Haverford College

Haverford has an illustrous history and a promising future. The promising future, however, is contingent on the administration recognizing the unique Haverfordian culture evident amongst the student body and faculty. The current administration, especially President Tom Tritton, appears too willing to embrace its national meritocracy status and the importance of the US News report - as a result, distinctive features of our amazing college are being swept out from under the feet the student body and faculty. That said, the student body and faculty are incredible people. Intelligent and virtous, ambitious and humble. The social scene is great. My only concern, beyond the one raised above regarding recent administrative actions, is that the faculty and student body have a tendency to become absorbed in a sort of ivory-tower intellectualism - something I had hoped Haverford would be immune to.

2nd Year Male -- Class 2007

Faculty Accessibility: A+, Scholastic Success: B+

I have nothing negative to say about Haverford (well, maybe the dining center food was not great.) I had a marvelous time while I was there, making many wonderful friends and getting involved in many campus organizations. I believe that I am a much more open-minded and a happier person because of my Haverford experience. Beyond the social and psychological benefits, Haverford gave me a top-notch education. I learned to write better, and my major prepared me perfectly for my graduate career at Harvard. I became friends with my professors, as well. The Honor Code is perhaps the most unique aspect of Haverford. I appreciated it while I was there, but perhaps never realized quite how amazing it was until graduating and hearing about other people's college experiences at different institutions. Knowing that you have your professor's absolute trust does not make you want to cheat, it makes you want to make them proud by achieving all you can honestly and ethically. I suppose honesty is the most important thing I learned at Haverford. If you want to be amongst a bunch of fun people who will teach you a lot while giving you memories that you will still laugh about when you are 90, this is the place for you! Note: Haverford is not a "party school". There are parties, but you won't find beer-guzzling frats here (except for the occasional Yarnall-house kegger.) For me that was a benefit -- I found plenty of ways to have fun (and sometimes get drunk) on the weekend and during the week without the sex-and-drinking culture that was common to many of my friends' college experiences. If you want a frat culture, this may not be the school for you!

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000