Davidson College -- conservative?

<p>Re the comment "and they have a new University president, perhaps things will change there for the better on the diversity front." The outgoing president was visionary, imaginative, charismatic, articulate, very bright, and generally wonderfull More to the point in respect to the poster who made that comment about a new president, diversity increased under the immediate past president and will indeed probably continue to do so under the new president. Please, let no one assume that the immediate past president was in any way backward or reluctant to diversify or that he is and was anything other than a highly progressive man who led the college toward the future. If anything he is the one who may have paved the way for further changes the new president may make. (Incidentally, he is the newly named president of the Heinz Foundtion, another pretty progressive outfit I would say.)</p>

<p>curmudgeon, yeah the guides classify (and Carnegie, etc.) Wake as a university and Davidson as a LAC. So what? If I had to come up with a school most similar to Davidson, it would be Wake, with Washington and Lee next most similar.
I don't get the defensiveness about LAC choices, or small university choices for that matter. No one is attacking you or your daughter.</p>

<p>danas. All I can say is ??????????????????? A liTtle dRiNk-y poO before posting? Defensiveness? What in the world are you talking about? Why all the anger? And for Heaven's sake, why at me? ?????? Somebody call Dr. Phil. </p>

<p>I'd suggest a cup of Joe for your next round. Then tell us what's really up with you calling me out. I have been respectful of other's choices. Big, small, or smallest. ;)</p>

<p>HSC absolutely is the most conservative liberal arts school in the South.I've spent time at both ND and Chicago,both stellar,yet waaaaay to the left of HSC.I'm not familiar with Pepperdine.Economics is the most popular major at Hampden-Sydney.
Three graduates of HSC served as president at Davidson College,one of the most<br>
superb schools in America.I know it's beating a dead horse,but the blatant bias against the South in the peer assesment portion of the U.S.News and World Report's rankings cries out for a better method of evaluating colleges.
As to Davidson College being conservative-if being civilized,gracious,serious about study,sports,social life,community service,and honor constitute conservative,it is.Thank God!</p>

<p>To address the comment regarding cur ... not only is he incredibly savvy regarding the admissions/merit game, but he also has a wicked sense of humor. It's worth looking for in his posts.</p>

<p>hi.
this idea may have been addressed, and if so, sorry. Davidson has less than 5% of jewish students. if you compare that figure to most northeastern schools, you'll find this difference telling.
sherbear</p>

<p>Davidson is actually very welcoming to Jewish students and their families. (This issue was addressed to some extent on another thread, but the point is worth repeating.) There is a small Hillel chapter, positive interaction with Muslim students, an adjunct chaplain who is a rabbi, and great support on the part of the college's head chaplain.There is, as well, a Jewish community in Charlotte that welcomes Davidson's students at the High Holidays</p>

<p>DSC, if you are at all still around, my D had a very similar list to yours - Davidson fits nicely for a person who has Williams as a first choice, with the added bonus of being very close to a major city. It has a higher percentage of conservative students than any NE LAC, but as others have said, this adds to the diversity.</p>

<p>Religion is a much more important part of mainstream life in the South than it is in the North, but the emphasis is on mainstream - many students at Davidson will attend church on Sunday, but it will be a rare student that tries to impose their religion on you. Don't be surprised if you get asked to church, though.</p>

<p>Wake Forest, by the way, would have a lot in common with Northwestern. My D did not visit there, because another high ranking student in her class was planning to attend.</p>

<p>Getting to the party late, so bear with me as I respond to some earlier posts.
Faline -- loved your take on regional differences. I know if someone around here said their child was going to Davidson, Bowdoin, Middlebury, et al, people would get these serious looks on their faces and say consolingly, "Ohhh. . . she didn't get into the University of Illinois?"
As to posts #66-69 -- people actually consider Georgetown a southern school? I have never heard that.
curmudge -- thanks for all your wisdom, generosity, and humor.</p>