Davidson College Reviews

"Almost all of my professors were absolutely wonderful. Since it's a small school, they are super available in their office hours, and since class sizes range from 6-30, it's not that hard to get in to see a professor for support. Professors are excellent at connecting students with opportunities for research grants or even to present at conferences. They are a good source of moral support and really invest in students! They also pushed me to think critically and adopt new frameworks to understand the world, whether that was looking at racial capitalism and neoliberalism, learning from the fat liberation movement, or adopting a disability studies lens. The student body's commitment to social justice and radical change is incredible and inspiring, but the administration thinks that hosting panels and speakers and holding meetings around the flagpole to respond to tragic or racist events is enough. It's not enough. Luckily student organizers constantly push Davidson to go further with initiatives to rename Chambers, the main academic building named for someone heavily involved in the slave trade, or to start an Asian American Studies Department and a Jewish Studies Department, and to make reparations. Students have launched mutual aid efforts, social entrepreneurship projects, and change-oriented artist collectives. Inequality in terms of resources is clear. The historically Black sororities and fraternities do not have houses on Patterson Court, whereas the predominately white frats and eating houses do. The budget of the Africana Studies department is tiny in comparison to that of Political Science, History or English. Due to student activism, there has been some positive change, for example, the opening of Lula Bell's food pantry and student resource center. The party scene is ok, and there are lots of social events for non-drinkers as well. There are so many student activities, especially for a small school, and students are very involved. The school hosts lots of artists, performers and speakers, and the entertainment scene is surprisingly good for a school of 2,000. Davidson is about forty minutes from the city of Charlotte, however, the only public transportation between the two available currently is buses, so students mostly go downtown if they have cars or if their friends do. Davidson isn't a commuter campus and so there is a lot of activity on the weekends. Davidson encourages its students to volunteer, and many get involved in tutoring, at the community garden, or at the free medical clinic. Counseling is free and available to all students, but there are relatively few counselors in light of the demand, and so sometimes one has to wait two or three weeks to get an appointment. Pre-COIVD, they were combatting this by having walk-in office hours. Most of the counselors are white. Mental health is a serious issue for Davidson students, probably because there is so much academic stress and pressure. Professors push students hard, and Davidson tends to attract the kind of students who care a lot about grades. I know at least three students who, during my time there, faced suicidal ideation. The career services center is great. They offer a lot of summer internship grants, job shadowing and mentoring opportunities, and lots of help applying for positions, whether that is through resume review, mock interviews or coffee chats. I strongly encourage students to take advantage of it early on. Don't wait until you're a senior to start planning for your career! The Chaplain's office is wonderful. Rob Spach is a gift to humanity and infuses the campus with so much love and light. So many of the staff who are in non-academic roles are incredible people and during my time there, I built relationships with everyone from cafeteria workers to librarians to office administrators. The humans who work and study at Davidson are the school's most valuable asset, and they are what makes attending worthwhile."

"Davidson College provided me with an excellent education. In the classroom, there was a low student-to-faculty ratio, meaning there were extensive opportunities for in-class discussion, research, and one-on-one help from professors. Professors push students to think critically, share ideas, and apply concepts to real world problems. Classes are rigorous but the material and the professors make it extremely interesting. Additionally, the student life offers something for most people. There are many student organizations from which to choose from and most students are involved in several activities."

"Davidson College is an academically rigorous liberal arts school. It's Presbyterian, but not in an overwhelming way. It wasn't very ethnically diverse, but there were students from all walks of life there. It's very very small in a very small town about 20 minutes from Charlotte, which is a rather small city. I loved the Theatre Department and the History Department, but I wasn't crazy about the English Department. I was extremely challenged at Davidson, and it opened a lot of doors for me in the South, but it hasn't opened all that many doors for me in the Northeast. Most people up here don't seem to know what a tremendous school it is and I've found that difficult and disappointing."

"Davidson College is a wonderful place to learn and grow. The honor code is central to how teacher, faculty, staff, and students all interact and treat each other. I was encouraged to explore topics that I was interested by my teachers and peers. The academics are highly competitive, but it enabled me to more confidently transition into my career."

"Davidson College is everything you expect it to be with some twists - there is heavy emphasis on being a good person and it is important to come ready to assert yourself about what you want your college experience to be. People there are accommodating and effective, so even if the challenge of the school makes you feel a little passive, do not be afraid to assert yourself about what you think is wrong or right and what you want to accomplish while you are there."

"I found Davidson College to be a wonderful small liberal arts college steeped in values of honor, tradition, and academic rigor. The workload was extremely challenging, in that the College truly values it's mission to educate students not only to be able to do, but also to be able to think critically, communicate eloquently, and pursue a vision passionately to change the world one graduate at a time."

"I had difficulty in college for reasons that were uniquely my own, but if you heard me talking about people I knew and classes I took, you might not imagine that I had such trouble. My experience of the professors, staff, environment, and other students was truly beyond wonderful. Davidson gave me an almost frightening sense that anything was possible. People there are phenomenally loving in their approach to each other and their approach to what they do. That said, I think one has to go into it knowing that there will be challenges. My advice to a future Davidson student would be that you should not fear trying new approaches to problems that arise, and you should not hesitate to ask for information, advice, or even moral support from faculty, staff, or other students."

"Davidson will be one of the most challenging, thought provoking, nurturing, and person shaping experience tou will ever have and be grateful for."

"Davidson was the most formative, challenging experience of my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything. The students there are all driven, smart, and kind-hearted people who become lifelong friends. Professors are always there to help students succeed and are frequently recognized for their approachable nature and talent in the classroom. Davidson's honor code and successful Division 1 teams make it a truly unique and welcoming place."