True to the College’s values and ideals, Haverford students are afforded a large amount of autonomy and may use this opportunity to craft the kinds of experiences they wish to have – and they are given the responsibility, the resources, and the respect necessary for that to happen.
Like Baseball, But Different!
The ancient game of Cricket is Haverford’s oldest and most distinctive sport. To many Americans, it’s a mysterious game that looks kind of like baseball – to the rest of the world, it’s one of the most popular sports. Led for over 25 years by Coach Kamran Khan, Haverford’s XI team bears the distinction of being the only varsity cricket team in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean they sit around with no one to play. They play club teams from all over the country, and are frequent participants in cricket tournaments and festivals.
There are very few barriers to the pursuit of individual or group interests and accomplishments. Alums often look back on their Haverford careers and marvel at the ease with which they were able to navigate between high-powered academic curricula and athletics, service, the arts, social pursuits, campus jobs, club activities, and student government.
Over 98% of the student body lives on campus and actively participates in campus life. Programs like Customs ensure that students are welcomed, connected, and well-supported, while the over 145 student clubs and organizations keep students busy planning and attending events, hosting conferences, performing plays, singing a capella, constructing origami, going to Phillies games, writing for The Bi-College News, DJing for WHRC, playing sports, and being active in student government among other things.
Though most students live on campus, there are ample opportunities and reasons to venture beyond Haverford. The Blue Bus, SEPTA’s R5 & R100, and other forms of public transportation make it easy to travel to nearby colleges, especially those at which Haverford students may take classes: Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, and the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, there are shopping and recreation areas in walking distance from campus, and the beautiful city of Philadelphia is less than ten miles away. Community service opportunities are plentiful as well — Haverford’s 8th Dimension Office organizes and coordinates volunteer service and tutoring programs in Philadelphia and nearby towns.
At the heart of students’ experiences at Haverford are the friendships and relationships they develop. Teachers become mentors, roommates become best friends, and the diverse community enables students to get to know people from different backgrounds and lifestyles. Haverford’s atmosphere of trust, respect, and independence is unique among colleges, even small ones.