Davidson College Reviews

Greek life totally dominates the...

Greek life totally dominates the social scene. If you hang out, you're in a frat or eating house.

A sizable percentage of students...

A sizable percentage of students bring their cars along, including the freshmen, so it can be a hassle to find a convenient spot. But I drive my car maybe once a week, so I really can't complain too much about a seven-minute walk to get to the front seat.

Dorms on campus are generally...

Dorms on campus are generally fairly new and kept up well. Each summer, the college renovates a building on campus. In 2008, Davidson renovated Watts and Richardson dorms, both of which are freshmen dorms. Watts has very large rooms, brand new furniture, sinks in the rooms, new common rooms, flat-screen televisions, and new couches and tables in the common rooms. Other dorms might have smaller dorm rooms, but they have other positive aspects. For example, Belk dorm has smaller rooms, but more people on each hall, and therefore more friends live there together.

All the freshmen dorms are great....

All the freshmen dorms are great. Most have been recently renovated or are in the process. Belk is the 'urban center' of the freshmen dorms. Sophomore apartments are for the 'partiers' usually and are not as nice as the upperclassmen dorms up the hill (e.g., Tomlinson). Personally, I would live off campus senior year because the senior options are not my style.

Drugs are here just like they are...

Drugs are here just like they are at every college, but it's very limited. Yes, you can get it if you go looking for it, but in no way is it a large part of campus life. In general, our campus lives a pretty healthy lifestyle, and drugs just don't really fit in with that scene.

There are a fair amount of...

There are a fair amount of restaurants available within walking distance of campus, and if you have a car, the options are expanded further. If you want to get really adventurous, or can drop some coin, head into Charlotte and experience the growing culinary scene their. With in walking distance of campus, I'd recommend Toast, Soda Shop, Fuel Pizza, the Brickhouse. A short drive away, Sangam Indian is excellent, and there are new restaurants opening in Birkdale, exit 25, all the time. 131 Main is a great place in close driving distance for a fancy meal, or when the parents are in town.

About 70 percent of kids drink...

About 70 percent of kids drink regularly. Pot is relatively common, but usually well-hidden, among the men on campus (slightly less than half). Some girls use pot, but it's not very noticeable. Hard drugs are used but are mainly restricted to Pi Kappa Alpha brothers and a small handful of others. They are usually used off-campus and are not a noticeable part of campus life.

The dorms aren't bad, but there's...

The dorms aren't bad, but there's definitely a discrepancy in size. If you're in Belk, the rooms are really small and kind of awkwardly shaped, but the bathrooms are much nicer than those in other dorms. Also, every dorm has a sink which is really nice. Cannon and Watts are the biggest, and Richardson is pretty small but has awesome lounges. Belk has the worst lounges. Watts is definitely the ideal choice because it has the biggest rooms and nicest lounges.

Davidson appears from the outside...

Davidson appears from the outside to be a preppy, upper-middle class, white school, and this is pretty accurate. We have our share of international students and minorities, but the vast majority of the student body is homogeneous. There is a mix of political affiliations, as seen during the election this year. However, for the most part, most students are polite, well-dressed young men and women.

There are no bars or clubs near...

There are no bars or clubs near campus, though you could go to Charlotte--which kids don't. The Depot is one off-campus apartment building that usually has good parties. All of the houses on the Court have parties from one time to another. Senior apartments like F and Ryburn always have a party, if you're looking for it.

Freshmen can have a car if they...

Freshmen can have a car if they buy a parking pass, though I would not recommend one during your first semester--it's really important to get acquainted with classes and the campus, and having a car is somewhat of a distraction. Parking is really no problem, though you occasionally have a walk to the parking lot (and by "walk" I mean 10 minutes). Parking is not done by seniority but rather who gets the space when.

The food is better than what you...

The food is better than what you would expect at comparable institution. For a while it seems awesome until you realize they're just giving variations of the same thing every day. There are really only two main places to eat: Vail Commons and the Union Café. Commons's redeeming value is that it is a very social place, but the food is basic cafeteria fare (though they make a huge effort to keep it healthy and tasty). Otherwise you can join a frat, eating house, or go to a local restaurant, of which there are plenty. One cool thing is the Eco-House, an alternative housing option where students cook their own local, organic food.

The police on campus are more...

The police on campus are more worried about your safety than your life choices. If you drink, that is definitely not a problem on campus, and if you don't drink in high school, you'll probably start when you come to Davidson. The school has a red cup policy, so if your drink is in a red cup, you will not be in trouble. Don't carry around beer cans; pour it into a cup, and you'll be fine. The school is definitely more strict about drugs on campus. If you are caught with drugs, you will be put on social probation and get in trouble. Alcohol is the drug of choice for most students on campus, however, so that's not normally a problem. Just be honest with the cops if they ask you if you're underage. It's an honor code violation if you lie, and then you're in serious trouble.

Varsity sports are a big deal at...

Varsity sports are a big deal at Davidson since we're Division 1. It seems like at least half of the student body is on a sports team. However, the men's basketball team gets the most attention by far. Their tournament run that ended in the Elite Eight last year has brought more national attention to campus then ever. Intramurals are popular too, but less advertised.

Public transportation is adequate....

Public transportation is adequate. However, there really isn't too much of a need for public transportation around Davidson. You can pretty much walk anywhere.

The parties on campus are pretty...

The parties on campus are pretty good. There is always something going on at a frat or eating house, which is open to all students. Also, there are always parties at the senior apartments. The nightlife off campus, however, isn't very popular.

I love the library. It has enough...

I love the library. It has enough room for all the students, and its many levels allow for quiet study or rambunctious study, depending on your mood. The student center (the Union) is baller, and it's so large and nice. I also like the personal health facility, where you can go to workout and not be intimidated by the basketball team. Our arena is incredible, and I love going to basketball games there! It's so great to have the huge student section where you can always get a free ticket.

Particularly with the Honor Code,...

Particularly with the Honor Code, crime is not an issue. That said, never walk back from the court alone--there are always plenty of nice boys happy enough to escort you back up the hill. You can also call the Vamanos Van to pick you up from on or off campus. They'll even take you to get food. I know that the Campus Police would happily escort you anywhere if you felt uncomfortable, though I've never had any issues. As far as locking doors, the Honor Code is strong and in place, but it's extremely important to be realistic. Violations are an unfortunate part of campus, and though they may be rare, stay on the safe side and lock your door. Especially at night, intoxicated visitors can accidentally wander into your room (it has happened), so lock your door just in case.

Facilities are fairly nice at...

Facilities are fairly nice at Davidson. The college union is wonderfully set up, Baker Sports Complex is very nice, complete with squash/racquetball courts, tennis courts, basketball stadium, swimming pool, small workout gym, and a small sandwich spot. The arts center is also wonderful. The library is decent -- a little old in appearance but pretty nice. I would like a few more places to study, since the main spots get pretty boring after a while.

Students should bring their own...

Students should bring their own computers, just becasue it's easier and most do, but there is no reason whatsoever to bring your own printer. The computer labs here get busy around exam time, but even then, there's always one available to print out your paper on. I just started using the Belk Lab, and I really love it and the computer programs offered there, like Mathematica. The network has never gone down while I've been here, and I get all my bars of wireless everywhere on campus, even the basement of the library.

Dorms are overall very good....

Dorms are overall very good. Freshman get placed in varying ones year by year, but Cannon and Watts are great. Belk has the most people but smaller rooms. Freshman halls develop a lot of personality, and the people become very close. It's a really good experience.

Freshmen can bring a car. Parking...

Freshmen can bring a car. Parking is not so bad. You can walk to it from anywhere. Everyone gets the same chances to park wherever. As long as you have a parking permit, any student spot is fair game. The most coveted spots are in Belk parking lot, and the worst are in Satellite.

I can't complain about the food on...

I can't complain about the food on campus. Vail Commons offers a great variety, while the Union has pretty high-quality, delicious food. What I can complain about are the meal plan hours. If you have a bulk of classes in the afternoon, the dining hall may be closed when you get out, forcing you to eat a peanut butter sandwich in your room or pay at the Union.

You're bound to have a friend who...

You're bound to have a friend who can drive you since freshmen can have cars on campus. There's a Vamanos Van that can take students five miles north or south on I-77, as well as around campus, Wednesday through Saturday. But sometimes the driver gets angry and refuses to take you. So, rely on your car or a friend's car.

There are a few great restaurants...

There are a few great restaurants right on Main Street that students love to eat at: The Brick House (typical burgers, pizza, wings...delicious!), Bonsai (sushi and chinese food), The Soda Shop (a quaint sandwich place), Toast, Fuel Pizza, and some pricier Italian and Indian restaurants. Right off I-77, a couple exits North and South, you can find any type of food you can think of.