Colleges Davidson College

Davidson College www.davidson.edu

Davidson College is a private liberal arts college that was founded in 1837 and named after Revolutionary War general William Lee Davidson. It is located on an 841-acre campus in the suburban community of Davidson, North Carolina, 19 miles north of Charlotte. With more than 200 student organizations on campus, there are a variety of ways for students to get involved. In addition to clubs and organizations, students can also join one of the school’s eight national fraternities, four eating houses, or two sororities on campus. Freshmen are required to live on campus in the four first-year student residence halls. More than 95 percent of students choose to live on campus in residence halls, apartments, co-op living-learning houses, and international houses. Davidson is governed by a vital Honor Code that sets the tone for academic and residential life. The College is recognized as the first liberal arts college to eliminate loans in financial aid packages through the Davidson Trust.

Academics

Davidson College offers 31 majors and 40+ minors in liberal arts disciplines as well as other interdisciplinary academic programs. Students can also design their own major through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies. In addition to the one major required for graduation, students may pursue a second major, a minor, or a concentration. Academic life at Davidson is governed by an honor code that allows students to take self-scheduled, unproctored final exams. The student-faculty ratio at Davidson College is 9:1, and the school has 63% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. Popular majors include Economics, Political Science and Government, and Biology.

Special Highlights

Catalyst. Catalyst is an initiative that centralizes resources for experiential learning opportunities including internships, education away, community-based learning, and undergraduate research. Students gain valuable applied experience, make connections in professional fields, and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent. Studying away is integral to the liberal arts experience as students learn and grow within an entirely new cultural context, stepping out of their comfort zone and engaging with the world. Community-based and experiential learning courses allow students to connect their academic work with direct experiences in the community or with organizations. Faculty integrates extensive research and scholarship into the classroom and encourages students to assist throughout the academic year and the summer.

Lake Campus. For more than 40 years, Davidson College’s Lake Campus has been a popular recreation and relaxation spot for students, faculty, and staff. Located seven miles from main campus, Lake Campus’s 110 acres of waterfront property on beautiful Lake Norman provides Davidson students with the unique opportunity to be involved in a variety of water activities. The property includes a waterfront beach and swim area, sand volleyball courts, picnic areas, wet and dry boat slips, a boat ramp, and open green spaces. The Lake Campus is the home to Davidson’s club sailing and crew teams. It also hosts visitors from July Experience, Odyssey campouts, orientation socials, cookouts, alumni gatherings, and more.

School Mission & Unique Qualities

Immersed in the vibrant metro Charlotte region, Davidson College is a campus where century-old trees and brick buildings blend with a culture of innovation and an array of state-of-the-art facilities. The Davidson community empowers, inspires and educates people on how to understand their talents in light of what the world needs. We are one of America’s most selective liberal arts colleges, and academic potential, character, and accomplishments are the only factors considered in admission decisions—not your ability to pay. Davidson values every kind of diversity, recognizing the dignity and worth of every person while providing a range of opportunities for worship, civil debate, and teaching that enrich mind and spirit. Davidson challenges students to engage in service to prepare themselves for lives of growth and giving. At Davidson, the history of the college energizes campus life through traditions that connect current students with the college’s rich heritage.

Student Reviews…

“The campus is stunning and located in a beautiful, quaint town. The food options are great for a small school. The freshman dorm quality varies but upperclassmen dorms are top notch. The career services are unmatched. When applying for internships, I feel I always have an advantage. The professors are always willing to help.”