Ask a Swattie

Swarthmore students sit in white chairs on the porch of Parrish Hall

Want to learn more about Swarthmore by speaking directly with a current student? The students featured below are all seniors at Swarthmore who work with the Admissions Office. They look forward to answering your questions, so please reach out to them at askaswattie@swarthmore.edu. If you would like to write to a specific student, share their name in your email. Prospective transfer students can reach out to Agahve below!

  • Our students typically respond within 4 business days. Response times may be longer during College breaks.
    • Our students will take a well-deserved break before the fall semester begins. Ask a Swattie questions received on or after August 21 will be held until mid-September 2026 when our fall student representatives join the office. You are still welcome to send us your questions during this period, and a student will answer your email in mid-September.
  • Our students are very happy to answer any questions you have about the student experience via email, but they are not available to meet with you on campus or virtually.
  • Our students do not answer questions about the application process nor offer advice for your application.
  • Questions about admissions are best answered by your regional admissions officer or by emailing admissions@swarthmore.edu.
  • Please contact the Financial Aid Office with questions about financial aid.
  • Swarthmore does not consider ‘demonstrated interest’ in our application review process.
Agahve smiles at the camera

Agahve

Agahve (she/her) is from Kansas City, Missouri. She transferred her junior year to Swarthmore College from Metropolitan Community College. She is a biology major who has specific interests in preventative medicine and nutrition. On campus, Agahve participates in the Richard Rubin Mentorship Program and received summer funding through the program to conduct research in molecular biology. She is also a part of the Student Disability Services Advisory Board, where she discusses ways to make the campus more accessible for students. Additionally, she participates in choir and the Swat doula club. In her free time, she enjoys writing music, cooking, drawing, and learning about film, photography, and music production. 

Bradley smiles at the camera.

Bradley

Bradley (he/him) is a senior from Torquay, Devonshire, United Kingdom. He is an Honors PPE (political science, philosophy, and economics) major with a political science concentration. In addition to his role as a Senior Admissions Fellow, Bradley works as an astronomy teaching assistant (Photon) and a research & teaching assistant alongside Claude C. Smith '14 Professor Tierney for his Wargames and Simulations class. In his free time Bradley plays in Gamelan Semara Santi and will be doing an embedded study in Bali alongside the orchestra in the upcoming winter break.

Chung Sze smiles at the camera

Chung Sze

Chung Sze (she/her) is from Surrey, England. She is a Lang Opportunity Scholar pursuing an Honors major in educational studies and peace & conflict studies with a course major in cognitive science. While at Swarthmore, she has conducted research with the Cognition and Perception Lab, and is currently running an independent education research study for her Honors thesis. On campus, Chung Sze serves as a Resident Assistant, a Writing Associate, and an Associate for Education and Access at the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility. She is also the collaborative pianist for Garnet Singers, a frequent participant of the Fetter Chamber Music Program, and the president of SwatCircus. In the spring of her junior year, Chung Sze ventured west as a domestic exchange student at Pomona College, where she had the opportunity to perform with the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company.

Liam smiles at the camera.

Liam '27

Liam (he/him) is a first-generation student from Austin, Texas. He is a member of the class of 2027 and is studying linguistics and German. On campus, he's been involved as a captain of Swat's fencing club, president of Swat's film photography group, analög, and has worn many hats as an Admissions student worker. Off campus, he has volunteered as a local EMT, completed a semester abroad in Vienna, and enjoys venturing to Philly for live music and good movies. He's excited to answer your questions about Swat!

Joie smiles at the camera.

Joie

Joie (she/her) is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is an economics major with a special Honors major at the intersection of religion and theatre. Outside the classroom, she is a member of Consulting 180, a student-run consulting club, and the Tri-Co Law Review. Since her sophomore year, Joie has participated in several fellowships across campus. As a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, she is working on Tapestries of the Hunt, a research project that reimagines seven medieval tapestries as a seven-act morality play. She is also an Inclusive Excellence Fellow who works closely with Swarthmore’s Black Cultural Center on Mining for Solutions, a project through which she recently helped launch The Grove, a student-run café. When she is not working on her research or campus projects, Joie enjoys going on café crawls, pursuing thrill-seeking adventures, and making floral arrangements.

Jonah smiles at the camera

Jonah

Jonah (he/him) is studying philosophy and history in the Honors program. He is from Brooklyn, New York City. At Swarthmore, he is a leader of Solidarity at Swat, a worker’s rights and organizing group. He is also a Student Academic Mentor and has worked on independent history research. In his free time, he loves going into Philly for concerts and food, volunteering for unions, and watching and playing baseball. 

Joshua smiles at the camera

Joshua

Joshua (he/him) is from Yarmouth, Maine. He is a Honors economics major, with an Honors minor in philosophy and a course major in mathematics, even though he came onto campus planning on studying education! Outside of academics, he is both an economics research assistant and a teaching assistant, is a Student Academic Mentor, the chair of academic affairs in student government, and is on the varsity cross country/track and field team! In his free time, he loves to cook, read books, listen to music, explore the woods, and play video games! Feel free to ask Joshua any questions about the broader academic intricacies of Swarthmore, research, the varsity athletic experience, or studying abroad (he spent his junior fall at the University of Oxford)!

Katie smiles at the camera

Katie

Katie (she/her) is from Dublin, Ohio. She is pursuing an Honors neuroscience major and is on the pre-medical track. She is currently completing her Honors thesis on the interactions between early adversity and neurodegeneration. When not in class, Katie is involved in the Tri-Co dance group, Rhythm n’ Motion. She has also served as a teaching assistant for the chemistry laboratory courses and is currently a teaching assistant for introductory physics. Additionally, Katie is conducting research on Chinese parenting with Professor Suya in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology. In her free time, Katie enjoys trying new Philly restaurants and reading romance and mystery novels.

Pallavi smiles at the camera

Pallavi

Pallavi (she/her) is from Niskayuna, NY. She is an Honors major in economics, and Honors minor and course major in statistics. On campus, she plays violin in the Swarthmore College Orchestra, has worked as a teaching assistant and research assistant in the Economics Department, serves as Co-President of WAGES (Women and Gender Non-Conforming Economics Students), and is a member of SOSA (Swatties of South Asia). In her free time, she also loves playing the piano and creative writing, exploring the beautiful gardens on campus, and going to Philly to visit art museums and try new food spots with friends. She’s happy to answer any questions about Swarthmore, but also particularly about on-campus research and the Honors Program!

Ridgely smiles at the camera

Ridgely

Ridgely (she/her) is originally from Baltimore, Maryland. She is pursuing a psychology major on the pre-optometry track. Outside of the classroom she is an NCAA athlete on the varsity women's lacrosse team and is involved in Swarthmore Admissions through her roles as a senior admissions fellow and a tour guide. Additionally, she is a teaching assistant for the physics courses tailored to pre-medical students and a teaching assistant for a psychology course focusing on the wellbeing of college students. During her sophomore fall, she studied abroad in Vienna, Austria in a program focusing on European art, society, and culture. Ridgely loves traveling, trying new foods and restaurants, supporting all things Baltimore sports, and is an avid needlepointer. She is excited to hear from prospective students and share about her Swarthmore experience!

Curious about engineering? Reach out to current Engineering students through the Engineering Department and read about our Student Advisory Group in Engineering (SAGE)!