In the selection of students, the College seeks those qualities of character, social responsibility, and intellectual capacity that it is primarily concerned to develop. It seeks them not in isolation but as essential elements in the whole personality of candidates for admission.
Selection is important and difficult.
No simple formula will be effective. The task is to choose those who give promise of distinction in the quality of their personal lives, in service to the community, or in leadership in their chosen fields. Swarthmore College must choose its students on the basis of their individual future worth to society and of their collective realization of the purpose of the College. It is the policy of the College to have the student body represent not only different parts of the United States but many foreign countries, both public and private secondary schools, and various economic, social, religious, ethnic and racial groups. The College is also concerned to include in each class sons and daughters of alumni and of members of the Society of Friends.