<p>It's that time again, Princeton Review has divulged their lists of top 20 schools in categories ranging from "Academics" to "Town Life", and lots in between. The lists are derived from the responses to Princeton Review's questionnaires made by the students on the campuses, and they show pretty clearly that Whitties like their school! Here are Whitman's 2014 rankings:</p>
<p>Great. I saw this yesterday. My D is starting this year and I hope Whitman lives up to it’s great reviews by nearly everyone on all different social media college sites (<strong><em>, </em></strong>**<strong><em>, Cappex, </em></strong>). I fear the spin is almost too positive…sometimes it sounds like a great summer camp (with a rigorous academic focus of course). It’s a tough hype to realize, but I’m sure it will be great!</p>
<p>tleibman, my S is a senior and Whitman hasn’t been perfect every moment of everyday, but overall he’s had a really great experience on many levels. I’ve been very impressed by the bright talented nice “kids” that become Whitties, and by their high energy and positive attitudes. They also have to study hard and it’s no summer camp in that respect, but the professors and other students are willing to help. Study groups are everywhere. Last year there was a 96% retention rate for freshman, that’s pretty good. Congrats and best wishes to your daughter!</p>
<p>Thanks bopambo and thanks for all the info you have imparted over the last year or two. It has helped with perspective in the school choice decision (at least for me as a parent and financier). D is excited and is going to Scramble in a couple weeks. And even summer camp is not perfect every moment of everyday :)</p>
<p>tleibman, I’m so happy any info I gave was of value, few people have heard of Whitman in our corner of Northern California. When S chose it over “Cal”, people thought he was (we were) nuts. I’m indebted to all the previous Whitman parents, students and supporters who answered my anxious questions when S was grappling with the momentous college decision. Whitman is truly a hidden gem.</p>
<p>I’m a current student, and Whitman wasn’t my first-choice school, but I ended up coming here anyway–partly because of the rave reviews of a friend who graduated two years before me. One year in, I can happily say that it really does live up to the reputation. There’s something about Whitman that just makes you want to be there–and stay there. I think it’s a combination of the students, the faculty, the academics, and a bunch of little things that show how much the administration really cares (the 24/7 library, constant availability of professors, wide variety of on-campus resources to help you succeed). It feels like not only do I want to be here, but that everyone else wants me to be here and succeed too. It’s a pretty cool phenomenon.</p>