<p>In a response to a question in another thread, someone suggested that a prospective Davidson student also look at Washington and Lee, another--as they termed it--excellent Southern, liberal arts college.</p>
<p>From the little I know about either of these schools, I really don't think W&L is quite in the same category as Davidson. In fact, as a strong liberal arts school in the South, I think Davidson somewhat stands alone.</p>
<p>My question is: what other schools do prospective Davidson students consider? Other highly regarded liberal arts colleges in the northeast? Strong universities in the South, such as Rice or Duke? Where else to Davidson prospects apply?</p>
<p>Other top LACs and smaller Ivies such as Dartmouth for some, other good southern schools such as Duke for others, and probably a few of each type for others. I think it depends to some extent on where the students are from–and of course, as with any other school, one person’s reach is another’s near-match. I know of students who selected Davidson over Colgate, Bowdoin, Duke, and Pomona among others (finances not being factored in as a reason). I think it is difficult to generalize though because of Davidson’s rather special location vis-a-vis its type. That is, there are at least two Davidsonian schools in Massachusetts and three in Maine, but arguable only one in North Carolina! How far from home students want to be might be a factor.</p>
<p>These are some colleges that I know some current Davidson students applied to: UVA (accepted OSS), Boston College, Vanderbilt, Holy Cross, Bates, Emory, Williams, Duke, Bowdoin, Rice, Dartmouth, Wellesley, Pomona, Colgate and W & L. I suppose some of the Ivies too besides Dartmouth would routinely be in the mix. Concur with mattmom that the overlap likely boils down to other top LAC’s/Ivies/top southern schools. In addition there are probably athletes who may have made somewhat different choices outside this general
realm due to competition from other D1 colleges. (Davidson has a lot of athletes
however I would not categorize it as a “jock” school in any way, seems like a good mix).
FWIW my take on W & L (my d’s best friend from high school is there) is that it is comparable academically to Davidson however more Southern in its traditions with a large emphasis on Greek life. It’s also in a bit of an isolated part of Virginia. However if you are looking at Davidson I agree it might make sense to look at W & L too, it seems like a fine
school.</p>
<p>For those who want a liberal arts school in the South I also suggest Sewanee, University of the South. Kenyon can get thrown into the mix, too. (Not southern, I know.)</p>
<p>I would think that Rhodes, Wake Forest and Furman would be worth looking at. Davidson may be at another level above those institutions in terms of competitiveness (admissions), but if you dig Davidson and are looking for other options in the neighborhood, those might be the ones I’d choose to eyeball…more so than Duke. At Duke the students are taking buses from one campus to another. It’s just a very different vibe.</p>
<p>FWIW, I believe the Davidson Admissions Office provides printed driving directions to Duke, Wake Forest and Furman for visitors who make that their next stop. I think there was another…but I can’t think of it. Possibly Winthrop…but somehow I doubt it.</p>
<p>Here’s a 2006 Newsweek article. At page 3, it says that Davidson’s overlaps are: University of North Carolina, Duke, University of Virginia, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Rice, Boston College, Pomona, Stanford and the Ivies.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. It confirmed what I’ve been thinking. Davidson really is uniquely positioned. The ‘overlap’ schools mentioned above are really so different in terms of atmosphere–state schools (UVA or UNC) or large research universities (Duke, Vandy, G’town, etc.). Some of these schools I know very well because I attended there or I have other children who did. D is very interested in Davidson, and I’m just trying to get a better handle on what it’s like. What I’ve concluded is that it seems to stand alone. I didn’t get to go on my D’s visit to Davidson but wish I had.</p>
<p>My daughter is a junior at Davidson and is studying abroad this semester. Although she’s having a great experience, she is so homesick for Davidson and can’t wait to get back. It was the best choice she could have ever made.</p>
<p>Sorry I don’t mean to hijack your thread but I have a question about listing the other schools you are applying to on the application. </p>
<p>I am applying to my state school, 2 private safeties (expecting huge merit from them), Davidson, and HYP. However, if I list this, I think it’s going to look like Davidson is my safety school, which is not true at all - I would love to attend Davidson, but I would probably need some merit aid to do it. I decided not to apply to other schools in my range (Georgetown, Vandy, Duke, etc) because they give little merit and HYP are the only schools my parents would consider paying the full price tag for. </p>
<p>So should I not even include HYP on my list? Or risk Davidson thinking that it is a safety school for me?</p>
<p>Unless you find someone who knows (and, by “knows,” I mean actually knows and isn’t just sounding authoritative while making a wild guess) the inside scoop on this, I would not try to “game” your response. I would just answer it completely and honestly. And then, even if you do get some accurate inside information about how to “game” your answer, I’d still be inclined to give the complete and honest answer simply because…well, it’s the complete and honest answer.</p>
<p>That said, there are reasons you could omit HYP – along the lines that you raised. There are reasons to retain HYP – so that Davidson might be aware that it might need to come up with aid to make their offer more attractive to you (or, in this case, your parents). Maybe Davidson takes a hard look at HYP in terms of admissions and discerns low yield…but maybe they look at HYP in terms of finances and they discern a good case for offering aid. Maybe they see the HYP in terms of admission and see an applicant who probably doesn’t “get” what Davidson is all about. Then again, without HYP, maybe they look at the list and figure there’s no need for aid since Davidson would be the top choice. Or maybe they just use the information for tracking and Institutional Resources data collection and you’re sweating over details that have zero impact on the things you’re most worried about.</p>
<p>In short, omitting HYP could be a double-edged sword…or possibly it’s a plastic spoon. Just answer the question as best you can and move forward in life.</p>
<p>I agree with the advice to just answer the question honestly. </p>
<p>The schools you list will have less impact than your essays, and the case your essays make that you would be a good fit for Davidson. If you are a very strong applicant, and you make a strong case for why you are a good fit, you have a decent shot at merit aid. Davidson gives more merit aid than other top schools, but the kids who get the significant scholarships are VERY strong applicants.</p>
<p>^Thanks for the advice. I think I’m just going to answer it honestly. I’ve communicated with admission counselors and visited the school so hopefully it will be obvious that I’m truly interested in Davidson.</p>
<p>Our son is a VERY happy freshman at Davidson. The schools to which he was accepted that also made his final cut were Vassar, Oberlin and Tufts. Certainly different from each other in many ways, but all excellent options in my opinion. He was forthcoming with each school during the application process with regard to where else he had applied.</p>
<p>EastofEden–I don’t think Davidson could think that it is your safety; Davidson is not a safety for anyone. A high percentage of each class consists of recruited athletes. Not even all Belk Scholarship nominees (of which there were 700 this year) are accepted.</p>
<p>Schokolade - Sorry, maybe I should clarify. I agree Davidson is never a safety school. I just don’t want the admissions committee to assume Davidson is a second or third choice. But I am going to report all of the schools anyway. I don’t want to be in an honor code violation before I even get to campus.</p>
<p>This may be a bit too late, but I thought I would add that Davidson also asked for a list of other schools our D planned applying to on forms she filled out during her visit as well as on the application, so this is obviously important to them. Didn’t you do this on your visit? She listed all schools, including the super-selective ones and it did not hurt her. Maybe it helped? She was admitted to the class of 2014.</p>
<p>Oh…and she got great merit aid from Vanderbilt and other places where she really did not expect to be able to attend due to what she had heard (like you) about the odds of scholarships, etc. You should apply where you really want to attend, as long as you have a safety or two. You may get some big surprises. Life is too short for ‘what ifs’.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry. I think you are in good shape to be considered as a serious applicant.</p>