The "introspective, liberal-minded boy" (hipster?) would be far more comfortable at Kenyon or Oberlin than Davidson - or maybe a larger school.

Anonymous wrote:My son would like a small school, but he is not the outgoing preppy type. I think of schools such as Davidson and Washington and Lee as more for the jock/fraternity/conservative types (think Landon grads, just because I have known some to go there). Am I off base? Is it worth a look for a more introspective, liberal-minded boy? If the guide books say it is conservative, and I think some do, he won't take a look, unfortunately (too much like home!).

I've known some liberal, intellectual types who went to Davidson. It's simply a socially more conservative part of the country. So you get some frat boys but also some more introspective kids. I'd view as W&L as preppier.

no personal experience but from student reviews, some students complain about grade deflation and how it hurts them when it's time to apply for graduate programs

http://www.studentsreview.com/NC/DC_comments.html

Davidson is a top 10 SLAC. One of the most popular schools for Landon grads. Definitely not for the GDS type.

My son would like a small school, but he is not the outgoing preppy type. I think of schools such as Davidson and Washington and Lee as more for the jock/fraternity/conservative types (think Landon grads, just because I have known some to go there). Am I off base? Is it worth a look for a more introspective, liberal-minded boy? If the guide books say it is conservative, and I think some do, he won't take a look, unfortunately (too much like home!).

Anonymous wrote:Seems to have done well with the new US News rankings.

Dredge up a 2 year-old thread? Really!?!

Seems to have done well with the new US News rankings.

I graduated from Davidson ten years ago &
I loved it. I am from the south, but more like the poor cracker south than the debutante golf south if you catch my drift. Even so, I too made lifelong friends and broadened my horizons beyond my wildest expectations. It's not the perfect fit for everyone but it is a wonderful school for the right person.

Some choose Davidson over other bigger schools, including my best friend from high school, who now has her PhD. She loved it, and made life-long friends there.

My roomate's older sister went to Davidson. We went to another southern liberal arts school. I'm from MD. They were from FL. We visited her at least twice a year while we were undergrads and I didn't love it. The students were really stuffy and I didn't get the same friendly feeling I got at other southern campuses. The students are from all over, so it does not feel overwhelmingly southern.

A lot of kids go to Davidson from the MD, VA, and DC privates that don't get into the Ivies, G'town, Duke, Vandy, etc.

I LOVED Davidson when I visited it. While I didn't end up going there, it is a great school with a charming campus.

You ABSOLUTELY want to go visit Davidson before your teen applies there. I'm 10 years out of college but was very interested in Davidson until I went to visit. It is teeny tiny and felt like summer camp to me. I would have felt claustrophobic there. Totally personal obviously and I know several people who went there and loved it. And PP who went there has more relevant info but as she states, it is "charming" and "close knit" which equals very, very small.

I am a fairly recent graduate from Davidson and worked in their admission office for three years. Less than 40 percent of the student body comes from the southeast. I am not from the south, and always felt that the student body was quite diverse. It is a charming and beautiful campus - in fact, I had my wedding there. When I recruited for the school, most years we brought in students from almost all 50 states, in addition to many international students. Davidson's environment is close-knit and family like; for example, it is common for professors to invite students to their homes for dinner. The school also strongly promotes international awareness, and over 80 percent of the students go abroad. I would highly recommend that you visit the school with your kids.

There's a lot of buzz about Davidson among the teens I know (I have 2 in high school). I'd love to hear more about this school from alums and parents of current students or recent grads. Specifically, I'm interested in any thoughts as to how comfortable non-Southerners might feel on the campus.