Davidson College - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Students make it clear: Academics at Davidson are some of the strongest the liberal arts have to offer. Praise runs especially high for the low student-to-teacher ratio, as well as the accessible, dedicated, and brilliant faculty. Complaints are mostly related to the relatively small number of majors offered, and more universally, the workload. In fact, Davidson is notorious for its generous workload and less-than-generous grade inflation—it’s more like deflation. While Davidson students often complain about how much work they have, most understand that professors ultimately have their best interests in mind—and that those all-nighters will pay off in the end.

Davidson’s excellent academic reputation is what attracts most students to the school in the first place. Students come here with the expectation that they will work hard and find that it’s virtually impossible to "slide by" academically once they’re in. Students are able to self-schedule their final exams at Davidson, which relieves a lot of pressure, and students will often have take-home tests to be completed at their leisure rather than in class. Profs here are almost always willing to negotiate due dates if you’re in a bind or simply cut you a break when you’re excessively stressed out. Overall, the professors at Davidson serve not only as teachers but also as mentors. They treat students as grown adults worthy of real time and attention, and they are willing to form relationships with students outside of the classroom. Grad schools and employers both agree that Davidson students consistently have some of the best recommendations, as their professors can write about them not only as students but very much as people.

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Students Speak Out

mirydberg says: Davidson College 2016 Undecided

Davidson professors outshine profs... Davidson professors outshine profs at other schools with ease, in terms of both ability and willingness to engage with the students. They provide a special dimension rarely found today. I took a junior-level anthropology class as a first-semester freshman that dealt with the theme of power, and I was one of three students. Try finding that anywhere else. The workload is demanding and time consuming, and no class will ever allow you to breeze through with minimal effort and an inflated grade. Despite this heavy workload, it is clearly worth the rewards. 12345 Academics: February 16, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

Professors here live in the... Professors here live in the surrounding community. Most will invite their classes over for dinner or dessert at least once each semester. In a recent English seminar, my professor invited us all to her house for our final meeting of the year. There, we conducted class as usual over an amazing, three-course meal she had stayed up until three o’clock the night before preparing. As I sat there drinking wine, enjoying food that tasted like Christmas dinner, and listening to a fellow student make a presentation on the role of women in the early church, I realized that this was very much what academia was all about—not furious test-taking in cramped desks, but the free and insightful sharing of ideas among the company of friends. 12345 Academics Report

addictedtosno says: Davidson College 2016 Undecided

Davidson is characteristically... Davidson is characteristically known for its grade deflation, and let me tell you, what they say is true. However, most students find the quality of their education and studies to be more valuable than a letter grade, so keep that in mind when you see our average GPA as much lower than our peer institutions. The workload at Davidson is tough. You may have been the top of your class in high school, but at Davidson, ALL of your peers were the top of their classes too. Get used to being around smart people. 12345 Academics: February 16, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

I have found that the teachers are... I have found that the teachers are very engaging, especially if you show specific interest. They are also, as would be expected, very proficient in their fields. I find classes to be very interesting, even in intro courses that I initially assumed would not be the most stimulating. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Teachers are generally very... Teachers are generally very interested in getting to know the students in their classes as well as going out of their way to accommodate them outside the classroom. Classes are very interesting, and often include class discussion rather than just straight lectures. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

All exams at Davidson are self-scheduled and un-proctored thanks to an academic Honor Code. Unlike the honor codes at other small liberal arts colleges, Davidson’s is strictly enforced and engenders a community of true trust and respect. It is because of this code that students can leave their doors unlocked and professors can trust students to take many tests outside of class.

Students can pass/fail 3 classes throughout their Davidson careers. In fact, they get to choose which ones after they have already taken the class.

Students at Davidson have an entire “Exam Week” in which to take their final exams. If you decided to take your psych final on Wednesday at 9 a.m., then realize at 8:59 that you’re not prepared, no worries—you can take it later in the day or later in the week. This system minimizes stress during exams, as there’s no potential for you to have all four finals in one day.

Davidson graduates have an incredible acceptance rate of over 95 percent to graduate programs, including medical school and law school.

It’s incredibly rare for a Davidson class to have more than 30 students. Generally 20 students is about average. You will never have a TA—all classes are taught by professors themselves.

All professors are required to have designated office hours, during which students are guaranteed to find them in their offices for extra help or just to talk. Most are more than willing to meet outside these hours as well, and many professors give out their home phone numbers in case you have any last minute questions about your upcoming exam.

Each class at Davidson is worth one credit rather than three or four. This means you only need 32 credits to graduate.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Annie Maietta
Hometown: Weston, MA
Major: Undecided

Annie has four siblings: one of her older sisters went to Davidson, and her younger brother aspires to.

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