<p>I’m a Swarthmore engineering grad (many years ago). As you’ve noted, they are very different. Are you the type who lives and breathes science and math? Or do you like to debate politics, read literature, learn about obscure times of history, etc.? Swarthmore has a solid engineering program, but as you probably know, it is an “engineering” degree, with a specialization in one of the usual areas, rather than, say, a degree in “electrical engineering”. It will not be as in depth as you would get at a larger school. On the other hand, you would be getting a world class liberal arts education. My kid is a HS senior, certain he will be majoring in Computer Science. And he will be attending Swarthmore, for what it’s worth :)</p>