We are going to Davidson.....

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:George Mason is a regional school, to take one example. I didn't go to Davidson, so I don't care, but I tend to think that, as a factual matter, Davidson is better than a regional school.

Davidson is most definitely a regional school. Most people outside of the mid-Atlantic/South have never heard of it. And many people within that area haven't heard of it either.

The term "regional school" has other connotations in this context. It's not just about geography or alleged reputation.

This is nuts (troll likely).....e.g., You'd be very surprised how many people outside of the Eastern corridor have never heard of Williams.....

True, but Davidson and Williams aren't even in the same sphere.

Rankings aren't everything but they are a data point. Williams is ranked #1 by USNWR and Davidson is ranked #11. They are in the same sphere. Just because you don't know something doesn't change the facts.

[Anonymous]

Just because I know that Davidson is for preppy kids doesn't make me a troll. The only kid from my dd's private high school who went to Davidson was a total loser and not smart. Perhaps you're a public school parent and don't know the private schools?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a school that a lot of super rich preppy kids go to from the DC privates when they can't quite get into a better university

What an ignorant comment. Engage brain and take a look at the Common Data Set for Davidson. If you even know what the Common Data Set is troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just because I know that Davidson is for preppy kids doesn't make me a troll. The only kid from my dd's private high school who went to Davidson was a total loser and not smart. Perhaps you're a public school parent and don't know the private schools?

This is so typical on DCUM. Rather than just admit you don't really know that much about various SLACs, you have to double down and look like even more of an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Davidson is ranked ahead of Vassar, the Naval Academy and W&L - not exactly 2nd tier

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because I know that Davidson is for preppy kids doesn't make me a troll. The only kid from my dd's private high school who went to Davidson was a total loser and not smart. Perhaps you're a public school parent and don't know the private schools?

This is so typical on DCUM. Rather than just admit you don't really know that much about various SLACs, you have to double down and look like even more of an idiot.

You might want to admit that you are extremely defensive to the fact that most people haven't heard of this school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairly conservative and religious (campus tour emphasizes that most students attend chapel). Rigorous and beautiful. Not too diverse.

I'm a 2000 graduate & knew very few people there who attended "chapel" on anything even approaching a regular basis. As a liberal & an agnostic, I was in the minority but very rarely felt out of place, much less unwelcome, at Davidson. There were definitely more students who shared my political beliefs than my religious ones, however.

The rest of PP's comment is in line with my experiences at Davidson. The majority of my courses there were extremely rigorous but not overwhelmingly so. Like many of my classmates, I eventually attended a top-ranked graduate program in my field. I actually found graduate school to be, overall, less academically challenging than Davidson, which seems to be a common sentiment among my fellow alumni.

I am also consistently impressed by the depth & loyalty of the Davidson alumni network. The vast majority of graduates seem to be not only willing, but eager, to help each other out. And while it may not be all that well-known among the general public,particularly outside of the southeast, it seems the majority of well-educated people I encounter are both familiar with Davidson & think highly of it.When asked where I attended college, I've often started to reply "Davidson, a small liberal arts school outside of Charlotte" only to have the listener cut me off after a couple of words & assure me that no explanation is needed; he or she is quite familiar with my alma mater.

A large amount of diversity is definitely one thing Davidson lacks, unfortunately.The majority of the student body is overwhelmingly white & disproportionately wealthy (there are, however, excellent financial aid packages available to many of those not in the latter category).I know increasing diversity has been a goal among Davidson's leaders since prior to my own days as a student; I'm not sure,though, how successful they've been at achieving this goal. I think one obstacle may be the strong admissions preference given to the large contingent of legacy students who apply & ultimately attend each year -- most of whom are white, southern & wealthy. It seems that Davidson has more multi-generational alumni families than the average school, which is wonderful in some ways but definitely limiting in others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just because I know that Davidson is for preppy kids doesn't make me a troll. The only kid from my dd's private high school who went to Davidson was a total loser and not smart. Perhaps you're a public school parent and don't know the private schools?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a school that a lot of super rich preppy kids go to from the DC privates when they can't quite get into a better university

What an ignorant comment. Engage brain and take a look at the Common Data Set for Davidson. If you even know what the Common Data Set is troll.

I have no idea how you define "total loser" as that's a completely subjective label. "Not smart", however, is much less so &, given the objective data available IRT test scores, etc., I seriously doubt, barring some extraordinary connections, the kid you know who went to Davidson was truly "not smart". He or she may or may not have been Harvard material but I'd be rather shocked if Davidson admits students who are not significantly above average intelligence (& rather driven, to boot).

I'm not a Davidson alum nor is anyone I'm related to but I have met several through the years .The vast majority have had extremely impressive credentials. All appeared to be quite bright.

I find this vitriol you have towards this school rather puzzling.Were you rejected from Davidson as a high school senior? Was your DC? Or do you just really dislike your DC' s former classmate (aka the "total loser")?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Davidson is ranked ahead of Vassar, the Naval Academy and W&L - not exactly 2nd tier

It is an excellent school. Better than the Naval Academy? Doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Davidson is ranked ahead of Vassar, the Naval Academy and W&L - not exactly 2nd tier

It is an excellent school. Better than the Naval Academy? Doubt it.

Comparing SLACs to service academies is somewhat apples to oranges, but kids admitted to Davidson likely have better academic records.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just because I know that Davidson is for preppy kids doesn't make me a troll. The only kid from my dd's private high school who went to Davidson was a total loser and not smart. Perhaps you're a public school parent and don't know the private schools?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a school that a lot of super rich preppy kids go to from the DC privates when they can't quite get into a better university

What an ignorant comment. Engage brain and take a look at the Common Data Set for Davidson. If you even know what the Common Data Set is troll.

Or perhaps not. I'm a private school parent. Reaching a conclusion based on one student is goofy at best and I won't mention what it is at worst. My brother went to Harvard and he's an ass and not brighter than a great many people. The example of my sorry loser brother does not lead me to make conclusions about Harvard however.

[Anonymous]

We visited and found it quite nice. I don't think DC will apply because it was too small. But, certainly from the parent perspective we found it quite appealing. On our tour no mention of chapel or religion. I'd consider it a good school.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of it. No snark intended.

Curious - why did you bother to post? It's a well-known school, at least on the East Coast.

+1 (probably a troll)....according to that dreaded US News "thing"......its in the list of top 10 Liberal Arts Schools...perhaps the poster had not heard that....

truth be told....some have said that its reputation outside of the South and East is a little on the light side. But its a good school

This is true - I had to look it up, being of West Coast provenance. But I am glad I did - looks wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Would send DC there in a heartbeat if he can get in. People in the know are well aware of it, I heard their students' admission rate to med school after graduation is about 100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a small liberal arts college. No one cares about those anymore. It's not 1985.

That must be why I've heard of it, as well as Pomona, Oberlin, and others. But then again, as a proud grad of an even higher ranked SLAC, I would be happy for my kids to look at it and consider going there. I sent away for the materials but didn't apply way back in 1983. My guidance counselor kept trying to steer me to safety schools and said Davidson was a long shot for me (as well as my top choice - I'd be lucky to get in off the wait list he said), so when I got in to my first choice early decision, that kind of shut him up.

I'm glad people cared about those schools then since my work is all Wall Street based.

OP, it is a very nice school. I've since been to campus a couple of times for weddings, etc., and met Davidson grads, and I see quite a few resumes with Davidson undergrad at my company, where it is notoriously hard to get a job (you also need a grad degree). It is definitely a real school, notwithstanding what the Yalies say. When I see it on a resume, I think, "Good undergrad!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a small liberal arts college. No one cares about those anymore. It's not 1985.

That must be why I've heard of it, as well as Pomona, Oberlin, and others. But then again, as a proud grad of an even higher ranked SLAC, I would be happy for my kids to look at it and consider going there. I sent away for the materials but didn't apply way back in 1983. My guidance counselor kept trying to steer me to safety schools and said Davidson was a long shot for me (as well as my top choice - I'd be lucky to get in off the wait list he said), so when I got in to my first choice early decision, that kind of shut him up.

I'm glad people cared about those schools then since my work is all Wall Street based.

OP, it is a very nice school. I've since been to campus a couple of times for weddings, etc., and met Davidson grads, and I see quite a few resumes with Davidson undergrad at my company, where it is notoriously hard to get a job (you also need a grad degree). It is definitely a real school, notwithstanding what the Yalies say. When I see it on a resume, I think, "Good undergrad!"

Thanks for the honest assessment. This is most helpful. OP