Davidson asks two supplemental questions of 250-300 words each: what interests you most about Davidson, "being as specific as possible", and a topic, activity or idea that excites you and why (hobbies, books, interactions, music, podcasts and movies all count).
The first question reminds you there are just under 4,000 four-year colleges in the US, which is Davidson's way of asking what only Davidson has for you.
Davidson's questions at a glance
| Question | Limit | Who answers it | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| What interests you most about Davidson | 250-300 words | Required | Why this college |
| A topic, activity or idea that excites you | 250-300 words | Required | Intellectual curiosity |
How to plan the Davidson supplement
- 1Do real research for the first answer: specifics a reader at Davidson would recognize.
- 2Let the second answer be fun and specific; it shows your curiosity in its natural habitat.
1. What interests you most about Davidson
Davidson's wording · 250-300 words · Required“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?”
What it is really asking. What interests you most about Davidson, as specifically as possible.
How to approach it
- 1Choose two or three Davidson specifics you would actually use.
- 2Tie each to you.
- 3Cut anything any small college could claim.
Mistakes to avoid
- "Small classes and close professors" with no specifics.
Full guide: How to Write the "Why Davidson" Essay
2. A topic, activity or idea that excites you
Davidson's wording · 250-300 words · Required“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.”
What it is really asking. A topic, activity or idea that excites you, and why.
How to approach it
- 1Pick something specific and recent.
- 2Show yourself inside it.
- 3Spend half the words on why.
Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing something to sound academic.
Full guide: How to Write Davidson's "What Excites You" Essay
What our grader checks in your Davidson answers
Every answer is judged against a checklist for its kind of question plus one check written for Davidson's own wording. Each area comes back Met, Partly or Missing, and those verdicts (with the word limit) set the answer's readiness: Ready, Nearly there or Needs work. There is no score out of 100.
| Question | Davidson's own check |
|---|---|
| What interests you most about Davidson | Is as specific as Davidson asks: concrete aspects of Davidson, not ones shared by any small college. |
| A topic, activity or idea that excites you | It does every part of what Davidson's question asks, in the college's own terms. |
The type checklists are on the supplemental essay grader page.
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