<p>Hello.
I am an international student (from India), applying for an undergrad economics degree in the US. I wish to apply to Davidson College under the ED program. For my postgrad, I want to pursue law, preferably in one of the Ivys. I was wondering if someone could tell me what the criteria is for law school admissions, and if graduating from Davidson is a wise choice or not.
Thank you.</p>
<p>Law schools are even more grade and score oriented than undergraduate schools, so that will be the determining factor. They won’t care about your major or your “ECs”. There might be a slight bump for what law schools consider “top” schools, but Davidson is an excellent liberal arts college that the law schools would recognize as such. There’s a law school thread on CC is you want to get more detail on that aspect.</p>
<p>Davidson is a very rigorous college. While that may mean that top grades are more challenging there than at many other schools, it also means that graduate a professional schools have a lot of respect for good grades from Davidson.</p>
<p>Hasnt the ED deadline for Davidson already passed? </p>
<p>I dont know what their criteria is for international students and how many they allow in.</p>
<p>Its an odd choice for an Indian student. Why Davidson? You have 2,000 other choices in the United States. </p>
<p>Davidson is a very rigorous liberal arts school where speaking, reading and writing in English is an essential requirement to succeed. Its a fabulous school, but its also very cliquey and small and colloquial. Most students come from the southeastern United States. Its culture is very southern. Its a Presbyterian College and somewhat religious. </p>
<p>The good news is that a Davidson degree…in any major carries a lot of weight with most graduate and professional schools. Its highly respected.</p>
<p>It certainly is rigorous and well-respcted. It is not particularly religious, however. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA and has students of many Christian denominations as well as non-Christian students, including those of Jewish and Muslim backgrounds and I am confident some students of Hindu and Buddhist faiths as well.</p>
<p>I do not know the exact breakdown of where students are from but am reasonably sure that at least half are from regions other than the Southeast, with a substantial proportion from the Northeast, and Middle Atlantic states. One must also remember that the South is a large and by no means monolithic region; it includes includes such highly diverse locations as Northern Virginia, Texas, South Florida, and the ever-cosmopolitan New Orleans as well as rural and suburban areas of the entire region which in themselves are quite varied.</p>
<p>I think populations at most LACs, even those in the Northeast, tend to skew somewhat toward the region they are situated in. That said, their academic excellence is such that they provide an wonderful education in both the academic sense and the sociocultural sense. That doesn’t mean any one or every one of them is the right choice for everyone though, only that one should have no concern that attending a small and excellent school will negatively impact one’s future professional plans.</p>
<p>Davidson is as Presbyterian as Duke is Methodist, which is to say that the denominational connections at both schools are a matter of historical tradition, but not active church governance.</p>
<p>That’s relieving. I’m applying to Davidson, but about as agnostic as they come.</p>
<p>
The better question is, why not? It’s a great school in a nice little town with a great social scene, beautiful campus, and DI athletics. Add the decent weather and very good financial aid, and you have a package that’s pretty darned attractive. Davidson is admittedly not the most diverse school, but it’s never going to be diverse if everyone shuns it.</p>
<p>
No, it’s not.</p>
<p>
First, not really – less than 40% come from the South. </p>
<p>Second, ~35% of the US population is in the Southeast, so that’s about right. Other regions tend to be overrepresented at most colleges.</p>
<p>
Depends on your point of view. I think of places like Presby, Wofford, and BSC for “southern” schools…not so much Davidson. It is, however, obviously more southern than Haverford or Carleton.</p>
<p>Very happy to hear you are applying to Davidson. The acceptance rate to professional schools, including law schools, is said to be outstanding. My d is a pre-med student and chose Davidson in part because of its excellent reputation among grad schools. I assume
you are applying for the first round of ED with the Nov. 15 deadline. Best of luck and keep
us posted!</p>
<p>Hello everyone.
I want to say thank you to all for the helpful comments.
Just to let you all know, I ended up not applying ED, because I was advised, and I myself also realized, that Davidson wasn’t the top option on my list, and I didn’t want to restrict myself by applying ED.
But anyway, once again, thanks to all.
Ciao.
=)</p>
<p>Best of luck with your decision, Arvalala. It’s important to do what feels right. Keep us in the loop should you apply to Davidson in the regular round.</p>