The most accurate AI grader for Swarthmore essays.
Kolly was built and calibrated on hundreds of thousands of essays from students who actually got into Swarthmore College and the rest of the T20.
Swarthmore essay prompts for 2026-27
Copy the prompt you are answering into the prompt field above, then paste your draft, so the readers grade the answer against the question it has to answer.
These are the most recent Swarthmore prompts Kolly has verified, checked . Swarthmore may have updated them since, so check Swarthmore College admissions before you submit.
Why Swarthmore
Swarthmore’s academic program is built on a foundation of intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and collaborative learning. Describe an academic interest or curiosity—something you have studied or want to study—and how you imagine engaging with it at Swarthmore.
250 words max · Required
Community or Experience
Swarthmore’s community is defined by its commitment to inclusion, equity, and thoughtful dialogue. We ask you to reflect on a personal experience, perspective, or background that has shaped you, and how you would contribute to building an inclusive community at Swarthmore.
250 words max · Required
All Swarthmore supplemental essays, with word limits and the published source.
How Kolly grades a Swarthmore essay
The grade covers the same six dimensions as every Kolly read: hook, theme, detail, authenticity, reflection, and writing, each scored from 0 to 5. The big number is a percentile that shows where your draft lands among accepted essays of the same type from top US schools. Swarthmore readers, like their counterparts at peer schools, read fast and form an impression in the first paragraph. The verdict quotes the line that lands and names the weakest moment, so you know what to fix first.
Why Kolly instead of a ChatGPT read
ChatGPT and other general models grade against writing in general, which is not what Swarthmore readers do. Kolly grades against essays that got in, and four readers argue over the draft before they vote, so a polished answer that says nothing specific gets called out instead of praised. The quick read is free without an account. A free Kolly account adds the full review: a stronger scoring model, notes on each paragraph, and a fix-it plan.
Grading your personal statement?
Use the main college essay grader for a Common App essay that goes to every school on your list. For acceptance rates, test scores, and cost, see Swarthmore College admissions.