<p>‘but does not want to stress out over the academics. She works hard but likes to have a nice balance of acedemics and fun (sports, cooking, “playing”). She leaves the “brainy” stuff in the classroom, and is not real interested in political engagement and debates over the dinner table.’</p>
<p>It depends on her high school experience. People here definitely find time to play sports, cook, and play, and basically hang out with friends. You don’t have to be interested in politics and debate–I mean, you will often see people talk about Obama and McCain here, but it’s not going to dominate discussion, and people generally have ‘normal’ conversations here. </p>
<p>‘She likes to go in to the city now and then, if available, but it is more important to be in a quiet and peaceful environment most of the time,’</p>
<p>That’s definitely Swarthmore.</p>
<p>‘and if there are hiking trails out the back door then that is a big bonus. She wants to be part of a student body that enjoys the outdoors,’</p>
<p>That’s not Swarthmore. I mean, people here might enjoy the outdoors, but they’re fine with the open and peaceful and quiet, secluded environment at Swarthmore.</p>
<p>‘enjoy participating in sports but are not “jocky”, are environmentally aware and concerned (w/o being hard core activists), and includes plenty of vegetarians/vegans who all have some good options on and off campus.’</p>
<p>You can’t say that everyone here participates in sports, but people who play sports do find the time to play sports and most aren’t jocky. There’s little jock environment here. You don’t have to worry about that here. I think people here are environmentally aware and concerned, and those who are really concerned become activists. I don’t know how many vegetarians there are here, but I think vegetarians are perfectly happy here. You don’t want to be in a college will be exactly like you. I don’t know about the options off campus, but there’s no need to abandon your ‘vegetarianness’ here.</p>
<p>I disagree with A.E. Again, my idea of ‘overly intense’ isn’t the same as yours. You will be busy with academics, but if your daughter did graduate at the top of her class in a pretty competitive high school, she can certainly manage it. The work IS manageable. And you can always talk to professors if you do struggle. There are lots of people you can seek for help–professors, friends, academic mentors, residential assistants, writing assistants if you struggle with writing, and tutors.</p>
<p>Is there a high degree of intellectual showiness and pretension?
I don’t think so. I mean, if someone mentions something that can be considered remotely intellectual, would that necessarily be pretentious? No. If people ask you if you’ve been enjoying history class, is that intellectually showy? No. Not too many people here talk about academics here at the dinner table. They might talk about the type of work they have for a certain class, but they’re not going to be going mad debating Calvin and Luther or something like that. Plus, being intellectual does not mean that you are intellectual showy or pretentious. I have no idea why A.E. said that ‘happy’ would not describe alums. There is a close sense of community at Swarthmore. Looking at the faces of sophomores, juniors, and seniors, they look perfectly happy. It must be that students review website. Let me make it perfectly clear: That website does not accurately reflect the attitudes of students here.</p>