Davidson Life

Colleges and Universities A-Z Davidson College
1

<p>I am going into my senior year of high-school and I am really interested in Davidson College. I love the campus, love the location, love the atmosphere and the tight-knit, safe community. I love the small sizes of classes, love the flexible study-abroad program, and LOVE the free laundry. </p>

<p>oh, and LOVE THE DAVIDSON SHOW!</p>

<p>I just wanted to know about the life at Davidson: what are the classes like?; how big is the Greek life (I mean, will I have friends if I don't rush??)?; what's the party scene like?; am I allowed to show my nerdiness?
etc, etc</p>

<p>Please answer my questions and feel free to tell me everything about Davidson!</p>

2

<p>Hey! I’m so glad to hear you’re interested in Davidson! I also love everything you’ve just described! </p>

<p>The classes I’ve had have all been awesome! The only one I didn’t like was Calculus, but Math, as an abstract, is my mortal enemy. Even calculus was pretty tolerable because my professor, Dr. Swallow, focused more on concepts than plug-and-chug methods that most students are used to from AP. I’ve taken classes in several different departments and my experience has been that the professors are engaging, passionate about what they teach (they did, after all, choose Davidson, where teaching comes first, and THEN research comes second), and intriguing as individuals. I’ve had mostly lecture setting, but also discussion and workshop. Most of my teachers try to incorporate multiple teaching methods, so instead of having just lecture, they will mix in some media (YouTube videos, documentaries, animations, and so on) for example. </p>

<p>Greek life (or “social activities” as they’re typically called, since there aren’t really sororities) is probably much more prevalent among the girls. Well over 80% of the girls in my class (sophomore, 2012) opted to join eating houses (Rusk, Turner, Connor, Warner), while probably about 40-60% of guys choose to pledge. SigEp (Sigma Phi Epsilon) and PhiDelt (Phi Delta Theta) are probably the biggest fraternities on campus. The rest tend to have close to thirty brothers or less: FIJI (Phi Gamma Delta), PiKA (Pi Kappa Alpha), SAE (Sigma Alpha Epsilon), KA (Kappa Alpha), and KappaSig (Kappa Sigma). If I’m not mistaken, PiKA is the smallest fraternity at present, but has returned to the main campus and plans to recruit heavily. FIJI is also on the small side, but has big plans for rush.</p>

<p>I joined Rusk House on a whim, because I’m not really the party type, but I learned very early on that there really is no need to join a fraternity or eating house, and it’s simply a matter of personal preference. I wanted the alternative meal plan and a place where I could get to know some girls in my class and others, much more than I wanted a party place. All the parties on the Patterson Court Circle are open to all, except formals and semiformals (and usually at least formals are held off-campus anyway). So there’s minimal exclusivity and maximum inclusiveness. Actually, most of my guy friends didn’t pledge and they’re perfectly content with their decision. Some may change their minds later and go out for rush sophomore or junior, or even senior year.</p>

<p>I love the party scene at Davidson. It’s contained on campus for the most part, so there are almost never issues with people going off campus to drink. Davidson is not a dry campus and underage students do have pretty easy access to alcohol if they choose to drink. If you don’t want to drink, you will very, very rarely find yourself pressured by others to do so. I’ve found that if you don’t make a big deal about choosing to drink or not to drink, people leave you alone about it.</p>

<p>There are also big, fun alternatives to partying down the hill, which are mostly held at the Union every Friday and Saturday night, as well as most Wednesdays. Thursday nights there are “Live Thursdays” where students (and sometimes bands from outside) come to perform in the 900 Room in the Union. Tuesday is the designated Twenty-One-Year-Old Night in the 900 Room. These events that the Union has include film screenings (typically of films that have just arrived in the theaters or are not yet released on DVD), ice cream socials, Build-A-Bear, casino night, After Midnight Specials (free Chick-fil-A/Qdoba/Papa John’s, etc. after midnight), karaoke nights, inflatables (jumping castles, etc.), and big performers. This year, we had Death Cab for Cutie come. The year before was Jason Mraz, and in previous years the Black Eyed Peas, the Fray, and I believe also the Rolling Stones have come through Davidson. All of these events are free or incredibly inexpensive. Basketball is also a really fun social event. The games are almost always sold out. Davidson also has other sporting events, of course…football, soccer, etc. and those events are often also well attended by students and are just a lot of fun to go to. Upperclassmen host students at parties down at the sophomore apartments (Irwin, Akers, and Knox…haha I’m kinda dreading that part of living in Irwin next year), and in their residences up the hill (Sentelle, Cannon, Duke, Belk) and in the senior apartments down the hill (Ryburn, Hart, Jamieson, Flowe, B, F, etc.). Guest speakers frequently are brought to Davidson. This year we had Eric Schlosser (who wrote Fast Food Nation) and also, Jon Meacham (editor-in-chief of Newsweek, I think), among many others. Davidson has literally hundreds of clubs and activities. Social life and comfort are very well attended to by the college.
There is always something to do at Davidson if you’re not into partying!</p>

<p>If you wanna know more, definitely explore the Davidson .edu website, and also check out some of the posts from this last year (only posts from the last few weeks are displayed, but you can look back on posts from the last year, too). Always feel free to ask here, as well. I love answering questions for prospies! (Davidson-speak for “prospective student”)</p>

3

<p>Wow thank you amplifiar842! That answered a TON of questions!</p>

<p>Since you tackled the social life aspect, could you elaborate more on the academic side of Davidson? What makes Davidson stand out academically as opposed to other great liberal arts colleges and universities?</p>

4

<p>Always happy to help! :-)</p>

<p>Academics. </p>

<p>Guess it would be good to start with professors. At Davidson, you will never hear of TAs, and you will never hear of a professor putting research over teaching. Most professors want you to come to their office hours, if only just to visit with them and get to know them a bit. I’ve been to homes of my professors for dinner (to celebrate the end of term, for example) and the like. I have a friend who graduated in ‘04 who visits Davidson two or three times a year and always stays with his old advisor. They keep in touch, they look out for you, and they want you to succeed. Every professor I have had has been engaging, intriguing, and challenging. Even if I haven’t liked the class (for example, not a math person, but needed to take a math to fulfill that requirement…consequently didn’t like calculus), I have enjoyed the professor’s enthusiasm. I have had classes taught in many different forms – lecture, discussion, workshop, etc. and have noticed that the professors really try to grab their students’ attention with little additions to the class lectures: YouTube videos, music clips, animations, and so on.</p>

<p>Competition is also big. Not competition with other students as much as with oneself. Davidson students are very self-motivated. They are at Davidson to learn, not to get a name-brand degree (even though a Davidson degree is extremely impressive/enviable), and they are also there to do their best. In high school, I made pretty poor grades, compared to my Davidson classmates’. My study habits were iffy at best, my attendance was flaky, and I did not apply myself at all. But at Davidson, seeing how self-competitive everyone else is, I’ve really upped my study time and performance. Except in my math/science classes, I made high marks…A’s and A-'s. People at Davidson don’t study all the time…but when they do, they’re studying hard. Just as when they play, they play hard.</p>

<p>Facilities and classrooms. Every classroom is equipped with Elmo Visual Presenters, projectors, DVD/VHS players, computer(s), and other technological features. During hours when a given classroom is not in use, any student is free to study in there and use all of the technology available in that room. Labs are highly sophisticated and well-equipped, and because Davidson is small, there is generally at least one lab dedicated to each class of biology. I like that the majority of classes are in Chambers. I find it very convenient. Some people don’t like that because it reminds them of high school, but I think it’s really nice to be able to have my first class and then go right upstairs for my second. I’ve not had classes in the music or chemistry buildings, but I have in Chambers, the Bio Building, and the VAC (Visual Arts Center). The studio at the VAC where I had my basic drawing class was excellent: spacious, well lit, equipped with cubbies for each of the students, and well supplied. There are speakers in the studios so music can be played for the students while they work. I have heard good things about the chemistry labs and the music building. Theater classes are often taught in the newly renovated Cunningham Theater, which is gorgeous and of the highest quality.</p>

<p>Class size. You’ve mentioned this as one of the things that’s drawn your attention to Davidson. I can’t properly describe how much I love the class sizes. Labs, seminars, some art classes, and writing classes (W courses, as they’re called) are often capped between 12 and 16 students. My biggest class has been thirty-seven students. Astronomy, plant bio, psychology 101, and other extremely popular courses are often capped at forty, but typically classes are capped between twenty and thirty-two. My average class size has probably been about twenty-five. It’s really nice, because it’s a reasonable size for lecture, but also makes discussion possible. Participation is therefore essential and highly encouraged. Usually, if you don’t get into a class that you’re dying to take, the professor will be understanding and raise the ceiling for you to join.</p>

<p>Class scheduling. There are no evening classes at Davidson, which some students don’t like, but I think it is a lot more conducive to studying. The last class of the day ends at either 2:20 or 3:20 on any given day. Some foreign languages have AT sessions (extra time to practice the language, usually with a student majoring in that language), self-instructional language classes, and some labs go past that time, but in general, your academic day should be over by four or five. I’ve usually chosen to have mid-morning classes so I can sleep in, but still be done by lunch. After lunch and before supper is when most people tend to do their work, so classes aren’t in the way of homework time.</p>

<p>The main point I want to drive across is that at Davidson, the emphasis is on learning: not about making a 4.0. If you come to Davidson, you’ll learn very quickly that a 4.0 is nearly impossible to achieve at Davidson. I may be mistaken, but I believe no premed student has made a 4.0 in over twenty years. This is what I heard from someone who’d met with Dr. Putnam, the premed advisor. No matter! Graduate schools recognize that Davidson is a stellar institution. A 3.0 from Davidson is highly respectable. If you’ve a 3.5 or higher, you’re golden.</p>

5

<p>I love everything described and I will be applying to Davidson EDI. Its about now when I need to begin thinking of my essays…</p>

6

<p>I am definitely not looking forward to starting those essays… I’m considering applying EDI as well. I will make my decision after I go to Discover Davidson in September.</p>

<p>I have a few questions…</p>

<p>At some schools, students are extremely competitive with each other and their grades; they even purposely try to bring down others’ grades by not sharing notes or destroying others’. I know that you said students are mainly only competitive with themselves, but are they willing to help out their fellow students?</p>

<p>Also, how do students initially get to know each other and meet their eventual very good friends? Would you say that it’s at orientation or in their halls? At parties or in class? I’m a pretty shy person and need a sort of “push” for me to get to know people, and I’m wondering if Davidson provides that.</p>

7

<p>Davidson students are absolutely willing to help each other. Students in particular classes often form study groups (for example, this spring, there were a lot of Rusk girls in my Modern Brit Lit survey course, so we all formed a study group for the big tests and exams), students are generally willing to share lecture notes with others who have missed class due to illness, and many will enthusiastically help explain a concept to another who doesn’t get it. Trust me, it’s not cutthroat. You definitely would not see students ripping assigned articles out of a journal in the library or destroying other’s notes or doing anything to sabotage the chances for their fellow students to succeed. If you ever come across that happening, it’s an individual that has a screw loose…that student would not be at all representative of Davidson students, who pride themselves on being honorable and honest.</p>

<p>I would say you initially meet people at orientation and on your hall. I’m still close friends with several individuals I got to know during orientation and the early weeks of school. Others probably don’t remember my name, as I don’t remember theirs. Orientation is a little bit overwhelming and you’re meeting hundreds of new people…classmates, upperclassmen, staff, faculty, and so on…so you’re not gonna remember everyone you meet. You will get thrown with a lot of people at orientation (for different activities, you’re divided into different groups, so you have the chance to meet even more people). You will almost certainly get to know others in your classes, especially if the professor emphasizes group work in the class. You might also want to join study groups if the material is challenging. Parties are often loud and the lights are off, so it’s generally a little harder to meet new people, but if you join an eating house (or a fraternity, if you’re male), you will definitely meet upperclassmen and fellow freshmen in that eating house at your meals, socials, pregaming, and sisterhoods (brotherhoods?).<br>
A lot of my friends that I’ve ended up close to are a complete mix of students from classes I’ve taken, parties, my eating house, hall-mates and building-mates, random people from the biology table, members of the Young Democrats Club (of which I am president hehe), friends from my dance class, and so on.<br>
Making friends at college is easy if you be yourself, go in with an open-mind, and actively try…shy or not, it’s important to approach people, too.
My roommate and I were not really the best match, but it was really good to have each other first semester. We went to parties together, went to meals together…it’s a way to be sure that you’re never quite alone. But that said, it’s definitely important to have other friends beside your roommate.</p>

8

<p>“friends from my dance class, and so on”</p>

<p>Your posts are so helpful…thank you!</p>

<p>Davidson is at the top of my list of schools and I am planning on applying ED1.</p>

<p>You mentioned your ‘dance class’…I am a dancer and would love some information on dance life at Davidson. I know there is not a dance program per se but a student run dance group. </p>

<p>Any other dance info would be great! Thanks!</p>

9

<p>Well, everyone is required to have two “lifetime” PE classes, and dance classes fall into that category. I took shag dance. I’m probably going to take swing. I had a NC shag hall of famer instructing me. Davidson offers ballet in all levels. Typically there are salsa, and other cultural specialty dance classes offered. I’ve seen a few contemporary/hip-hop dance classed offered. Also, twice a year, there is a HUGE program called Dance Ensemble – students choreograph dances and invite the student body to participate. You get everything…from tango to step, from hip-hop to interpretative. We’ve even had belly-dancing! There’s everything! And Dance Ensemble actually counts toward PE credits! You can do it twice each year for all four years, and if you want to choreograph, you just need to let the head know in time for the “big meeting” that they have at the beginning of September (or late August?) in the fall, and January or February in the spring. It’s SO much fun – the spring one is
That’s the other thing - Step is REALLY big here. We have a competitive step team called Shades of Brown, and it’s extremely popular.
It’s okay to sign up for multiple dances at Dance Ensemble (DE), but it’s just important to remember that you then have to learn and go to the practices for all the dances. Last year, I didn’t have time, so I had to drop, but I signed up for one that was a mix of three songs - “Freakum Dress,” “I Kissed a Girl,” and Rent’s “Out Tonight!” It was a lot of fun and I was sad I didn’t have time, but yeah, DE is really popular.</p>

<p>The spring DE is held the weekend of Decision Davidson so all the prospective students are given free tickets. It’s always sold out anyway, but that just makes it even more competitive! I’ve been to three DE performances (both my freshman year and the one when I was a prospie), and can’t wait for this fall for my fourth!</p>