The most prominent stereotype of Davidson students is that we are forced to spend all of our time studying. No, we do not spend all of our time studying, but it does take up a great deal of time in order for success to be possible.
In terms of the workload, it is very important for a prospective student to understand that Davidson really does give a lot of work in addition to very difficult reviews (our word for tests), and that it is an adjustment from high school. "Grade deflation", or lower average grades, is not a myth, although it's not impossible to conquer grade deflation and get an A. Part of the reason that Davidson students feel that the workload is so intense is the fact that most of us are deeply involved in extracurriculars, whether it's a sports team, an a-capella group, or a service organization. A lot of us simply don't have enough hours in the day, which makes the stress from studying to be greater and the workload to seem much larger. But to be honest, I would not have it any other way. We love what we learn, we love the personal attention from our professors and the support they give us, and we love how the material resonates long after the test. We know why we're here, and we accept and love it. There really isn't enough hours in a day for all of the extracurriculars and studying that we do, but at Davidson, we realize that what we do is worth it and will pay off in the end.
As for the part of our lives that does not involve studying, we do have an active social life, which contradicts the stereotype of Davidson students being all work and no play. After a long school week, it's nice to be able to go out, have a great time, and leave the work until the next day. Parties take place mostly on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with Friday usually being the most active night and Wednesday the least. For partiers, people usually mingle at F (Armfield senior apartments) and then go to Court Parties, which are dance parties in one of the fraternity houses or Eating Houses (like a sorority, but all-inclusive with no rush process). For people who would prefer to stay away from that scene, the Union Board hosts a ton of really awesome activities, like cookie decorating contests, dances, movies, free Build-a-Bear, and concerts. There is something fun to do for everyone, which we all fully take advantage of. We work hard-but we also play hard, whether it's showing off our moves at Court Parties or building a cute stuffed animal we'll love forever. I really enjoy all of the social events that Davidson has to offer-such a nice break from my psychology textbook! But there's a reason that the library is so crowded on Sundays-after a great weekend of playing hard, we all realize that we have to go back to working hard.
Another stereotype of Davidson students is that we're very stereotypically Southern-white and conservative. I would say that this is somewhat true. I feel like most of the people I meet at Davidson are from Charlotte or some place close in North Carolina, and that there are a few Southern influences in Davidson life, i.e. one of the most popular meals in Commons is fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and collard greens, and people get a little too excited for Carolina Cup. Although there are lots of people from North Carolina, as I mentioned before, there are enough people from the North, West, Midwest, and out of the country for there to be geographic diversity. In terms of the "white" aspect, the majority of students is white, but Davidson has been working diligently to change that with the S.T.R.I.D.E. program, more courses about African American culture and a new Latin American Studies Major, and publishing editorials on the subject. I would also note that most Davidson students are generally politically liberal, but dress and mannerisms are more consistently conservative.