I am an international student from Greece and have been accepted to Davidson College NC, and UCL liberal arts BASc. I’m not sure what my major will be yet. I have applied for Natural sciences major and humanities minor in UCL (physics + politics). Even though I have always wanted to go to the US to study, my top choices (ivies) rejected me, ( I am also seeking financial aid). Now, I find it difficult to decide as UCL is more well-known, and has a better location (city +closer to Greece), but Davidson provides the US program I dreamed of, a more supportive and friendly environment but has a much worse location and is relatively small. I am also not sure how to compare the two programs. I am also on the waitlist of Pomona university. What should I do?
Lastly, I wanted to ask, which of these schools do you think I would have a better chance transferring out of to go to an ivy, as was my initial plan?
Your chances of transferring to an Ivy are almost nil from almost anywhere, so I wouldn’t let that be a consideration.
What are costs?
The great thing about a liberal arts education is that you can try out different fields before deciding on a major. At UCL, you are stuck with sciences+politics (they have a course like that?) even if you end up hating science. I’d expect Davidson to be almost unknown in Europe so if you want to work there, you’d probably have to get a European masters.
The two environments are very different a well. A campus-based LAC vs. a city uni with no real campus. Davidson is close to Charlotte, though, which is a mid-sized city that has roughly the same metro population as Munich and Vienna, so they’re not exactly in the middle of nowhere.
I would choose Davidson in a heartbeat if it’s affordable.
UCL is much better for grad school - it’d be difficult for an international due to the absence of a residential culture or a physical campus.
In addition, Davidson is one of America’s top colleges and the undergraduate education there will be better - smaller classes, more personalized education, a residential experience (that’s very important for internationals who don’t know anyone).
I would highly recommend Davidson - it is on a par with most of the Ivies. Small campus set away from many distractions allows one to focus on their studies - yet close enough to Charlotte to allow for an easy get-away from campus. Small classes, impeccable academics, great facilities. They also have a tremendous program for financial aid. Davidson also does a great job embracing international students. Can’t recommend it high enough.
I don’t know anything about UCL but I do know a pretty good bit about Davidson. Davidson is the 9th ranked liberal arts college in the US. It has a fantastic reputation for grad schools, including top Universities and Ivies. I believe they have a 100% med school acceptance rate (for instance). My daughter is trying to narrow down her list as well and she is considering choosing Davidson over Duke and it has the reputation that many smart advisors tell her that it would not be a bad decision
First, congratulations on your acceptance to two very competitive schools. Either choice will provide an excellent education and rich set of experiences. You have much ahead of you! The Ivies are not everything in this world and you may find that not going to Brown etc may be the best thing that ever happened to you. I would advise that whichever school you choose, don’t go with hopes of transferring. Without investing yourself in the present, you will hate wherever you are.
For your decision, I suggest asking yourself how adventurous and adaptive are you versus how much do you enjoy being part of the accepted standards? Davidson will be an adventure likely different to anything you have experienced while UCL will be more of what many of your friends and family have likely seen and done. Davidson will facilitate you as an athete and outdoors person while UCL gives you access to a capital of the World. Both have advantages and drawbacks. If you pick the former, only a few people in Kolonaki will know that you received a world class education but at the same time you will get to push yourself well outside your comfort zone. If you pick the latter, you will have an easier time finding your first job in London or Athens and will extend your exisiting network with other people from Greece (which can be incredibly beneficial).
Davidson has an excellent two year humanities program, a top political science program, and at heart revolves around an Honor Code. And the school encourages studying abroad during your junior year so you could always spend your junior year at UCL and transfer if you liked it better. It is also very generous with financial aid and will likely want to encourage an international student. The British system affords you much more freedom as a student and forces you to learn to write very well. Plus you will have classmates from all over the world.
Enjoy this time! You will make the right decision.
I highly recommend Davidson for many reasons that are mentioned earlier. I was on campus with my daughter for a scholarship weekend. I am quite impressed with the administrators, students and the general feel. If anything, this school does not gets its due in other parts of the US. The outcomes of the students speaks for itself.
