Student Profile
Austin
- Class: Junior
- Major: Spanish
- Gender: F
- High School: Charlotte Country Day School
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
Davidson is a very small school, which was what attracted me here. The classes are really small which gives you the opportunity to get to know your professors really well. The honor code is also really important to all of the students. We have self-scheduled exams where you can take an exam wherever you want unproctored at the time of your choosing. Everyone on campus follows the honor code, so you can leave things wherever you want and expect them to be there when you return. If I could change something about Davidson, I would add a wider variety of classes/majors. Although I do like the liberal arts approach, I find that we are very limited in the classes offered. For people who might want to go to Grad School like myself, it is hard to find some of the prerequisites for a specific field. Just adding a few Business classes or something would allow more options for students. Being from Charlotte, everyone knows of Davidson, but I have friends who say people have no clue what Davidson is. Everyone tends to say that you must be working hard when I tell them I go to Davidson. I spent most of my time in the College Union/Student Center. Davidson is a very small town, but is very much a college town. There is a really cute Main Street with a drug store, coffee shop, restaurants, bank, and a few stores. The community members are very involved with the college, so it is like one big community. There is definitely a lot of pride in saying that you are a Davidson student especially after this year's Basketball run. And Davidson does your laundry for you, which is a huge plus.
Academic Life
Academics at Davidson are very demanding, but in a good way. Your professors really care and take time to help you and to get to know you. I know all of my professors really well. There is a lot of work assigned, but since everyone has it, it is easier to be motivated to get your work done. Classes are very small with anywhere from 10-25 people. Although a few intro classes might have 30-40 people. Some classes are strictly lecture, but class participation is also a big part of some classes. The teachers really want to hear what the students have to say and so they work hard to include everyone in conversations. Students aren't too competitive. No one seems to talk about grades and share grades like they did in high school. I am a Spanish major and so I have gotten to take a lot of Spanish literature classes. The Spanish department is really nice and very helpful in assuring you get all the classes you need, etc. I do go visit my professors during office hours to ask questions or even just to chat. They are always available and helpful. I think the requirements to graduate are very managable. You basically need one class in every department including a lab science. In your major, you will most likely have to take 10 courses that fall into specific categories. By taking a class in every department, you are able to get a feel for all different subjects. You don't have to declare your major until spring of you Sophomore year which gives you time to try out different classes and departments before then. Davidson's education is very much geared towards learning for its own sake. Because it is liberal arts, you are not focused on one particular department or career from the beginning. You develop very good reading, writing, and problem solving skills which will help you in whatever you do.
Student Body
Davidson has a very diverse student body and becomes more and more diverse every year. For this reason, you will many different type groups on campus. However, this is not a problem at all because the whole Davidson community is acceptable of everyone. Although certain races or racial groups might seem to hang out together, it is not because they feel like they have to. They do this by choice. Students wear a wide range of clothes to class. Some people wear gym clothes while others tend to dress up. It definitely depends on the day and the time of the class. In the dining hall, usually the tables are mixed. There is not a certain table for a specific group. Students can sit anywhere and feel very comfortable doing so at the same time. Davidson students are from all over. There are lots of foreign students from all over the world. In addition, there are students from California, Texas, Midwest,and the north. However, there are also lots of students from North Carolina and the south in general, but it is not an overwhelming southern school. Some of my best friends are from all over the country. Students come from different financial backgrounds. Davidson has established a No Loan policy and is committed to helping students attend college debt free. Students are generally politically aware and some are very active as well. Some students are left, other tend to fall on the right side and some in the middle. There is not a predominate side. Although students do talk about and worry about their future, they do not seem to be obsessed with money.
The Best Things
honor code and sense of community
The Worst Things
lack of variety of classes offered
