<p>This thread is so helpful!
Can you give us a rundown on what the best options are for freshman re. dorm choices?
Also, any information on student jobs, on campus or in Walla Walla?
Bring your own printer?
Professors or classes to avoid, especially harsh graders?</p>
<p>3-2 Engineering:</p>
<p>If you haven’t seen it already, here’s the website for the combined plan. </p>
<p>[Combined</a> Plans- Whitman College](<a href=“http://www.whitman.edu/academics/catalog/combined-plans]Combined”>http://www.whitman.edu/academics/catalog/combined-plans)</p>
<p>There is a similar (if not exactly the same) section in the course catalog. The first thing you’ll want to do when you’re figuring out you’re classes is talk to Mark Beck. He is the 3-2 advisor, and he’ll help you out with choosing classes, thinking about where you want to go to for 3-2, etc. If you’re interested in the physics/engineering track, your course load for the first year will probably look like Encounters, Introductory Physics, whatever math you need, and some distribution requirements. </p>
<p>The thing that one needs to be aware of is totally understanding the 3-2 requirements and getting them done early. While you would expect that the requirements are just science things, some of the 3-2 schools require things like two semesters of econ, an English class, or a 300-level humanities course. You can take these courses to fulfill your distribution, so you might as well! I do have a friend that started the 3-2 track in her sophomore year (she took intro physics this year) who is probably going to make it, and it worked out mainly because she’s already taken a 300-level humanities class, a requirement for Washington University option, and she has finished her distribution requirements (which you still have to do all of, in 3 years).</p>
<p>Once you are in the program, if you finish the requirements and keep your GPA at the recommended level, you have a good chance of being accepted. The program description says, “Even with a recommendation from the 3-2 program adviser, admission to some of the affiliated institutions is not guaranteed. Under normal circumstances, to secure a recommendation from the 3-2 program adviser at Whitman and to be admitted to any of the five affiliated programs, students will need cumulative and mathematics-science grade-point averages of at least 3.0.” As far as I’ve heard, if you do everything it suggests, you’ll get in. Except maybe Cal-Tech. But also no one has gone there for like ten years or something like that.</p>
<p>My cautions about 3-2:
I’m considering engineering for a career, but I decided not to do 3-2 for a few reasons.</p>
<p>1) I’m not sure! I feel like being a physics major at Whitman gives me the freedom to explore different topics in physics. I’m doing a research program for engineering this summer to see how I like that side of things. But I wasn’t so gung-ho about packing up and leaving to commit to a major I might not even like when I get there. </p>
<p>2) You can go to graduate school in engineering with a physics degree. I either want to do a Ph.D. in physics or a master’s in engineering, and through some internet research and discussions with admissions officers, I’ve found that engineering master’s programs do indeed accept physics majors. You may have to take a few classes to catch up, but how I see it, it’s less time and money in the long run. If I go to my master’s program and do a semester playing catch up, perhaps on some sort of scholarship, fellowship, or grant, it’s going to cost me less money than shelling out $50,000 a year at Columbia for two years, and THEN going to graduate school. That being said, I think the 3-2 option would be good for someone who is interested in working with a bachelor’s degree with engineering, and not immediately going to graduate school.</p>
<p>3) The freedom to take the liberal arts classes I want at Whitman. I don’t really care about econ or english, and I wanted to fill my distribution with classes I liked.</p>
<p>4) Some people end up deciding not to go. Sometimes, students get to the end of their junior year and realize they love Whitman and don’t want to leave their friends. So they stay and graduate as a physics/math/whatever major. This is totally fine, as long as you have your major requirements under control.</p>
<p>Residence Halls:
Pick one that fits your personality! Here are some pros and cons:</p>
<p>Jewett:
Pros:
- Everyone is really social. Most people leave their doors open, say hi, hang out with their section. A lot of love happening.
- Dining hall. Right there. Yes.
- Location is pretty good, right next to Ankeny.
- COUCH BEDS.</p>
<p>Cons (I’ve listed the most for this one solely because I lived here and so I actually know):
- A ton of people go Greek, so if that’s not your thing, you might feel a little lonely at some point when everyone is rushing.
- Smallest rooms of all campus. But they are very well-laid-out rooms at least.
- If your room faces the frats, it can be loud at times.
- Not a ton of privacy, since you have a small room and people are so friendly and what not. You’ll say hi to at least 3 people on your way to the shower in your towel.</p>
<p>Lyman:
Pros:
- Quieter atmosphere. Lyman is one of the “nerdier” dorms; I have definitely played Dungeons and Dragons in the basements, no judgement.
- Rooms are doubles, so you get your own room but also a roommate. Super good set-up.
- Also has a dining hall.
- Good location next to Ankeny.</p>
<p>Cons:
- I’ve heard that people aren’t as outgoing, so it might be a little harder to make friends. I know people who’ve both made really good friends in Lyman and ended up just coming over to Jewett and hanging out all the time.
- No couch beds, lame. :)</p>
<p>North:
Pros:
- Bigger rooms, less people to a bathroom (I think some people might’ve even had their own bathroom).
- I’ve heard there can be a good community here, specifically a “nerdier” one. Apparently seclusion from the rest of campus can be a good bonding experience.
- Closer to off-campus living, except you still have to be on the meal plan.
- There’s cool events here sometimes, like Haunted Hospital at Halloween and Humans vs. Zombies missions.</p>
<p>Cons:
- A couple blocks from campus-- it sucks to walk to the Jewett dining hall when it’s the middle of winter.
- The it’s-an-old-hospital-thing still kinda creeps me out. </p>
<p>Anderson:
Pros:
- Social like Jewett, but less people go Greek.
- Bigger rooms.
- Close to the Prentiss dining hall and Reid.</p>
<p>Cons:
I actually can’t really think of any… I never went over to Anderson much. I think there might be some noise issues from the Prentiss sororities.</p>
<p>Prentiss:
Pros:
- Dining hall.
- I hear the girls in the freshmen sections bond really well.
- Air conditioning oh my god.
- No boys = less messy (sorry but it’s true).</p>
<p>Cons:
- All girls… too much estrogen for me. I guess this could be a pro though, too.
- Possible noise from sororities. </p>
<p>Honestly, all the dorms are great. I didn’t even put Jewett on my preference list, but I ended up there. It was a great experience and I met a ton of wonderful people. You really can’t go wrong, wherever you end up.</p>
<p>CJaneRead–</p>
<p>1) Don’t bring a printer. You have $50 of free printing, and I challenge you to use even half of it. It’s pretty easy to print from your laptop to library or academic building printers once you have it set up.</p>
<p>2) Student job are plentiful. The Student Engagement Center can help you find things on campus or in town. There are positions in the library, with security, in the dining hall, in Reid, as a tutor or lab TA, cleaning things for labs, at the gym, as an RA or SA, in the Outdoor Program, etc. A lot of people also work at restaurants in town, or at coffee shops. It’s easier to get an on-campus job if you have work-study. Any specific questions about this?</p>
<p>3) I wouldn’t say that there are any terrible professors, at least that I’ve had. I’ve loved classes I’ve taken in anthropology and french. My encounters professor, Professor Schmitz, was really hard, but he was a super smart guy and had a lot of good things to say. I didn’t like encounters, but that was more to do with the material than his presentation. It was hard though. I’ve also had linear algebra with Professor Guichard, and I absolutely hated every minute of it. But I hear that when he teaches Calculus classes or Intro to Higher, it is wonderful. Kind of hit and miss. I would recommend posting on Whitman forums on Facebook or wherever to talk to people who have taken classes in specific departments, since I can’t attest to most academic departments. On the whole though, I’ve felt that my professors have been awesome, truly care about their students, and are reasonable about their expectations.</p>
<p>Oh, and meal plan! [Charges-</a> Whitman College](<a href=“http://www.whitman.edu/academics/catalog/charges]Charges-”>http://www.whitman.edu/academics/catalog/charges)</p>
<p>Choose Plan B if you are a non-athlete. You want the extra flex. Reid is SO tasty. The flex will roll over from fall to spring, but NOT from one year to another, so make sure to use up all your flex by the end of the year (so not hard).
Choose Plan A if you’re a varsity athlete. There are more flex dollars, so you can eat in Reid if you miss dining hall hours because of practice.</p>
<p>There’s also a North plan, I see… I haven’t heard much about it, but I assume that could be good if you live in North and want to cook sometimes and not make the trek to the dining halls.</p>
<ol>
<li>Whitman seems like an athletic place. Would a kid who is not sporty fit in here?</li>
<li>Is there a segment into the visual arts? In other words, my kid is more arty than sporty.</li>
<li>Do students sit around discussing the meaning of life (not literally, but having philosophical conversations)?</li>
</ol>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yes, this is my concern. Not work study, but definitely will be needing some cash. Do work study students get first crack at the on-campus jobs? What would be the best strategy for landing a job right at the beginning of the semester?</p>
<p>CJane, I’ll jump in on this because my son learned what NOT to do when looking for an on-campus job. DO NOT wait until the job fair held during the first week of school to look at jobs, and then take the application away to ponder for a few days. DO BE PROACTIVE, even before you get to campus. This is the site to see jobs before you get to school: [Student</a> Job Listing](<a href=“http://www.whitman.edu/content/career_internships/student-jobs/on-campus]Student”>http://www.whitman.edu/content/career_internships/student-jobs/on-campus)</p>
<p>Looking now, most jobs aren’t “OPEN”, but that will change in August as the fist day of classes nears. The searching students should go through and read all the pertinent info, including whether you can email the contact person before you get to campus. Some say yes, some say no. If yes, do it. If no, be prepared to sit down and fill out the job application and turn it in at the fair. The great jobs go fast and, yes, from what I understand priority is given to work/study recipients, but I really don’t have the particulars about that. A quick email to the Student Engagement Center will get you a complete answer: <a href=“mailto:SEC_info@whitman.edu”>SEC_info@whitman.edu</a></p>
<p>Redpoint, I assure you that there are plenty of artsy/non-athletes at Whitman. And even the sporty kids are plenty intellectual, S has reported long late night philosophical discussions in the frat house. And some of the non-athletic types end up loving intramural sports because they’re just plain fun. College is a time to experiment and try new things, and I think Whitties feel very free to do that.</p>
<p>I agree with the above commenters.</p>
<p>As far as jobs go, yes, it is a little harder to get a job if you’re not on work-study. But you’ll definitely be able to find something if you’re proactive about it. I have a friend who is not on work study but works about 18 hours a week on-campus because she talked to her employer about how she needed the job and why, and he understood. But yes, it is VERY important to get on it early. I would start looking now, as bopambo suggested, because current students are applying for next fall’s jobs right now. That was a very accurate response, bopambo.</p>
<p>Redpoint-- a kid who is not sporty would definitely fit in here! While Whitman boasts a ton of people in intramural sports, this isn’t to say that athleticism is the defining characteristic of whitties. I feel like most people also participate in some sort of artsy venture, whether that means slam poetry, playing in a musical ensemble, doing theater, or doing whatever their type of art is. And there is great support here for Whitman’s musical ensembles, student bands, and groups of artists who get together for projects (check out Cryptid! <a href=“http://whitmanpioneer.com/arts/2013/02/14/cryptid-apparel/[/url]”>http://whitmanpioneer.com/arts/2013/02/14/cryptid-apparel/</a>) </p>
<p>I remember in my freshman year, sometimes we would hang out in someone’s room on Friday night, and our violinist friend would play us whatever piece he was working on at that time. And yes, this is, at times, accompanied by philosophical discussions that go late into the night. Whitties are smart and have a broad range of interests. We’re not just sitting around jonesin’ for the next baseball game. An artsy person would fit in GREAT here.</p>
<p>I loved the link about Cryptid! Thanks.</p>
<p>Is the biology program more focused on cell/molecular or organismal/systems? My daughter is thinking about some form of field biology, perhaps coupled with science communications - would Whitman biology be a good foundation for her?</p>
<p>Also, I assume as a LAC there would be less emphasis on massive multiple choice exams than on writing and projects - is that correct, even in the sciences? She’s a good student but has always struggled with MC tests while excelling at written/verbal work. Rigor isn’t a problem but tons of memorizing isn’t her best skill. I’d like to help her find a place where she can be successful…</p>
<p>Thanks so much for taking the time to share your knowledge!</p>
<p>Disclaimer: not a bio major, nor have I ever taken a bio class here. But here’s what I know.</p>
<p>Biology is popular at Whitman. Like, really popular. I’ve heard that, usually, there are about 40 students per year (so about 10% of a typical class) who major in some form of biology. In my year, there are 60 people. I would assume this large number of bio majors demonstrates the strength of the program, and, if the popularity trend continues, Whitman will most likely take on more professors to accommodate the number of students. Bigger department? Awesome!</p>
<p>Out of the biology majors I know, some are pure Bio, some are Bio-Environmental Science combos, and many are BBMB, which stands for Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology. Other combinations are possible, but these are the most common. It seems like most pre-med people go for BBMB, and I believe Whitman has a high success rate at getting people into med school. As far as other fields of Bio go, the course catalog breaks down the different types of classes for different focuses (Next year’s catalog: <a href=“http://www.whitman.edu/Documents/Offices/Registrar/2013-2014%20Catalog(0).pdf[/url]”>http://www.whitman.edu/Documents/Offices/Registrar/2013-2014%20Catalog(0).pdf</a>), which is pretty nice. I’d recommend taking a look at the course offerings to see if these classes interest your daughter.</p>
<p>I’ve talked a little bit about the Semester in the West program, and my friend who went on it is a Bio-ES major who looked at wolf populations in the west, and their trends. It was a great opportunity for field biology/ecology/environmental science stuff. (Semester in the West: [Semester</a> in the West- Whitman College](<a href=“http://www.whitman.edu/academics/whitman-signature-programs/semester-in-the-west]Semester”>http://www.whitman.edu/academics/whitman-signature-programs/semester-in-the-west))</p>
<p>Also, if I’m correct, all Bio/BBMB majors must do a thesis, which emphasizes the importance of undergraduate research (and not just test scores). More info of student research: [Student</a> Research in the Biology Department](<a href=“http://www.whitman.edu/content/biology/student-research-and-internships]Student”>http://www.whitman.edu/content/biology/student-research-and-internships)</p>
<p>Finally, while I haven’t taken a bio class here, I CAN say that I have only ever had one multiple choice test at Whitman, and it was an anthropology test that was multiple choice and matching with an essay component. All of my exams in science classes have been free response (I think in Geology there might’ve been some fill-in-the-blank as well…), and sometimes have take-home portions, which can give you the time and resources you need to solve things. Generally, I’ve found that professors ask questions that test both quantitative and conceptual knowledge, which can lead to a lot of partial credit even if you don’t know the exact answer. It allows you to write down what you DO know about the topic, at least. </p>
<p>That being said, it seems like at times memorization is unavoidable. If you have a physiology test, you’re going to need to know the parts of the body and what they do. You might have to make flash cards. But at Whitman, it’s not going to be a multiple choice test that asks, “Durr which body part does blah blah” You’re going to get an open-ended question that asks, “What is the function of the liver? Explain how it works in conjunction with blah blah, and then draw a diagram of blah blah blah.” At least in my experience. </p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Thanks for describing your experience, whitman2015. Whitman sounds fantastic.</p>
<p>The data for accepted students indicates that some athletes were “recruited”. As a Division III school, I think Whitman cannot offer athletic scholarships. Do you know what it means to be a “recruited” athlete at Whitman?</p>
<p>I’m looking at a variety of liberal arts schools, and most of them don’t have any Greek life. I love Whitman so far, but I’m concerned about how prevalent Greek life is in the party and social scene here. I enjoy being social and partying but I don’t want to be in a sorority. Will I still have my options? And are frat parties open for everyone else?</p>
<p>On a similar note, I noticed the male to female ratio is almost 40 to 60. Is it actually a noticeable difference from what you’ve experienced?</p>
<p>DadGummit, I’m a parent and my Whittie was not recruited as an athlete, but I thought I’d jump in and try to answer your question anyway. As I understand it Division III athletics is really a labor of love, there are no athletic scholarships, but if the coach is trying to sway an applicant that means there is a place on the team for them. This year many of Whitman’s teams did pretty well. Also, I believe all athletes are held to the same standards as any other applicant, so being recruited in Division III doesn’t offer many perks, except the joy of continuing to play your sport, and the recognition if the team and/or the athlete gets division accolades. I’m not an authority though, so I’d talk to a coach to make sure. </p>
<p>Whitman IS a fantastic place!</p>
<p>Am interested in information about the debate team at Whitman.</p>
<p>amillz13, a reviewer elsewhere made this comment about Greek life at Whitman.</p>
<p>“A lot of people go Greek, but just as many decide to stay independent. You have easier access to parties and alcohol in a frat/sorority, but parties open up to everyone at 11pm so the party scene is not at all exclusive. After freshman year guys can choose to live in their frat house and girls are expected to live in section in Prentiss (the all women dorm) but it’s not necessarily mandatory. I haven’t noticed any hostility between sororities/frats or between indies and Greeks.”</p>
<p>DG, my son is a varsity athlete at Whitman, but was a walk-on rather than someone who was actively recruited. My sense from him is that Whitman coaches will actively target and recruit a small number of very talented athletes and fill out their squads with walk- ons, many of whom are quite talented in their own right. I don’t know this to be a fact at Whitman, but I have heard that at many top LACs, the coaches each get to choose a few prospects who get a significant leg up in admissions. In many cases, however, and I think this is largely true at Whitman, the recruited athletes are strong enough academically to be admitted without any special consideration. I don’t think walk-on athletes get much in the way of an admission boost, other than for being a well rounded student likely to contribute to campus life (same as someone likely to participate in music, drama, community service, etc. ). There are no athletic scholarships at Whitman.</p>
<p>amillz, Greek life at Whitman has its supporters and detractors, as well as those who don’t fall in either camp. I do think that the whole issue of Greek life is less polarized at Whitman than at similar schools, and I like to think that has a lot to do with an ethos of respect for one another that i remember being emphasized by President Bridges at move-in day. Not to say that things are perfect (jerks, unfortunately, will be jerks, whether in a frat or not) but most Whitties behave pretty well most of the time.</p>
<p>CJane, there is good news and bad news about debate at Whitman. The good news is that historically the Whitman debate team has a record of high achievement earning a national reputation. The bad news is that the team is currently in a state of upheaval following the resignation of its coach amidst allegations of harassment by assistant coaches. I have no idea about the truth of any such allegations, but you may wish to look at recent articles in the Pioneer about this matter. Maybe someone can supply the link.</p>
<p>Here it is sunmachine: [The</a> Pioneer | Whitman news since 1896.](<a href=“http://whitmanpioneer.com/]The”>http://whitmanpioneer.com/). The Pioneer staff has done a good job of trying to present all sides of the issue.</p>