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Swarthmore Admissions Information

Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA (map)

 

Swarthmore College is a private liberal arts college located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1864, the College is highly regarded for its rigorous academic programs. Approximately 90% of Swarthmore graduates go on to attend graduate or professional school. Many of the College’s alumni obtain their graduate degrees from UC Berkeley, University of Chicago, Harvard, MIT, NYU, Penn, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale. The College offers more than 600 courses in more than 40 academic programs. The school’s small size (about 1500 students) creates an intimate learning environment.

Swarthmore has almost 140 registered student organizations, including a film society, choral groups, and a radio station. The College offers a variety of athletic programs ranging from basketball and field hockey to soccer and rugby. Since the town of Swarthmore is just 22 minutes from Philadelphia by train, students can enjoy both the peace of a cozy suburban town and the amenities of a bustling metropolis.

 

 

Basic Info

Main Address: 500 College Avenue
Swarthmore, PA 19081
 
Phone Number: (610) 328-8000  
Website: www.swarthmore.edu  

Characteristics

Type of school: Private, Liberal Arts  
Type of school: Coed  
Setting: Suburban  
Athletics: Division III, Club, Intercollegiate and Intramural Sports  
Degrees offered: Bachelor's  
Size of undergraduate student body: 1,525  
Percent out-of-state: 87%  
Percent international: 7%  
Female to Male ratio: 52:48  

Academic Life

Student to Professor ratio: 8:1  
Most popular majors: Social Sciences
Biology
Visual and Performing Arts
Foreign Languages and Literature
 
Special study programs: Accelerated Program
Cross-Registration
Double Major
Honors Program
Independent Study
Internships
ROTC, Air Force
ROTC, Army
ROTC, Navy
Student-Designed Major
Study Abroad
Teacher Certification
Visiting/Exchange Student Program
 

Campus Life

Housing options:
Coed housing
Women's housing
Men's housing
Activities:
138 Registered student organizations  

Fun Facts

  • Voted #1 "Best Value Private Colleges"
  • Voted #7 "Students Study the Most"
  • Voted #13 "LGBT-Friendly"
  • Voted #4 "Number of graduates that go on to earn PhDs"
  • Voted #11 "Great Financial Aid"
 

Admissions Information

 

 
Swarthmore College is a highly selective institution and admits approximately 17% of its applicants. College officials note that a candidate's character, class rank, application essay, recommendations, academic record, and extracurricular activities are the most important factors in the admissions process. Other factors include an applicant's interview, volunteer history, alumni relation, geographic location, racial/ethnic status, talents, work experience, and whether a candidate is a first-generation college student.
 
Swarthmore has an Early Decision option and about 33% of Early Decision applicants are admitted. If you are interested in applying to Swarthmore, be sure to emphasize any relevant volunteer work or community service you have done. The College favors candidates that have demonstrated a commitment to social responsibility.

 

Admissions address: 500 College Avenue
Swarthmore, PA 19081
 
Phone number: (610) 328-8300  
Fax number: (610) 328-8580  
Admissions Website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/x504.xml  
Email: admissions@swarthmore.edu  
Contact Person: James Bock, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid  
Number of first-year applications received: 5,575  
Percent of applicants admitted: 17%  

Application Information

Regular application deadline: January 3  
Early decision/action deadline: November 15 (Early Decision)  
Accepts the Common Application? Yes (school-specific supplement required)  
Admission requirements: Essay
Secondary School Report
Guidance Counselor Recommendation
Midyear Grade Report
Standardized Test Scores
Two Academic Teacher Evaluations
 

Application Information

Standardized test scores required? SAT & 2 SAT Subject Tests OR ACT with Writing OR SAT and ACT  
Policy regarding SAT score-use: Considers highest section scores for all test dates  
 
Middle 50% Scores

Low


Average


High
% Who Submitted Scores
SAT Critical Reading
670
716
760
91%
SAT Math
670
709
770
91%
SAT Writing
670
718
760
91%
ACT Composite
30
32
33
32%

 
College Board code: 2821  
ACT code: 3722  
Learn more about other Small Pennsylvania schools:
Franklin and Marshall   Dickinson   Haverford  

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