<p>Last year there were 2 summa graduates, the year before 0. How do Davidson graduates get into graduate school?</p>
<p>graduate and professional schools are aware of the rigorous grading at Davidson as each school receives a profile of the college with applications. As an example, the average GPA of a successful Davidson medical school applicant over the past 10 yeear is between 3.3-3.4, this is far less than the average medical school applicant from your local state university-which is closer to 3.6-3.7. Graduate and professional schools adcoms are aware that a 3.5 from one school is not the same as it is from another, if they did not, everyone might as well as go to the local community college and rack up those 4.0's. Davidson students score very well on GRE's. LSAT and MCAT's-the great equalizers with the schools where grading is not very rigorous.</p>
<p>I have to say that I think it depends on the graduate school and what your test scores are. The college really sells this, "they know that Davidson grades are better" deal, but I'm not entirely convinced. I do know several people who had trouble getting into graduate school, largely on account of their "lower" GPAs. They all got in eventually, but it took a couple of years of re-applying and post-graduate work to get them in. I think it depends on the graduate school you're applying to. Medical schools are hardest; however, pre-med is one of the areas Davidson is known for. If you make yourself known to the pre-med people at Davidson, they will do everything they can for you. Law schools are also tough. I have to say that I think (although I obviously can't prove this) that my "low" (3.2) undergraduate GPA may have been a limiting factor for me, despite a masters degree and a 99th percentile LSAT school, and great work experience after graduation. I got into a good law school (top 40), but got waitlisted at the "great" ones (top 10). PhD programs are easier (I think). </p>
<p>Having said this, I don't regret going to Davidson. I loved the school and I think both the academic and social education I received there were top notch. I guess I would just say be prepared for some potential difficulties with graduate school, especially if you are not applying to medical school or if you are planning to apply out of the south--most southern schools know and respect the Davidson GPA a great deal.</p>
<p>How much would you say estimate you studied everyday on average?</p>
<p>From what I heard when I visited Davidson this past weekend, the courseload is really hard. I also heard that Davidson practices grade deflation, and that getting an A is damn near impossible. Do you think that because getting A's was so hard, and that of course affected your GPA, do you think law school took into account that Davidson does grade deflation?</p>
<p>I think it depends on the student and on what courses you're taking. On average, pre-med students (and there are a LOT of them at Davidson) probably work the hardest. I would say the average student studies between 3-5 hours per day. Its really hard to estimate this, because study time is so individual. If you are content getting B's, then you can really study like 2-3 hours per day, if you want to score really high, you'll need to work a lot harder.</p>
<p>Also, I have to say that while I did study a LOT at Davidson, I (usually) didn't feel overwhelmed by it. I participated in a lot of extra-cirricular activities (I was a cheerleader, and in an eating house), and I felt I had sufficient time for socializing as well. As an added bonus, I thought the amount of time I spent studying was a great preparation for graduate school. While a lot of graduate students come to school and are blindsided by the amount of work they have to do, I felt like I was well prepared in terms of time-management and study skills to tackle the courseload as a graduate student.</p>
<p>I really have no idea whether or not graduate schools take this into account. It likely depends on the graduate school and how familiar the admissions officers are with Davidson. Honestly, graduate school admissions are (much like college admissions) a total crapshoot--it all depends on who happens to initally screen your application and what they happen to like (or not like) about you and your undergraduate experience. Also, while Davidson kids constantly talk about grade "deflation", I'm not sure it is something that has been statistically shown in the same way that the grade inflation has been shown in studies of Ivy League colleges. I know this isn't a really good answer....but I really can't say (definitively) whether or not the graduate schools I applied to took the grading system at Davidson into account. </p>
<p>I do appreciate Davidson's efforts to maintain the integrity of the "A." I just thought of this, but it might be a good policy for the school to adopt a strict bell curve and widely publicize this fact.</p>
<p>My son graduated from Davidson last May cum laude with a BS in Chemistry. He worked hard for his grades, but also found time to work for Davidson Outdoors, play an active role in his fraternity, co-found the Davidson cycling team (and compete in many races in North and South Carolina), play roller hockey and have a FULL social life. While he initially planned to go to grad school (and fully expected to be accepted with full funding based on his professors' guidance), he ultimately accepted a position in analytical research with a major pharmaceutical company at a very nice starting salary. I'm sure his grades were a consideration when he was hired, but cum laude won't really knock anyone's socks off. The thing that cemented his job offer was an all-day session he had with his prospective peers and superiors at which he had to bring along and discuss his Davidson research. That DID knock their socks off. That and the fact that his wonderful Davidson liberal arts education made him way more than just a lab rat. So go to Davidson for what you get out of it, not for the easy A's - you'll be glad you did.</p>