<p>Hi. I plan to double major in Biology and Music Theory (or musicology). I will probably enjoy classes more at Swarthmore, but I like the area the Tufts is in better. I also would like to consider Med School opportunities. Sports are also important to: Tennis and Swimming. Honestly, when I hear other kids in my school talking about going to Tufts, UPenn, Stanford, Columbia, and etc., it makes me nervous to think that I’m going to Swarthmore. Which do you think is a better choice? Thanks!</p>
<p>go to Swat…Nationally recognized</p>
<p>Asking which of two (or more) schools one should attend is really like asking: “Should I wear the blue polka dot button-down shirt or the purple stripe?” Who are you, where are you going, what are your objectives and which one feels better when you try it on? Only you know the answers to these questions and you really need to visit the schools overnight to decide. No two people are the same and the better school for you depends on the above. That being said, wear the purple stripe.</p>
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<p>I understand what you are saying, but surely, you can still answer my question without knowing all about me. Sure, the Hyundai might be a better car for me because its more fuel-efficient, and happens to be the only car manufacturer to produce purple cars, which happens to be my favorite color. But everyone can still come to the consensus that a Lexus is better than a Hyundai for many reasons. So my questions is, Tufts or Swarthmore?</p>
<p>It depends on what you want, like they said. I’m a student at Tufts, and the environment here is intense, but not cut-throat. I’m happy here, and I get a nice balance of the collegiate experience. However, the environment here I believe, as with 99% of the rest of the universities in the US, pales in comparison to Swarthmore. They WILL snap you in half and make you work day and night - but what you leave from the university is an incredible work ethic and hopefully a desire and lust to learn.</p>
<p>HEY!</p>
<p>I just decided on Swarthmore a few days ago. Admittedly, my options were quite limited (Brown just . . . rejected me), but I am VERY happy that I got into Swarthmore. So, just a few thoughts . . .
- Coach Mullan is EXTREMELY nice, and definitely knows what he is doing (hah, Swat’s tennic center is named after him). I’ve been in close contact with him, especially over the last few days and weeks (aside from visiting him sometime late last year). He is very happy with the tennis team and has, aside from me, recruited 3 new freshman players (are you one of them?). I’d be really happy if you decided on Swarthmore, and you would be the first person I’ve met in the freshman class ('09).
- I realize that college surroundings are a matter of personal opinion, but Swarthmore is undisputably one of the most beautiful campuses in the country (have you visited?). It is (out of the 14 schools I visited) in my opinion the prettiest college campus I have seen.
- While Tufts is definitely an amazing school, Swarthmore’s name is the shiznit. It really attracts a lot of attention (of course out here in the SW people don’t know anything about any school that doesn’t start with H, Y, P, or UC). A few days ago, I got the privilege to talk over the phone with Justin Durand, a Swat tennis player and poly-sci major econ. minor (or was it the other way aroundaround?). He is graduating this year and found a GREAT job in NY already.
- Haven’t seen any pretty girls (I could be wrong but so far none to be seen)…I hope you’ve got a girlfriend…
- Philly’s a great city, and there’s a train station that is RIGHT in the middle of Swarthmore and runs to Philly every half an hour (S.E. PA. Trans. Authority), <a href=“http://www.septa.org%5B/url%5D”>www.septa.org</a>.
- COME ON…DON’T LEAVE ME ALL ALONE…please??
SWAT TENNIS!!</p>
<p>by right in the middle of swarthmore, I mean right in the middle of the campus. Of course, you probably got that map in the admissions packet…</p>
<p>BTW…I can’t compare Tufts to Swarthmore because I never visited Tufts, and, for all I know, Tufts might be way cooler. All I can do is praise Swarthmore, whether it deserves praise or not. And, I’m really excited that you’re a tennis player…</p>
<p>O.K.
My 4th reply in a row…
When I spoke to Justin (who told me he had done really well at the school and was taking a bunch of honors courses at Swat), he said that he had still not started a paper earlier than the day or weekend before it was due AND had a life…and he’s graduating this year. I’m sure he was totally exaggerating just to make me go there, but…what the hell, I’m gullible. I realize that Swarthmore might be academically challenging, but the difficulty of the school is a little overinflated.
Translation -
Don’t rule Swarthmore out because you think you won’t have a life and/or because you think it will be too hard. It won’t. </p>
<p>I know that my opinions are extremely biased, but take them for whatever they’re worth.
lol, can you tell I’m excited about Swarthmore?
CHECK OUT THEIR CUSTOMIZABLE APPAREL STORE (there’s a link on the Swarthmore bookstore site that takes you to it, ). You can make your own swarthmore apparel for just about virtually any item of clothing and any…thing (including tennis!)…I’m SO EXCITED!</p>
<p>Swarthmore is somewhat more recognizable name-wise when it comes to finding jobs or getting into grad schools. But you will likely have a better overall college experience at Tufts. My best friend recently decided to go to Stanford over Swat for the same reason. Swat is extremely small and isn’t as close to a city as Tufts (plus Boston’s better than Philly as far as cities go- more colleges in Boston, more to do, etc). Furthermore, you are more likely to love, love, love Swat at the onset but then outgrow it by your third or fourth year as you will know every soul there and might have exhausted its resources. It’s very individual but that’s my take on it. Good luck deciding!</p>
<p>Swathmore is the better school academically hands down - has well-rounded kids but probably more “nose-in-the-book” types…Tufts is- like NYU - is not all its cracked up to be but does have a great marketing thing going on…there’s an insightful thread on Tufts somewhere else that might help you - I’ll see if I can find it. Also check out both schools on <a href=“http://www.studentsreview.com%5B/url%5D”>www.studentsreview.com</a></p>
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<p>OK, as long as you put it that way. Swarthmore is the Lexus. Actually Porsche might be the better analogy. They don’t sell a lot of cars, but the ones they do sell are incredible and their design philosophy is time tested. Not everybody recognizes a Porsche on the street, but those who do go “oooh and aaah”.</p>
<p>Swarthmore would fit more on the Stanford/Columbia end of of the spectrum that your friends are talking about. It’s SAT scores are higher than Columbia, more than a hundred points higher than Tufts. It has been ranked (or tied for) the #1 liberal arts college in the country for 3 of the last 6 years, a position that goes back at least half a century.</p>
<p>Swarthmore is the college I would choose hands down between Tufts and Swat but again, as others have stated, it is an individual decision. Just don’t be fooled into thinking that people think Tufts is a better school. Bigger, maybe, but not better. I work with undergrads at Harvard and the only school I know of that gives them pause is Swarthmore because they are aware that the undergraduate education at Swat has much of what they seek but do not enjoy at H. The small classes and access to professors is priority at S. The collaboration between students rather than ultra competitiveness, the sense of community, I could go on and on. </p>
<p>If you haven’t visited Swarthmore to get a feel for yourself, I encourage you to visit.</p>
<p>Swarthmore…your ticket to lifelong friends and unforgettable access to teachers before they launch you off to an excellent grad school…save Bigger school for later…congrats! highly selective school and honor to be chosen.</p>
<p>biomaster,</p>
<p>I have a D who double-majored at Swat in music and another major. She was thrilled with it. The closeness of the music department was especially vital, and several of the profs remain her close friends. She did hope to study abroad one semester for her other major but was not able to because of the sequencing of the music theory courses . . .the department’s size does not make it possible for them to offer every course every term. You might want to look at that. I also have heard that the biology classes are some of the most intense and largest. Still, the Swat experience, (and the pass/fail first term) make the transition workable. My D had a great time, a very full social and musical life at Swat. When she left there I sincerely felt she was ready for anything.</p>