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Swarthmore

Swarthmore College

Two short 250-word supplements where Swarthmore tests how you think and how you treat the people around you.

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Required supplements

2 essays

Word limit each

250 words

Personal statement

Common App, 650 words

Testing

Test-optional

What Swarthmore rewards

Swarthmore asks for two required supplemental essays, each capped at 250 words, on top of your Common App personal statement (up to 650 words). One prompt is about who you are and how you move through communities. The other is about something that genuinely fascinates you. Swarthmore stays test-optional through the 2025-26 cycle, so these short answers carry real weight.

The core challenge is compression. 250 words is roughly one tight paragraph, which means there is no room for throat-clearing or a generic mission-statement opening. Swarthmore is a small, intellectually intense Quaker-rooted college, and it reads these essays for two things: how your mind actually works, and how you treat the people who are not like you.

01Genuine intellectual hunger. Swarthmore rewards students who chase ideas for their own sake, not for a grade or a title. The curiosity prompt wants to see you follow a question past the point where it was assigned, and notice where it connects to other things you care about.
02How you handle difference. This is a Quaker-rooted, discussion-heavy campus where people disagree in seminar and still respect each other. The identity prompt is really asking whether you can navigate people unlike you with humility instead of just announcing who you are.
03Specificity over polish. At 250 words, a vague but well-written essay loses to a slightly rougher one full of concrete detail. Swarthmore readers trust the applicant who names the actual book, the actual argument, the actual person at the lunch table.
04Reflection, not performance. Both prompts end by asking how something shaped you. Swarthmore wants evidence of a mind that processes experience, not a list of accomplishments dressed up as a story.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

2 prompts for Swarthmore, each broken down with annotated examples.

Identity & CommunityNo more than 250 words

What aspects of your self-identity or personal background are most significant to you? Reflecting on the elements of your home, school, or other communities that have shaped your life, explain how you have grown in your ability to navigate differences when engaging with others, or demonstrated your ability to collaborate in communities other than your own.

Intellectual CuriosityNo more than 250 words

Tell us about a topic that has fascinated you recently - either inside or outside of the classroom. What made you curious about this? Has this topic connected across other areas of your interests? How has this experience shaped you and what encourages you to keep exploring?

See all 2 prompts and get a read

Your chance

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Add your GPA, test scores, and profile to estimate your odds at Swarthmore and build a balanced list.

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Deadlines

Early Decision INovember 15
Early Decision IIJanuary 4
Regular DecisionJanuary 4
Testing policyTest-optional (-26)

Cost

Sticker price$88,696
Avg net after aid$22,469
Meets full needYes
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Explore Swarthmore
How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what Swarthmore weighs most Supplemental essays2 prompts, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $22,469/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes Swarthmore interview? Format, tips, and practice The Swarthmore Reader ProScore your draft against Swarthmore's exact prompts
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Swarthmore FAQ

What is Swarthmore's acceptance rate?

Test-optional. At Swarthmore, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does Swarthmore require?

Swarthmore requires 2 supplemental essays on its application. On EssayLens each prompt is broken down with annotated examples, and you can get a free admissions-style read of your draft against the exact prompt.

How much does Swarthmore cost?

Swarthmore's published sticker price is about $88,696 per year, but the average family pays $22,469 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does Swarthmore require SAT or ACT scores?

Swarthmore is test-optional: you can apply without SAT or ACT scores, and strong scores are just one factor among many when you do submit them.

When are Swarthmore's application deadlines?

Swarthmore's application deadlines are Early Decision I November 15; Early Decision II January 4; Regular Decision January 4; Testing policy Test-optional (-26). Add Swarthmore to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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