<p>Hi, I'm thinking about adding Davidson to my last minute list but I'd like someone's perspective on the strengths of the English, Psychology, Sociology, Anthro program here. I know it should be strong all around but is there anything outstanding about the departments?</p>
<p>Also, what is the "vibe" at Davidson? I did a little bit of research and people said they were either constantly stressed out or it was mostly laid back except during finals. Is it very competitive between students? What is the social life on weekends like? Also, can anyone comment on its general feel; how southern, how preppy, how political, etc. I know I'm asking a lot, but just answering one of these questions will help a lot.</p>
<p>I’m an alum and have been out of school for ages, but I’d assume that the “vibe” at Davidson is similar to how it was when I was there.</p>
<p>Most people there were pretty happy; they weren’t slackers, with a few exceptions, and people studied quite a bit, but there was always time to head to Patterson Court on a Friday or weekend night and time to do extracurriculars or head into Charlotte. (I was constantly in a state of panic/stress about grades and studied all the time, literally, but that had nothing to do with Davidson; it was due to parental pressure and memories of a few bad grades in high school. People commented that I was very focused on studying, which was atypical for Davidson.)</p>
<p>Students were not competitive with each other at all. I have no idea what they would compete against each other for, since people head in so many different directions after graduation.</p>
<p>The social life on weekends usually involved fraternity/eating house parties/dances/etc. at night. I hear that there is a strong religious community there; I never saw that, though, other than the few times I went to Westminster Fellowship, the Presbyterian group, on Sunday nights, and it wasn’t that big.</p>
<p>Davidson is moderately Southern. People I knew there from the deep South commented on how un-Southern it felt, but a majority of students there are from the South. It’s not particularly political; it would be “center-left” among college campuses. Bill Clinton won about 60% of the vote in a mock election when I was there, but apart from the few people who will make everything into a political issue, people focused on classes and the social scene. It was preppy-ish when I was there, with a lot of J. Crew.</p>
<p>Hope that helps. I went straight from Davidson to law school (in the Northeast) and I can compare it to that if helpful for you.</p>