I really like Davidson College and want to find other ones like it to apply to but every where I’ve visited hasn’t impressed me. I’ve looked at Kenyon, Denison, Dickinson, Lafayette, Rhodes and Emory, but they don’t have the same academics and the same feel that Davidson has. Also looking for free apps maybe and good financial aid. Please give some suggestions if you have any!
University of Richmond, Trinity College, Franklin & Marshal College, Gettysburg College, Furman University, Earlham College
What about Davidson appeals to you?
In terms of size and selectivity, Davidson overlaps with some of the NESCACs.
Check out Washington and Lee, Sewanee (though it isn’t as rigorous as Davidson), Bowdoin, Williams, Hamilton, Swarthmore or Haverford (both more liberal than Davidson), Claremont McKenna, and Pomona.
How are Earlham and Davidson similar? They seem like they would have totally different kinds of students. @harvardandberkeley Are the campus vibes similar?
Good recommendations above. Colby, Hamilton, Amherst, Colgate, and Washington and Lee especially seem like comparable schools, maybe Wake Forest too, though it is larger. Colby, Hamilton, and Amherst are NESCAC schools. They all have extremely nice LAC campuses. All of those are very competitive, make sure you have some safer options. They also will be expensive without aid. Amherst especially has great financial support; I can’t speak to the others. Good luck!
I don’t think W&L and Davidson feel at all similar, but YMMV. I strongly second the Bowdoin, Pomona, and Haverford suggestions. If you’re willing to go larger, Boston College.
Bucknell, perhaps?
We thought Oxford at Emory had a similar feel to Davidson. Richmond and Elon as well. The northern schools did not have the same feel.
Any college with excellent academics across the board and excellent need-based aid is likely to be very selective. That may be what the OP is observing when he says some other, less selective LACs “don’t have the same academics”.
It might help to state your intended major and as well as what you think gives Davidson an extra edge that the other schools don’t have. Kenyon for example may not be quite as academically intense as Davidson (I really don’t know) but it does have a top English department. Beloit is strong in anthro, Lawrence in physics, St. Olaf in math, Guilford in geology, etc. All are less selective LACs than Davidson.