The name of the school is Haverford, not Harvard. Ha-ver-ford. Three syllables. Located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, this private liberal arts college may be lesser known than its almost-homophonic friend from Cambridge, but boasts a rich history and superb academics nevertheless.
Haverford College was founded in 1833 by the Religious Society of Friends to provide an education oriented around Quaker ideals. While the institution has since shed its religious affiliation, students and faculty alike still abide by the Quaker philosophy of respect, concern for others, and academic honesty. The over-arching honor code, which is open to amendments by the student body every year, allows students to take examinations at the time and place of their own choosing.
Within this remarkable atmosphere of scholarly trust and integrity, students at Haverford also receive a top-notch education. Ranked #10 among liberal arts colleges by the U.S. News and World Report, Haverford provides some of the best academics anywhere. Its strongest departments include biology, English, history, political science, and economics. Students can also take classes at Bryn Mawr College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania if they ever get find Haverford’s offerings unappealing.
Fortunately, this rarely seems to happen, for students a generally quite pleased with Haverford’s close-knit and rigorous academic setting. Class sizes generally hover in the mid-teens due to an enrollment of just over 1,100, and spirited intellectual discussions seem to be the norm. Professors are highly accessible because there are no graduate students at Haverford, meaning instructors are fully devoted to teaching. In fact, over sixty percent of the faculty lives on campus.
Gaining admission to Haverford is a difficult task. Only a quarter of applicants end up receiving acceptance letters. The most important criteria are difficulty of high school courses, academic GPA, application essays, and letters of recommendation.
Like that of most private schools, Haverford’s tuition is heavy. Luckily, over 40% of students receive some financial aid. Scholarships are handed out based on economic need only.
Statistics:
SAT Scores
Critical Reading 650-740
Math 640-740
Writing 660-750
ACT Composite n/a
In-state tuition: $39,085
Out-of-state tuition $39,085
Acceptance rate: 27.0%
Haverford College was founded in 1833 by the Religious Society of Friends to provide an education oriented around Quaker ideals. While the institution has since shed its religious affiliation, students and faculty alike still abide by the Quaker philosophy of respect, concern for others, and academic honesty. The over-arching honor code, which is open to amendments by the student body every year, allows students to take examinations at the time and place of their own choosing.
Within this remarkable atmosphere of scholarly trust and integrity, students at Haverford also receive a top-notch education. Ranked #10 among liberal arts colleges by the U.S. News and World Report, Haverford provides some of the best academics anywhere. Its strongest departments include biology, English, history, political science, and economics. Students can also take classes at Bryn Mawr College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania if they ever get find Haverford’s offerings unappealing.
Fortunately, this rarely seems to happen, for students a generally quite pleased with Haverford’s close-knit and rigorous academic setting. Class sizes generally hover in the mid-teens due to an enrollment of just over 1,100, and spirited intellectual discussions seem to be the norm. Professors are highly accessible because there are no graduate students at Haverford, meaning instructors are fully devoted to teaching. In fact, over sixty percent of the faculty lives on campus.
Gaining admission to Haverford is a difficult task. Only a quarter of applicants end up receiving acceptance letters. The most important criteria are difficulty of high school courses, academic GPA, application essays, and letters of recommendation.
Like that of most private schools, Haverford’s tuition is heavy. Luckily, over 40% of students receive some financial aid. Scholarships are handed out based on economic need only.
Statistics:
SAT Scores
Critical Reading 650-740
Math 640-740
Writing 660-750
ACT Composite n/a
In-state tuition: $39,085
Out-of-state tuition $39,085
Acceptance rate: 27.0%