Hi! I’m a senior in high school trying to make my decision. After hearing back from all my schools, I’ve narrowed it down to my top two choices: Davidson and Emory. I’m having a really tough time making my decision and I’d appreciate any input or insight you might have, bearing these key differences in mind:
In terms of financial aid, both Davidson and Emory gave me comparable need-based grants. Davidson's offer is a little bit better but Emory's offer is totally manageable as well.
In terms of the touchy-feely stuff, I really love both Davidson and Emory – I like both campuses and their locations, I felt really comfortable at both, and I think I'd be happy going to either. But as far as social life goes, I think I'd rather go to a smaller school like Davidson. As an avid sports fan, I think the D1 sports at Davidson are an added bonus that Emory doesn't really provide.
In terms of academics, both Davidson and Emory have programs that I'm potentially interested in. I really love math but I also want to explore econ and political science more as well, and both schools would definitely allow me to do that. That said, since I'm still undecided, Emory has way more options regarding majors/programs that I think I'd be interested in. In addition, there's a possibility that I'd want to go to business school; Davidson doesn't have a business school, but at Emory I could potentially enter Goizueta for my last two years.
In terms of reputation, I know that both are held in good regard in their respective areas (and I'd be happy staying in either Charlotte or Atlanta), but I also know that Emory is more nationally known than Davidson. I know that reputation shouldn't matter, but ultimately I think it does play a role in most people's decisions, especially when it comes to getting jobs. Emory definitely has the edge here.
So I guess here’s the bottom line: what do you think I should prioritize? The touchy-feely benefits of a smaller institution, or the more tangible benefits of a larger, more recognized one? I know that both Davidson and Emory are great schools and I’d be happy going to either, but I want to make the right decision for my future. Any suggestions? :-/
They are very different schools. Davidson is much smaller. There you will get personal attention from your professors; all class sizes are small; you will get to know most of your classmates. It sounds like you would thrive there. It is a top 10 liberal arts college, and a great feeder program for graduate schools. Don’t worry as much about future jobs: either school can prepare you well if you apply yourself. Ask yourself: what’s the best fit for me for the next 4 years? Good luck.
But in political science, courses will end up being pretty small anyway. And that coupled with math or QSS (better if QSS) means that they’ll likely get a similar experience as a small school as not many pursue those together.
Hmm that’s something I hadn’t thought of. I know that, relatively speaking, Emory isn’t that big, but I just felt really overwhelmed at the big public universities I visited…so generally speaking I think I would rather go to a smaller college
@opet2205 : Yeah, see that’s not a fair perspective to basically be comparing Emory to extrema like that, You basically decided your preference versus an extreme case that you didn’t like. At Emory, the only classes that may be “large” (and I mean still much smaller than publics and most peer privates) will be introductory courses. And then significant amounts of these large courses have discussion sections (somewhat similar to precepts at tippy top privates) which you won’t see at publics for social science courses. Past the core requirements for IS and polisci, you can choose whatever classes you want and most will be pretty small, mainly because there are just so many of them. Also, you are allowed to start taking 200 and maybe even 300 level special topics courses without pre-requisites (plenty have none) as early as you’d like if you want that small discussion based environment.
Also, I’m sure you visited Emory, but if also worried about geographical size. Emory’s core (where all the classes are) is basically smaller than its peer universities and it actually feels much more like an LAC (mainly, because before 1995 or so, it basically was one). Emory’s campus only becomes larger than most peers once you factor in the healthcare system, and Clairmont Campus, but the academic and “major” parts of campus are effectively tiny. I remember visiting Swarthmore, and if you take out Emory’s “appendages”, then they would feel similar size. There are of course more students, but nowhere near an overwhelming amount.
@oppet2205 Out of curiosity, did you also apply to and get accepted by the Oxford College campus at Emory. It has more of a small liberal arts college feel.
One thing you might consider is each school’s ability to place you into relevant internships. Emory might have an edge here because of its proximity to Atlanta and its Carter Center (for international affairs).
Davidson is unusual among LAC’s for having a Division I athletic program but I wouldn’t count on the second coming of Stephen Curry (Davidson NCAA basketball tournament hero and current best player in the NBA) happening at Davidson.
I actually did not apply to Oxford. But when I did visit Emory, I did hear a lot about students getting internships and research opportunities (even from some of the underclassmen) which was good to hear. Thank you for the links, by the way
Regarding Davidson: I understand that their teams aren’t necessarily the strongest in their division and that the second coming of Steph Curry is unlikely (haha), but I feel like Davidson generally has more school spirit through sports – after all, division 1 athletes make up a significant portion of the school’s population, and some friends at Davidson have told me how much students like going to support their teams. This school spirit is something that I felt was maybe lacking a bit at Emory.
@opet2205 : I feel like that is over-rated and can sometimes even drive down the intellectual qualities of an otherwise very strong school (not how more intellectual D-1 schools typically do not have it as a big thing on their campus, such as many Ivies). If Emory had the D-1 sports fervor, I doubt it would overperform in internship and post-grad. success. Emory doesn’t have sports related fervor, but it and Atlanta have plenty to do in other arenas. Emory (and other D-3 schools) somewhat compensate for the lack of sports pride by simply attracting students of a different type from the get go (at least a significant chunk of campus). Students may be more likely into things like technology, debate, service, the arts (visual and performing), and just generally less spectator oriented things (especially given the tons of folks that play club sports which Emory is kind of a king of). It is just different from those schools that basically give you what HS had conditioned us to value so much (I personally like things like the bands affiliated with sports teams). Also, when you talk many research universities, I honestly have ethical bones to pick with how their D-1 sports programs are run and what many of those players actually get out of their “education”. Luckily Davidson is different, but still…if I view it from more than a selfish lens of “I need to be entertained by these other folks and the excitement they generate”, I am reminded by how something often just isn’t right. College sports today has evolved into something quite interesting now-a-days.
