Visit Report by purplexed (Member since October 08 2005 with 211 posts) Visit Date - February 2007
Visit to Davidson College in February 2007 by purplexed (Parent of Student, HS Class of 2008)
Visit Activities:
Information Session:
Yes - Informative, and split up into different interests, giving D and me a chance to focus on different subjects. Finaid people were nurturing, encouraging, helpful. This was before elimination of loans. Campus Tour:
Yes - Unseen forces brought sunshine and warmth despite the calendar. Daffodils blooming, grass green, buildings spotless and architectural beauiful, college president seen strolling across campus... Classroom Visit:
No - ...visited empty classroom, saw updated technology hookups and projector even in older traditional buildings.
Davidson College Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 5 - Excellent -
When in groups, less friendly than when found singularly. Full of information, friendly, seem tight-knit across ethnicities. Many athletes in percentage terms.
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent -
Finaid people are nurturing and not intimidating. Whole staff seems nurturing, personal and available. Students talked about approachability of profs. and president. (New president coming for 2007).
Appearance of Campus: 5 - Excellent -
Not overwhelming in size, but beautiful sports facilities, cohesive architecture, and bucolic grounds.
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 5 - Excellent -
Even old buildings are clean, updated, maintained and functional. Main auditorium's architecture and design inspiring on the inside. Feels like Carnegie Hall.
Dormitories: 4 - Very Good -
Clean, large, functional. Sometimes not cool in temperature. Wireless phone access questionable depending on service provider.
Security/Safety: 5 - Excellent -
Small town, honor code applies to things as well as studies. Calculators, other personal items left unattended by students in libraries or common areas with no worries. Wait til real world hits, kids.
Overall Campus Impression: 5 - Excellent -
D describes it as comfortable, home-like. Size of town and campus, though, may feel too small for some. Throw in extensive study abroad opportunities, and this parent thinks it's incredibly invit
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 4 - Very Good -
Small, safe, quaint town, growing but trying to maintain that growth at sustainable rate.
City/Town/Community: 5 - Excellent -
Charlotte nearby by interstate. Pro football, basketball, funky neighborhood eateries and fancy places too. Strong upscale shopping and outlet shopping. Lake Norman nearby with sailing opportunities.
Campus Visit Notes for Davidson College:
Visit Description:
Davidson professors and students spoke in an information session about academics, and emphasized the great student-teacher ratio, personal attention for undergraduates (there is no grad. school here), strong science education and high percentage of students who study abroad. School has "eating houses," not fraternities and sororities. Because of small class sizes, professors are more easily able to change locations for class, whether it's going outside or eating dinner and having class at the professor's house. Large percentage of students also go on to further academic study elsewhere.
Students and profs also talk about the "Davidson bubble," or a feeling of cloistered safety and strong connections at Davidson, something that carries on afterward with alumni. Atmosphere is so small -- less than 2,000 students -- that it feels more personal than some large high schools.
And that could scare some people off. But if your focus is on academics, it seems it would be great to be in a place where you can ignore other distractions when you choose.
Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:
Try locally owned coffee shop across from campus. Ben & Jerry's ice cream within walking distance. Brickhouse Tavern a long walk or short drive from campus. (One word: calamari).
Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):
Must have car to drive to campus from Charlotte. Once in Davidson, park it and walk.
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When in groups, less friendly than when found singularly. Full of information, friendly, seem tight-knit across ethnicities. Many athletes in percentage terms.
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Clean, large, functional. Sometimes not cool in temperature. Wireless phone access questionable depending on service provider.