<p>My daughter is still thinking about Whitman. i think in the future I would not attend on an event day…but try to hit a day with classes and normal activities. My daughter is reserved and so a friendly school with a welcoming faculty is a big factor.</p>
<p>MOMBaritone, is your daughter an admitted student or just putting her list together? Most schools don’t offer regular visits on admitted students’ days because their priority is those who have already applied and been accepted. I’m afraid I’m confused about what happened.</p>
<p>She is an admitted student…with 2 weeks to make the big choice. I feel admitted student day might not be the best day to visit if you only have 1 visit ( I have more college bound kids to go) A normal week day might give a better view of the school. Now the question is do we go back and try again…because she is very serious about it. What are your thoughts on a reserved student at Whitman…she gets involved, but a little shy at the start.</p>
<p>My D did a trip earlier this year and also did the Admitted Student’s Day last Saturday. A world of difference. She really got a lot out of her individual visit and felt the Admitted Student’s Day was overwhelming and somewhat contrived. In fact, I don’t think she enjoyed any of the accepted student days she attended at any of her acceptances and I will definitely skip those days for our next one up for college. If you can, send your D for another visit – I suspect the experience will be much different from the scrum and if nothing else more representative.</p>
<p>Did your daughter spend the night with a student…or just day activities. Any advise at this point is welcomed! She wants to go…but just didn’t get that… this is it feeling!</p>
<p>She just did a day visit, but got to have lunch with students, attend a class in a field she was interested in and actually had a good chat with a professor afterwards. If your D has time to do an overnight that would be ideal it seems to me.</p>
<p>Definitely have her spend the night if that can be arranged, the overnight stays give depth and breadth to the visit, she’ll be meeting more kids in their natural habitat. You’ve asked if a reserved kid can be happy there and my opinion is that it is really ideal for the reserved kid. My son is one who holds back for a while, surveying the territory, but when he feels comfortable fully engages. During high school he had a social life because he made friends with outgoing kids and traveled in their wake, by senior year he had taken the reins himself. The same thing is happening at Whitman only a lot faster.</p>
<p>One great thing he did in the beginning that made a huge impact was to go on a scramble, one of the pre-orientation outdoor trips. He had a wonderful time and arrived on campus with a dozen new friends. The first year dorms also do many things to unite and involve the new students. Besides, the kids are really nice, I don’t detect snobbery or elitism or overt competition. Greeks hang out with independents, athletes with non athletes, art students with math and science majors, etc.</p>
<p>It’s a shame that admitted students day didn’t do what it was intended to do, but you’re right, if it’s your first and only visit then it’s not the ideal way to get a true picture. If your daughter is still seriously pondering Whitman, it’s worth another look.</p>
<p>I agree with bopambo. Whitman draws kids into the community. And the scrambles are a great way to get to know a small group first. However, for a kid who didn’t want to try a scramble, the dorms do a great job of getting kids integrated and connected I think.</p>
<p>We were fortunate to spend 2 1/2 days in Walla Walla. On Thursday, we explored the area a bit and then enjoyed ourselves on Main St. - a little shopping, eating at good restaurants and walking around. On Friday, my daughter spent time with a current freshman (daughter of a family friend) who escorted her to the two class visits set up by the admissions office, went to lunch with a group of current students, and spent the rest of the day/early evening hanging out with the above-mentioned student or other current students. My daughter was passed around a bit depending on people’s schedules but felt that everyone welcomed all the “prospies” with enthusiasm and answered their many questions. On our way back to the hotel, she let me know that she had decided to attend Whitman. 
The Admitted Students Day was on Saturday- it was informative but she did not feel that it gave her the same sense of what it would be like to be a student at Whitman, nor was she able to interact with current students the way she did on Friday. However, with over 500 guests on one day, that would be impossible,especially at such a small school.</p>
<p>bopambo-</p>
<p>I think you may have been talking about my post about Davidson on another thread. My apologies for not responding…sometimes I end up not getting back to places that I have wandered!</p>
<p>Anyway, Puma12 and I have had conversations including Davidson in the past…her son was originally very interested in my D’s college and she also had visited/applied to Davidson. Bogney’s response was basically in line with what I was thinking on the subject. I think I did say that it is hard for me to fathom cross applications between the two schools, but then, look at puma12’s son. They are both fine schools, but so far, when it comes to Whitman, I can’t get any of my kids to bite. I hate to say it, but we visited Whitman recently with S, and unfortunately, it did not go well (And to be honest, that is a major understatement).</p>
<p>puma12-</p>
<p>By the way, congratulations on Whitman and the scholarship!! It sounds like you and your son will have a very happy 4 years!</p>
<p>Thank you critter! My S is still “very interested” in your D’s school - but alas he is on the waitlist. He is loving the one that wants him, and in his case, he really is excited about Whitman on its own merits. </p>
<p>If you’d be willing to pm me, I’d like to learn from what went so poorly on your son’s recent visit - perhaps I can help them improve with the feedback. And thank you again for your help during this search season!</p>
<p>Bumping this thread, since my son was admitted EA to Willamette and L&C. Whether we add Whitman to the mix depends on what we hear from the friendly admissions folks in the next few weeks. :)</p>
<p>Was wondering what decisions were made a year ago by the folks on this thread, and what were the deciding factors?</p>
<p>I hope you get a Yes from Whitman too. My second, a daughter, is a junior and my son graduated 2 years ago. The community and the quality of the education are simply the best. Willamette and LandC have many strengths but there is something created by the Whitman community that seems exceptional to me and worth getting up the Columbia to see and experience.</p>
<p>AHHH!! I sure hope I am on here in the next 2 weeks asking for advice too… My S is in at UPS with their top scholarship and seems to really like it, but if he gets into Whit it will be no contest.
@bopambo… thanks for all your support… I may need more:-))) The next 2 weeks are going to be STRESSFUL!!</p>
<p>Last year I was in the position of deciding between University of Washington, University of Wisconsin, and Whitman. I applied not knowing what I wanted in the beginning. After visiting Whitman it felt like the right choice, however the financials didn’t work out, so I ended up enrolling at UW (Seattle). Truthfully, I am very happy with my decision despite the attachment I had with Whitman. </p>
<p>There is great flexibility going to a larger institution… I can take every type of class I can think of! It is also great knowing your school has top-notch programs so you can’t go wrong in what you major in.</p>
<p>Also, it is important to realize if you are a type of person that actively pursues relationships or wants them to be made for you. At UW I’ve had to push myself not only academically but socially as well. As a result, I feel that I’ve grown more than I could have at Whitman (I always enjoy meeting new people-- and this is coming for an extrovert). I think Whitman is especially geared towards people who want a smaller tight-nit group of students. Whereas, at a larger school you get to make your own group but it depends on your effort.</p>