<p>Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I appreciate it. </p>
<p>A 24-hour library sounds awesome - I would definitely take advantage of that! It's also good to know that they have good disability facilities. </p>
<p>I've never had the chance to live in that little academic bubble - but I know I'd really enjoy being able to dedicate myself to getting an education without all of the distractions out here in the real world. </p>
<p>So I'll send in an application. Maybe I have a shot.</p>
<p>Thanks for the thorough reply. DCfC has ALWAYS been my favorite band, and the Pacific Northwest is beautiful, so Whitman is love. I hope I can get in with 1310/760W.</p>
<p>What's the general student atmosphere like at Whitman? As a student, what sort of things do you have to pay for once you're in?</p>
<p>pay for? well, there's tuition (of course), room and board for at least 2yrs, books (mine were about $500, but that was bec i bought them the day before classes started and all the used books were gone! - the first thing you should do on campus is buy your books!)
after that, it really depends on what you want to do.
going to Safeway for milk and cereal.
Outdoor program (kayak trips, rental gear, etc).
bookstore for sweatshirts, pens, etc.
some art / music lessons have a fee, along with some sports classes like snowboarding, rock climbing, etc.
study abroad.
fundraising events for sorority/frats that are raising money for charity (like, this weekend was the Mr. Whitman contest (its like a Ms America contest with upperclassmen guys) - cost 5 dollars, but worth it bec. my hilarious RA was in it) there's "suggested donations" at things like the haunted house on Halloween, concerts, etc (all the money goes to relief aid to Katrina or whatever pressing issue of the day)
i have used very little "hard cash" while i have been here. we have student id cards that we swipe at the bookstore, the outdoor shop, the library cafe, dinning halls, etc, so you dont need to carry around money.
if you don't want to spend money, you dont have to. and there lots of free events, like lectures, activities board things (like they had a hypnotist come at 11 pm at the campus center - its was really fun). I am unsure what theater events cost money, but I know the improv shows are free (I think most shows are free to students)
LAUNDRY IS FREE! its the best thing ever.
I visited a lot of campuses all over the country, and I think we dont have a very expensive campus compared to others that I visited where movies cost $5 (here, they are free to check out of the library and they have free theater showings), laundry cost $1, etc.
theres also travel to and from home - which is a pain bec lets face it, walla walla is in the middle of nowhere and hard to get to!</p>
<p>Haha...thanks. My dream school is Dartmouth, mainly because of its close proximity to the mountains and lakes and forests, and the reputed beauty of the campus and overall happiness of the students. Dartmouth kids are notoriously fanatic, although it seems Whitman students are equally as content. In fact, the more I hear about Whitman, the more I really like it. I'm not a prestige-whore, especially not as an undergrad (I'd like to enjoy life before throwing myself into the lion's den trying to get into Yale law school), and overall comfort matters a whole lot more to me than name. The milder weather is also a really nice draw. I'm from California, the land of annoyingly green winters (you can relate, lol), so I CRAVE snow, but living over half my year bundled in fifteen layers of clothes is something I might not be able to get used to =]</p>
<p>What would you say the overall quality of life is like at Whitman? The rankings at princetonreview, #2 Happiest Students, #2 School Runs Like Butter, #15 Best Overall Undergrad Experience, #5 Best Quality of Life, and #10 Dorms Like Palaces---is that true BTW?---is incredibly positive, so I'm suprised that it's not more well known.</p>
<p>talking about green winters - we have fabulous fall leaves here - they are gorgeous!! (i know you probably are referring to snow, which, was a concern for me too when applying - i really want snow, and hopefully we will get some after xmas break, but normally the snow happens here during winter break) (but it was 33 degrees last night, but the sky was clear, so alas no snow, but we sure gets cold). And I wanted to go to Carleton too (the girl from MN says I would have died if I think 33 deg. is cold, -she was talking about throwing water out the door and it freezing mid air). Grinnell (which I was this close ( ) to going to) would have been similarly cold. I think the milder weather was a good choice, now that I am experiencing some cold weather.
I also want to go to Yale for grad school (but for molecular biology) - have the small private LAC undergrad and then the ivy grad is my plan (well see if it works out that way). Quality of life is high. I would say we are happy, runs well, etc etc. Whitmans rankings though, are hindered by the fact that we are on the west coast - old, well established east coast schools get all the prestige - if Whitman was on the east coast, I think it would be incredibly selective (even though it is already hard to get into) and much more prestigious. Good luck was Dartmouth - I hope you get in! - but keep Whitman on your radar. :)</p>
<p>I was wondering if you could give me some advice. I loved whitman when I visited, and I was amazed by how much fun stuff goes on around the campus. I was ready to apply ED, but I visited a friend at Santa Clara and fell in love with it as well. My stats (3.25, good grade trend and tough classes, 2060 SAT, 3 years of ASB, 6 weeks volunteering at a local summer camp, MUN award) have led me to believe that I would be accepted ED but RD would be a reach. I really want to go to Whitman, but I can't choose between the schools. I feel like I basically have to decide by January 1st. Any advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>If you fell in love with two schools, don't do ED. My room mate applied ED bec. she loved (and still loves) whitman so much, but then realized that whitman doesnt have the major that she wants (theater production - we have a GREAT theater dept, (top 10 in country), but no production major bec whitman is a "thinking' school, you learn to analyze, crit think, etc, not a trade school where you learn business skills (sort of pretenious, snobby setup i realize (students are pretty down to earth though); you're expected to go to grad school). so anyway, ED is a big decision in my view if you are unsure.</p>
<p>good advice. i think ill take it. i am just nervous that i will regret passing up the opportunity to go to such a great school. i am thinking it is a reach either way though.
i have one more question. i keep hearing that whitman is a very difficult school. i am in a position where i do not have much homework, even though i am taking a pretty solid schedule. i am definitely up for working harder in college, but i am nervous that the 8 hours of studying per day will hit me liek a ton of bricks. advice?</p>
<p>well, yes, i have many hours of homework a night and i work a lot, but it really depends on the classes you take, my rmmate is not taking as hw intensive classes and actually complains of it not being hard enough - but i think it really depends on the prof - some assign tons of reading, some not as much, but all (well, most) classes will have hw. also, sports teams, intramurals, clubs, lectures, etc take up time and must be factored in as well... but if you're not prepared to work hard, whitman may not be the place...
And i don't think you are "giving up an opportunity to go to a great school" by not applying ed, bec you can still get in regular decision - show lots of interest in Whitman - interview, visit campus, go to info sessions - the whole spiel... good luck with your app.</p>
<p>Question: PC or Powerbook?</p>
<p>LAC operon: I have some questions about dorms and stuff...</p>
<p>I'm trying to find out the differences between Anderson and Jewett, mostly in terms of culture. Any info would be great. I have a sophomore friend who loved Anderson and wants me to go there, but on a visit I was told that Jewett is usually more lively, seeing as it's closer to the frats. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Also comparisons between all four dorms that house freshmen would be helpful. My daughter (who was just admitted early decision) is trying to fill out her housing preference form and is caught between Jewitt and Lyman/Prentis. - Thanks.</p>
<p>Same here, my D is leaning towards Lyman, but would love more info.</p>
<p>My D has chosen Lyman. She stayed there for her overnight visit and really liked the fact that kids from multiple classes live there, it's not just freshmen. I think it's a little calmer than the freshman dorms.</p>
<p>Do they have any substance free dorms? And do you think it makes any difference?</p>
<p>I live in Lyman, and when I submitted my housing forms, I knew nothing about the stigma against lyman - it's viewed as the dorm for quiet, artsy, theater nerds. Personally, I love Lyman bec of the two room doubles (so I have my own room, and my roommate has her own room), the fact that it is quieter -but a lot less regulated than the all freshman dorms - our bathrooms don't have key codes, quiet hours don't need to be enforced, basically, there's not very many rules. Jewett is probably the best bet for most freshman - if you want the typical rowdy, partying freshman experience, live in jewett - you live with all freshmen - so you meet a lot of your class (lyman is only about half freshmen, but we meet great upper classmen) - be warned: there is definite substance abuse in jewett: lots of drinking (not everyone drinks, but there is a much stronger drinking culture in jewett as opposed to Lyman) There are no substance free dorms for freshman. In jewett, there are four floors: first floor is called the pitt bec its like the basement, all girls. Second floor and third floor have wings that are either all boys or all girls (but there are girls and boys on the same floor) fourth floor is completely co-ed. To people that live in the lyman/jewett area, Anderson feels like its really far away - its the most far away all freshman dorm from the academic buildings and ankey field (the heart of campus) (I dont know a lot of Anderson people bec I have no reason to walk all the way across campus to go over there when its 16 degrees out (we have had beautiful crystalline frost lately)) Prentiss is all girls - please please please, consider carefully before writing Prentiss down on you housing form - make sure you are prepared to live with ALL girls (and sorority girls too - the sororities are housed in Prentiss too), some people do very well living with all girls, but other people, once they begin to live there, realize that they wish they lived in jewett or Anderson so they could have had some boys around. But its also important to note that Prentiss is one of the prettiest dorms in all of Whitman (I think lymans outside appearance is slightly better), and the inside of Prentiss is beautiful with a grand piano (lyman has a regular piano that is played all the time by residences -its quite lovely to come home to live classical music - some people also play the violin next to the piano). Prentisss inside is very stately and grand in their lobby/sitting room area, and they have air conditioning in their rooms (the only dorm with AC) and some rooms are the two room doubles like lyman has. Overall, Prentiss is probably the nicest dorm physically, but you are living with all girls.
so in recap:
Lyman: quirker than most dorms: all grades, 2 rm doubles, nerdy/ artsy but with some really cool people too :) (I am biased): we have created a lyman first yr family
Jewett: your typical freshman experience with all first yrs (note: drinking)
Anderson: like jewett in many respects, viewed as far away from academic buildings/ankey (but mind that Whitmans campus is so small that far away means 5 minutes extra walk)
Prentiss: beautiful dorm, but ALL girls
I hope this long winded answer helps</p>
<p>pc - i have an hp and i love it, but the school accomodates for both and i have friends with macs and pcs (i only say pc bec i am a pc person, but if you have macs at home, bring a mac)</p>
<p>Thanks. My daughter decided to put Anderson down as her 1st choice, mostly because she wanted a freshmen dorm that was co-ed. We will now wait and see.</p>
<p>Thanks LAC operon!</p>