Colleges similar to Davidson but easier to get into?

[Anonymous]

My D is a well rounded, sporty student in the top 15-20% at her MD public HS but not strong enough in her sport to be a recruited athlete. We visited Davidson when we were visiting family in Charlotte over the holidays, and she felt it could be a great fit for her. She loved the pretty campus that could fit anywhere in New England but with a much nicer climate, a seemingly close knit and collaborative rather than competitive student body, a respected honor code and stellar alumni network. We know Davidson is a reach w/a sub 20% acceptance rate. What colleges would you recommend we look at that are similar in feel to Davidson but EASIER admits? A warmer climate is a plus but the schools don't necessarily need to be in the South. We already are planning on visiting Sewanee and URichmond this spring.

[Anonymous]

Elon

[Anonymous]

Franklin & Marshall, Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Lafayette, Gettysburg

[Anonymous]

Furman, Rhodes, Sewanee, Elon, Guilford

[Anonymous]

Washington and Lee tends to attract a similar profile, but not an easy admission target

[Anonymous]

You already have a good choice in U Richmond. If in-state, you might consider W&M. Of course, it’s a bit larger and public, but it still has a bit of a LAC feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington and Lee tends to attract a similar profile, but not an easy admission target

Yes.

Washington and Lee is pretty much Davidson sans D1 athletics. W&L is a slightly higher ranked SLAC ( USNWR) but is a little less competitive in admissions versus Davidson. If the OP's DC is strong enough to be recruited at the D3 level, W&L might be worth a look.

[Anonymous]

If you want California instead of the South, then Occidental.

[Anonymous]

Wake Forest checks some - certainly not all before someone jumps in - of the same boxes as Davidson. I find that people often ask “what is just like college X but easier to get into?” But if it was the same as college x, it would be just as hard to get into! So often you need to acknowledge that nothing else will be identical to a “dream school” but can have some of the same features that attracted you (and sometimes some colleges on your list will check certain of those boxes and others will check unrelated ones- meaning a student’s list on the whole might not seem cut from the identical cloth). For a safety, check out the honors college at College of Charleston.

[Anonymous]

Dickinson
Elon
Bucknell
Miami of Ohio
Oberlin
Sewanee
Kenyon
Wake Forrest

[Anonymous]

Rollins
Trinity in CT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Washington and Lee tends to attract a similar profile, but not an easy admission target

Yes.

Washington and Lee is pretty much Davidson sans D1 athletics. W&L is a slightly higher ranked SLAC ( USNWR) but is a little less competitive in admissions versus Davidson. If the OP's DC is strong enough to be recruited at the D3 level, W&L might be worth a look.

Is Davidson as conservative as Washington & Lee? And as full of old Southern families with lots of money?

[Anonymous]

My DD is at Davidson and so happy, so I highly recommend. I would say to apply ED if possible - demonstrated interest is very important there. If it isn't meant to be, check out W&L, Furman and Wofford College as well. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Washington and Lee tends to attract a similar profile, but not an easy admission target

Yes.

Washington and Lee is pretty much Davidson sans D1 athletics. W&L is a slightly higher ranked SLAC ( USNWR) but is a little less competitive in admissions versus Davidson. If the OP's DC is strong enough to be recruited at the D3 level, W&L might be worth a look.

Is Davidson as conservative as Washington & Lee? And as full of old Southern families with lots of money?

Not as conservative, and less of a southern feel, according to my DC.

[Anonymous]

This isn't a southern school but one liberal arts college my daughter really liked is Skidmore.