Haverford College

Haverford College's Quaker roots still reverberate through this nonsectarian academic powerhouse, bringing a strong focus on community and integrity. Haverford maintains one of the country's oldest honor codes, which fosters a "trust, concern, and respect" between students and professors. As one undergrad elaborates, "Being able to take an exam in your own room, sitting relaxed on your bed because your professor trusts you not to look at your books is one of the luxuries of being here." A classmate adds, "I love the amount of independence and autonomy [the school] gives to its students." Undergrads also "have a lot of power" when it comes to how the college is run. This ensures that Haverford has "a really conscientious student body invested in the school."

Enrollees note that Haverford's small size "allows for plenty of opportunities for collaborating with faculty and staff" and the college even grants "credit for research." Also, thanks to partnerships with nearby Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, and the University of Pennsylvania, students have even more opportunities to cross-register, though one student suggests you won't want to leave Haverford's "exceptionally vibrant and engaging" campus or the "awesome, invested" professors that challenge you to think critically. Here, "you are more than just a face in a classroom...you are a unique person that has something to offer." This is underscored by another student who shares, "My 'big intro lecture course' has 41 students. My professor still knows me by name, and we have long conversations when we pass on Founder's Green." Ultimately, Haverford undergrads are privy to "a challenging, interesting environment with the best people I know."

The "ridiculously friendly" undergrads at Haverford are united in their passion for learning. Indeed, many students are armed with an insatiable curiosity, which means that "people are always up for intellectual discussion." This also means that "everyone works very hard" to be educated, and for all the right reasons: they "want to succeed for themselves and not to appease others." Though many of your peers likely hail from the midAtlantic and New England, they come "from all different social circles" and the school is increasingly diverse-just over 45% of the student body now identifies as a person of color. Moreover, members of the overall population are perceived to have "hearts of gold and giant brains that they put to use to change the world for the better." As one undergrad explains, "I feel like I could potentially become friends with anyone on campus." As one student further explains, "It's a small school full of nice kids...just genuinely compassionate and interested in other people, whether or not that's 'cool.'"

Haverford has a sense of community that's fueled by its honor code and size. Sometimes that feels "like everyone knows your business," but undergrads emphasize that their peers are very nice and that "the social scene is great." In short, it's an "awesome ... place where community thrives and cliques are very loose if existent at all." Though students are incredibly diligent about their coursework, they certainly carve out time for fun as well. The college maintains over 145 organizations including Brew Club (for home brewing enthusiasts), Haute (a fashion collective), and the Haverford Microfinance Consulting Club. Additionally, athletics are also "really important," with more than 50% of undergrads participating in a club or varsity sport. And while Haverford doesn't maintain any Greek life, some teams "function like fraternities." Finally, when people want a breather from campus life, there's plenty to enjoy and explore. After all, New York and Philadelphia are both easily accessible by train, and "Suburban Square (the local outdoor shopping center) is a great place to hang out, get coffee, or even go shopping."