foundations/Transitions program at Vassar. Completely transformed their college experiences.
And yeah, Vassar isn’t in a “city-city,” but I like Poughkeepsie, and NYC access is pretty easy with friends from the city. You mentioned that you speak some Spanish? There’s a huge Oaxacan population in Poughkeepsie, lots of restaurants and opportunities to meet people, a big Oaxacan festival over the summer… my longer Poughkeepsie ramble here Puzzled about Vassar (and their admissions office) - #49 by swallowtail
Feel free to DM me too if you have any specific questions or would like to be connected with anything!
Some updates -I’ve gotten down to two options - Williams and Swarthmore. I loved Vassar’s open curriculum, but the campus seemed too small and they didn’t have as great of career counseling servicies as the others. I wasn’t really feeling Bowdoin this time around, the weather wasn’t as great as the first time I went and it seemed pretty dull and depressing, I don’t know if I have it in me to handle the Maine winters. Georgetown was not my vibe. Williams was great. The presentation was super detailed and efficient, and the alumni network is unbeatable. I also love 4-1-4. Swarthmore was also great! The campus was unbelievably gorgeous and I had a meeting with the financial aid department who provided lots of clarity. Williams and Swarthmore’s packages are nearly identical, only difference is summer storage which shouldn’t be a big issue. I am also feeling a lot more open to the challenge and was told that law schools are aware of how difficult Swarthmore classes are, so they see GPAs differently. There’s also the city which is a big push. I’m not sure where to go from here. My family loved both schools and is letting me make the whole decision (which is how it should be), but I don’t know how best to make it.
Totally respect your impressions and wish you luck but for future readers the actual campus sizes are as follows…
Vassar 1,000 acres
Swathmore 425 acres
Williams 450 acres
Between Shakespeare Gardens, the farm, sunset lake and the golf course I have never heard VC’s campus described as small.
I think since the campus was so flat, it seemed smaller than it is. I’m not sure what it really was, maybe since all the dorms are right next to each other? Or the tour didn’t cover the majority of the campus.
I always find it fascinating how big or small campuses feel, because their size isn’t always intuitive to a visitor.
I definitely wouldn’t describe Vassar as small! You probably didn’t see Cushing, a dorm not at all next to the others - or the lovely academic building Blodgett next to it or Kenyon next to it (dance, a lovely theater, volleyball, etc.). Or make it over to the beautiful Skinner Hall for music? Or the gorgeous lake? Def not small!
Yeah, I didn’t, the tour didn’t take us there either way, I’m leaning towards my other two options - but it’s unfortunate I didn’t experience the full campus.
Two wonderful choices, congratulations!
I want to respond to the comment that law schools see Swarthmore gpas differently – while true, there is a lot of nuance there that could be missed. Law school admission is almost entirely based on undergrad gpa and the LSAT score, as those stats contribute significantly to law school rankings. Granted, US News keeps changing its methodology so no one is really sure what will matter next, but law schools protect their median gpa and scores and are always trying to increase them. I’m a law professor and I see how much energy goes into this each year.
Being a Swarthmore student may push the scale toward admission when a student is otherwise well-qualified for admission – typically, well above the median stats. For ex., Swarthmore’s reputation might make a difference for a law school with a 3.8 median gpa when deciding between a Swarthmore grad with a 3.92 and a College of Wooster grad with a 3.95. But a 3.5 from Swarthmore is not getting in over the 3.94 from Wooster (barring some other extraordinary circumstance).
So, go where you think you can flourish and be happy, as that is the sort of environment in which a student can excel academically.
I agree with the the consensus that you shouldn’t try to pick a college based which one you think will get you into the best law school. But I’ve always understood that law schools weigh GPAs differently from different schools. This article is a quarter-century old, but it shows how Berkeley Law (then Boalt) weighed GPAs from various undergraduate institutions: Grading the Grades: All A's Are Not Created Equal
The interesting thing from that article is that Swarthmore and Williams were the two schools whose GPAs were given the most weight (i.e., they had the toughest grading) and they were nearly identical. In other words, you’re not likely to gain an advantage at either school.
This article from the Williams Record on students who transferred out of Williams will offer you an insider’s perspective on the types of students who are not fully satisfied there. The article notes that
It seems that, for your criteria, Swarthmore’s proximity to historic East Coast cities could represent a big draw.
Nonetheless, there are aspects of Williams that strongly appeal to you. And, as a personal comment, Williams offers the broader curriculum overall, which would appeal to me.
For these reasons, I hope you continue to consider both of these schools, and attain a decided preference for one of them.
However, this article is 27 years old.
I’m a Swarthmore alum and loved it. My friends and I spent a lot of time in Philly, where we were able to see great alternative bands and shop the punk stores on South St. The train stop is adjacent to campus which is great. It’s also an easy drive if you have friends with cars.
The campus itself, as you say, is gorgeous. It abuts the Crum woods, which makes it feel more expansive. The “ville” of Swarthmore is very sleepy and there’s not much to do adjacent to campus. But I understand there is a bit more now than there was back in my day.
There is not much grade inflation at Swarthmore, but what I found challenging was the volume of work rather than the standards. You are clearly very accomplished. As long as you put the effort in, I have no doubt you will do well. Faculty is very approachable. I spent a lot of time hanging around the office hours of my favorite faculty members talking through some insight or another.
The honors seminars were unique and prepared me well for graduate school. In general, I found my PhD program easier than Swarthmore. I think that is a good thing. It meant that Swarthmore trained me to have the skills to achieve in whatever path I followed after.
Have you made your decision?