So I put down my deposit for Hamilton about a week ago. Yesterday, I the Dean at Davidson called me and let me know they were offering a place off the wait list. I’m really conflicted because I really like both of the schools and each of them have things that draw me there. Does anyone have any information on comparing the two schools?
Is there a cost difference?
Do you prefer one location vs. the other?
I think both of these schools are excellent and you can’t go wrong with either. If you are truly conflicted, I might go with whichever is less costly (if they aren’t equal).
FWIW - we visited Hamilton and just loved it but have never been to Davidson.
Davidson is a little more selective and has better weather, although I assume neither one of those facts is new information to you. I would go with Davidson, but really either way you win. Best of luck.
Wow, thanks. In all honesty, thats what I’ve been hearing all day so thank goodness I was leaning towards Davidson in the first place!
Davidson’s SAT scores are 50 points lower than Hamilton’s (at least according to nationally published standardized data), so I’d apply your own judgment in determining which college is more selective.
If you choose Hamilton, you will be able to attend one of the more beautiful, balanced, interesting colleges in the Northeast. Combine this with Hamilton’s nationally recognized strength in writing, and you will find that Davidson might be able to equal, but will be unlikely to surpass, the experience and benefits of a Hamilton education.
(Source for SAT scores: USNWR.)
In my opinion, Hamilton is the better school. Both are very comparable though so don’t base your decision off ranking alone.
(SAT comparison based on 1600 point scale. The CDS shows an 85 point difference on a 2400 point scale.)
Davidson is Division 1. At such a small school the athletes bring down the average. Still has a lower admit rate though.
I won’t take a position on which school is the tougher admit, they are close enough in this regard. However, I do know this about Hamilton: in any given year, 35-40% of students participate in varsity athletics; the college recently reported a 23.9% acceptance rate (The Washington Post). I’m not sure how these figures compare to Davidson’s.
CONGRATULATIONS. They’re both outstanding LACs and you simply cannot make a poor decision. What is currently missing in this thread, in my opinion, is YOUR INDIVIDUAL assessment of the better “cultural fit” – for YOU. Both Hamilton and Davidson will serve your undergraduate and lifelong needs extremely well, both will equip your with the academic and beyond-scholastic skills and education necessary to be admitted to and to succeed in top graduate programs and professions, and both have stellar reputations. However, where do you want to spend the next four years, with which student and alumni body do you wish to be affiliated (some of your strongest lifetime friend are very likely to be your classmates), does the faculty and the intellectual environment at either institution seem to be more appealing, which college feels “like home,” and so many other similar questions? It’s my belief that answering these sorts of question is YOUR critical decision-determinant, not a marginal difference is aggregate SAT I results, or Division I versus Division III intercollegiate sports, etc.
Good luck to you.
I agree with TopTier - and in any event, test scores are not an apples-to-apples comparison here anyway. Hamilton allows students to send in different types of scores to be considered (AP tests, SAT IIs, IB, etc.) so the SAT score used USNWR purposes reflects only those students for whom SAT I was their highest testing format.
@TopTier: Take note that my post was written partly in response to a prior one stating, “Davidson is a little more selective.” I gave some comparative numerical perspective to this, but I did not suggest the OP should weigh this in their decision – I did have some concern, though, that the OP may have been considering the factor, but with incomplete information.
@SDonCC: I agree the comparison is not fully apples-to-apples, though even Davidson has been somewhat cryptically footnoted as having supplied incomplete information.
@Saswizy: Good luck with your decision.
@NavalTradition: I understand that your comment regarding selectivity, as well, was incidental to your core advice.
How were the financial packages?
@merc81 (re post #11): FYI, nothing in post #9 was directed at, or engendered by, you.
Wow! Thanks everyone for the input, I really appreciate all of it. I ended up choosing Davidson simply because there were a few more draws for me there.
Also, would anyone be willing to share their experience there, positive or negative or both! Thanks again!
@Saswizy: Congratulations on your decision and good luck at Davidson!
@Saswizy You chose well my padawan.