Davidson College (DC)

Students proudly say of Davidson College that the goal isn't just to "come out smarter than they came in" but also to "be better people and make a difference in the world." Going that extra mile with a classic liberal arts education is hard work-"99 percent of us left our 4.0 GPAs back in high school," admits a student-but "though the work is rigorous, time spent in school never feels wasted." (It helps that the administration is "very open to change and improvement" and constantly seeking "to support and improve Davidson.") Integrity and creativity are at the forefront of a Davidson education, and the college's Honor Code speaks to the trust and freedom that is given to the community (including unproctored, self-scheduled finals). Likewise, the "fascinating and rewarding" classes often incorporate original research from professors, and the Experiential Learning Team helps guide hands-on experiences for both students and professors. There is no doubt that the workload is intense, but students say it is "is accompanied by even more resources with which it can be successfully managed," including study abroad advisers, career counselors, and peer tutors. As a student says, "I have never witnessed people so eager to come do their job every day." In fact, with an average class size of 17, faculty are waiting in the wings to offer their help, leading a student to vow, "If I could spend twenty years being educated by this administration and these professors, I would."

One has to work quite hard in order to get into Davidson, so it makes sense that all who make it here are "united under the umbrella of intellectual curiosity." There's not a high turnover (Davidson has a 94 percent retention rate), and it doesn't go unnoticed that admissions "does a good job...so if you're in, you'll probably make the cut all the way through the four years." This level of academics fosters a real all-in-it-together mentality, and the entire student body is "eager to watch you succeed." It also means that "academics voluntarily leave the classroom," and a student says that "during the week we work hard. On the weekends we play hard. We don't do anything halfway." This is well-rounded group is "an amalgamation of all types of people, religiously, ethnically, politically, economically, etc.," and hits the size sweet spot where "there are enough people that one can find a similar group to connect with, and there are few enough people that one ends up connecting with dissimilar [people] anyway."

While academics are a priority at Davidson, it's not for the sake of grades: this place "possesses an intense study culture, and people hit the books regularly; it's cool to be smart." Even though the tough academics "can make it hard to stay up to date on current events... most students remain well-informed," and most here happily weave their classroom commitments with their social desires: "You see your friends because you are doing homework together or eating meals together, not because you're vegging out." As one student points out, "It's not uncommon to hear people discussing their current academic topics at lunch or in the gym." Athletics are actually a big meeting point for Davidson (basketball in particular), and more than a quarter of students are varsity scholar-athletes at this Division I school. "Everyone enjoys being a part of the underdog/Cinderella story," says a student of their book-heavy institution. The city of Charlotte is just under twenty miles away, but 90 percent of the school's 2,000 students live on campus, where they can join any of the 200 student organizations or the popular fraternities, sororities, or eating houses (Davidson's co-ed social organizations). Students stress that no matter your preference, "there really is no pressure to drink. You can go out and dance and have a great time or have movie nights with friends."