College admissions is competitive,

I love Swarthmore and it has provided me with just about everything I have needed in four years. I love the culture, the intensity, the professors, the friends, everything. That said, four years is just the right amount of time and I'll be ready to move on this June.

I have actively known a number of my professors, some I would even call my friends. There is so much respect for students here, it's hard not to feel the same for the professors who pick this environment. We study a lot, and it can be your life if you want it to be, but it hasn't been mine and I've done well here. Grades are not something I discuss with anyone in specifics because that's not what my classes are about and comparing myself to anyone else is completely useless. Swarthmore fosters a sense of academia that I don't feel like I want to continue in after graduation, but it has been a great learning experience.

I think it is difficult to be conservative on campus, but I would encourage outspoken, open conservatives to try Swat and make it a more even keeled place. Because friends are often based on freshmen hall configurations and classes as well as clubs, everyone gets the chance to interact. That's great. I wear jeans and a tee shirt (often barefeet) to my classes, but others go all out and dress up.

I tend to make my own fun (playing bocce after hours in our main building and going for bike rides with hallmates), but there's all kinds of things to do if you want to find them. I wish I went to more lectures, but I've been going to more arts performances this year and loving them. I've also discovered the student run Paces Cafe, where I bring the hookah I picked up while abroad and do my homework (until 1AM on Tuesdays). I spend a lot of time in my room with friends too, mostly because I'm an RA and want to be available to the hall. We listen to music, dance, play board games, and talk. Really anything goes. Yesterday, I went into Philly with a couple friends and we spent three hours befriending the owner of a little middle eastern coffee shop, and playing scrabble with him.

We joke a lot about how awkward we can be. It stems from another stereotype that everyone here is brilliant, may so much so that we cannot function. You'll also hear that we are over dedicated and extremely motivated. Additionally, we have the reputation of being very liberal.

Each of these stereotypes has a seed of truth (at least), but it's all relative. My experience of the college is that my classmates are brilliant, but of course that doesn't mean they are all brilliant in the same way (thank goodness!); many of us are even socially skilled, so the awkwardness is only so true. We are definitely motivated, but that gets expressed in all kinds of ways (maybe dedicating yourself to a political campaign, or maybe spending every "free" minute in the library, or maybe getting to every party, every weekend). The liberal rumor is true as far as campus climate, but if you ask, you'll find more diversity of opinion than meets the eye.

I love Swarthmore.