Haverford is a tiny liberal arts college, home to about ~1,300 undergraduates, located in Haverford, PA. It’s a part of the “Tri-College Consortium,” which includes nearby Swarthmore and Bryn Mawr. It’s about 20 minutes from downtown Philly, which is great if you want to be near a city but to still attend a school with a “cozy, campus-y vibe.” We see you, wanting the best of both worlds. Haverford’s acceptance rate is around 16%.
1. Tell us about a topic or issue that sparks your curiosity and gets you intellectually excited. How do you think the environment at Haverford, including the framework of the Honor Code, would foster your continued intellectual growth? Please limit your response to 250 words. *
For reference, here’s a link to the Honor Code. You should read it.
When Haverford says “the environment” and the “Honor Code” at Haverford, they’re specifically referencing a few things that (they think) make Haverford *very unique* and that they want you to pay attention to/do your research on.
Students take final exams free of proctors.
Students schedule their own exams.
There are no RAs in the dorms.
The Tri-College Consortium
That’s honestly it. They don’t require an enrollment deposit, but we don’t suggest focusing on the financial end of the Honor Code in your essay. Unless you feel particularly moved and passionate by/about it. Then, by all means.
Basically, Haverford wants to attract highly “moral,” and self-motivated, self-scheduling learners. Those who will seek out classes at their partner colleges, and who will do so in a way that makes Haverford look good. So this essay is your chance to evidence how and why that is exactly who you are and why you value a sense of autonomy (if you’re operating within the system of higher ed, let’s face it, you’re never really going to achieve *true* autonomy) and trust within an institution.
Specifically, they are asking how this perceived lack of control/structure is motivating for you in a way that it will spark intellectual expansion. So be sure to address that directly. Why is this “freedom” truly invigorating to you? And why is this a framework that you are willing to operate within and optimize for with your application? How will it help you not just learn what you are passionate about, but how will it help you ask the hard questions and go outside of your intellectual and academic comfort zone?
This prompt is a bit self-serving, in our opinion, in addition to asking students to be a bit abstract in their writing, but just know that it’s their intent to learn from you why you and Haverford are aligned at your cores about society and community, and fostering those values with trust. Not a small task, but we know you’re up to it. Be explicit about why these things that differentiate Haverford’s culture from the culture at other schools excite you.
2. Please tell us what motivated you to apply to Haverford and what excites you most as you imagine your Haverford experience. Please limit your response to 150 words. *
This is a very very short “Why X School?” supplement, which is tricky to do. But given you’ve likely already highlighted your academic areas of interest above, you don’t need to go into the context of why you are interested in your area of interest as much as you would in a normal “Why X School?” supplement. 150 words is about enough to give them a visual, to paint the admissions reader(s) a picture of what it would be like for them to have you at their school. What kind of a learner are you, and why does Haverford fit the bill? How do you invest your time outside of the classroom? I.e. will you be a vibrant force on campus? We’re sure you would be, so really show them how you see that all playing out at Haverford.
Do your research and get specific with this scene you’re painting, down to the library you fantasize about studying at, the cafes or dining halls you envision visiting, how you think you’d spend weekends. Hiking and exploring the Schuylkill River trails? Engaging in local community service? Cooking for friends in your dorm? There’s no right answer here, and the only wrong one is “I’d go home every weekend and disengage from the Haverford community entirely.”
Be explicit and make it clear that Haverford is not just *a* place where you see yourself spending the next four years, it’s *the* place for you.
Let us know if you have questions or need help tackling this supplement -- it’s not easy! You can do it.