SWARTHMORE COLLEGE

500 College Ave.
Swarthmore, PA 19081-1397
Tel: (610)328-8000
Free: 800-667-3110
Admissions: (610)328-8300
Fax: (610)328-8673
E-mail: admissions@swarthmore.edu
Web Site: http://www.swarthmore.edu/

Description:

Independent, 4-year, coed. Awards bachelor's degrees. Founded 1864. Setting: 357-acre suburban campus with easy access to Philadelphia. Endowment: $1.1 billion. Research spending 2003-04: $2.8 million. Educational spending 2003-04: $23,248 per student. Total enrollment: 1,474. Student-undergrad faculty ratio is 8:1. 3,680 applied, 25% were admitted. 92% from top 10% of their high school class, 99% from top quarter, 100% from top half. 26 National Merit Scholars, 38 valedictorians. Full-time: 1,466 students, 52% women, 48% men. Part-time: 8 students, 38% women, 63% men. Students come from 53 states and territories, 46 other countries, 85% from out-of-state, 1% Native American, 9% Hispanic, 6% black, 16% Asian American or Pacific Islander, 6% international, 0% 25 or older, 94% live on campus, 0.3% transferred in. Retention: 97% of full-time freshmen returned the following year. Academic areas with the most degrees conferred: social sciences and history; biological/life sciences; English. Core. Calendar: semesters. Services for LD students, advanced placement, self-designed majors, honors program, independent study, double major, internships. Off campus study at University of Pennsylvania, Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College, Tufts University, Pomona College, Rice University, Middlebury College, Harvey Mudd College, Mills College. Study abroad program. ROTC: Army (c), Air Force (c).

Entrance Requirements:

Options: Peterson's Universal Application, Common Application, electronic application, early admission, early decision, deferred admission, international baccalaureate accepted. Required: essay, high school transcript, 3 recommendations, SAT and SAT Subject Tests or ACT. Recommended: interview. Required for some: SAT II Subject Tests in math. Entrance: most difficult. Application deadlines: 1/1, 11/15 for early decision plan 1, 1/1 for early decision plan 2. Notification: 4/1, 12/15 for early decision plan 1, 2/1 for early decision plan 2.

Costs Per Year:

Application fee: $60. Comprehensive fee: $39,408 includes full-time tuition ($29,782), mandatory fees ($312), and college room and board ($9314). College room only: $4536. Room and board charges vary according to board plan.

Collegiate Environment:

Orientation program. Drama-theater group, choral group, student-run newspaper, radio station. Social organizations: 100 open to all; national fraternities, local fraternities; 6% of men are members. Most popular organizations: community service and activist groups, club sports and intramurals, music/acapella groups, social/cultural clubs, political and debate clubs. Major annual events: Formal Dance, Spring Fling. Student services: health clinic, personal-psychological counseling, women's center. Campus security: 24-hour emergency response devices and patrols, student patrols, late night transport-escort service. 1,344 college housing spaces available; 1,301 were occupied in 2003-04. Freshmen guaranteed college housing. On-campus residence required in freshman year. Options: coed, men-only, women-only housing available. McCabe Library plus 3 others with 754,499 books, 70,556 microform titles, 7,811 serials, 20,786 audiovisual materials, an OPAC, and a Web page. Operations spending 2003-04: $4.3 million. 110 computers available on campus for general student use. Computer purchase/lease plans available. A campuswide network can be accessed from student residence rooms and from off campus. Staffed computer lab on campus.

Community Environment:

Swarthmore, population 6,500, is in a suburban area 11 miles from Philadelphia. The climate is temperate. There is bus and rail service to Philadelphia, New York and Washington. Philadelphia International Airport is 15 minutes from campus by car, with a college shuttle before and after breaks and public rail service year-round. The immediate community has a library and churches of various denominations. There are hospitals nearby. For civic services, recreation and cultural facilities, see Philadelphia.