Davidson College Top Questions

Of course professors know our names. The average class size at Davidson is around 12-15 students. The largest class (Psychology 101) is capped at 40. Classes range from Organic Chemistry to Biology for Poets; from Creative Nonfiction to Literary Analysis; from Classical Buddhism to Religion in the Movies. Davidson has a Core Cirriculum in which students must take a certain number of classes in each area of study (ex. fine arts or social sciences). Because Davidson is a liberal arts school, administration takes a personal interest in each student's knowledge in all areas of study. One interesting thing is that Davidson does not inspire competition between students in the classroom but rather encourages competition with one's self. Everyone wants to do well on papers and tests, but students rarely talk about their own grades. Students support each other academically. Professors sometimes have students over to their houses in the town of Davidson, especially at the end of the year before final exams. Professors have office hours each week, when they are required to be in their offices so that students can visit to talk about anything and everything if they so desire.

all of the professors strive to get to know their students in class and outside of class, frequently inviting students over for dinner or going out for a drink at the Brickhouse. My favorite classes have been chemistry of art and artifacts and human biology (sciences for non-major) and all of my spanish classes (which made me want to be a spanish major), theater classes were always fun and interesting, I loved my Writing course freshman year. We only had 13 people in the class and we talked about images of disability in literature and how it's perceived by society as well. I hated the one and only math class I took, but in retrospect the professor was very open and always available and wanted the students to succeed. but i took the class as a freshman and never liked math to begin with. there is great class participation, my favorite thing about davidson has been the people because of the intellectual conversations we ahve outside of class. there is no competition here, which i love. that was a major reason for me to come to davidson. my major is spanish, the department is extremely helpful and they care so much about their students. I have had hte best experience with my thesis director this semester and he has always looked out for me. when iw ent abroad, I took 8 classes that I needed to receive credit for at Davidson and the spanish department was very accomodating and made sure that all of my classes counted toward my major. i see professors outside of class in office hours and my shakespeare professor this semester is hosting a birthday party for Shakespeare at his house in the coming weeks. the academic requirements helped me choose my major, I am in favor of them. Even taking math wasn't so bad... the education at Davidson is not geared toward a specific career path but it will help you get a job because it trains you to be trainable and flexible. You learn skills that will always be important and useful no matter what job you apply for or higher level education you enroll into after Davidson. You will learn to analyze, discuss, and use your writing.

Professors are great. They are intelligent, interesting people from different backgrounds, and they are concerned about you personally. They know your name, and encourage you to come into office hours. My favorite class is Chinese because I learn how to speak the language, learn about the culture, and my professor makes class entertaining with random funny jokes. Class participation is pretty necessary since classes are so small, typically 12 students. Students have intellectual conversation outside of class, but are not competitive. People talk about the work load and grade deflation, but never compare grades. The most unique class I took was Humanities: Cultures and Civilizations. It explored essays, books, films, and comics that had to do with building traditions in other cultures. Since it's liberal arts, the education is geared toward learning for it's own sake, especially to think critically, read, write, and communicate. I like it because it prepares you for any job in the future, which you can decide on later. There are core requirements. I don't mind them, but PE requirements and Davidson 101 credits (life courses) are kind of a hassle.

Academics are extremely challenging. Nevertheless, the professors are very encouraging and supportive of all efforts.

What makes academics at Davidson really special is the contact students have with professors. Classes are small, and you can go talk to your professor during their office hours. After addressing your question, your professor will probably ask you about yourself, your other classes, and how things are going in general. The professors really care about their students and want to help them have a positive experience at Davidson. Students can pursue relationships with professors beyond the classroom, too. A professor who knew I was involved in choir actually invited me and a number of former students to the opera.

It is small enough so that all the professors will know your name. However, the downside to that is that they will definitely notice if you skip class!

Professors here are your friends; they don't want you to fail just as much as you don't want to and so they are willing to work with you through whatever you are having troubles with. They are also so engaged in their classes that you can't help being engaged too. True, sometimes you get someone who you don't get along with, but more often then not you will establish relationships that last a long time with a few professors who are great people and take stock in your well being.

The Good: All of my professors know my name. At least one has my cell phone number in their phone. I even sold my car to one of them over a coke in his office. They are excellent and mostly approachable and super friendly. Students work extremely hard, but are not not competitive. Unique class: traveling abroad for 4 months with 20 other students throughout 8 countries in the Mediterranean with one Davidson professor. I never thought I would be at the Pyramids in Egypt and call it my classroom. The bad: Students need to learn how to relax about their work more often and learn to have real academic conversations. Achievement can knock out learning for learnings sake here. Oh, and more foreign languages would be super. I wanted to continue to learn Italian, and they don't have a real department for that.

Davidson is hard. There's no question about it. HOWEVER, you can make it as hard as you want to be. Some people come to college for academics, others for the "college experience." Whether or not you're going to fully commit yourself to your classes, there are opportunities to do so. The professors are great, the classes are (mostly) really engaging and interesting, and you can learn a lot.

Classes are small...one of mine has four people in it...and are very much discussion-based. The Socratic method reigns here. Students are competitive, but not with each other so much as with themselves. Professors are a delight...they are challenging and thought-provoking in class and almost universally warm, friendly, and helpful out of class during office hours. Davidson standards are extremely high, almost frustratingly so. Grade deflation is a reality here...which is sometimes disheartening but also means your good grades mean a lot. While Davidson's liberal arts curriculum prizes learning for its own sake, it also emphasizes the skills necessary for the working world (and its pre-professional programs are legendary).