First Year Applicants
Our application process is designed to allow you to demonstrate your personal achievements, intellectual curiosities and aspirations. We seek evidence of academic success and well-developed interests.
Choose Your Application Type
First year domestic applicants (including DACA recipients and undocumented applicants) may choose to apply to Davidson using any of the following applications. Choose the application that works best for you and covers as many schools on your list.
Complete All Parts of the Application
In the Common Application or Coalition Application, you will complete the items below.
We take the time to review each transcript in the context of its school. We look at the courses you chose to take given what has been offered and the grades you have received within those courses.
Applicants must complete secondary school graduation requirements before enrolling at Davidson. Excluding consideration for exceptional circumstances, at least 16 high school units are required, although the average student accepted to Davidson has taken 20 units. These units should include:
- Four units of English
- Three units of mathematics
- Two units of the same second language (may include American Sign Language)
- Two units of science
- Two units of history and/or social studies
To be most competitive in our applicant pool, it is strongly recommended that high school students continue for the third and fourth years in science and in the same second language, continue mathematics through calculus, and take additional courses in history.
The personal statement is a space to share your voice and to help us better understand you as a person. We encourage you to explore a topic that is authentic to you and reveals something that doesn’t already come through elsewhere in the application. Above all, stay true to yourself and your experiences. (250-650 word limit)
- There are just under 4,000 four-year colleges and universities in the United States. Being as specific as possible, what interests you most about Davidson College? (250-300 word limit)
- Davidson encourages students to explore curiosities in and out of the classroom. What is a topic, activity or idea that excites you? Tell us why. Examples may include hobbies, books, interactions, music, podcasts, movies, etc. (250-300 word limit)
Counselor or College Advisor Letter of Recommendation
Through the Secondary School Report and Mid-Year School Report, your counselor or college advisor will have the opportunity to share more context around your high school record, your place in class, and your curriculum.
Two Academic Teacher Letters of Recommendation
Davidson requires two recommendations from academic instructors. At least one must come from a core academic subject (English, math, science, history/social science, or a second language).
We ask that someone of similar age to the applicant (a friend, a coworker, a teammate, etc) complete the online peer recommendation. We will link it to your application using the information provided.
We ask that you complete the extracurricular portion of your application as thoughtfully and fully as possible.
We understand that extracurriculars have been limited throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, so we urge you to consider other ways that you have remained involved in your communities. Consider family responsibilities, part-time jobs, service, arts, athletics and passion projects.
Students may choose to submit scores on the SAT and/or ACT. Davidson does not consider the writing portion of either test. Students may self-report or submit official scores for the application review process. All enrolling students must submit official scores (at time of enrollment, not application).
We are committed to making a Davidson education affordable. Explore Davidson's financial aid application process.
Getting ready to tackle college applications? Zach Villamin '22 shares his experience applying to college and gives current high school seniors tips on how to better manage the application process.