<p>I'm trying to get a feel for Whitman and have searched the archives and their websites. Great info, but I've have not seen much in the way of parent perspective. Anyone?</p>
<p>S goes to Whitman and D will be a freshman in the fall. From a parent's perspective, it's a gem - excellent, accessible and involved faculty and administration; idyllic campus with four seasons but not much rain; very down to earth, talented, motivated students who seem to have a great deal of respect for one another, are eager to learn and engage fully in a variety of extracurricular and community service activities; free washers and dryers in the dorms; a very nice library that is open (and used) 24/7 by students; and, in addition to having an RA for each section of 20-25 freshman students, they also have an SA (Scholastic Assistant) - an upperclassman who lives in the dorm section and whose job is to help freshman with classes, papers, study skills, etc. My S has been extremely happy there - loves most of his classes and professors (several of whom he has become very friendly with), has made very close friendships with several people and has a wider friendship network with hordes more, enjoys intramural sports and other outdoor activities that the Northwest has to offer (snowboarding about 45 minutes away, running and biking through the wheatfields, backpacking, etc.), and likes the lectures and cultural events presented at the school (a surprise - albeit pleasant - to me). His main reservation when he was choosing colleges was the location - Walla Walla, but he has actually come to like the town and surrounding area a lot, but probably a kid who wants the excitement and off campus opportunities of a large city would not be happy there. As a parent, visiting Walla Walla is actually very nice; it is an up and coming art and wine region and has a very nicely restored downtown. Please feel free to ask any questions.</p>
<p>I was unfamiliar with Whitman when my son announced last fall that it was where he intended to go. I have been very impressed with everything I have learned in the process of his admission.
I've always been a fan of the small liberal arts college (went to Occidental myself and worked in admissions there while a student). I also spent 8 years working in prep schools so I got to know quite a bit about other LACs. Whitman is exemplary in some of the best features of LACs--especially the sense of community and caliber of teaching. The location has kept it off the national radar screen; I actually fear that is changing since I'd like by daughter to have a shot at getting in in 4 years! Walla Walla may sound like a funny name, but it is a beautiful and interesting town. My son has decided to take a gap-year (something the college endorses) and I'm actually a little sad that I can't "go" to Whitman until 2007. I can also add that we went to a local event for applicants and their families and every single current parent there had wonderful things to say about their child's experience.</p>
<p>Thank you both for your replies. Do you live in the Northwest?
You both have given me excellent information - Did your kids visit and have interviews before being accepted? What types of community service would you say most kids participate in? Does the college have many student publications? What would you say are Whitman's strongest departments?
thanks!</p>
<p>A.S.A.P., I'll do my best to answer your questions. I live in Northern California. S had an interview and visited before being accepted; the visit was what piqued his interest in the school, because he loved the friendliness of the students and strong sense of community. D had visited many times to see her brother and also had an interview before being accepted. S has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, the Y, environmental restoration and the local SPCA; many students participate in programs at the local schools. I'm not that up on the publications; I know there is a weekly newspaper and a yearly arts publication. I'm also not up on what Whitman's strongest departments are. I know S has enjoyed his classes and professors in a variety of areas from English, History, Religion, Theater, Psychology to Astrology, Economics and Art. He is very close to the chairman of his major department, but I for one am very happy that he has also been excited by other subjects and has branched out accordingly into areas I never would have guessed he'd be interested in (e.g., theater and art).</p>
<p>Thank you so much, TT. That's very helpful!</p>
<p>I'm depressed because Whitman was on my daughter's radar when she was a freshman and met a grad of her high school who attends and loves it. The reason for my depression? In just three short years, Whitman's application numbers have skyrocketed and it has become much harder to get in. Someone like my daughter - a good student with some bumps in her transcript - would have stood a good chance three years ago. Now, I'm not so sure. I can't hold it against Whitman, however, as I think it is one of the best LAC's on the west coast, if not the nation. The secret's out ---- just wish they could have stayed secret a bit longer, LOL! :)</p>
<p>Carolyn -Do you think she will apply? It seems like they care about more than just numbers. I wouldn't rule it out if she really loves the school. Wasn't there a different northwest LAC that your D felt was a better personality fit for her?
My S is an outdoor nut, and I think he'd thrive in a small setting like Whitman. My only problem with it so far is the price - twice what UCB or SD would cost. I just have a feeling he'll fall in love when we visit.
This is really the first school I've looked into that actually seems a perfect fit for him. I can't wait to take him to visit!</p>
<p>While I generally wouldn't want him to be too focused on any one school prematurely, so far he hasn't been too excited about any school he's seen - they're all OK. It would be good for him to see that something could actually be MORE than OK.</p>
<p>ASAP, she originally had Lewis & Clark on her list, but now is not sure it's a fit. She has ALWAYS thought Whitman would be a fit, and I have agreed, although we haven't visited because we've always looked at it as a reach for her unless she applied ED. We may try to visit in the fall, but I still think that her best bet of getting in would be an ED application. Her stats (3.6/3.7 GPA, 1900+ new SAT, kind of quirky Ec's) are below their medians enough to make me call it a reach, not a match. Yes, they look at the whole applicant but they are now attracting enough applicants that kids with better packages are amply available.</p>
<p>In terms of cost, I'd urge you to be cautious. Whitman is NOT need-blind, and they have been known to sometimes be less than generous with financial aid (i.e., offering larger loans instead of grants). Not a problem if you can afford Whitman or don't have large need requirements, but there are other "small settings like Whitman" where you could do much better with merit scholarships and financial aid, especially if your son is not at the high end of their accepted students stats.</p>
<p>But, again, I'm going on the word of parents whose kids didn't end up at Whitman because of the aid packages they received. Perhaps the parents of actual Whitman students could give us some insight on how they found Whitman financial aid and merit scholarships?</p>
<p>Do you have any idea what kind of stats might be necessary to be considered for merit aid? I've seen their median scores reported, but they don't really mention the higher end, or what might be considered an attractive candidate for their awards.</p>
<p>Here's the data for Whitman from US News & World Reports, this is based on last year's admits. I suspect this year's may be slightly higher:</p>
<p>49% overall acceptance rate</p>
<p>Freshman class:
Top 10 percent of high school class: 59%
Top 25 percent of high school class: 90%
Top 50 percent of high school class: 100% </p>
<p>First-year students submitting high school class standing: 81%
Average high school GPA: 3.7 </p>
<p>First-year students submitting GPA: 99% </p>
<p>First-year students submitting SAT scores: 97%
SAT I scores (25/75 percentile):
Verbal: 620 730
Math: 610 700
Combined: 1230 1430 </p>
<p>Percent of first-time, first-year students enrolled in Fall 2003 with scores in each range:
SAT I Verbal SAT I Math
700-800 39.5% 27.8%
600-699 45.1% 54.6%
500-599 13.1% 17.0%
400-499 2.3% 0.6%
300-399 0.0% 0.0%
200-299 0.0% 0.0% </p>
<p>So, based on these figures, I would guess that Whitman's purely academic top awards (they have a number tied to talent in art, music, etc.) would require top 10% class rank, GPA significantly above 3.7, and SATs above 1400. But that's just a guess. </p>
<p>Here' s the link to their merit awards page:</p>
<p>OK, same source: 15% received merit aid. Remember, a good portion of merit at Whitman is not purely based on academics but goes to kids with talent in art, music, drama. Another chunk goes for minority students. A third chunk goes to National Merit Scholars (see link above). So, let's assume that 10% or possibly less is merit awards purely based on academics. I think it would be safe to assume that in order to get merit, you'd need to be in the top 10% of admitted students in terms of grades, test scores, etc.</p>
<p>A few other tidbits: only 74% of incoming freshman had their financial aid fully met, (Whitman does not guarantee to meet full financial need of accepted students) Looking at comparable schools, lets us Grinnell and Carleton as examples -- both met 100% of financial need of accepted students. </p>
<p>Average merit award for incoming freshman was $6,850, which indicates to me that very, very few full tuition or near full tuition merit scholarships are handed out. For comparison, Grinnell, which has median stats very similar to Whitman, offered merit awards to 24% of its freshman class with the average award being $10,370 </p>
<p>Overall, I'd say, Whitman would be iffy if you're looking for significant merit aid unless you're in the top 10% or better of their applicants, have specific talents, are a NMS, or are a minority student. </p>
<p>But this is just my reasoning. I could be way off. Ancedotally, however, I know several kids with grades in the 4.0 and above range and test scores in the 1300-1400 range who did not get merit money at Whitman.</p>
<p>Again, it's a great school, but if you need or are hoping for merit aid, probably better choices out there. Hopefully, however, one of the "Whitman parents" can give us more insight.</p>
<p>Financial aid, both need-based and merit, is probably one of Whitman's weaker suits. With both my children, it's financial aid packages were the weakest of all the schools they were accepted at. And, unlike some schools where you can negotiate up based on what other comparable schools offer, Whitman makes it clear that it does not do that. I also think that, as the school has grown in reputation, the offers of merit aid have likewise declined; also most merit is in the $6000 range. Carolyn is right; as far I understand, there are very few - if any - full rides; even the talent awards are granted only for the assessed need amount. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>One more thing. Right now Whitman is working very hard to increase diversity, so my guess would be that minority students would be the ones most likely to get merit aid and attractive need-based aid packages.</p>
<p>Thank you both. Your information confirms what I had suspected. It doesn't diminish my interest, as I hadn't expected him to get finaid, or merit. California is the third most represented state at Whitman, so even there, he won't offer anything in the way of diversity.
Stiff price tag, but it might just be worth it. I was thinking I should go back to work, anyway! :)</p>
<p>A good friend's D is now a junior (senior in the fall) at Whitman. I am very impressed with the education she's gotten. I think the biggest knock against it is probably the location---Walla Walla is just not the most exciting place to be. However, there seems to be enough that the major entertainment is NOT drinking and drugs.</p>