There are surprisingly few schools that have a nationwide reputation for academic excellence. The most well-known schools tend to be those that have major sports programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The overall flavor of a school (conservative, liberal, southern, northern, whatever) doesn't matter as much in a smaller college because the kids are kindof forced to get to know different people instead of sticking with their usual cliques. I went to Davidson as self-styled non-preppy person decades ago and made friends who ended up very, very cool and liberal (but didn't necessarily look that way when they were 17). I'm glad I didn't go to a big school and just hang out with the people I thought I had a lot in common with when I was 17. Also, you guys seem to be underestimating how hard it is to get in to Davidson these days -- it may not be famous nationally, but it is very hard to get admitted there.

I agree with how selective it is now. Ranked #9 among liberal arts colleges by US News. Kind of a moot point for many of these posters whose kids can't get in anyway.

I had honestly never heard of Davidson and still haven't met anyone who went there.

If you didn't grow up in the south and don't have children in high school or college, I'm not surprised. I grew up in California, came east for school and had barely heard about Davidson until about 5 years ago when my oldest child applied to college. Since then I've heard more and more about the school as it has become increasingly popular in this area. Prior to that time I had met very few Davidson alumni and only one whom I knew well. He's a classmate from law school (a top 5 school in the northeast) -- a great guy, who was wicked smart and whose career has been distinguished by his passion for justice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The overall flavor of a school (conservative, liberal, southern, northern, whatever) doesn't matter as much in a smaller college because the kids are kindof forced to get to know different people instead of sticking with their usual cliques. I went to Davidson as self-styled non-preppy person decades ago and made friends who ended up very, very cool and liberal (but didn't necessarily look that way when they were 17). I'm glad I didn't go to a big school and just hang out with the people I thought I had a lot in common with when I was 17. Also, you guys seem to be underestimating how hard it is to get in to Davidson these days -- it may not be famous nationally, but it is very hard to get admitted there.

I agree with how selective it is now. Ranked #9 among liberal arts colleges by US News. Kind of a moot point for many of these posters whose kids can't get in anyway.

I had honestly never heard of Davidson and still haven't met anyone who went there.

Hard to know what cave you've beening living in. The school's basketball team is nationally known and a few years back went deep into the NCAA finals.

Well, let's see; I'm not interested in a school's basketball prowess, so maybe that's why I hadn't heard of Davidson.

I went to Davidson 20 years ago but still have friends who now work at the school---so here are some random observations. The classes are all taught and graded by professors, not TAs. A majority of the students go on to grad school---med, law, business. I have an amazing network of supportive, genuine friends with whom I am still very close.

The honor code is a point of pride. I never locked the door to my dorm room, and never worried about leaving my backpack in the library while I went to grab a meal. Because of the strength of the honor code, you could schedule which finals to take when during exam week. Having experienced the honor code in practice, I have an expectation of inherent integrity from every fellow Davidson grad, and rarely have I ever been disappointed.

It is small (though the suburban sprawl creep from Charlotte means that it has far more nearby amenities than it did when I attended.) But the PP above was correct in that most students choose to take a semester abroad and the school offers a range of options on that front. There are full-year study abroad programs in Germany & France and a number of semester seminar programs through the school. (For example, one of my friends went to India, another to Spain, one had an internship with the US Embassy in Paris, one studied in Florence, while I went to France with 13 other students and a professor on an art history seminar which had us literally climbing on the roofs of major cathedrals studying Gothic and Romanesque architecture.

It is my understanding that the Greek scene is not as dominant as it was when I was there---and even then, there were only fraternities, no sororities.

Davidson has the highest participation percentage rate of any school in the US when it comes to alumni giving---which speaks to the loyalty of its graduates. It is not for everybody, but if you have a child who is interested in SLAC, then it is definitely a good place to check out.

Anonymous wrote:The overall flavor of a school (conservative, liberal, southern, northern, whatever) doesn't matter as much in a smaller college because the kids are kindof forced to get to know different people instead of sticking with their usual cliques. I went to Davidson as self-styled non-preppy person decades ago and made friends who ended up very, very cool and liberal (but didn't necessarily look that way when they were 17). I'm glad I didn't go to a big school and just hang out with the people I thought I had a lot in common with when I was 17. Also, you guys seem to be underestimating how hard it is to get in to Davidson these days -- it may not be famous nationally, but it is very hard to get admitted there.

In complete agreement with you--I think there's quite a bit of misunderstanding by DCUM posters about Davidson's academic strength.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The overall flavor of a school (conservative, liberal, southern, northern, whatever) doesn't matter as much in a smaller college because the kids are kindof forced to get to know different people instead of sticking with their usual cliques. I went to Davidson as self-styled non-preppy person decades ago and made friends who ended up very, very cool and liberal (but didn't necessarily look that way when they were 17). I'm glad I didn't go to a big school and just hang out with the people I thought I had a lot in common with when I was 17. Also, you guys seem to be underestimating how hard it is to get in to Davidson these days -- it may not be famous nationally, but it is very hard to get admitted there.

I agree with how selective it is now. Ranked #9 among liberal arts colleges by US News. Kind of a moot point for many of these posters whose kids can't get in anyway.

I had honestly never heard of Davidson and still haven't met anyone who went there.

Hard to know what cave you've beening living in. The school's basketball team is nationally known and a few years back went deep into the NCAA finals.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The overall flavor of a school (conservative, liberal, southern, northern, whatever) doesn't matter as much in a smaller college because the kids are kindof forced to get to know different people instead of sticking with their usual cliques. I went to Davidson as self-styled non-preppy person decades ago and made friends who ended up very, very cool and liberal (but didn't necessarily look that way when they were 17). I'm glad I didn't go to a big school and just hang out with the people I thought I had a lot in common with when I was 17. Also, you guys seem to be underestimating how hard it is to get in to Davidson these days -- it may not be famous nationally, but it is very hard to get admitted there.

I agree with how selective it is now. Ranked #9 among liberal arts colleges by US News. Kind of a moot point for many of these posters whose kids can't get in anyway.

I had honestly never heard of Davidson and still haven't met anyone who went there.

I never understand posts like these. No one knows who you are, so it says nothing about Davidson if you're unaware of it. Some people have never heard of Brown, either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The overall flavor of a school (conservative, liberal, southern, northern, whatever) doesn't matter as much in a smaller college because the kids are kindof forced to get to know different people instead of sticking with their usual cliques. I went to Davidson as self-styled non-preppy person decades ago and made friends who ended up very, very cool and liberal (but didn't necessarily look that way when they were 17). I'm glad I didn't go to a big school and just hang out with the people I thought I had a lot in common with when I was 17. Also, you guys seem to be underestimating how hard it is to get in to Davidson these days -- it may not be famous nationally, but it is very hard to get admitted there.

I agree with how selective it is now. Ranked #9 among liberal arts colleges by US News. Kind of a moot point for many of these posters whose kids can't get in anyway.

I had honestly never heard of Davidson and still haven't met anyone who went there.

Anonymous wrote:The overall flavor of a school (conservative, liberal, southern, northern, whatever) doesn't matter as much in a smaller college because the kids are kindof forced to get to know different people instead of sticking with their usual cliques. I went to Davidson as self-styled non-preppy person decades ago and made friends who ended up very, very cool and liberal (but didn't necessarily look that way when they were 17). I'm glad I didn't go to a big school and just hang out with the people I thought I had a lot in common with when I was 17. Also, you guys seem to be underestimating how hard it is to get in to Davidson these days -- it may not be famous nationally, but it is very hard to get admitted there.

I agree with how selective it is now. Ranked #9 among liberal arts colleges by US News. Kind of a moot point for many of these posters whose kids can't get in anyway.

The overall flavor of a school (conservative, liberal, southern, northern, whatever) doesn't matter as much in a smaller college because the kids are kindof forced to get to know different people instead of sticking with their usual cliques. I went to Davidson as self-styled non-preppy person decades ago and made friends who ended up very, very cool and liberal (but didn't necessarily look that way when they were 17). I'm glad I didn't go to a big school and just hang out with the people I thought I had a lot in common with when I was 17. Also, you guys seem to be underestimating how hard it is to get in to Davidson these days -- it may not be famous nationally, but it is very hard to get admitted there.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks pps. Not a hipster at all, just a shy kid with an interest in politics. Kenyon is on the list; I'm just wondering if we can find a small school closer to home that would suit him. Don't mean to hijack the thread. Davidson sounds great to me.

Kenyon sounds like a good option for your son. Davidson is a very good school and not monolithically conservative, but the frat scene is very strong there, so that might not suit your son. Closer to home, take a look at Dickinson (a friend who teaches political science at Georgetown tells us that Dickinson sends some very strong students to grad school at GU). Also, Haverford -- might be a reach, but definitely worth considering.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks pps. Not a hipster at all, just a shy kid with an interest in politics. Kenyon is on the list; I'm just wondering if we can find a small school closer to home that would suit him. Don't mean to hijack the thread. Davidson sounds great to me.

Richmond?

Thanks pps. Not a hipster at all, just a shy kid with an interest in politics. Kenyon is on the list; I'm just wondering if we can find a small school closer to home that would suit him. Don't mean to hijack the thread. Davidson sounds great to me.