Best LAC match for her?

College Search & Selection
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<p>I know it has been mentioned already, but I’d just like to make another plug for my school—Whitman College. Admissions-wise, Whitman looks like a good match for your D. With a few bonus points for a challenging courseload, your D’s 3.7 is right around the average for last year’s class (3.8). In addition, the median ACT score for this year’s admitted class is 31. Also, Whitman places a great amount on emphasis on writing ability; they ask for a graded paper as well as their own application essay and carefully scrutinize both, which should be to your D’s advantage. Commitment to community service and other extracurriculars can only help her case. From my own experience, I had a similar courseload/GPA, a slightly higher SAT score, and about the same levels of ECs/outside involvment, and I was accepted with a very generous scholarship.</p>

<p>As far as majors go, Whitman has strong departments in all of your D’s areas of interest. The Classics department is small—with only 2 professors—but I’ve heard only rave reviews. The Asian Studies major consists of an Intro to Asian Studies class and other various classes taken out of other departments, chosen of course with the aid of an academic advisor and according to the student’s interest. I don’t know if other programs require this, but the Asian Studies major at Whitman requires at least 2 years in an Asian language (with a total 4 levels of Chinese offered). This way she can integrate her interests in Asia without having to make her own major. (For more info, look here: [Asian</a> Studies](<a href=“http://www.whitman.edu/whitman/index.cfm?objectId=76CCE297-B1B6-6F80-BE627D4F85E16D4D]Asian”>http://www.whitman.edu/whitman/index.cfm?objectId=76CCE297-B1B6-6F80-BE627D4F85E16D4D)) In addition, with 2 years of Chinese over the 200-level, your D can attain a minor in Chinese, though a major is not yet offered. Whitman also has a strong Biology program. From what I understand, Whitman has good advising/placement for those who want to go on to med school. Also, Whitman offers a unique Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology (BBMB) major if your D is interested. Studying abroad for science majors is more difficult, but if your D wants to study in China again, Whitman offers a program over the summer as well as traditional programs during the year.</p>

<p>If she has any outdoorsy/athletic urges, I feel like Whitman could be a good fit. The Outdoor Program sponsors trips almost every weekend to various locales in the area for skiing, hiking, kayaking etc, They also rent equipment at pretty inexpensive rates to students. A large majority of the student population participates in intramural sports as well—something in the neighborhood of 70-80%–though for the most part these are extremely informal. From my own experience,everyone here has certain “nerdy” characteristics in that they are for the most part intelligent and enjoy intellectual discussion, but they also have different things that they are passionate about; there are many “brands” of nerd here, if you will. While a good portion of students party on weekends, there are plenty who do not and find that there are many other fun things to do. Whitman is really good about having various speakers, bands, and movie screenings on campus, since Walla Walla, while a nice town, has relatively few activities for college students. The campus leans left politically, but people are generally accepting of others’ religious practices. I am not familiar with a specific Catholic club on campus, but I also haven’t really looked into the subject, and she could easily start one if one doesn’t already exist. On the whole, I feel like Whitman students are happy (rated #1 happiest by Princeton Review recently), healthy, involved people. We are committed to our studies, but we also know how to have fun. My courseload this past semester has been challenging but definitely manageable, and I feel like it would the same way for your D.</p>

<p>In terms of financial aid, Whitman has devoted a larger amount and an even larger portion of its budget for future years to helping students afford its not-insubstantial pricetag. 60k is definitely a very average income for Whitman applicants, so I feel like you’re in a good position to receive need-based aid, as well as perhaps a scholarship depending on if they consider you regionally diverse. In my case, I ended up paying less for Whitman than I would have at a UC, which also offered me aid.</p>

<p>In conclusion, I don’t think it could hurt for you and your D to take a look at Whitman. It’s a good match admissions-wise as well as in terms of academic strengths. In addition, it sounds like she would fit right in socially. Financial aid is also fairly likely to come through for you guys, though that is harder to say. I encourage your D to at least apply; good things could happen for her!</p>

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<p>SeniorSlacker, thanks for your plug for Whitman. Just as my daughter has a Southern prejudice, her mother has not been too enthusiastic about schools in the Northwest region. Since her mother grew up in Oregon, I’m not entirely sure why. (Just kidding—but similar to the thread on stupidest reasons why a kid won’t look at a particular college, maybe we need a thread on why a parent won’t look at a particular school). Anyway, Whitman is still under consideration. We just haven’t looked into it enough yet. My daughter isn’t the outdoorsy type, but on the other hand, she really hasn’t had much opportunity or exposure to those types of pursuits. She’s not reluctant to try new things, though she’s not ever shown much interest in outdoor activities. (She also wouldn’t identify as an athletic-type though I think her many years of dance and her karate counts.) She hasn’t ever visited the Northwest, but may really like the area as I did on my several visits. I think if Whitman interested her, it would be based on reasons other than the outdoor opportunities. Given that she’s not the outdoorsy type, how well would she fit in at a place like Whitman?</p>

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<p>When I read the OP, I almost thought it was something I posted since my daughter has almost exactly the same background as your daughter. Her GPA is slightly higher but not as many honors or AP classes. I can comment on some of the schools recommended on this thread:</p>

<p>St. Olaf-I absolutely love this school for my daughter. Has a tremendous science program, great academics and have some strong offerings in the Arts. It is a well balanced school and has the nicest kids we have seen on any campus. The only issue for us is distance, we live in Connecticut. </p>

<p>Franklin & Marshall-This is my daughters favorite so far and also has a good Arts department. It is smaller, about 2000 students on a smaller campus but it creates a nice community. It has a very strong language program. They do not require SAT or ACT.</p>

<p>Furman-This is the most beautiful campus I have ever seen. They have an outstanding Psychology program. The academics here are very tough and admissions is tough but they are trying to recruit more out of state kids so you may have a shot. My daughter is attending their Summer Scholars program in July. Some of the kids are pretty preppy and can come across as elite but they really stand out. It is a Christian school so you also have a huge number of very nice kids. </p>

<p>Macalester- It is an amazing school and highly ranked nationally. They also send a ton of kids on for grad school and advanced degrees. It might be a little too independent for me, I am a little more old fashioned and conservative. If my daughter applied and was accepted there, though, I would have to really consider the school, it is that good. </p>

<p>With the possible exception of Macalester, which might be a reach, I think your daughter has an excellent shot at the other schools listed. Good luck with the search and please keep us up to date with your progress!</p>

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<p>BobbyCT, thanks for the additional impressions of those schools. All of them are on her current working list, except possibly Furman as I noted in a previous post. Nonetheless, Furman’s academics are very good and the students to whom I spoke recently noted that it’s making a real effort to recruit outside their region. Please keep us informed about how your daughter likes it after she attends the Summer Scholars program.</p>

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<p>As someone who wouldn’t self-identify as athletic or outdoorsy, I can definitely relate to your D’s situation, zapfino. In fact some of the statistics I mentioned earlier actually worried me upon my arrival at Whitman. However, I found my fears to be wholly unfounded. While OP trips are popular among some students, they arecompletely voluntary and a good segment of the school never goes on a trip. Additionally, IM sports are extremely informal and everyone is encouraged to join regardless of skill level. This goes for OP trips as well. I think of both as another way to meet other people on campus rather than any sort of competition or strenuous exercise. As a sidenote, I know that Whitman has a dance team and active taekwondo and aikido clubs (though I’m not sure about karate) that your D might be interested in.</p>

<p>From my time on campus, I’ve found that there are lots of other, non-sporty things to do on campus as well. In addition to the things I’ve already mentioned, there is a Writers’ Colony (for creative writing) and Artists’ Colony every week at the Writing House and Fine Arts House respectively where students get together and explore their creative sides. Other houses in the Interest House Community and student-run clubs also put on various events throughout the semester , ranging from themed meals, foreign movie nights, faculty panels, and dances. Of course, there is also the option of partying at frat houses almost every weekend. The point being that there are tons of things to do even if you aren’t into sports or the outdoors. The way I see it, on a nice day some people like to throw a frisbee around on the field whereas I prefer to simply lay in the sun and chat. Most importantly, I’ve never felt ostracized or out-of-place for wanting to do so, and I have a great group of friends who is more than willing to join me.</p>

<p>I hope I don’t sound overly salesman-like or overzealous. Your D doesn’t sound too different from me when I applied to colleges, so I hope that you guys will at least give Whitman a look. I’m really, really love my school, and I feel like it could turn out to be a good fit for your D as well.</p>

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<p>As I mentioned in a previous post, my daughter finished her junior year with a 4.0 for the year. </p>

<p>Her overall unweighted GPA is now 3.818. (Her school substituted an “A” in Math Analysis in their GPA calculation in place of a “C” in a Pre-Calc class at her previous school. The class in the previous school was only a semester-length course as they were on a block schedule. For various reasons, she didn’t do well in it and her current school essentially let her repeat it so she’d be better prepared for Calculus next year. Her “C” from sophomore year is still listed on her transcript, of course.) (Her current school does not use weighted GPAs).</p>

<p>Her class rank is now 75/376. (Previously, I had indicated 100/450. The rank of 100 was correct, but the number of students in her class at 450 was incorrect. She was new to her current school and didn’t have the correct information on class size for some reason.)</p>

<p>Previous ACT=30</p>

<p>Most recent SAT: CR=700, MATH=590, Writing=740 (She’s going to take the SAT and ACT again in the fall)
SAT Subject Tests: Literature=700; US History=700; Latin=630 (not sure if she will retake any subject tests)</p>

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<p>I haven’t seen Oberlin mentioned as a possiblility. They have great East Asian Studies.</p>

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<p>I believe it was mentioned at least once much earlier in the thread. It’s one of the schools she’s considered—not ruled in yet, but not ruled out, either.</p>

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<p>I haven’t read all the replies, so please forgive any overlaps. Some colleges to consider are Franklin and Marshall (PA), Dickinson (PA), College of Wooster (OH), Mt. Holyoke College (MA), Rhodes (TN) and Davidson (NC).</p>

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<p>OLD OLD thread. Student likely already graduated. </p>

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<p>Whoops! Newbie mistake. :"> </p>