Davidson College Top Questions

The best thing about davidson is that the vast majority of the people who go here are actually intelligent, well-spoken, well-read, active and involved. If you are thinking about going here, they are probably just as driven and goal-oriented as you are...which was incredibly refreshing coming from a public high school where I had to hide how interested in academics I was behind all of my extracurriculars: dance team, soccer team, crew team, etc.

lots of school pride thanks to basketball

the best thing is the sense of community here at davidson - everyone is in it together - its a hard school for everyone, and people respect each other more for it i think. it is a little small - everyone knows everyone, which is cool, but sometimes you feel a little claustrophobic. its always a bummer when people ask you where you go to school, and receive an unenthusiastic response to "davidson." our basketball team has helped us get a lot of attention lately, though. the town is great, and really supportive of davidson students and events. its the perfect place to have a school - we have the luxuries of a small town, but are so close to charlotte that we don't feel confined.

Davidson is in the middle of quaint little Davidson, North Carolina. It's not your typical college town because there isn't much in the town. Main Street is the main road through Davidson and consists of the Village Store, a Gnome Shop, the local coffee shop, Ben & Jerry's and CVS. We just recently got a Harris Teeter down the road near the highway, and I hear they're putting in a Starbucks too...both big steps for Davidson. But despite the fact that Davidson itself is small, there is a lot around it and a lot goes on on campus, so there is never a lack of possibilities of what to do. Having only 1700 students, Davidson falls into the small school category which can be both good and bad. I love the small class sizes that it allows for. You get to know your teachers and they know you which makes them very approachable. I still have teachers from my first semester freshman year who stop me in the hall to see how I'm doing. And you're always guaranteed to see people you know everywhere. There's a great sense of community on campus because we really do have the opportunity to get to know so many people. The downside to a small school is that the rumor mill runs wild. This means that a lot of people have predispositions about kids, faculty, frats, eating houses, everything. But everyone knows that everyone talks here and as long as you take these stereotypes or reputations with a grain of salt, you'll be fine. Most people have learned to make their own opinions and not go off what other people say. Until about a few weeks ago, whenever I said that I go to Davidson, I was normally met with either a blank stare, or a head nod followed by, "Now where is that again?" But thanks to the recent success of our basketball team I don't think that will happen anymore. Before, we were a small liberal arts school whose academic standards weren't understood or known far outside of Charlotte. I think that's about to change. As far as school pride goes, we have an abundance here. That's another advantage to the small school. When we go to sports games, plays, concerts, we're not just watching a team or group perform. We're watching our friends and classmates do what they love. People paint themselves for soccer games, you can hear the cheers for the football team across campus, and of course the student section is always packed for basketball games. Our recent run in the NCAA tournament is a great example of our pride. Half of our campus made it to both Raleigh and Detroit and the other half crammed into the student union to watch together. I will never forget watching the clock run down in the Wisconsin game that sent us to the Elite Eight. The 900 room in the union was packed, everyone was on the feet, and I could barely hear my friends next to me over the cheering and singing of "Sweet Caroline." And then, all together, with horns honking and people still cheering, we all went down to the senior apartments to celebrate. It didn't matter if you knew anyone, because at that moment we were all connected.

Davidson is a bubble...in a good way. there's really no other place like it, at least no where i've ever been. the sense of community and closeness here is tremendous.

The best thing about davidson is that it's tiny, everyone knows everyone else. I will never forget when I watched my friends on the men's basketball team go to the elite eight.

Davidson is a very small school, but it's also quite intimate which is a good environment to learn in. There are endless activities to involve yourself in, which provides excellent opportunities to network with people all over campus.

Davidson is, overall, a really great place. The school has too much emphasis on being "PC" and "diversity," by which they only mean the white:African-American student ratio because (for example) there are fewer Jewish people here than there are people named Katherine. Davidson is a small town. If you want a city, don't look here. Without a car it is difficult to get places, though there are a CVS, Harris Teeter (supermarket), and Ben and Jerry's within walking distance.

The best thing about Davidson is the community atmosphere. Classes are small. Professors care about their students and often develop friendships with them. The location is also awesome. Although Davidson College is in the small town of Davidson, North Carolina, we are only 20 miles north of Charlotte, so there is a big city not too far away. Another awesome thing about Davidson is the fact that most students study abroad. Almost all of my close friends and I were in Europe last semester, and we weren't "missing out" on anything back home because we were all gone. Sometimes, Davidson does feel too small. Especially coming back from being abroad (I was in Paris), it is hard to reacclimate to a place where meeting new people is a very rare occurrence.

Small enough that everyone knows everyone (and consequently knows everyone's business), but it's nice being able to go to the Union or walk to class and actually have people to say hello to. The town is miniscule but adorable, and we have a great relationship with its residence, between volunteering and basketball. Basketball? Yeah, we're a hoops school. By the end of the 2008 season, Widcat mania has taken hold of the school and the town. And yes, they trustees sent us, and yes, they do our laundry for us, but there's a lot more to the school than just basketball and getting pampered. The academics are viscious. I think the last element to include would have to be the honor code, which honestly governs every facet of life and is, in fact, all that it's cracked up to be.

The college town is integral to the feeling of community present here on the Davidson Campus. Coming from a small town, I was attracted to the small size of the school, and as I'm almost halfway done with my experience, I still don't feel like I've outgrown it. People who know the school are usually impressed when they hear I go here; otherwise, I'll get blank stares when I share my school.

The best thing about davidson is the honor code. Professors are predisposed to trust you instead of assume you'll cheat. This makes the relationships with professors more enjoyable. Davidson also has a huge commitment to community service.

Davidson is too small if you don't want to see everyone everyday. You can't escape awkward situations or speaking up in class. The town is wonderful as are the townspeople and the weather is also great. Campus is beautiful, most places look like a post card and the grounds are well kept. People are friendly and fun, but word gets around so there are very few secrets.

Work. Academics are everything. No one has heard of Davidson when I tell them I go there because it's so small, but I love the size. I wish there was not as much work as there was, it really hurts social life and relationships because everyone is always stressed.

The best thing about Davidson is the Honor Code. The Honor Code enables us to do so many things and students are always given the benefit of the doubt. A friend of mine had a take home test which was due on her professor's door by 8 am but she overslept, technically speaking her test was void because she could have used extra time while taking the test. A quick email to the professor straightened everything out and he had no problem believing that she had not used extra time. Take home tests in general are a luxury! For one of my classes our midterm was a take home essay test. Most take homes are given in an envelope but this one was emailed to us on friday and our response was due Monday morning. We were honor bound not to open the email before we were ready to begin. Another aspect of the Honor Code ensures that we don't steal. For example it is not uncommon to see a twenty dollar bill, sometimes more, tacked to a board with a note saying when the money was found. It used to be that I'd tell people I go to Davidson and they'd say "Oh, is that in Pennsylvania?" or else they just didn't know where it was. I'd usually say "Davidson College in North Carolina" as if that were what it was called...Now, I am not sure, I've heard people say that the new reaction is "OH Davidson, that's that basketball school right?"

Davidson is a great size- you know most people by name or face, but don't know them all personally. I just wish more people knew what Davidson is- maybe they will now that we have made it so far in basketball. The honor code is such an important part of Davidson life- I feel comfortable leaving my laptop out in a public space so I can run and get a coke-- you dont find that most places!

The school is exactly the right size. Small enough that I always know someone, but big enough that I always meet someone new.

The smallness usually is a good thing. It's pretty much impossible to avoid people but why would you want to here? And you always see a friendly face when you're out and about campus. I have had some incredible experiences here. Highlights include: Stephen Curry doing the Cupid Shuffle in my room, for no particular reason. Another hilarious and only-at-Davidson experience was playing Ecuadorian Kings with my friends from Quito. I don't really feel the need to leave campus that often - we have so many events and such a variety of people that I never want to leave. The town is friendly - they filled the Union to watch our NCAA Elite Eight game! People used to ask me which state Davidson College was in, but now they tell me they love our basketball team which is pretty exciting.

Perfect size! You don't know everyone, but you recognize most people and build a community with your peers. Freshmen live together - an incredible experience getting to know your own class in an intimate environment. Small class sizes result in lots of class discussion and participation as well as personal relationships with teachers. We've got a lake campus. And how about our BASKETBALL TEAM! My friends from home are always surprised when I say that I know basketball players in the classroom, in my lab group, in my dormitory, etc. But it's not strange here at Davidson because about 25{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students are varsity athletes, and another huge percentage participate in club or intramural sports. The community goes all out for our basketball team, especially, with hundreds of "townies" coming to our games, seeing our boys head off to the NCAA tournament, and waiting at the school at 3 am to congratulate them when they return. This year, the town issued a press release calling for residents to spray paint sheets for the team to hang off the porches. It was incredible to see everyone come out to support our small school with such pride and excitement.

the best thing about Davidson are the people and the amazing opportunities that are brought to the school in terms of lectures, performances, concerts. I would change attitudes about work, some people are perfectionists and tend to freak out very easily about the work load. It could also be helpful to encourage more students to be more open with their professors about how they are handling the work load and suggesting ways to help. Davidson is small, but if that's what you're looking for it's just right. Usually people from California don't know anything about Davidson and they ask if I mean U. of California at Davis. But as the years have gone by and Davidson is more recognizable nationwide, people are excited to hear me talk about Davidson and are interested in how I am enjoying it, especially what I'll be doing after graduation. I spend most of my time in the student union, my eating house, Chambers and my dormitory. Davidson the town is very much connected to the college. There are some cute restaurants, a public library, clothing stores and even a museum of wooden gnomes. But it's by no means a college town because most of the college "action" takes place on campus. The students and the people of the town of Davidson however have always had a great relationship, especially this year during the basketball season! the administration is fantastic. the biggest recent controversy was addressed by a rally where people talked about "differences" and diversity on campus and how the student body reacts to differences. there is a lot of school pride, but many students don't seem to realize that they belong at Davidson and sometimes feel overwhelmed by the amazing things their peers are accomplishing, not understanding that they themselves are also special. We have a great community of students but sometimes the pressure gets to us and it seems to effect our perception of ourselves. It is unusual how much Davidson students attend to their work on the weekends, but it's also a great skill to be able to balance work and social activities. I will always remember Odyssey from Freshman year, all of my freshman hallmates and activities, and Dance Ensemble. Frequently, students complain about word load and the dating culture: you are either in a serious relationship (headed toward marriage) or single and hooking up with people.

Davidson is small liberal arts college, a gem in the Carolina area. Because of it's size, it's easy to recognize anyone on campus, and people say hello all the time. My favorite thing about Davidson is that the college makes sure every student gets a quality experience. Professors invite their students to their homes and are always available for help, there are organizations for almost any interest, studying abroad is very popular junior year, flickerball teams are a special part of the freshman experience, athletes work just as hard as everyone else, and there are opportunities to join eating houses and frats though they are non-exclusive and not the focus of campus life. The honor code allows for freedom to have self-scheduled exams, take home tests, and trust in fellow students. The small town atmosphere caters to the students with a coffee shop, CVS, book store, and a couple quaint eating spots. The townies love to support the college. Davidson is small, with its ups and downs. Small means a close-knit community, but also it's hard to remain anonymous at times. Students complain about the lack of dating culture, and instead a hook-up scene, but that seems to be the case at most colleges. It's funny that many Davidson grads end up marrying each other. The administration is amazing. They are always looking to move the college forward, and always get the student's input on how to make the campus it's best. The trustees proved their generosity to students by paying for any student to go to watch the basketball team play in the Sweet 16 in Detroit. The one experience I will always remember was being in the stands at the Sweet 16 cheering on our basketball team. We got 500 students to go, and the school spirit took over. We cheered so loud, the whole stadium was asking "Who are these Davidson people?" It was a great day to be a wildcat. The unusual thing about Davidson is that even though it is small, it competes with the best in academics, athletics, and quality of life. It is in the South, but attracts well-rounded people from all over the US and from foreign countries. It embodies the saying, "the best things come in small packages."

It's a small place, but it's a great place! There is a real sense of community

Davidson has a great sense of community, probably due to its small size (around 1700 students) and its strong Honor Code. People around campus are friendly and respectful. The Honor Code plays an important role in setting the tone on campus. All students agree to abide by the Honor Code, and it remains in their consciousness throughout their time here. Any infractions are taken seriously; a student-elected Honor Council judges any violations of the code. Such cases are rare, however. Overall, Davidson has a really positive campus atmosphere.

I cant' really say anything bad about the town of Davidson; I've grown up here. I've spent my whole life observing the way the town works and now have the perspective of a college student, and it still follows the fantastic ideal of a small town. That's how I feel at least, some people may find the small atmosphere constricting. I like being able to see people Iknow everywhere I go and tlaking to them, and so while there isn't that much nightlife, there is the great environment. Recently there has been a lot of school pride around the basketball team, and while that showing was extraordinary, I think that it means something that it was there because it means that we all do feel strongly for this school and take pride in it.

Davidson: The Big Picture -Small, but not too small. I transferred to Davidson during my sophomore year from a school that was around 1000 students total. This is a much healthier size. You recognize most everyone, but you certainly don't know everyone's name. -Excellent education. While students might work harder than they want at times, the professors are overall stellar. I have not had one professor that I regret taking a course from. The range goes from good, but not my favorite to I will remain friends with them well after I graduate. -Busy bees. Students at Davidson know how to fill up their schedules. People here study and do so much more. Philanthropy, Sports and the Arts seem to be the biggest ways people spend their time here outside of the library or the classroom. -Party or no party. Take your pick. You can be in a frat or not. You can be in an eating house (the girl's social house) or not. No judgment, just what you want. -Davidson, who? Until the Elite Eight NCAA Basketball experience, hardly anyone could locate Davidson on a map, or tell if Davidson was a 4-year college or not. -The Union. It is like a big wonderful living room. You will live there (or the library) if you come to Davidson.

If you want to go to an idyllic, stereotypical, liberal arts college, Davidson is the place for you. Because even though Davidson does play into a lot of what the media these days has cast it as, it has SO much more to offer. Free laundry is great, basketball is better, but Davidson people are what make the Davidson experience so great. With such a small community, there isn't much room to be a jerk- if you are, everyone will know. And while this community can be a little too small at times, there's always someone interesting to get to know.

Davidson's set in the closest thing to Mayberry you'll find anywhere...an incredibly supportive, friendly small town. It's a very small campus - the 'bubble'- but there's actually a lot to do between classes, extracurriculars, special guest concerts and activities, and Patterson Court. There's been a ton of school spirit recently due to the men's basketball team...but even before then, people have been very proud of their school. Until just recently, most people hadn't heard of Davidson...despite its high academic standards, you're not going to get the same respect as a Harvard student or Yalie. In the academic world, however, people know what a phenomenal school this is.

The best thing and the worst thing about Davidson are the same thing: the sheer quality and quantity of extremely talented students living in close quarters. It's easy to get claustrophobic here.

Davidson is a great liberal arts school, but at the same time is very strong in the sciences (I'm a biology major, it's great). The best thing about Davidson is the strong community feel (because it's a small school) and the accessibility of resources; really you're only limited by your ambition at Davidson. People may sometimes think that Davidson isn't a top school because they haven't heard of it before. However, med schools, grad schools, law schools, and industry do know Davidson (especially after this year's NCAA!) and I have personally found that my education from Davidson has made me extremely competitive after college. The town of Davidson is nice. Davidson is situated in the suburbs of Charlotte, which means that there are many movie theaters and nice places to get some cheap food in the area (6 mile radius). Almost all night life is on campus, which may sound monotonous, but it isn't, really.

The best part about Davidson is the Honor Code. It enables us so much freedom and really fosters a community of trust and respect. I would definitely enhance our name recognition. The basketball team this year has helped a lot in that department. When I say I go to Davidsoon, I still get a few responses like "Now where is that, again?" or "Is that a community college?" but not as many as I used to. On campus, I spend most of my time either in the Union or in my room.

Davidson truly has a community feel to it. You'll know most students by sight at least and you will form real relationships with staff and faculty. Trust here is a given because of the honor code. The Honor Council president told the freshman at orientation that the honor code creates a way of life, and I have found that to be completely accurate. The community is built on the trust formed by mutual commitment to each other and the honor code. One thing I really like is the administration. We have a new president who even as a freshman, I've met three or four times. The administration is interested and eager to hear what students have to say - not something you get a lot of places. If you want to be part of a tight knit community that will be there for you for the rest of your life, then join us at Davidson!

The best thing about Davidson is the Honor Code. Although it seems like it wouldn't work, all the students really care about it. So you can leave things laying around, and no one will take them. And during finals, you get to take your exams whereever you want in the main academic building. There are no proctors walking around, looking over your shoulder, and if you want to get up and wander the halls, you can!

The best thing about davidson is the people. While just like anywhere else people may have differences and social cliques, on the basic level people are friendly and pleasant to deal with. I was on crutches for a brief period of time and a girl i had never met offered to carry my bag to the student union, and just walked along and chatted with me. People are generally concerned about each other and willing to help out. If I could change one thing, i would make Davidson a little bigger, but keep it small enough to maintain the community feel. As a senior, I don't really meet that many new people, and everyone knows each other's business. When i tell people from home up north that i go to davidson, they usually ask how i like ohio or pennslyvania (in reference to denison and dickenson) or just say "oh that's nice." However, more locally, most people are impressed, and these days have something to say about how we messed up their NCAA brackets. Unique to davidson- the honor code, the laundry service, the combination of academia and other pursuits (athletics, theatre, music... you can do it all) and the lake campus. School pride is high, especially if our sports teams are doing well. A huge portion of the campus travelled to Detroit to watch the basketball team play in the sweet 16 and elite 8 games, which the trustees partially funded out of their own pockets. I'll always remember my freshman year overall, and the effort the school puts in to providing a great first year experience.

The academic intensity is what attracted me to the school. I'm absolutely crazy for the professors - they go out of their way to talk with every student and really get to know the folks in their classes. At Davidson, you're never a "number." (Well, except for your laundry number - it's pretty great to go to a school that does your laundry.) Our town is great and so supportive of College activities. People complain about the workload but, by and large, it's all talk -- it's not that bad and, for those of us who value the intellectual atmosphere, it's perfect. I've loved the opportunities to conduct individual research with professors.

the honor code is one of my favorite parts of Davidson. Students leave their books and belongings (even computers and wallets) around campus and know that no one will take them. We have self-scheduled or take home exams because the professors trust no one will cheat. Almost no one locks their dorm rooms. I feel so safe around campus, and things like date rape are extremely rare. Davidson is small, but I like that I can walk to class and run into five of my friends. There are plenty of people I haven't met yet, but there is a large disparity between the people that go out and the people that don't, so most everyone I haven't met is just holed up in the library all the time. You will work extremely hard here, but it's manageable and there is time to play. The school continues to gain national recognition, so all the work it worth it.

Best thing about Davidson is the honor code, I would add more classes to the curriculum, I love the small community feeling, but it lends to a lot of gossip. People used to ask where Davidson is, now they ask if I know Stephen Curry. I love love love the town of Davidson, and I spend most of my time in the union. I love the administration, they sent us to Detroit. The biggest topic on campus is racism and homophobia. There is an absurd amount of school pride.

Davidson is all about being intimate: 1700 students, 91{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} live on campus, and all classes have fewer than 20 students. Everyone seems to know everyone else, and the strictly-followed Honor Code makes for an even greater intimacy. Not only does everyone know everyone else, but everyone trusts everyone else.

When people ask me what the best thing about Davidson is, I always respond the people I've met here. No where else do I think I would have met the amazing students, faculty or administration on a college campus. Our honor code provides us all with such security and trust in one another, and making the decision to come to Davidson was the best decision of my life.

Even in North Carolina people will not always know what or where Davidson College is. However, students at Davidson know they're getting one of the nation's very best educations and are confident that their own abilities, academic record, and experiences will carry significant weight post-graduation. Living in such a picturesque college town is amazing. In the recent basketball craze, every single business and residence on Main Street and surrounding neighborhoods had supportive signs hung outside. As an example of constant Southern hospitality, everyone stops to let pedestrians cross the street.

Davidson is great -- with about 1,600 students, all the faces are familiar. Everyone says hi and smiles at each other when we walk around campus. The town is really cute and loves the college, and during winter finals the church bakes cookies for all the students. It used to be really annoying when people had never heard about Davidson (I always get, "Oh, you mean Dickinson?"), but I just don't care anymore. The faculty are amazing...really brilliant and they are here to teach.

I would expand the school a little, i feel like 1700 kids shows a very poor spectrum of normal society. Other than the basketball team, there is absolutely no student support of athletics except for other athletes.

Life can get a little monotoneous here; people get lost in the Davidson bubble and forget that there is life beyond our campus. But things are changing in that respect. Also, the campus is actively dealing with issues of diversity, which is good.

best thing about davidson: basketball most frequent student complaint: too much work one experience you'll always remember: davidson basketball

I love Davidson, but Davidson isn't right for everyone. If you don't like it, stop complaining, transfer, and let students who do like Davidson to enjoy it.

What's the best thing about Davidson? I don't know. There are so many things about Davidson that I love! Name one thing you'd change. Self-segregation of groups. Too many people refuse to branch out to people who aren't like them. Is your school too large, too small, or just right? Just right. How do people react when you tell them you go to Davidson? They are either impressed or have no idea what I'm talking about. Where do you spend most of your time on campus? My room or the student union. College town, or "what college town?" Inbetween. What's your opinion of Davidson's administration? We just got a new president and I like him so far. All the students LOVED our last president (he was amazing). The people who work in residential life, the dining areas, etc. are also very friendly and always helpful. What was the biggest recent controversy on campus? We have a lot of problems with racism; or so some people think. Although racism definitely exists on our campus some people act like it's a lot worse than it really is. Is there a lot of school pride? Absolutely. Especially when it comes to men's basketball! Is there anything unusual about Davidson? Not that I can think of. What's one experience you'll always remember? Too many to count. What are the most frequent student complaints? Too much work.

The best thing about Davidson is the community atmosphere. I love being in a place that's so closely knit. It's annoying, yet comforting knowing everyone on campus. I mean, you don't really 'know' everyone on campus, but you've seen them before and so you're at least familiar. That's one of the reasons that I chose Davidson, they really welcomed me with open arms and that was extremely helpful since I'm about 400 miles from home. If I could change one thing about Davidson, it would be that people would be more willing to let down their guard. We're very concerned about being politically correct, which means that oftentimes, true opinions are not being voiced and that's unfortunate because that means that some problems don't get addressed, because people don't speak up and so we don't even know that they exist. I must say, though, that as my time here continues, we've been doing a lot better with that. I love the size of Davidson. It may be too small for some though, and like I said before it is too small on some days and other days its just right. As our sports teams (Go Wildcats) are faring better on a national level, we're receiving a lot of positive publicity and so more and more kids are becoming interested in this place. As a result, our school pride is definitely soaring. Who doesn't like being praised for smarts and athleticism?!

The best thing about Davidson is its size. 1,700 students may seem freakishly small, but I meet new people everyday, and you won't find more involved professors anywhere. The small class sizes allows each professor to get to know each student individually and creates the perfect environment for intellectual discussion. When you tell people you go to Davidson, mostly they're confused. Unless you're talking to a doctor they probably have never heard of it. The town of Davidson virtually revolves around the college; members of the college make up 2,000 of the 7,000 residents of Davidson. The biggest recent controvesy on campus centers around equality, acceptance, and diversity; in my opinion, the administration is working so hard to make sure minorities feel included and welcome that they are actually isolating them. There is an immense amount of school pride. This is most visible at men's basketball games where nearly 75{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the student body is up in the stands in red.

Davidson is known for its laundry service which is provided for all students. We're a very small college (less than 500 per grade), but I like it small because you get to know everyone. Most people haven't heard of Davidson, but it's getting more well known. We're one of the smallest Division 1 basketball schools, and our team is doing really well this season. We have a lot of school spirit for mens basketball. We don't really have the "bar scene" like a typical "college town," but we have fun on campus--"on the court" (fraternities and eating houses). We have eating houses instead of sororieties which are service-oriented, and like our fraternities, no one lives at the house. The houses are for meals and parties.

School is too small. People usually haven't heard of Davidson. Spend most of my time at the baseball field, at parties, and in my room. Davidson's administration wants to make it as close as possible to a boarding high school.