<p>Kenyon is definitely on our list. D and I visited there last summer and she loved it. She has also applied to the HS summer writing program (through the Kenyon Review). Seemed like a fantastic place...</p>
<p>My daughter is a first year at Whitman and she worked very hard at finding a school without any Greek system. She is very outdoorsy and involved in lots of diverse activities with many different friends. She was never very cliquey in high school. During rush in the fall, she was not the least bit interested and then this spring she met girls who were in sororities who she really liked alot and she was encouraged and decided to do the spring rush. Lo and behold she is joining one. One of the things I have heard from parents of Whitties over the years is that they never would have thought their D would have joined a sorority and then they did. My D has gotten some guff since she was so anti-sorority but she is accepted for who she is. My feeling is college is a time to explore and try out new things. If my D is joining a sorority it must be due to living and going to school in an environment that supports her in doing just that. If you read about the greek system on the Whitman website, you will see tht it is a much more relaxed and accepting system then at larger more traditional schools.</p>
<p>As for the drinking, yep, it is happening and one of the great things about Whitman is it is a very contained community so drinking asscociated problems that you might find on a larger campus are unusual at best. I also understand that the "rules" about alcohol use are very oriented towards tolerance with responibility and it is talked about and discussed openly with first years.</p>
<p>It is a challenging time for all you who are waiting right now. Lots of luck and it really worked out for my D so it will for yours too!! never would have guessed Whitman would be her choice and it is a great school.</p>
<p>As the other posters said, Whitman does not require the SAT IIs. However, I had to take 3 for other schools I applied to, so I asked my local adcom if I should pay the $9 to send them over. I got an 800 on the Math 2c, 730 on Spanish and 720 on Literature. When I told my adcom those scores, he said they would certainly add to my file. (Unfortunately, I forgot to send them :) oh well)</p>
<p>He seemed pretty enthusiastic about them, so if you think you can do well, it'd be good to take them.</p>
<p>Calmac,
My thought is that while it's fine to keep schools like Kenyon and Whitman on her list, they are both reaches for someone with a 3.0 GPA. Both schools are flexible about test scores IF the grades are there, but they are both rather picky about grades. My daughter had a 3.4 UW/3.6W GPA from a VERY well-respected private school in California that regularly sends kids to Whitman and Kenyon. Her test scores were 580 math, 680 reading and 700 verbal. She was at the bottom of the 25th percentile in terms of her rank. Her guidance counselor considered both Kenyon and Whitman to be reach schools for her unless she was willing to apply ED. Frankly, I agreed with her GC's take on things based on the research I've done on the admissions patterns over the past few years at both schools. </p>
<p>If I were you (and I'm not so forgive me if I'm out of line!), I'd be focusing on schools that are more likely to be matches and solid bets for your daughter at this point, and then add in the reachier schools like Whitman and Kenyon after you have the match/safe bet list built. A good list should have MOSTLY matches and safe bets on it. It's easier to fall in love with good match and safe bet schools if kids see them earlier in the process, before they've fallen in love with the reach schools. Again, I'm not saying don't consider KEnyon or Whitman, but I wouldn't play them up until after she has solid matches on her list that she loves.</p>
<p>Kenyon in particular is problematic as they have an over-abundance of female applicants and are thus admittedly harder on female applicants than males (there was just an article last week in the NYTimes written by a Kenyon admissions rep openly discussing this).</p>
<p>Some schools that would fall solidly into the match range for your daughter might include: Earlham in Indiana (excellent Japanese studies program, dry campus, quaker school so very liberal politics), Beloit in Wisconsin (excellent Japanese and languages, very small Greek scene, willing to take a risk on kids below their average GPA of 3.5), Goucher in Maryland (excellent study abroad (they pay travel expenses), beautiful campus in suburb outside of Baltimore, lots of internship opportunities, very good academics, they are VERY interested in attracting students from the west coast). On the west coast, I'd suggest looking into Willamette in Oregon, Lewis & Clark in Oregon, Linfield in Oregon (safe bet)University of Redlands in California, St. Mary's College of California (if you don't mind a Catholic school), Mills College. Other possiblities to look at: Wittenberg in Ohio, Denison in Ohio, Lawrence U in Wisconsin. If she'd be open to a larger school, also the U of ORegon, Northern Arizona U, and some of the smaller Cal STates like Humboldt or Sonoma.</p>
<p>Again, I'm not saying cross Whitman or Kenyon off the list entirely, but no matter how great the school she attends is, a 3.0 and low rank is going to be a hard sell at both schools unless there is something truly special elsewhere in her application. Her test scores would have to be well ABOVE both schools 75th percentile to fit the bill as "something special."</p>
<p>Wow, nice to see you Carolyn</p>
<p>Carolyn--
Thank you for your complete and thoughtful response. It was actually a bit on the ironic side since I read your post while we were on a trip to visit several schools that you suggested (Willamette and Lewis & Clark). After my initial question to start this thread, I had more or less come to the same conclusion as you did. I think it will be ok to keep Whitman and Kenyon in the loop (although my daughter has cooled somewhat on Kenyon anyway), but really started focusing on those quality programs that might ranked outide of the Top 50 in US News. I've found that those places still have amazing things to offer. Frankly, I have always used US News and other guides to give me generalizations about schools and haven't worried too much about rankings.
We have already seen Lawrence in Wisconsin and thought it was great. Today, we're off to see St. John's in Santa Fe which several of my D's teachers think would be a perfect fit. If we venture into Texas, we may check out Trinity in San Antonio.
Thank you again for you posting on our behalf.</p>
<p>Calmac-it seems that we have some similar schools on my list (Lawrence, Willamette, Lewis & Clark, Whitman). As my D hasn't had time to review my list, I will follow your posts about you and your D's impressions and opinions with interest. Please keep posting, and when it comes time for us to start to make visits, I will do the same. My D is particularly interested in bio. What are your D's academic interests, if I may ask?</p>
<p>Calmac and Invscoot, sounds like you are looking at many of the same schools my D did. She will be going to Whitman, her first choice, and which we considered something between a match and a bit of a reach. She is particularly interested in Bio, and loved the new sci bldg at Whitman and also loved the bio class she sat in on. She is very outdoorsy and the climbing wall plus the outdoor program kind of sealed the deal. Lewis & Clark also has a good bio dept, and they are well-known for the Spiderwoman (I think her name is Greta Binford) and for having some very good field opportunities. My nephew is at L & C, and likes it especially because Portland is so fabulously fun--great place for you to visit! But he cautioned us about L & C, that they don't have a lot of flexibility about majors, so if you want to combine or design your own major it's not easy there. The school is on the outskirts of town near beautiful canyons and runs a free hourly shuttle to all Portland hotspots. Carolyn, excellent suggestions for match schools. </p>
<p>Neither of you has mentioned U of Puget Sound or the Claremont Colleges. I know lots of kids who love UPS, but I have to say we all thought it was dull. As for Claremont, Pitzer would be a good match school, it sounds like. I don't know if either of your kids are interested in Southern Cal. My D decided she wasn't (we are in the Bay Area.) But there is a lot to recommend being part of a 5-college community and the resources there. We did have an interesting experience with Scripps--about that in a sec.</p>
<p>My brother went to St. John's and it is truly unique. If you are into the classics there's nothing like it. And your kid may fall in love with the desert and New Mexico (I did, and lived there for many years); it really is like no other place on earth. I was in Santa Fe with him in Dec and he is drawn to that campus like a magnet, 30 years later!</p>
<p>I have a suggestion for visiting schools, which made a big difference. Since my D was into bio she used it as a yardstick against which she measured all schools. We learned quickly to request if possible soph or junior level bio classes to sit in on. My D was just finishing up AP Bio and any school that stuck her in bio 101 for a visit made a mistake: a lot of the kids were fulfulling a requirement and were bored, and the material was way below her level. Upper level classes at the LACs she found lively and inspiring and made her enthusiastic.</p>
<p>I have seen a lot of posts by students on CC who are convinced that grades and scores mean everything and ec's and essays don't count nearly as much. Unfortunately the college app process has done this to them, and I don't think it's that clear. Many schools are really looking carefully at these apps. We got a call (during school hrs so I talked to them) from Scripps in early March asking why my D transferred out of an exclusive private high school into a huge, very diverse urban public school. Clearly they were reading her app with care. I had to tread a fine line. These mostly white LACs are trying desperately to increase diversity and they are looking for students who, if not themselves racially or ethnically diverse, appreciate being among a diverse population and are comfortable in that environment--but who are applying because they are very serious about their studies and want small classes. I believe that is why Whitman asks for a diversity essay. They're fishing for students who have ideas about increasing diversity and for students who are open and responsive--and comfortable--with a diverse group of people. Then another surprise. With her Scripps acceptance came a personal handwritten note referring specifically to something in her essay and how much they liked it. It is also worth noting that my D has almost NO ec's, except for the fact that she has a dedication to climbing and backpacking, and has been doing that for years. She does not play a varsity sport (except for 3 months) or an instrument, nor does she do much community or volunteer work or belong to clubs or societies. For the last two years she had health issues which took up many afternoons and she chose not to mention it at all; no school questioned why she had so few after-school activities. </p>
<p>Many kids (at least the ones posting on CC) forget that colleges also want a good fit. Not only is the "Tufts Syndrome" probably a reality, but schools want a diverse group of kids with different interests and talents. One thing my D did: she kept in touch with the reps at Whitman, she went to college fairs and reminded them who she was. She stayed overnight there and at Scripps, showing interest. Ultimately she found Scripps to be too quiet, too sorority-like. Pitzer is more hang-loose, more long-haired. She also applied to 3 UC campuses. Ultimately applying EDII was a great decision.</p>
<p>Kenyon, Macalester, Carleton all were considered (as modest reach schools) but at the 11th hr my D realized she wanted to stay on the west coast, that the Pac NW was her cup of tea. Whitman seems, at least from this vantage, to be exactly the right fit for her. A year ago when we picked her up in the morning after her overnight visit she said "Omigod, I want to go to this school. But I don't think I can get in."</p>
<p>My D is still waiting to hear from Whitman and Kenyon. I don't think she will get in to Kenyon, but I am keeping my fingers crossed about Whitman. I think it's a bit of a reach for her, but she is one of those kids who is serious about learning and academics, and is extremely strong on the nonacademic side. She attends a brutally rigorous private high school, where she is nowhere near the top of her class (30%+ are Natl Merit Semifinalists) but she works extremely hard, has been a leader and consistently made a difference in and out of the classroom. Her biggest weakness appears to the GPA -- 3.28uw, 3.51w, with an upward trend, and best grades in first term senior year. Her SAT is 1930 (580 M, 650 CR, 700 W). Her ECs, recommendations and essays are all good, and I think her essay on diversity for Whitman was very strong. One of her common app essays also touched on diversity in her family, and its value to her. Also, I think Whitman requiring a recent paper is in her favor, since she is a good writer with a love of literature, and was able to send in something that showcased her strengths. A freshman who graduated from her HS last year wrote a student recommendation for her. </p>
<p>She was rejected at Occidental, which was her first choice. While we knew it was not a sure thing, it was unexpected, particularly given her strong personal qualifications and passion for the school. She was waitlisted at Scripps (which she liked a lot despite her bias against all-girls schools). Accepted at 3 UCs, Willamette, UPS, and Denison -- not exited about Willamette, feels better about UPS. She likes Denison very much (and they gave her a nice scholarship), but she doesn't want to go so far away. </p>
<p>She also liked Whitman a lot, had a very positive interview, and an excellent meeting with the swim coach. Unfortunately, they were on some kind of 2-day break when we visited, so she wasn't able to attend a class or see normal campus activity. </p>
<p>Traveling to and from Walla Walla would not be as easy as it would if she were in LA (or Seattle), but it's a lot closer than Ohio! </p>
<p>If she does get in, we will be back to visit ASAP to check it out so she can see what it's like when more students are around. I think it's a spectacular school, and it would be a good fit for her.</p>
<p>leonsdaughter & rix - I do so much appreciate the efforts you've put into these postings. They are indeed helpful. Hopefully your D will get into Whitman, rix, and congratulations to you on your D's acceptance, leonsdaughter. I had ordered video campus tours of several colleges, but unfortunately Whitman was not on their list (probably for the very same reasons of relative inaccessibility, lol). So Whitman is definitely the "mystery school" in our universe of knowledge. Any info is helpful, and it seems that we may have to make a trip in person before the summer is out.</p>
<p>Calmac~
I want to go to Whitman in the fall (I'm accepted but we're waiting on the financial aid to come through), and a friend of mine has an older brother who is currently attending and came out of HS with a 3.0 GPA as well. He didn't get in the first time around, but they offered him a late admission (he went in and advocated for it himself) so he took a job at home during the fall semester and started his freshman year in the spring.</p>
<p>Basically, a 3.0 doesn't take your daughter out of the running - it sounds like she has a lot of other things going for her as well.</p>
<p>My friend told me something along the lines of "If you love Whitman, Whitman loves you." I would say don't give up if it is your D's top choice, even if the first answer is no.</p>
<p>By the way, my friend's older brother loves it.</p>
<p>Best of luck, I hope to see your D in the fall!</p>