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Swarthmore Essay Prompt 2 (2026-2027)
Swarthmore College's supplemental essay 2 of 2 for the 2026-2027 application: the prompt, the limit, when it is due, and how to answer it. Verified on August 7, 2026.
“Swarthmore's community of learners inspire one another through their collaborative and flexible approach to learning. Swarthmore students are comfortable with intellectual experimentation and connection of ideas across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary studies through a liberal arts education. 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 interest? How has this experience shaped you and what encourages you to keep exploring?”
Limit: 250 words. Deadlines: Early Decision: November 15, 2026. Early Decision II: January 4, 2027. Regular Decision: January 4, 2027.
What Swarthmore is really asking
Can you follow an idea across subjects, and has it happened to you already?
The mistake most applicants make
Naming a topic and saying it is fascinating.
Do this instead
One topic, the thing that started it, and the two other areas it leaked into. Show the connection, then the question you still have. That question is the reason to keep exploring.
How to spend 250 words
250 words is two or three short paragraphs: the specific moment, what it revealed or changed, and why it points to this school. Cut any sentence that could appear in another applicant's essay.
How to start
Jim starts by asking you: “What have you gotten interested in lately that turned out to connect to something else you care about?” Answer it with Jim, free →
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What is the Swarthmore essay 2 prompt for 2026-2027?
"Swarthmore's community of learners inspire one another through their collaborative and flexible approach to learning. Swarthmore students are comfortable with intellectual experimentation and connection of ideas across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary studies through a liberal arts education. 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 interest? How has this experience shaped you and what encourages you to keep exploring?" The limit is 250 words.
How long should the Swarthmore essay 2 be?
250 words. 250 words is two or three short paragraphs: the specific moment, what it revealed or changed, and why it points to this school. Cut any sentence that could appear in another applicant's essay.
When is the Swarthmore essay due?
With the application: Early Decision: November 15, 2026. Early Decision II: January 4, 2027. Regular Decision: January 4, 2027.
Can Jim help me write the Swarthmore essay?
Yes. Jim, the AlphaApply.ai counselor, has every Swarthmore prompt and deadline loaded. He asks the questions that surface your story and gives feedback on each draft. He never writes it for you. Free to start.
The other Swarthmore prompts
Prompt and limit for 2026-2027, verified on August 7, 2026. Always confirm on Swarthmore College's official admissions site before submitting.