<p>Doubleraimbow, my son received a scholarship to attend Whitman, unfortunately it does not increase each year, I don’t know if that applies to all types of scholarships. Need based aid is reevaluated every year and adjusted according to changing economic situations.</p>
<p>Hey Cookie606,</p>
<p>It sounds like you have had a fantastic Whitman experience, and I was wondering if you could help a fellow Whittie out 
I took a yearlong leave of absence from Whitman following my freshman year to explore other college options since I felt like I didn’t integrate well into the Whitman social scene. Even though I am currently at another college and like it, I am considering coming back to Whitman this fall. The one thing that worries me is fitting in with the student body. Freshman year, I found it difficult to make lasting friendships because I do not drink, and did not have a lot in common with fellow students that were mostly Pacific Northwesterners. I did join a few clubs, but they turned out to be more like drinking groups. Do you have any ideas or advice on how to find friends at Whitman? Any personal anecdotes to share? I have obviously been searching in all of the wrong places for friends, and do not want to keep hitting dead-ends. I yearn for the Whitman experience that you and everyone around me seems to love and enjoy!</p>
<p>how is the job outlook for graduated whitties? If you decide not to go to grad school, do employers like that you attended “whitman”? is there a website that say where they work after graduation?</p>
<p>wecandoit92 - I’m sorry you had a less than ideal first experience at Whitman, but I’m glad you’re coming back! I’m quite surprised that you couldn’t find people that do not drink (which is what you’re implying, I think). Obviously, I don’t know which clubs you joined and I don’t know the happenings of all the clubs here, but I guess one place to start would be to look at the intentions that most people have going into a club, or even a class. Perhaps tend towards groups that are based on more “serious” activities like community service, performance, geeky things, (most) athletic clubs/teams, etc. I don’t really know what to tell you! All Whitman students are dedicated, I feel, in any club or activity that still exists, even if they might go drinking on the weekends. Maybe try to get to know more people in your classes? Take more SSRA classes, which I find are good for friendship-making! Something like that. I assure you that not all Whitman students drink, and even if some do, try to cherish what you might have in common instead. I’ve come to realize that basically all students here are really cool in their own way, even if it takes me awhile to realize it. Perhaps give yourself some time to warm up with everyone and get to know people a little closer. :)</p>
<p>doublerainbow99 - There are so many factors that decide what job you will have after graduation. Major, dedication, experience outside of classes, etc etc. Many people here just want a degree in what they enjoy, and don’t have a job in mind. Other people go on to do what they’ve always wanted to do, or they’ll completely change their paths. Obviously students will end up all over the world in many different areas. I think it’s too much about individual circumstances for me to answer about Whitman students in general, as I’ve never met two Whitman students that have ended up in the exact same career. We’re all very individual people (you have to be to come out to Walla Walla Washington by yourself…) If you were really interested, I’m sure you could find where alumni are now in their lives (and I think they have notable graduates in those sheets they hand out to prospies), but as far as I’m concerned that does not reflect where you might end up in the future at all. Whitman’s intentions are not very job-focused, I feel, but they do have connections to a lot of places. Likewise, how much companies care about Whitman also depends much on the recruiters/employers themselves. You could contact department chairs, if you’d like, and ask about their opinions.</p>
<p>Thanks! </p>
<p>Do you recommend that freshman get work study jobs? Is it easy to find student jobs at Whitman?</p>
<p>doublerainbow, my S has had work/study jobs for two years so I have advice. The key to getting your first choice job is to be proactive and take the initiative. The jobs on campus are listed online a week or so before the students reach campus. Do your homework by reading requirements and application procedures, each area has a slightly different way of doing it, follow directions, some you can email ahead of time, others don’t want emails. During the first few days that you’re on campus there is a job fair, go to it prepared to fill out applications and turn them in at the fair. This is a mistake my son made his first semester, he took the applications away to fill out later and found out the great jobs were already gone when he turned them in a few days later. </p>
<p>After your first semester you’ll know more and the process becomes easier. This is the link to the campus jobs: [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). Notice that there are very few that say open right now, that will change as the Fall semester nears, so read all the descriptions and pick areas that interest you. It’s pretty easy to get a job if you make it a priority.</p>
<p>Whether you should or not is up to you and your finances. I think a job can be very helpful for learning organizational skills as well as earning some money, but more than 10-15 hours a week is counterproductive.</p>
<p>Thank you! </p>
<p>How often do students go home? My parents are concerned because I live in an hour away from Portland, and it would be kind of a pain to go home on breaks where there isn’t supervised bus transportation. Do most students go home only on thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks? Do a lot of them use the bus service ($95 round trip)?</p>
<p>Yes, most students only go home thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks. The campus does stay open over the thanksgiving break and there are students who stay. I’m afraid that I don’t know anything about the buses, my S has flown or driven, we live in CA. I do know that students from the Portland and Seattle areas give each other rides. After you meet other students this may become an option. There is also a campus-wide list-serve where you can find people looking for passengers.</p>
<p>My D will attend Whitman this fall. Will she need snow boots?</p>
<p>Yeah luvmycavalier, congratulations to your D! The biggest storms seem to show up after winter break. The snow will fall, it doesn’t stick around in Walla Walla for very long, but long enough to built snowmen on Ankeny Field, so water resistant foot wear is definitely a plus. She can also head to the Blue Mountains to ski, or snow shoe, or sled. </p>
<p>In the Fall it will rain. I love the rain in Walla Walla, it’ll pour and then the sun will pop out between showers and the sky is amazing. So, pack a rain pancho, but it’s nowhere near as wet as Seattle and Portland.</p>
<p>Thanks bopambo! We’re from a beach town in Southern California so any rain will seem like a lot.</p>
<p>Also just enough snow to witness people skiing across Ankeny to class… !</p>
<p><<<<bump>>>></bump></p>
<p>How do students get placed in a work study job? My son’s financial aid award includes work study, but outside of that, he has received no information about how students get placed in a job. Anyone know what the process is? Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi sunmachine, I addressed this with another poster up-thread a little bit, so forgive me for quoting myself. </p>
<p>My S has had work/study jobs for two years so I have advice. The key to getting your first choice job is to be proactive and take the initiative. This is the link to the campus jobs: [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). Notice that there are very few that say “Open” right now, that will change as the Fall semester nears, so read all the descriptions and pick areas that interest you. The jobs on campus are listed online a week or so before the students reach campus. </p>
<p>Do your homework by reading requirements and application procedures, each area has a slightly different way of doing it, follow directions, some you can email ahead of time, others don’t want emails. During the first few days that you’re on campus there is a job fair, go to it prepared to fill out applications and turn them in at the fair. This was a mistake my son made his first semester, he took the applications away to fill out later and found the great jobs were already gone when he turned them in a few days later. </p>
<p>After your first semester you’ll know more and the process becomes easier. It’s pretty easy to get a job if you make it a priority.</p>
<p>Aloha, Just returned from my D’s Northwest college tours circuit (which included Whitman). I have to say, the biggest issue she had was the remoteness of the school. It took 4+ hours to drive from Portland and the councilor mentioned the closest airport is essentially Spokane which is 3+ hours away. To get home, or to get anywhere, requires a major undertaking. Besides studying, what do the students do to keep sane over long weekends and short breaks?</p>
<p>Aloha AlohaScott, I’m glad to hear that your D visited Whitman, and I’m sorry that she wasn’t able to see the school in session, because at least some of your questions would have been answered by seeing how lively the campus is when students are present. Whitman attracts students who are incredibly gregarious and active people; the school provides lots of interesting things to do on campus; and the students themselves create many new groups, clubs and projects, often funded by the administration. The question for my son has never been finding things to do, but not overdoing it with activities. Weekends there are sports (loads of club and intramural participation), music, dance performances, parties, art shows, movies, community service projects, biking, outdoor club outings, skiing, etc. Walla Walla has really good restaurants, it’s own dance and theater companies, the county fair and other local entertainment. </p>
<p>The councilor was just plain wrong about air travel, there is an airport in Walla Walla with 2 daily flights from Seattle, although it’s expensive, it’s there. The more affordable option is the airport in Pasco which has many flights per day from all over the western US. Pasco is 45 minutes from Walla Walla and there is bus service from the Pasco airport to Walla Walla several times a day, it drops students downtown, about 4 blocks from campus. I’ve even gone that way and it’s not at all difficult. The students on campus with cars (and there are a lot of them) often give rides to and from the Pasco airport to fellow Whitties. We live in the SF Bay Area and there are two direct United flights from SFO to Pasco everyday.</p>
<p>No Walla Walla is not a big city, but it’s a really nice small city. Here is a link to one of Whitman’s student bloggers who addresses your concerns: [Is</a> College Better if there is a Big City Nearby? | Kayvon’s (WHITMAN!) Blog](<a href=“http://kayvonsblog.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2011/12/23/is-college-better-if-there-is-a-big-city-nearby/]Is”>http://kayvonsblog.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2011/12/23/is-college-better-if-there-is-a-big-city-nearby/)</p>
<p>bopambo, thanks, and sorry I missed your comments upthread!</p>
<p>Scott, Whitman’s location clearly will not please everyone, but for my son the proximity to outdoor activities turned out to be a real selling point. This link to the site for the pre-orientation freshmen Scrambles trips will give you an idea of what is close by: [Scramble</a> Booklet 2012](<a href=“http://www.whitman.edu/content/outdoor-program/scrambles/booklet]Scramble”>http://www.whitman.edu/content/outdoor-program/scrambles/booklet). Whitman also had a 95% freshman retention rate last year, which to me is a pretty good indicator that most Whitties are happy with their experience. I think most great LACs in small towns or remote areas have gotten pretty good at bringing activities and events to campus. I could be wrong about this, but I don’t recall hearing about Whitman students being bored. Still, like I said, it’s not for everyone, and someone who wants a fast club scene or the other draws of urban social life might want to look elsewhere. What other schools is your D considering?</p>
<p>Sunmachine, have your onions arrived yet?</p>
<p>Hi SunMachine.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link to the Scramble 2012. I will forward that on to D. CollegeView shows a retention rate of 92%. Still extremely high and higher than most other schools we have visited. This is one of the key indicators I look at with D.</p>
<p>We currently live in a rural community on an island in the middle of the pacific. It takes us an hour to get to our airport and then getting direct flights to mainland cities at a reasonable price is difficult. Many times, it will take two or three connections to get to the intended destination. To add another 4+ hours to then have to drive to Walla Walla may just be too much for her. I don’t think it is so much that she wants an urban social scene, in fact I am pretty sure that is not the case. I think it is more the idea that home is not so terribly far away and too difficult to return. But you never know. There was a ’11 graduate from her school that went to Whitman and loves it, so there is that connection also.</p>
<p>Other schools we recently visited: Reed (turned off by foul-mouthed interviewer), Lewis & Clark (loved it, currently living there for two weeks in a Writers Workshop), Linfield (felt like High School), Willamette (Train Sirens every 15 minutes were driving her crazy), Macalester (tight campus in vibrant residential community-top choice right now), Carleton (worried what happens when winter sets in), and Whitman (loved everything but the remoteness).</p>
<p>Bopambo, I should clarify my “closest airport is essentially Spokane” comment. The councilor did mention the two closer airports, but acknowledged they are limited and expensive. That most kids drive to Spokane, Seattle, or Portland for direct flights to destinations outside of the area.</p>
<p>Aloha,</p>