Navigating Your Freshman Year at Swarthmore College: Tips and Hacks
Starting freshman year at Swarthmore College can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. Whether you are eager to dive into some of the most rigorous academic offerings or looking to strike a balance between your studies and other commitments, here are some valuable tips and hacks to help you make the most of your first semester.
Academic Choices to Maximize Your Options
One of the most important decisions you can make in your first semester is to choose your classes wisely. Consider taking the hardest math class you can manage, fulfilling a core science requirement, and enrolling in an English class that pushes you to write extensively. These courses may seem daunting, but they will leave you with more flexible options in the coming years. Also, because the first semester at Swarthmore is pass/fail, you can not let these challenging courses harm your GPA, even if you struggle initially.
Avoid loading your curriculum with soft social justice courses. Instead, focus on more substantive academic areas where you can truly engage and challenge yourself. These foundational courses will help you develop critical thinking skills and prepare you for the demands of a liberal arts education.
Building Your Social Network
Meeting people is a vital part of the college experience, and there are plenty of opportunities to do so at Swarthmore. Attend the mixers and social events, and don’t limit yourself to people within your dorm or major interests. The more diverse your connections, the richer your college experience will be.
It’s also a good idea to get to know one faculty member. Attending office hours in your favorite class can provide you with valuable insights and may even influence your academic and career path. Professors can be a wealth of knowledge and guidance, and staying in touch with them could open doors for you in the future.
Prioritization and Self-care
It’s important to keep in mind how demanding the academic environment at Swarthmore will be. This place is highly competitive, and you will meet incredibly intelligent students. Therefore, learning to prioritize your reading and assignments is crucial. Many professors will assign a significant amount of reading each week, which is meant to be engaging and thought-provoking but can also be overwhelming. Manage your time wisely to fit all of your coursework and extracurricular activities.
Your first semester will be pass/fail, which means you can't afford to be overly anxious about your grades. Be open to meeting new people but don’t rush it. You will have ample time to get to know everyone in your class, and it’s likely you will spend a lot of time with the people you meet first. Building solid relationships with your professors is also essential as they can play a significant role in inspiring and guiding you towards a major.
Remember to take care of your health. Balancing the demands of coursework with social life and extracurricular activities can be stressful. Make time for self-care, whether it’s through exercise, spending time with friends, or simply taking a break to relax. Your well-being is integral to your success, so don’t sacrifice it for grades alone.
Additional Tips and Considerations
It’s worth noting that while some of the advice given here is still valid, the experiences and strategies used back in 1960 or even 1976 may differ significantly from today’s reality at Swarthmore. Regardless, there are timeless principles that remain applicable, such as prioritizing your time and taking care of your mental and physical health. Be prepared to work hard, and make the most of your connections as you navigate your freshman year.
Both my children attended Swarthmore, and they will be the first to tell you that the idea of doing 'other things' as a priority during your freshman year is misguided. This is a time when academic rigor takes center stage. You won't have many free nights, and who you interact with early on may very well determine the people you surround yourself with throughout your time at the college.