<p>I have visited Whitman on an overnight and I've had an interview. I really really love it. Help chance me for admissions and financial aid!</p>
<p>GPA: 3.89 UW 4.09 W
ACT: 30 (Re taking one last time but I doubt it will go up...)
Rank: 17 out of 333 I believe? I am most likely going up at the end of the semester at the end of january also.
Female from Oregon
Competitive Public School
Alternative senior year with a science class at Reed, 3 APs, band, and elementary teaching helper
Potential major: Chem, BBMB, geo, psychology, environmental studies (Yes I know this is why I want a LAC lol)
EC: Two varsity spots, service teaching environmental science a week a semester, interning at a kids arts camp, study abroad for a month, my art has been in galleries, leading drum lines at my school. I would say the list is pretty extensive</p>
<p>What do you think my chances are for admission? To go to Whitman, my family is most likely not going to pay more than 20k a year. How difficult is it to get need based aid? What they told me in admissions is basically the bottom 5-10% of applicants get gapped. Does that mean the rest get full need met? This is what was implied basically. Anyone have experience with their NEED aid?</p>
<p>I am thinking about applying ED but I think I would need to learn more about the financial situation to know if this is possible. Does anyone have percentages for who is accepted ED vs. RD and also if the test score ranges are different? A chance for both RD and ED would be nice. As in, how much would it improve my chances?</p>
<p>This says the overall info. I was told test scores don’t matter that much for Whitman from two different people in admissions. Is this true? I am hoping a 30 won’t hurt me.</p>
<p>As for aid, what has everyone experienced? I am guessing my family’s income is 40-60k. Will the net price calculator actually be accurate?</p>
<p>Your real problem, unfortunately, might be money. I don’t think Whitman’s admissions are need blind. I also don’t know your family’s finances, but it’s tough to see how you could pay $20k a year on an income of $40 to $60k. You need to have a frank talk with your parents about what your family can realistically pay. Having said that, and as I’ve said elsewhere, my two sons both got very competitive FA offers from Whitman. My younger son attends, and and although the financing is not easy for us, Whitman did make it possible, which is the most anyone can hope for. Good luck!</p>
<p>It shows that Whitman accepts 68% of ED applicants and the average need-based financial aid package is $26,887. It also shows that GPA and essays are Very Important and test scores are Important, indicating test scores carry less weight for admission.</p>
<p>Early Decision is binding unless you are applying for need-based aid and they do not meet your need. Here is the exact wording: " Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment"</p>
<p>If you feel strongly about attending Whitman then it seems applying ED II will give you a boost and if the financial aid offer is insufficient you will be free to go on to other options. Good luck!</p>
<p>Our income is about half what it was last year. My parents have saved a lot and my grandpa has contributed a considerable sum. Ideally, I would get more aid than paying 20k a year. The way my parents see it, this is what the state U costs and they would have to pay this anyone. My sister is also in school, so I’m thinking this cuts in half any estimate for a college. When I asked admissions about their need policy, they said it only comes in to play for students accepted at the bottom of the pack and the rest would have their need met. Meaning if I am a strong candidate, I will get the money they think I need.</p>
<p>“Meaning if I am a strong candidate, I will get the money they think I need.” Yes, I’d interpret that conversation the same way you have. Unfortunately, the admissions offices don’t make any commitments before they receive the applications, but you do look like a strong candidate. ED seems to give applicants a bit of a boost (18% or so), but we have no way of predicting any of the outcome. I can’t see a downside to applying ED if Whitman is your first choice, and you won’t be bound to attending if they don’t meet your need. You might get a better financial aid package by applying ED because they still have plenty of money to give and they want their yield numbers to be good. Of course, I’m guessing and applying to college is a gamble, that’s why everybody needs to have backup plans.</p>
<p>I think you should do whatever you feel comfortable doing, and I think you have a good chance of being accepted without being at the bottom of the pack. Be sure you have some safeties lined up, as well as matches and reaches, and then just see what happens; that’s how we’ve all had to do it, and yes, it is nerve wracking.</p>
<p>No, I don’t see “low match” as being the case either. We’re all assuming that your essay will be good, be sure it is. You’ve got a very good GPA and class rank, and a respectable but not stellar ACT score. Your ECs seem strong, but again not stellar (Were you student class president, have you started a non-profit, how many art awards have you received?). And you need a lot of financial aid. I’m being a bit blunt here because I’ve seen so many kids get wildly optimistic and have their hopes dashed. I’ve been following College Confidential for quite a while and went through the whole process with my son, from what I’ve observed the more selective the school, the more important the test scores and EC’s become. The common application has resulted in each school getting scores of applications from qualified students, there’s no way they can all get in. High financial need can also be a deal breaker at many highly ranked but not tippy-top schools, unless you’re a top applicant or bring some much needed diversity. You have the disadvantage of being a white female, most college applications come from white females, so no diversity boost there. I think you can consider Whitman a match.</p>
<p>After having said all that, I do think you should apply to a broad spectrum of schools, but realize that anything can happen: you may be rejected from “match” schools and get into a “reach”; you may get into that dream school and not be able to afford to attend; you may get a HUGE merit aid offer from a school way down on your list. So make sure that you are applying to schools you really like and would be willing to attend, even the safeties, because ANYTHING can happen.</p>
<p>When we were researching colleges there was a little paragraph about Whitman in Princeton Review that really caught my attention. It’s titled The Inside Word: </p>
<p>“Whitman’s Admissions committee is to be applauded; any admissions process that emphasizes essays and extracurriculars over the SAT has truly gotten it right. The college cares much more about who you are and what you have to offer if you enroll than it does about what your numbers will do for the freshman academic profile. Whitman is a mega-sleeper. Educators all over the country know it as an excellent institution, and the college’s alums support it at one of the highest rates of giving at any college in the nation. Students seeking a top-quality liberal arts college owe it to themselves to take a look.”</p>
<p>I’ve received a lot of athletic awards, maybe 5 excluding brig a captain. For art around the same. I am helping form an organization right now. I think they are quite strong as well as diverse (art,music, sports, service)</p>
<p>thirrdplanet, you’ve obviously worked hard in high school and are a good candidate for selective schools, I certainly didn’t mean to imply that you aren’t. I was just trying to convince you to cover all the bases so you have lots of options. I look forward to hearing the outcome of all your hard work.</p>
<p>Thank you. I am trying to stay realistic as well. I have applied to schools that are much easier to get in to, and a few harder ones, to cover all my bases. Whitman is truly amazing though and I would love to go there.</p>
<p>Bopambo summed it up nicely, and you added some details about your EC’s - you seem like a very likely candidate for admission. The admissions committee at Whitman seem to do a really good job of finding strong students who are also a good fit, and the fact that you seem to be both makes me think you’ll get in. D is a senior this year, and has loved her experience at Whitman so much she’s sad when she thinks about graduation. You asked about aid, and although it’s different for everyone, Whitman has been generous above and beyond our expectations with grants and scholarships, actually increasing their contribution each year. We are very fond of this school for so many reasons!</p>
<p>I think finance is going to matter. I am international student from Nepal and I love to attend Whitman. I applied previous year too. But could not make due to financial aid. I had got just 1650 in SAT and got Waitlisted. If you have strong application and finance, then you have higher chance. Also my interview was excellent. If possible, give interview too. Test scores are not only factor to accept or deny.</p>