Amazing student to faculty ratio and many other reasons - what great at Swarthmore

150 to 250 words, write about why you are interested in applying to and attending Swarthmore

I have been having trouble writing this essay because I'm not sure it is specific and unique for Swarthmore. Can you help me out! The deadline is approaching.

I know that Swarthmore is the best fit for me

Up to 40 courses of study, 600 courses offered each year on campus I would quickly define Swarthmore as a good college but many great universities have it, but the Tri-college consortium with other great Universities as Haverford and Bryn Mawr, cross registration with University of Pennsylvania and a quite amazing student to faculty ratio of 8:1, there Swarthmore is unique and I certainly wish to study there. I've always wanted a college which gives much assistance and consideration to Independent creative projects and Undergraduate researches and Swarthmore is the perfect match for me as it invests much in those. In addition, honors program are unique because they are mainly built on the idea of dialogue and this makes it more interesting to learn and easier to express your strength and weaknesses. I didn't get the chance to visit the campus to contemplate the beauty of the environment with Crum woods which makes a perfect landscape to study in. I was also astonished by the diversity that Swarthmore brings with people from all around the world with different racial and ethnicity, which make me fill comfortable that I can easily integrate the society wherever I'm from. I admire contribution to the society and learning new things beside class and the multitude of clubs and organization in Swarthmore pulls me towards it. I think everything at Swarthmore interest me, although I can't talk about every field in just 250 words I know that Swarthmore is the best fit for me.

Hey @Amatis250, overall, I hear your message and your palpable passion comes through. Although I do have some suggestions that can refine your essay.

Firstly, your starting sentence is unbelievably long. Maybe something like the following:

With up to 40 courses of study, and 600 courses ... on campus, I would quickly ... a good college.but many great universities have it, but theHowever, add the Tri-college consortium with other great Universities asin collaboration with great universities such as Haverford and ... of Pennsylvania, and an amazinglylow student to faculty ...

Also, just my two cents, but I'd really advise adding specificity to your essay. I get you're attracted by swarthmore's encouragement of independent creative projects, but why? Have you undertaken such projects before? What is it about specifically about Swarthmore that encourages such initiative?

I understand it's incredibly hard to cram everything you love about the school, but what really helped me is focussing on one aspect and driving it throughout as a microcosm of what you like. That way you demonstrate 'fit', passion, and intensive research with specificity rather than ambiguous statements that can be drawn to many schools.

You're on the right track; I'm sure you'll be able to come up with a solid essay!

Good luck!

Here's the thing to keep in mind: Jim Bock (the Dean of Admissions) reads every single Why Swarthmore essay for every admitted student--and he already knows ALL of this. The important part of this essay is NOT name-dropping features of the school that you like, it's the interface between what's interesting about YOU as it relates to things the school can offer. Jim Bock knows Swat's student faculty ratio is 8:1; why does it matter to you? How will you take advantage of the small class sizes? Do you want to work on research projects with a professor? Do you thrive in smaller groups? What have you done already that makes you know you will like Swarthmore?

I'd also point out that Haverford and Bryn Mawr are both colleges, not universities.

Aime, here is the thing. Your essay says nothing but the common known information about Swarthmore. This essay will not impress the reviewers and does not do anything to make your application stand out. I suggest that when you talk about what interests you about Swathmore, you display an idea of the kind of education that you hope to receive there. Discuss how your interest in Swarthmore is connected with your interest in your major. Explain how you plan to excel at the university using their facilities. Pose a research query that you are interested in developing while a student there. Your interest in Swarthmore should tie in directly with your chosen major. Not in the general offerings of the university. So to become unique, focus on your major in relation to the university offerings.