Swarthmore College
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Studio Art
Minors: Spanish and Educational Studies
Student Self Identifies as: East Asian Heterosexual Female
Summary
I’ve had a couple of jobs in graphic design, but I quit and took up photography for the school instead.
Background
Gender Identity: Female
Race/Ethnicity: East Asian
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
High School Experience: International school in Shanghai, China with a graduating class of about 150 students. There was a culture of going to college in the United States.
First-Generation College Student: No
Major: Studio Art
Minors: Spanish and Educational Studies
Extracurricular Activities: I’ve had a couple of jobs in graphic design, but I quit and took up photography for the school instead. I’m peripherally involved with Asian and Southeast Asian affiliation groups. I’ve held a large-scale Lunar New Year celebration, and have been involved in Asian Heritage Month planning.
Did any of your extracurricular activities have a particularly big impact on your experience?
Graphic design work was definitely for fun but is also something on my resume. I did it for the Intercultural Center. That’s where I got the chance to connect with people that gave me resources on how to host a large-scale event, which is why I wanted to do a Lunar New Year celebration. I got to connect with a lot of different types of people. The Asian clubs host [events], for example, this weekend we went to East Coast Asian-American Student Conference (ECAASU). I was presenting a workshop there.
Academic Experience
Can you describe the weekly coursework for your Studio Art major?
It’s free in what you can do and varies per professor. Generally, they teach a concept, and you have to produce a certain amount of work in class, such as paintings or working on ceramics. On the weekends, your homework is to spend 6–8 hours working on your independent project. There is always a final project that is graded based on your efforts throughout the semester.
Is there anything you feel the Studio Art department does especially well or poorly?
Something they do especially well would be the number of resources and support we have. We never have to worry about not having enough materials, or [having someone] to help us. They’re really good at encouraging students. It’s a very supportive environment.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
Generally, I think it has been very supportive. In my high school, everyone was competitive in comparing grades. Here, it’s kind of taboo to compare grades. It definitely happens, but it’s not the norm. The professors I’ve taken are always available. There are resources not just within the academic setting, but also if you want to go to a conference there is funding for it.
How accessible are your professors?
They are accessible. My Spanish professors have office hours two days a week, and they are usually available for two hours. If you can’t go to them, they’ll usually make time for you. I had a Spanish professor come in on a Sunday because I was really struggling. My art professors are similar, where they have set office hours, or you can make an appointment with them. My photography professor has been a real mentor. When I did my photo project over the summer, I texted him every week.
How was transitioning academically from your school in Shanghai? Were there any systems in place to help you adjust as an international student?
I came from a school that was super competitive and also had a lot of resources and support. It was a great school in that sense, and I was in the IB program which was super rigorous. Academically, I was very prepared. I was attracted to everything the college does for international students. We have college writing courses for freshman about how to write in college. They recently added a program that is English Writing aimed at multicultural students. The individual who runs the office for International Student Center is super supportive.
Why did you pick Studio Art? Are you happy with your choice?
I picked it because I love art, and thought the environment was pretty supportive. It’s very painting based, so it’s a great program for those who want to be painters. I’ve gotten a lot of support and encouragement, and people say they believe in me and that I can do it.
Reasons to Attend
1) If you want a liberal arts experience but want to be close to the city.
2) Having great support networks, mentors, and having so many great opportunities open to you.
3) The people are wonderful, and it’s not a rat race learning environment.
4) It’s very much the norm to ask “What are your pronouns.” It’s a good place to dive deeper into your gender or sexual identity.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) It’s really tough academically. It’s a lot of stress and work.
2) Sometimes there are mice in the dorms which I was very surprised by.
3) It prides itself on being diverse, liberal, and progressive, but the administration doesn’t do a good job [at upholding these standards]. it’s hypocritical and doesn’t necessarily give back to students in the way it should.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on campus?
Freshman: Wharton Hall in a quad. There were two singles and a double.
Sophomore: Hallowell Hall in a double room.
Junior: Hallowell Hall in a single room.
What was your favorite living situation?
Definitely in the singles. I can’t deal with a roommate. I enjoyed Hallowell substance-free because it was quiet and there wasn’t a lot of drunk people walking around. [The third floor of Hallowell is substance-free.]
How was transitioning from Shanghai to Swarthmore, PA in terms of location?
I got to Philly and it felt like it was so small and cute. There is nothing open at night, and I was really missing the pace of the city. Where I lived was a residential neighborhood, [but close to the city]. [In Shanghai], it was always safe to walk outside no matter how late it is. Here, when it hits 9:00 PM, there is no one around.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
I pretty much always feel safe on campus. I’ve never felt afraid, but I feel like we could have more lights because it’s a big forest looking campus. The only thing that really gets stolen is maybe a textbook.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
I’m a big fan of going into Philly. This semester I’ve been going every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and a bit more. Generally, I found going to the city helps with my mental health. I’ll go on the weekends as well. Sometimes there are cool events on campus. The parties aren’t that great, but I’ll stop by occasionally. A lot of people tend to have work or homework to do at night too.
What are some of your favorite events?
Events hosted at a place called Olde Club are pretty cool. They’ll have performers or student bands come around. They even had drag queens come. If an individual clubs host something, it’s usually pretty fun. Every semester there is a thing where students get $15 and a train pass to go into the city as a group and mingle with newer Swarthmore students.
How happy have you been with the weekend options at Swarthmore? Is there anything you would change if you could?
Sometimes they will have events, but I don’t really go. If it’s hosted by the Office of Student Engagement, it’s usually just a hamburger or hotdog grill with snacks. That’s just what comes to mind.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
One of them was my quad mate freshman year. Another one was a friend with my other roommate because they were both from San Francisco. I met my boyfriend through class and a mutual friend, and I’m pretty close with a couple of international students in my year.
How would you describe the overall social scene?
People are pretty awkward. It’s pretty much based on what you study. One thing that comes to mind is there are different libraries. There is a science library, a music library, then the main one called McCabe. I usually do work in McCabe Library or my room. I’ll tend to see people who study the humanities more, but I’ll hardly see [science majors]. The cultural affinities of people help them make friends, but it’s not the main way.
To what extent do people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
I want to say it’s diverse, but I don’t have many White friends. I tend to hang around mostly people of color. I just generally gravitate toward other people of color, but there are exceptions with every rule. I see people hanging out with others similar to them. At Swarthmore, everyone sees gender and sexuality as a social construct. My two best friends are gay and bisexual, but I also have a lot of straight friends. It’s not necessarily as segregated, but I definitely see Queer people have their main group of friends who are also Queer. [Swarthmore is 6% African American, 17% Asian, 13% Hispanic, and 42% White.]
How would you describe the student body?
Definitely workaholics. People are super into their work, and we talk about mental health being a big thing here. A lot of people struggle with it. They are good people, and I don’t ever feel like someone is trying to throw me under the bus for some position. It may also be that I’m not in a competitive research or science field.
To what extent do you feel international students mix with domestic students?
Very much so. There isn’t an international student clique or anything. We did have international student orientation, so we know each other better. My friend pool is maybe half and half, so I wouldn’t say we stick together. [11% of the student body is international.]
How would you describe the East Asian community on campus? How strong is it?
There are lots of Chinese kids, and they do stick together. Korean students are the same way, and we don’t have that many Japanese students. Southeast Asians are mostly Vietnamese and Pilipino. We have a club called SEASA which is predominantly Vietnamese.
How strong is the international community on campus?
I’d say there is a presence here, and it’s pretty strong. There is a space in the Intercultural Center. I want to say we host events, but not that many are hosted. Our director hosts informational workshops, such as advice from an immigration lawyer, and how to apply for a work visa.
Were there parts of your college, or American college as a whole, that surprised you?
There were things they don’t tell you, like how much money you can get for the summer programs. There are so many opportunities here that I wouldn’t have in other countries. There is so much support financially and also support from faculty.
How do you like the size of Swarthmore in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How does it influence your social experience? [Swarthmore has about 1,650 undergraduate students.]
I think the size is great. The student-faculty ratio is part of the reason I came. I personally haven’t had a class that is more than 20 people. I’ve gotten to know people and professors very well. [There is an 8:1 student-faculty ratio.]
Careers
Has the alumni network helped you find internships or jobs?
When I was a sophomore I wanted to intern at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, so I reached out to someone who graduated a few years ago, and they told me about their experience. They had been talking to the person doing the interviews for the internship cohort that year. She mentioned my name, and during the interview, they brought up how I talked with someone who had done the program, which showed them I was eager to do it.
What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I’ve used them for help with my resume, cover letter, and mock interviews. It depends who you get, but one woman in particular is super helpful. The career services building operates in a very traditional way.
Have you learned any computer programs or languages that will be helpful to you professionally?
I’ve learned Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Bridge, which as a photographer, is important.