<p>I'm pretty interested in Whitman, particularly its theatre department. The only thing that kinda concerns me is its location. Can anyone tell me how they like being in Walla Walla? Being kinda far from a major city? As well as their overall experience of the college. It'd help a ton!</p>
<p>Hi dunkbee, this forum is pretty quiet. My son will be an incoming freshman at Whitman in the fall, so I can’t answer as a current student, but there is a group on Facebook called “Whitman College Class of 2014”. There are lots of current students answering incoming freshmen’s questions. Very useful info, plus you get a feeling for the type of student who attends Whitman. Good luck!</p>
<p>I’d second looking at the Facebook including for some prior years; also search this board in the archives as it is a typical topic about Whitman. Walla Walla can seem far from most places but once you get there it doesn’t seem problematic. I have 2 kids who are Whitties and I must say that the second one initially couldn’t believe her brother was going anywhere so remote; but by the time she was ready for college her view had changed entirely. It is an interesting, diverse small city and much more “real” than many college towns; it also has a positive relation with the college, rather than the stereotypical town/gown adversarial/dependent relationship. Perhaps more to your question: life on campus is so active and varied and the access to cool outdoor activities so rich, that there doesn’t seem to be much “need” for city life. And it seems simple to get rides to Portland or Seattle when you need a fix on urban living. And the drama program really is quite extraordinary, especially for a college of its size.</p>
<p>Walla Walla is a very pleasant town, and the emergence of a high-end wine industry in the area has resulted in it being much more upscale than you might imagine. If your other top choices are UChicago or Columbia, then Walla Walla is quite pedestrian by comparison.</p>
<p>Whitman is a fine school; if it was in the NE it would be mentioned in the same list as the top schools in the region. Only its location in WA keeps it as a comparative sleeper.</p>
<p>Theatre is first rate there; you get roles and hands on experience from the time you are a freshman.</p>
<p>Walla Walla is a wonderful town, but it’s not for everyone. Most Whitties find that they end up liking the town much more than they expected.</p>
<p>I say, VISIT WHITMAN and decide for yourself.</p>