How to Apply to Psychology at Davidson College: No Admission by Major, Declare Before Junior Fall, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

Davidson College is an undergraduate liberal arts college in North Carolina. It does not admit by major: you declare psychology after entry. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Davidson’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Declaring psychology and the major

• When to declare: the department’s FAQ says college regulations require you to declare a major before returning to campus in the fall of junior year; failing to do so can keep you from returning. You can change your major afterward.
• The major: 10 courses, including research design (PSY 310), a methods series with lab work, seminars and a capstone. At least one methods course must come from PSY 301–304 and at least one from PSY 314–318, which require PSY 310 first.
• Credit from elsewhere: courses fully equivalent to Davidson’s 200-level courses are accepted under the Davidson number, but transfer credit cannot replace 300- and 400-level required courses (research design, methods, seminars, capstones), which must be taken at Davidson.
• Honors: seniors need an overall GPA of at least 3.2 and a major GPA of at least 3.5, a third methods course and a senior thesis (PSY 400); meeting these does not guarantee honors.
• Experience: research assistantships, tutorials and practicums at agencies in the Charlotte area.

2. Deadlines and decisions

• Early Decision I (binding): 15 November, notification by 12 December.
• Early Decision II (binding): 4 January 2027, notification by 30 January.
• Regular Decision: 11 January 2027, notification 1 April, deposit by 1 May.
• ED applicants who are denied may not reapply Regular Decision the same year. Aid documents share the admission deadline, and aid decisions are released with admission decisions.
• Apply through the Common App or Coalition; no application fee for non-U.S. citizens. You need two academic teacher letters, a peer recommendation and the counselor’s school report.

3. Testing and English

• Test optional since 2020; about half of admitted students submit scores. Middle 50%: SAT ERW 700–750 and Math 690–760, ACT 31–34. Davidson superscores, and enrolling students send official scores.
• English: international applicants whose first language is not English must submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo; SAT and ACT do not satisfy this. Davidson says students at or above these levels are best prepared:
  • TOEFL 5.0 (100 on the old scale);
  • IELTS 7;
  • Duolingo 130.
  The requirement is waived for students from countries where English is an official language, IB English A students, and those with four years of high school in the U.S. TOEFL and IELTS must come from the testing agency or your counselor, not from you.
• Interviews: Davidson offers none and strongly recommends InitialView or Vericant for international applicants.
• Chinese and Canadian curricula: no Gaokao policy and no Canada- or BC-specific grade requirements are published.

4. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 first-year international student (US$): tuition 73,090; total billed 92,770; with books, transport and personal costs, about 95,995 (excluding the college health insurance of 2,800).
• International aid:
  • need-based, for Early and Regular Decision applicants;
  • Davidson is need-aware for non-U.S. citizens but meets 100% of calculated need for those admitted;
  • you must apply with your admission application; requests after decisions are not accepted;
  • every international applicant submits the Financial Verification Form, and families contributing more than $5,000 a year also submit the CSS Profile.
• Scholarships: no general merit scholarships. International applicants can be nominated for or apply to the small number of scholarships, and aid applicants are automatically considered for the Alvarez Scholars Program.

5. Transfer students

• Eligibility: at least one full year of college work by entry, and at least two academic years (16 courses) at Davidson.
• Deadlines: spring entry 1 November 2026 (notification early December); fall entry 1 April 2027 (notification early June).
• Materials: final high school transcript, every college transcript, a statement of good standing and two college faculty letters; testing is optional.
• International transfers: fall and mid-year entry, highly competitive, with no financial aid or scholarships; TOEFL is strongly encouraged for non-native speakers.
• Psychology credit: see section 1; upper-level required courses must be taken at Davidson.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply via Common App or Coalition by 15 November (ED I), 4 January (ED II) or 11 January (RD); no fee
• TOEFL 5.0 / IELTS 7 / Duolingo 130 or so, sent by the agency or your school
• InitialView or Vericant strongly recommended
• For aid, submit the Financial Verification Form and CSS Profile with your application

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Same deadlines; no Canada-specific requirements are published
• English is an official language of Canada; confirm any English waiver with admissions

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 1 April 2027, with at least one year of college completed
• No aid for international transfers; upper-level psychology requirements must be taken at Davidson

Sources: Davidson College, First-year applicants; International applicants; International admission and aid FAQs; Early Decision; Admission and aid timeline; Testing policy; Transfer applicants; 2026-27 cost of attendance; Financial aid for international students; Psychology major; Psychology major FAQs; Honors in psychology. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Davidson for the latest details.