Swarthmore & Vassar

ctParent2006
Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:34:07 +0000

I would agree that the Centennial conference is far stronger than the Liberty group. I also believe, you need to check this, that the time spent traveling to/from is far less at Swarthmore than at Vassar. Time on the bus is never as much fine as time playing or being back at school.

I think you have indicated that you know that at either school sports will be a far distant second or third or lower priority to academics and other activities for the vast majority of the students. Other posters have mentioned other schools with higher profile athletic programs at the D3 level and there are others in both conferences these schools are in. Haverford comes to mind as an obvious other choice to consider.

Both are great schools and he should consider other differences. Vassar is wealthy but Swarthmore is off the charts in terms of its endowment per student. Swarthmore is also roughly 50% the size of Vassar so the social and academic environment is different.

On location you will find a post in the Swarthmore forum about what is around the school. Certainly there is more to do there than around Vassar.

The academic environment at Swarthmore appears, to a parent that is, to be admirably more intense though do not underestimate the intensity at Vassar, within the larger student body. Drop the “bottom” 50% of the Vassar students and you may have students very similar to those at Swarthmore.

Great choices. I would certainly consider EDII at Swarthmore if he wants the intense academics that Swarthmore (like Reed or Chicago) provides. I would say do not go to Swarthomore to play a sport or because a sport can get you in but it is not where you really want to be.

My D is very happy at Vassar but clearly would have gone to Swarthmore if she had got in…should have done EDII!

Both schools rate highly among employers despite the dry cleaner issue. I think Vassar may be ahead there because of the 7 sister bit but it has indeed been coed since 1969.