Any ED results out there?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Whitman College
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<p>I'm a little surprised that Whitman's posts have been so quiet this year and that there has been no ED acceptance thread like all the other top LAC'S. My DS is very interested in Whitman... he is a Junior who is just starting to put together a college list. I would have liked to see some acceptance results this year. My DS has kind of lop-sided stats with a 3.5 GPA and 2100+ on his first SAT this year. He is looking for a small LAC with small discussion based classes and an unpretentious, intellectual, outdoorsy student body. We are form CA and traveled up to the PNW last spring to visit a few colleges. We were headed to Whitman from Portland but there was a really bad snow storm, so we decided not to go. He still would like to try to get up there. </p>

<p>If anyone out there has any ED results they would like to share, please do.... it really helps those of us who will be applying next year.</p>

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<p>For men of certain age, the title of this thread could be misleading! However, this does not appear to be about pharmaceutical testing, just an inactive college cite.</p>

<p>With the caveat that I am simply a parent and have no actual knowledge of how the admissions office evaluates candidates, it sounds as if your son would be a good candidate for admission at Whitman, especially E.D. where the admission rate is higher. His GPA is a little bit low and his SATs are on the high side - approaching top quarter. If the 3.5 is unweighted and from a very competitive high school, it is probably fine. Even if not, the high SATs, good essays, recommendations, and strong interest may be enough to off set them. It may also depend on what sort of classes your son was taking. Some high AP scores might also offset some B’s in AP classes - hard to tell. Whitman seems to be looking for bright, motivated kids and your son sounds like one. Strong extra-curricular activities also help. My son’s freshman friends include, athletes, musicians, thesbians, etc.</p>

<p>My student’s strength was a very high GPA and class rank. He had mid-range SAT scores (for Whitman) from the one time he took it, and he is an athlete who was supported by the coach - and he was admitted EDII. There is little risk of applying ED since one can back out if you apply for financial aid and the award is denied, or unacceptable financially. </p>

<p>You have already found out about the accessibility issues, but Whitman and Walla Walla are lovely once you get there (at least in the late summer, early fall). Winters are cold for a Californian (as we are), but not ridiculous, at least not so far. </p>

<p>My son is not especially outdoorsy, but without any initiative on his part he was invited to two spectacular hiking / camping trips in his first semester freshman year that he really enjoyed. I suspect someone with a strong interest would find a lot of opportunities for that sort of thing. </p>

<p>Your son should consider an overnight visit to get the feel of the place - it is what convinced my son to choose Whitman EDII rather than wait until April. As of first semester freshman year, he seems to really like the people in his dorm and on his team. Good luck.</p>

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<p>LOL Bogney!!! I guess I should watch how I word my postings… my middle age husband got quite a laugh as well…</p>

<p>Yes, my sons GPA is UW, upward rising, and he comes from a very rigorous top 50 prep school. From the HS’s naviance he looks good, but I did see some surprising results last year with kids who had lower GPA’s getting denied, even with high test scores. I just feel like it is a VERY good fit for my son and of course I love it because it’s on the same coast, even if it is a little challenging to get to.</p>

<p>My S is not too much into athletics other than he is a Varsity swimmer, but he is a passionate mountaineer and rock climber. He has climbed all the highest peaks in CA. He is an Eagle Scout, Rescue diver, search and rescue team, beach lifeguard, and spent his last summer working on trails and backpacking up in the backcountry of New Mexico. He will be doing the same thing this summer up in the Canadian wilderness. He has heard amazing things about the Outdoor Club at Whitman… that is one of his top criteria’s. He loves academics, but he also has to be able to get out in nature… it is like air to him.</p>

<p>What is your S majoring in? Does he like his classes and professors? Does the rigorous academics make it even possible to enjoy other activities? How does he like his dorm and the food?</p>

<p>How does your son like the students? Are they all accepting of each other? My son is looking for an inclusive, close knit student body. He is the kid in HS who has friends from every group but is basically very independent. He likes hanging with the guys but doesn’t really like the jock, let’s get drunk culture. He’s more the… let’s go climb a peak and then come back and hang out type of guy.</p>

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<p>My son really enjoys the people so far, I suspect that the student body has been the biggest attraction for him. He spoke of another friend who sounds a lot like your son, who is on the trail all of the time outside of class - and travels for vacations rather than going home. There seem to be all types at Whitman, though it definitely leans liberal, which is fine by us but may not be for all.</p>

<p>The Eagle Scout, hiking, climbing stuff all sounds excellent. I climbed Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen many moons (and many pounds) ago. Whitman has a student run outdoors equipment rental facility in the Student center with all the stuff for outtings, which suggests that there is a strong demand for it by the campus community.</p>

<p>Again, through hearsay and culling sites before sending my son there, my understanding is that athletics are not a particularly big deal at Whitman other than for the participants. So, while there is a jock culture of sorts, and fraternities, the campus seems well integrated. </p>

<p>My son experienced some shock from the academic rigor - his high school was not especially demanding and the first semester transition can be tricky. He will found out more about handling a sport and the academics next semester during the season, so he is figuring these things out as he goes. </p>

<p>The dorms are very nice (I helped him move in), and the food is good according to him, and my impression of the meals they gave the parents on the first weekend. The campus is really pretty and the facilities amazing for a small LAC, many new buildings (a ridiculous indoor climbing wall finished as part of the athletic facility redone last year that might interest your son.)</p>

<p>Although my son’s priorities differ, I think there is a significant campus culture more in tune with your son’s interests. I have not heard from any source that the student body is cliquey (if that is a word), and the general report is that students are friendly and generally happy. There are always exceptions, but despite some academic stress, my son’s experience has been very positive early on. </p>

<p>I hope some others can chime in. I seem to be the sole reporter on Whitman these days. Anyway, if your son is interested, my guess is that he would be a very solid applicant and would enjoy it he chose to attend. If I were deciding, I would admit him!</p>

<p>Happy New Year.</p>

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<p>I would highly recommend making a spring or fall visit so you can see the campus and get a feel for the school when students are there. From what you’ve written, I think Whitman could be a great fit for your son. I have 2 “Whitties”: one a current second year and one a recent grad. Both have had an amazing experience and have a drove of friends who are equally happy with the school for a wide range of different reasons (science, sports, music, outdoor opportunities). It does seem hard to “get to” when you are in the search–but once kids are there it seems very manageable. </p>

<p>As to why there is not a lot of posting re results, etc. Whitman is simply not a place that attracts or is driven by intense competition (yet is somehow rigorous and academically inspiring). I too was frustrated when I was hungry for information about the place but it just doesn’t draw a lot of forum posters or chat. You could look in the archives over various years because many topics have been discussed on this forum over time.</p>

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<p>Thanks mmaah!! Yes, we are definitely going to plan a trip up there, but probably not till next Fall. My S is leaving in a few weeks to go to a school in Vermont for a semester, so he won’t be back in time to go up there this Spring. I really him to be able to see the school when school is in session, and I’m thinking if we wait till Fall, he may be able to get an interview and stay over night. I know without a doubt that Whitman is going to be one of his top choices. It is everything he is looking for. My parents live in Seattle, so we get up to the area often, but have never made the drive to Walla Walla, I was disappointed we couldn’t get over the pass last Spring.</p>

<p>What are some of the things that your S loves best as a Sophomore? What is his major? How demanding are the academics? Does he have time to enjoy school activities and fun when he is not studying? My S I think wants to major in Religion and Philosophy… and then go on to med school to be an ER Dr… maybe even a wilderness ER Dr.</p>

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<p>5boys – my son is a 2nd year and is really happy at Whitman. He is a science major and is planning on med school and found Whitman on a list of good pre-med undergrad schools. There is a ten-day class on Wilderness First Responders something or other that is offered during breaks that he took and really enjoyed. The classes are very rigorous, as others have mentioned, but he combines a lot of social activities with studying and study groups, as well as taking a night off (or at least a few hours of a night) every week. I’m sometimes amazed how much he can pack in to his time.</p>

<p>My son also had friends from a lot of different groups in high school and is finding that at Whitman. He is very active in a frat, even though he doesn’t live there, but also has close friends are “independents” that he has met through his classes, dorm, and clubs. Everyone is very open and accepting and great friendships seem to happen easily.</p>

<p>I found the course description:
This Wilderness First Responder course is a nationally recognized course that trains participants to respond to emergencies in remote settings. The 80-hour curriculum includes standards for urban and extended care situations. Special topics include but are not limited to wound management and infection, realigning fractures and dislocations, improvised splinting techniques, patient monitoring and long-term management problems, plus up-to-date information on all environmental emergencies along with advice on drug therapies. Emphasis is placed on prevention and decision making, not the memorization of lists. Upon successful completion of practical and written exams a two-year WMI of NOLS Wilderness First Responder certification and a two-year Adult Heartsaver CPR certification will be issued.</p>

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<p>Daughter in ED I - will join older sister. We have not heard of any other ED students. Whitman is a great school. Visit and feel free to post any questions.</p>

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<p>To clarify, obviously there are other ED 1 accepted students - we do not know where they are from etc.</p>

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<p>As long as your son’s unweighted GPA remains at 3.5 or above, he should have a good chance at Whitman. Last year, I posted my son’s ED results: he was denied with an unweighted GPA of 3.44 (4.12 weighted), ACT of 32, SAT 2130. In hindsight, he should not have applied early. He ended up with straight-A grades his senior year, which was sort of ironic.</p>

<p>One of the admissions counselors called him at home to talk about the rejection and explained, “your GPA is below our applicant pool.” And you can see this on Whitman’s Common Data Set. Of students admitted, 68% have an unweighted GPA of 3.75 or higher; 22% have a GPA between 3.50 and 3.74; only 6.6% have a GPA between 3.28 and 3.49. My guess is that students in this last group have some substantial hooks, possibly as legacy students, recruited athletes, students from unrepresented areas of the country, or other.</p>

<p>For my son, it all worked out well! He received a merit scholarship from Willamette that made attending there far less expensive than a University of California campus. He ended up turning down Emory University, Trinity College, CT, and UC San Diego for Williamette, and he’s really happy there. </p>

<p>I’m posting this because the ED experience was pretty brutal for my son at the time, and I would have liked to have known, in advance, about their admissions stance regarding a kid with high stats (and high AP scores in all 5 AP classes) but an unweighted GPA of 3.44. </p>

<p>Good luck with the college search!</p>

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<p>I continue to be baffled as to how colleges weigh GPAs when they vary so much from school to school. Few if any kids from my sons’ high school graduate with an unweighted GPA of higher than 3.6. An unweighted 3.5 usually would put you in the top ten percent.</p>

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<p>5boys - your son sounds like a great fit for Whitman! My S is a senior and I can’t believe his time there has flown by so fast. The school has been incredibly wonderful to work with in admissions, financial aid, and scholarships. The dorms are nice, the food is good, there are lots and lots of things to do without spending much money, and the courses are rigorous without being cut throat. We were there a few weeks ago and his advisor came over to his house for dinner with us - a great time. He has had time for a job, a significant community service committment, varsity sports, and school - it can be done.
Go for a visit and get your son on the new climbing wall, sit in on a class, and tour the outdoor trips office in the basement of the student union. He’ll know if he likes it…</p>

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<p>“He is looking for a small LAC with small discussion based classes and an unpretentious, intellectual, outdoorsy student body”</p>

<p>This describes Whitman perfectly! Based on these characteristics, I think it would be a great idea for you/your son to visit and see it in person. I’m a junior at Whitman right now; if anyone has any further general questions, don’t hesitate to ask or message me. A caveat, though: I’m not into sports at all, so I can’t help you out there.</p>

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<p>Thanks everyone for your replies, advice and encouragement. My S and I had our first meeting with the GC today. She seemed to think that my S would have no problem getting into Whitman based on the schools previous data. My S was VERY happy. I think my S’s school is similar to what sunmachine was referring to… a 3.5 UW is actually very good and puts you at the 20%. This is a school that sends 50-60% to top 20-30 schools and 30% to Ivy’s. It was nice to have the reality conversation with the GC because sometimes this forum makes you think that you have to be perfect at everything to get into any kind of a decent school. My S is looking at schools based on fit only. He could care less about the Ivy’s or “NAME” schools. We can hardly wait to visit Whitman soon. It sounds absolutely perfect for my S… and of course I am wouldn’t be sad if he decides to go to a school on the same coast… only a 2 1/2 hour plane ride away.</p>