The Basics About Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private institution that was founded in 1864. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,525, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 399 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Swarthmore College's ranking in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 3. Its tuition and fees are $39,600.
Overview: Swarthmore College
|
General Information
|
|
|
Institutional Control:
|
Private
|
|
Year founded:
|
1864
|
|
Religious affiliation:
|
N/A
|
|
Academic calendar:
|
semester
|
|
Fall 2009 Total number of undergraduates:
|
1,525
|
|
Setting:
|
suburban
|
|
2009 Endowment:
|
$1,128,675,000
|
|
Fall Admissions
|
|
|
Application deadline:
|
1/2
|
|
Application fee:
|
$60
|
|
Fall 2009 Acceptance rate:
|
17%
|
|
Selectivity:
|
most selective
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
Costs:
|
2010-2011 Tuition and Fees: $39,600
|
|
Student Life at Swarthmore College
|
|
|
Swarthmore College is located just 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia—far enough away to have a 400-acre campus that is designated as an arboretum. The school was founded by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), but has no religious affiliation today. Almost half of students study abroad, and Swarthmore offers programs in more than 100 locations. The school also has more than 100 organizations students can get involved in on campus. Swarthmore has 22 NCAA Division III varsity sports teams cheered on by mascot Phineas the Phoenix. The school only has two fraternities and no sororities, as they were abolished in the 1930s. Although only freshmen are required to live on campus, about 95 percent of students continue to live on campus.
|
|
|
Other Facts About Swarthmore College
|
|
|
Swarthmore College is part of the Tri-College Consortium with Bryn Mawr and Haverford. Students can take courses from these colleges. Unlike other liberal arts colleges, Swarthmore also offers a B.S. in engineering. Swarthmore has many unique traditions, including the Crum Regatta, where students race homemade boats down Crum Creek; and Worthstock, the school’s take on Woodstock, featuring outdoor live music, dancing, and food. Notable alumni include Nancy Roman, NASA’s first Chief of Astronomy in the Office of Space Science and "mother of the Hubble telescope;" former Massachusetts Governor and presidential candidate Michael Dukakis; and Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank.
|
|
|
Mission (as provided by the school)
|
|
|
Swarthmore College is a highly selective college of liberal arts and engineering. The College is private, yet open to all regardless of financial need and is committed to providing financial aid awards that meet students' demonstrated financial need without loans. Since its founding in 1864, Swarthmore has given students of uncommon intellectual ability the knowledge, insight, skills, and experience to become leaders for the common good. A student/faculty ratio of 8:1 ensures that students have meaningful engagement with their professors, preparing them to translate the skills and understanding gained at Swarthmore into the mark they want to make on the world. The College's Honors program features small groups of students working closely with faculty and peers; an emphasis in independent learning; and a final examination by outside scholars. Located 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia, Swarthmore's 399-acre campus is an arboretum.
|
|
Applications: Swarthmore College
|
Regular Decision
|
|
|
Application deadline:
|
1/2
|
|
Notification date:
|
04/01
|
|
Deadline for accepting admissions offers:
|
N/A
|
|
Early Decision
|
|
|
Is an early decision plan offered?
|
Yes
|
|
Early decision deadline:
|
11/15
|
|
Early decision decision sent by:
|
12/15
|
|
Early Action
|
|
|
Is an early action plan offered?
|
No
|
|
Early action deadline:
|
N/A
|
|
Early action decision sent by:
|
N/A
|
|
Application Fee
|
|
|
Application fee:
|
$60
|
|
Is the application fee refundable?
|
No
|
|
Can the application fee be waived for students with financial need?
|
Yes
|
|
Is it possible to defer admission?
|
Yes
|
|
Application Formats
|
|
|
Can applications be submitted via E-mail?
|
No
|
|
Electronic application URL:
|
http://www.commonapp.org
|
|
Tuition and Room Deposits
|
|
|
Tuition deposit:
|
$250
|
|
Is the tuition deposit refundable?
|
Nonrefundable
|
|
Room deposit:
|
N/A
|
|
Is the room deposit refundable?
|
N/A
|
|
Contact Information
|
|
|
Admissions director:
|
James L. Bock
|
|
Admissions office phone number:
|
(610) 328-8300
|
|
Admissions E-mail:
|
Requirements and Factors: Swarthmore College
|
Admission Requirements
|
|
|
Admission interview?
|
Recommended
|
|
Campus visit?
|
Recommended
|
|
Off-campus interviews?
|
may be arranged with an admission representative
|
|
Does the school have an open admission policy?
|
No
|
|
Does the college use SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions for first-time, first-year applicants?
|
Yes
|
|
Standardized tests?
|
Either SAT or ACT required.
|
|
ACT Writing test?
|
ACT with writing required
|
|
SAT/ACT scores must be received by:
|
01/01
|
|
SAT Subject Test scores must be received by:
|
01/01
|
|
High school completion requirement for admissions:
|
High school diploma or equivalent is not required
|
|
General college-preparatory program?
|
Neither require nor recommend
|
|
Academic Factors Used in Admissions Decisions
|
|
|
Rigor of secondary school record?
|
Very Important
|
|
Class rank?
|
Very Important
|
|
Academic GPA?
|
Very Important
|
|
Standardized test scores?
|
Important
|
|
Application essay?
|
Very Important
|
|
Recommendations?
|
Very Important
|
|
Nonacademic Factors Used in Admissions Decisions
|
|
|
Interview?
|
Considered
|
|
Extracurricular activities?
|
Important
|
|
Talent/ability?
|
Considered
|
|
Character/personal qualities?
|
Very Important
|
|
Being a first-generation college student?
|
Considered
|
|
Alumni/ae relations?
|
Considered
|
|
Geographical residence?
|
Considered
|
|
State residency?
|
Not Considered
|
|
Religious affiliation/commitment?
|
Not Considered
|
|
Race/ethnicity?
|
Considered
|
|
Volunteer work?
|
Considered
|
|
Work experience?
|
Considered
|
|
Level of the applicant's interest?
|
Considered
|
|
Required High School Course Work
|
|
|
Recommended High School Course Work
|
|
|
High school units recommended in English:
|
4
|
|
High school units recommended in Mathematics:
|
3
|
|
High school units recommended in Science:
|
3
|
Entering Class Statistics: Swarthmore College
|
Fall 2009 Selectivity
|
|
|
Selectivity:
|
most selective
|
|
Fall 2009 Acceptance rate:
|
17%
|
|
Early decision acceptance rate:
|
33%
|
|
Early action acceptance rate:
|
N/A
|
|
Acceptance rate (excluding early action and early decision students):
|
16%
|
|
Fall 2009 Applications, Acceptances, and Enrollments
|
|
|
Number of applicants:
|
5,575
|
|
Number of applicants accepted:
|
969
|
|
Freshman enrollment for Fall 2009:
|
394
|
|
Percent of total enrolled incoming freshmen who been accepted under either early acceptance or early action:
|
42%
|
|
Number of male applicants:
|
2,210
|
|
Number of male applicants accepted for Fall 2009:
|
455
|
|
Male freshman enrollment:
|
190
|
|
Number of female applicants:
|
3,365
|
|
Number of female applicants accepted Fall 2009:
|
514
|
|
Female freshman enrollment:
|
204
|
|
Fall 2009 Wait List
|
|
|
Does the school have a waiting list?
|
Yes
|
|
Number of applicants placed on a waiting list:
|
N/A
|
|
Number of students on the wait list accepted:
|
N/A
|
|
Number of students enrolled from a waiting list:
|
12
|
|
Fall 2009 High School Rank
|
|
|
Percent of first-year students submitting high school class standing:
|
50%
|
|
2009 Freshmen in top 10 percent of high school class:
|
87%
|
|
2009 Freshmen in top 25 percent of high school class:
|
99%
|
|
2009 Freshmen in top 50 percent of high school class:
|
100%
|
|
Fall 2009 High School GPA
|
|
|
Percent of first-year students submitting high school GPA:
|
N/A
|
|
Average high school GPA:
|
N/A
|
|
Fall 2009 Freshmen SAT Scores
|
|
|
Percent of first-year students submitting SAT scores:
|
91%
|
|
SAT Critical Reading 25th-75th percentile range:
|
670-760
|
|
SAT Math 25th-75th percentile range:
|
670-770
|
|
SAT Writing 25th-75th percentile range:
|
670-760
|
|
SAT Essay 25th-75th percentile range:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 700-800 range:
|
67%
|
|
Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 600-699 range:
|
25%
|
|
Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 500-599 range:
|
8%
|
|
Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 400-499 range:
|
1%
|
|
Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 300-399 range:
|
0%
|
|
Percent with SAT Critical Reading scores in the 200-299 range:
|
0%
|
|
Percent with SAT Math scores in the 700-800 range:
|
61%
|
|
Percent with SAT Math scores in the 600-699 range:
|
33%
|
|
Percent with SAT Math scores in the 500-599 range:
|
5%
|
|
Percent with SAT Math scores in the 400-499 range:
|
0.3%
|
|
Percent with SAT Math scores in the 300-399 range:
|
0%
|
|
Percent with SAT Math scores in the 200-299 range:
|
0%
|
|
Fall 2009 Freshmen ACT Scores
|
|
|
Percent of first-year students submitting ACT scores:
|
32%
|
|
ACT English 25th-75th percentile range:
|
N/A
|
|
ACT Math 25th-75th percentile range:
|
N/A
|
|
ACT Composite 25th-75th percentile range:
|
29-33
|
|
Percent with ACT English scores in the 30-36 range:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with ACT English scores in the 24-29 range:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with ACT English scores in the 18-23 range:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with ACT English scores in the 12-17 range:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with ACT English scores in the 6-11 range:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with ACT English scores below 6:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with ACT Math scores in the 30-36 range:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with ACT Math scores in the 24-29 range:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with ACT Math scores in the 18-23 range:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with ACT Math scores in the 12-17 range:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with ACT Math scores in the 6-11 range:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with ACT Math scores below 6:
|
N/A
|
|
Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 30-36 range:
|
75%
|
|
Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 24-29 range:
|
23%
|
|
Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 18-23 range:
|
2%
|
|
Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 12-17 range:
|
0%
|
|
Percent with ACT Composite scores in the 6-11 range:
|
0%
|
|
Percent with ACT Composite scores below 6:
|
0%
|
Transfer Students: Swarthmore College
|
Deadlines
|
|
|
Terms for which transfer students may apply for admission:
|
Fall
|
|
Application date for transfer students:
|
April 1 (Fall)
|
|
Admission decision sent:
|
May 15 (Fall)
|
|
Deadline for accepting admissions offers:
|
N/A
|
|
Requirements
|
|
|
Do transfer applicants need a minimum number of credits to apply?
|
Yes
|
|
Minimum required high school GPA:
|
N/A
|
|
Minimum required college GPA:
|
N/A
|
|
High school transcript?
|
Required of all
|
|
College transcript?
|
Required of all
|
|
Essay/personal statement?
|
Required of all
|
|
Admission interview?
|
Not required
|
|
Standardized test scores?
|
Required of all
|
|
Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)?
|
Required of all
|
|
Lowest course grade that may be transferred for credit:
|
C
|
|
Maximum number of credit/courses that may be transferred:
|
16 from a two-year school, 16 from a four-year school
|
|
Is there a minimum number of credits needed to complete degree?
|
16 credits for a bachelor's degree
|
|
Transfer Student Application and Enrollment Statistics
|
|
|
Total number of transfer students applying for Fall 2009:
|
192
|
|
Total number of transfer students accepted for Fall 2009:
|
46
|
|
Total number of transfer students enrolled for Fall 2009:
|
25
|
International Student Admissions: Swarthmore College
|
Deadlines and Requirements
|
|
|
Application deadline:
|
January 2 (Fall)
|
|
Preapplication form required?
|
No
|
|
Separate application form required?
|
No
|
|
TOEFL
|
|
|
TOEFL requirement?
|
N/A
|
|
May the TOEFL be submitted in place of the SAT or ACT?
|
No
|
|
Minimum TOEFL score required (paper test):
|
N/A
|
|
Minimum TOEFL score required (internet test):
|
N/A
|
|
Average TOEFL score (paper test):
|
611
|
|
Average TOEFL score (internet test):
|
109
|
