<p>Grad school admissions is definitely a non-issue as illustrated by the Reed link. My son in a Swat freshman. He visited Stanford numerous times for forensics training, debate tournaments, linear accelerator tour, etc. and never warmed up to the place. As a Berkeley grad it didn’t really break my heart, though it is 2,500 miles closer than Swarthmore and has the name recognition. While both are stellar institutions S & S are vastly different. Stanford is sprawling and dominated by its beige-on-beige mission architecture. Swarthmore is beautiful and intimate but not small (no, I’m not biased). </p>
<p>My son is studying philosophy, semantics, sociology & music. Extra curric’s. options seem limitless. Classes are stimulating and professors are accessable, but peers are the best part of Swat. Late night/early morning/late morning debates on the nature of existence and the meaning of meaning preclude sleep. This weekend is a full court press to register voters in Chester. All classes are canceled on Tuesday and son will be working with a slew of other Swatties driving as many people to the polls as they can.</p>
<p>Stanford or Swarthmore? Philadelphia or Palo Alto? Almost as easy as Tuesday’s vote.</p>