<p>Hi Everyone!</p>
<p>I'm currently a freshman at Whitman College, and I'd like to share my experiences! So if you have any questions, whether it is about clubs, sports, things to do here in Walla Walla, the academic life, life in the dorms--ask away! </p>
<p>Looking forward to speaking to all of you=)</p>
<p>jotran, I’m surprised nobody has asked you questions. I think it’s great that you’re willing to share your experiences. What do you like best about Whitman?</p>
<p>The best part of Whitman would have to be the community. This answer may be typical and common, but thats because its true. There is a large emphasis on community here at Whitman. Academically, my peers and I work together and help each other out as best as we can. I was unused to this when I first came to Whitman, because competition was prevalent in my high school. But Whitman College really fosters cooperation above competition, and this makes the community and college kind and friendly. Socially, everyone has their own flair and passion that makes the community so much more fun and interesting to live in. As a student more inclined to taking mathematics and science courses, I was afraid that I would not fit into this liberal arts college. But surprisingly, I dowhich brings me to another reason why I love Whitman. The college really motivates and encourages you to be open-minded and try new things. For instance, I am participating in a slam poetry club, which I never expected to be involved with. The college really is amazing, and I dont regret coming here. </p>
<p>Thank you for asking!</p>
<p>What’s Walla Walla like?</p>
<p>Hi jotran, My daughter visited and loved Whitman, but someone somewhere (not while we were there) told her how terribly rigorous it was and how people couldn’t always hack it there. She is a great student and wants to major in music–it seemed to me that Whitman has done a good job of making sure no one slips through the cracks and is floundering. Have you felt over your head at times? I think my daughter’s issue is that she is not a whiz at math and is afraid she’ll be outed as a moron. What’s your take? Thanks!</p>
<p>MoonShai, I just wanted to offer a parent’s perspective. I’m really looking forward to jotran’s student perspective, because his is most important. </p>
<p>Whitman’s freshman retention rate is very high, as pointed out in another thread, it was 94% last year so there aren’t many who attend who can’t “hack it”. The admissions office does a good job of bringing bright, interesting and motivated students to campus and evaluating applications to make sure a student is prepared. If your daughter is accepted it would be because they felt she could succeed. Once students get there they do receive help from faculty, tutors and classmates if they feel overwhelmed. It’s a small and extremely interconnected place so if a student asks for help there are many avenues to get it. That being said, it is rigorous and expectations are high, but if your daughter has the stats to get in then she is capable of doing the work.</p>
<p>As far as being outed as a math moron, I can’t imagine any of the students or faculty I’ve met at Whitman being cruel. As jotran said, it’s a pretty kind and friendly place! If she has trouble in math, she should just sign up for a tutor and join a study group.</p>
<p>I hope she reconsiders.</p>
<p>Don’t worry MoonShai… if my S is admitted he will be with your D signing up for a math tutor. It is definitely NOT his strong suite… although he did miraculously end up with a very high SAT M score. He is sort of used to it because at his ultra competitive private prep school, he is one of the few kids on the "regular’ math track… which means he didn’t take AP/BC as a Senior…LOL!! He will only go as far as Calculus I’m sure, as that is all that is needed for med school. An engineering major he is not.</p>
<p>Hi MoonShai. As a 2nd semester senior, I just thought I would chime in regarding Whitman’s general academic rigor. </p>
<p>Wherever you’re daughter heard it from, she is not wrong to think that Whitman is a challenging school. Depending on preparation in high school, it can be a tough transition for some students. That said, Whitman does provide a ton of resources to make sure student don’t flounder. As jotran and bopambo have mentioned, the students, faculty, and administration at Whitman are all super supportive. All first-year sections have a live-in student academic advisor who is there specifically to help students through their first semester. Faculty have open office hours to meet with student, and, in my experience, they are more than willing to schedule appointments outside of office hours as well. The Academic Resource Center (or the ARC) is also really good about finding math and science tutors, in response to strong demand for them. Also, from what I’ve seen, Whitman tends to admit students who they feel can rise to the challenge of a demanding, if cooperative, academic environment.</p>
<p>As someone who hasn’t taken any math classes at Whitman, I can’t speak directly about the math department here, although there were quite a few students taking Calc II in my freshmen section, and it seemed pretty tough. I doubt anyone here would try to out you as a math moron, but I am usually pretty good about outing myself, so perhaps I’m not the best person to ask.</p>
<p>@5boys-I was one of those math non-gifted students who managed to do okay on the SAT math section, but I can tell you the people at Whitman who finish up the premed requirements usually do quite well for themselves in finding internships and getting admitted to med school.</p>
<p>Hi hoopser77, </p>
<p>Walla Walla is quaint. When I first drove into the town, I was struck by how attractive it was, in terms of the brick buildings. It really is a nice town, and coming from a big city, I found Walla Walla very charming. There is a candy shop, a book store, many restaurants, and a farmer’s market on the weekends. Before the winter holidays, the residents held a small but beautiful parade; all floats were home-made. My mom remarked that it resembles an old-fashion town, and it does! I just simply love it.</p>
<p>Is there any specific thing you would like to know more about Walla Walla? </p>
<p>Thanks,
jotran</p>
<p>Hi MoonShai,</p>
<p>I was enrolled for four classes last semester, plus a 3-hour lab. From what I remembered of it, I feel taking this many courses allowed me to smoothly ease into college academically. There were times last semester that I felt very stressed and would lock myself in the bat cave (my room), but I survived and here I am for the second semester! As for math, there is a requirement for students to complete one course of three credits in quantitative analysis. While I decided to take Calculus I to fulfill this requirement, many of my friends decided to take astronomy, psychological statistics, and other courses that they felt did not overwhelm them as much as Calculus would. BUT, I really enjoyed my calculus class! The professor was very helpful and made the class very engaging. Also, there are math tutors, student academic advisers, and my friends and peers to help me if I floundered in math. </p>
<p>Your daughter will never be outed as a moron here at Whitman–this is because I was never outed as a moron. But more seriously, I strongly feel that the learning style here at Whitman College is based on cooperation and kindness. Everyone helps each other, because although we have our weaknesses, we all have something to contribute. </p>
<p>If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!</p>
<p>Thanks,
jotran</p>
<p>Jotran and SeniorSlacker: thanks very much for sharing your experiences. Have a great semester!</p>
<p>No one could possibly be outed as a moron at Whitman! Everyone is too friendly. We understand everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. We embrace them and help each other in areas we have difficulties in so we can all feel confident and do well. Honestly! All you have to do is say you need help, and since so many people take math courses, there’s help all over your dorm and resources all over campus.</p>
<p>Like mentioned earlier, you only need 3 credits of Quantitative Analysis, which can be covered in more ways than just math anyway. :)</p>
<p>My D had many academic high points as well as some low points over the course of her four years at Whitman (graduated in 2010). The academics were rigorous, for sure. But there were just a couple of times where she was severely challenged. Any other low points were much more directly connected to her own study habits/approach at the time. Math and science were absolutely not her thing, and I don’t think it bothered her at Whitman any more than it bothered her in high school. She majored in Art History and I think she met her quantitative analysis requirement in a course called “Chemistry of Art”. Whitman is wonderful. Walla Walla is wonderful.</p>
<p>Can anyone comment on the music scene, both academic and otherwise? We’re especially interested in the orchestral and/or chamber end of the spectrum, but the general picture would be helpful too.</p>
<p>celloflute, I am about to send you a message!</p>