Endearingly Quirky

Introduction
Swarthmore is largely a school for students who are happy about being out of the mainstream. If you identify as "quirky" -- or if you spend a lot of time thinking about how you identify at all -- you'll probably be thrilled to be among the other brilliant, funny, iconoclastic people who make up the small undergraduate population.

Campus Life and Social Life
Social life on campus is pretty chill. Your first two years, you go to a lot of campus parties to drink the free alcohol and dance with people you may or may not hook up with; later, you'll need more variation and either have small parties with your friends or go off to Philly. There are lots of free on campus events, including movie showings and speakers, and the student groups are a good time. Academics
Academics are not quite as intense as they're purported to be. Slackers do get by (though it helps to be naturally smart or not to care that much). At their best, classes will change how you view a subject altogether. Professors are accessible, if sometimes intimidating or frustratingly flaky; they definitely care, in any case.

Student Body
There is a significant activisty population, which can get annoying, depending on your tolerance for earnestness. It's partly countered by the clever, smart-ass types (a recent "Stand for Peace" demonstration was followed by "Hop for War"). Though students love to talk, plenty actually do also accomplish things, in terms of community service and in changing things on campus.

In Closing...
Most Swatties wouldn't admit to having school spirit in a typical way, but secretly everyone loves the place. It was certainly the perfect school for me.