I recently visited Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:

· The South’s premier liberal arts college, Davidson is a highly selective institution just thirty minutes outside of Charlotte. The campus community is tight-knit, supportive and highly collaborative. Small class sizes and engaged faculty ensure that students received extensive individualized attention.

· All students sign Davidson’s honor code, which helps create a climate of trust among students and faculty. As a result, students report feeling comfortable leaving laptops unattended for hours in the library and know that if they lose their wallet on campus, someone is likely to return it to them.

· Davidson prizes interdisciplinary learning, and completing interdisciplinary projects in courses – like designing a musical instrument in a physics class – is encouraged. Students can also design their own major through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS). Other unique programming includes a public health major and the Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which provides students from any major with a mentor and grant to develop a business idea. The Davidson in Washington program offers a guest-speaker-driven summer course in DC, led by a Davidson professor, alongside an internship.

· Greek life is relatively popular, as well as non-exclusive. There are no sororities, but 70-75% of women join “eating houses” similar to Princeton’s eating clubs: non-residential dining communities that foster community and host social events. 30-40% of men join fraternities, which tend to also have their own chef and are non-residential. Campus police supervise fraternity parties to ensure safety. There is also robust social life outside the Greek system: students spend weekends participating in fun events at the student union, attending student performances, going to concerts, partying in the dorms and exploring Charlotte.

· Davidson owns a 110 acre waterfront property under 10 minutes from campus – “Lake Campus” – that provides students with various recreational activities and includes a beach, volleyball courts, picnic areas, a boat ramp, swimming access and green space.

· Despite being a small liberal arts college, Davidson fields 21 DI athletic teams, and around a quarter of enrolled students are athletes.

· The college is located alongside downtown Davidson’s tiny Main Street in a layout that feels reminiscent of Princeton. Town residents welcome freshmen each year by baking them cakes for the Cake Race, and it’s not uncommon for residents to invite students over to dinner.

· Like Dartmouth, Davidson requires applicants to submit a peer letter of recommendation.