Davidson College
Davidson, NC, USA

Reviews

Davidson College

Andrew from Charlotte, NC

a current student here
27 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Davidson is known for its strenuous academic curriculum, and it lives up to that reputation. There aren't any joke classes, but every class that I have had has been great. The professors actually do the teaching while they don't at large universities. Every professor is an expert in his or her field and is very intelligent.
Am enjoying being here
There is always something to do for anyone. Whether you want to party or you want to just hang out, you will be able to find something to do.
Bang for the buck
As most private schools are, Davidson is quite expensive. Davidson, however, has a financial aid program called the Davidson Trust. Student financial need is met completely through grants. They are also quite generous with the grants. Whatever you do, don't let finances stop you from applying to Davidson.
Tips for prospective students
Come to a Decision Davidson session and stay with a student host overnight. It is the best way to get a feel for how the school is.
Great for these types of students
There is something here for everyone whether you want to major in liberal arts (like English), or go premed (95% of Davidson applicants get into medical schools while the national average is 45%).

Lauren from South Burlington, VT

a current student here
11 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Davidson's academic atmosphere encourages dedication and consistent hard work. The school prides itself in the rigor it puts students through to prepare them for the next level, whatever that may be. The professors are incredibly knowledgeable, or experts in fact, of their fields and allow you to take your investment in a subject to a whole new level. I'm learning so much here...and not only about school related topics. At Davidson, even as an underclassmen, I have already been asked to stretch outside my comfort zone and take matters into my own hands, a lesson I believe is extremely important for post-graduation.
Am enjoying being here
I am a varsity athlete at Davidson. I am not going to lie, it is very difficult, but as it would be a every other school. There is a lot of pressure to do well and at Davidson you surround yourself with people who are extremely driven and know what more or less what they want to do career wise. It can be overwhelming, but more than worth it. The really great thing about Davidson though is you always see a familiar face and it is so easy to make friends outside of sports teams, freshman halls, or other entrance organizations. The people here are so nice and you can feel the passion on the campus, coming from students, faculty, staff, and community members. An enormous amount of people are really invested in the college and it's apparent during everyday life.
Bang for the buck
The education I am receiving is worth the money my parents and I are spending. The Davidson Trust also makes it well worth it. It is a program that gives money to students in form of a grant. Any student will be grateful to walk out of their undergraduate education with little or no debt to pay back...it's a blessing.
Tips for prospective students
I suggest you really figure out what college atmosphere you want. Davidson has a very unique perspective on the education process and connection with its students. It's a very special place to be, and I'm honored to be a part of it. However, the small size of the school and the town itself is definitely something to consider when stepping onto campus. Definitely take an official tour and try to get into a few classes. The best idea would be to do the prospective student overnights, that way you can get a feel of what a day in the life of a Davidson student is!
Great for these types of students
- Incredibly self-driven and dedicated to academics
- Interested in a solid Liberal Arts education
- students also looking at Ivy League schools
- students looking for a small, tight-nit community

Jamie Johnson

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Davidson is a hard school academically, meaning there is no such thing as an easy A. The students at Davidson have a work hard play harder mentality. The teachers are great and easily accessible for the most part.
Tips for prospective students
1. Go into your freshman year prepared for the work load
2. Use other students advice for what class to take and what not to take
3. Make friends
4. Talk with your roommate outside of the room
5. Be open to new things
Academic Rigor
Davidson is HARD. This college is not a walk in the park. You will work for your grades and sometimes pull all nighters.
Dorm Life
Dorm life is fun. Especially, freshman year when the halls are done by the school. You bond with your hall relatively quickly. Flickerball, a Davidson freshman team sport, allows you to bond even more with your hall. Roommates are done by the Myers Briggs System and usually match students really well.
Food and Dining
Food is okay. Nothing is as good as a home cooked meal. However, there are some days when the food is really good. Commons which is the main dinning facility has a salad bar, gluten -free options, hamburgers, fries, a sandwich bar, and other food.
What to do for fun
1. Go down the hill to party
2. Movie Nights
3. After midnight: food at midnight
4. Cook with your hall
5. Hang out with friends
6. Go clubbing in Charlotte
7. Go into Charlotte
Bang for the buck
Really expensive could do more with our money.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
1. Flickerball: game played freshman year that is a combination of ultimate Frisbee and football
2. Frolicks: a week of debauchery in the spring
3. Commons: the main dinning hall
4. Union: student center
5. Baker: sports complex
Great for these types of students
Students who work hard and play harder.
Clubs and Activities
There are a lot of different clubs and activities you can do on campus. There is an activities fair in the beginning of the year to help you decide which ones to choose.
Greek Life
Greek Life is known as Patterson court because it comprises of fraternities, NPHCs and eating houses.

Frats: KA, Kappa Sig, PhiDelt, SAE, and SigEp
NPHCs: Kappas, Alphas, AKAs, Deltas

Eating Houses: Rusk, Turner, Warner, Connor
Not affiliated with any sorority, but they do community service projects and are like sororities in the sense that they throw parties and bring girls together.
Campus Safety
They are there when you need them.

Student from Columbus, OH

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Davidson College is in North Carolina about 20 minutes outside of Charlotte and currently holds about 1,800 students. Davidson has one of the smallest Division I athletic programs in the country. And the college prides itself on its renowned Honor Code, that the inclusive community surrounding the collegeâ??in the town of Davidsonâ??seems to follow as well.
Tips for prospective students
Most students at Davidson excelled above and beyond in high school. My tip is just to keep working hard. Davidson is not easy and you need to remember that it takes a lot of work to do well, but if you put in the time and effort you will do just fine. Also, don't hesitate to talk with the professors, they are very willing to help.
Academic Rigor
Davidson College is challenging and there does seem to be quite a bit of grade deflation. However, as long as you work hard and do well according to Davidson Standards you will excel graduate school and in the work world.
Dorm Life
The dorms at Davidson are wonderful. Most rooms have sinks in the rooms and the rooms are particularly spacious compared to other colleges. Davidson really works hard to make sure a roommate pair is compatible by administering the Myer Briggs test, along with another in-depth personality profile, during the Roommate Selection Process. Around 70% of people at Davidson who were paired together through the selection process their freshmen year, will remain roommates for all four years at Davidson.
Food and Dining
The college offers plenty of alternative food options and the food is great; however, there is not a lot of variety in food choices.
What to do for fun
For fun you can go to any of the Division I sporting events, musicals, and plays the college offers. Depending on the weather you can go to the college's lake campus. Also, there are several exits around Davidson that have big, outdoor malls, and Charlotte is only 20 minutes away from the college.

Jersey Girl

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Davidson is known for being academically rigorous and quite frankly, it is. You're going to have to work hard and adjust your study habits as a Freshman. Even if you took the hardest courses available at your high school, nothing can prepare you for college-level workloads or Davidson College workloads.
Am enjoying being here
I absolutely love it here. Everyone is very friendly and being on such a small campus makes you feel popular because you always run into people you know. If you're not into partying then don't party; there are always fun things to do in the Union on the weekends and you will more than likely find people that don't go out every weekend.
Bang for the buck
So far, no complaints.
Tips for prospective students
Visit! Ask as many questions as you can to as many students as possible- don't be shy!
Great for these types of students
Hardworking , confident in their abilities and aptitude and independent.

Nadin from Los Angeles, CA

researching this school
0 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
We I visited Davidson I really fall in love. In California we don't have as beautiful campus as Davidson Does. I think I am applying for early decision .
Tips for prospective students
Students should go and visit the school themselves.
Academic Rigor
They have a 95% rate for pre-medicine students getting accepted to their first choice Med School
Dorm Life
i liked it a lot but we didn't visit any of them . I liked the Laundry system.
Food and Dining
I didn't visit any but it was on the tour.
What to do for fun
every day there is something to be done.
Clubs and Activities
there is a lot of activities going around the campus everyday .