<p>Hey, I have been accepted and with only a couple weeks to decide am trying to figure if Whitman is really worth the money. They gave me a scholarship of 6,000 a year and no merit aid. that's like 31000 a year!!! I visited and yes I loved it, but come on! how do I know if I am even going to make that much when I graduate? Beyond that, how well known is Whitman? I am afraid that no one will hold any regard for it if I leave the PNW. I know it isn't all about prestige, but if I am going to go into that much debt for my education, I would like to feel assured it would pay off. I take academics very seriously and I think I could do well there, but I just don't know if it is going to be worth it to me. Is anyone feeling the same way?</p>
<p>Hey catsmeow....</p>
<p>YES!!!! I feel exactly the same way. By the way, I don't even know what fin aid I have...when/how did you find out? It seems rather unorganized to me.</p>
<p>I take academices very seriously as well. I am sure there are lots of aspects that are really good about Whitman. But honestly I am praying to get in one of my waitlisted schools. Otherwise, I am seriously considering a UC instead of Whitman. I dread the thought of large lecture classes, but can't have my parents going into that kind of debt and have my first employer say "Whitman, where's that?". </p>
<p>Now, if it was Middlebury or Bowdoin, it would be a different story :)</p>
<p>I got into U. Chicago and Whitman...I am not really sure which school I want to go to. I see both of your points, and all I can say is that if you are worried about the name Whitman prob. isn't for you. I live in the Midwest and a lot of people have heard of Whitman, but it does not have the popularity of Harvard by any means. I guess I am leaning towards Whitman at this point, and I feel that Whitman will prep me for grad school really well...in fact better than U of C because its a smaller school. When I visited Whitman I loved the true feeling of a community, and the professors were so helpful. Whitman may be expensive, but I guess you are paying for an education and support/personal relationships with professors. In my decision, those are important; I would rather learn a ton and have a professor write me a killer rec. for grad school, then pay the same price for a school with a big name and meet professors during my junior and senior year. But back to my choice....what would you guys do??</p>
<p>well, it turns out I will definitely be attending Whitman this fall. The more I thought about it and talked with my parents we realized that we could afford it. I just couldn't turn them down, you know? We went to the spring visitor's day and there were a ton of people but only a few accepted students and the president gave us a personal tour! I think there were 5 of us and some parents. He knew everyone on campus on a first name basis, he introduced everyone we ran into and told us what year they were, what they planned on majoring in, and where they were from! He was incredible, I just can't see myself anywhere else now. So yeah, as for stroper: for me it depends on where you live too, UCHI was my first choice until I was waitlisted, but I am relieved to be staying in WA. Also, I don't know if you've visited Whitman, but it is a really intimate and supportive atmosphere. Chicago would be a little competitive for my tastes. Obviously Chicago is more renown, but if grad school is in your future, Whitman is also highly regarded in academic circles (even if it isn't all that prestigious in the eyes of someone you meet on the street). So I guess it depends on what kind of experience you want, I truly love both schools as I didn't take my name of UCHi's waitlist, and if I had been accepted I am not so sure which I would choose. All I know is that I adored Whitman and it was just the environment I was looking for (whether I knew it or not, I mean really Walla Walla doesn't sound like a place to strike your fancy). So yeah, good luck in your decision! The best thing is there is no wrong choice, both schools are amazing!</p>
<p>Hey, catsmeow..</p>
<p>Congrats on making your decision. It must feel so good to know (and be excited about) your college choice!</p>
<p>Isn't the president of Whitman retiring after this year? Did he say anything about his replacement?</p>
<p>I have visited Whitman, and it is a beautiful campus. Still have no idea where I will be. I am not in love with any of my choices :(</p>
<p>P.S.</p>
<p>Did you stay on UofC waitlist? I stayed on some waitlists and am PRAYING for good news so I, too, can be excited about college....</p>
<p>yeah he is retiring, that's a bummer. He didn't mention anything about who was replacing him except that he was going to teach part time at Colorado College. Anyway, yeah I stayed on the wait list, I am not holding my breath or anything though.</p>
<p>I think they do have a new president picked out----I remember getting a newsletter or something about him. The president for this year was Cronin right?? I think the new president worked at Wesleyan or Carleton...but i am not positive about that at all...just something i remeber reading...i think. But back to the question, Whitman must have a new president lined up for 2005/2006 school year and beyond...</p>
<p>yeah, Cronin was awesome, all the students called him Tom, I thought that was way cool.</p>
<p>The new president, who starts July 2005, is George Bridges. He formerly was the Dean of Undergrad Education at the Univ of Wash. Tom Cronin will be a tough act to follow.
<a href="http://www.whitman.edu/content/news/GeorgeBridges%5B/url%5D">http://www.whitman.edu/content/news/GeorgeBridges</a></p>
<p>I bet he will do a good job---the administration at Whitman seems to def. know what they are doing....</p>
<p>stroper: are you going to Whitman or are you still undecided?
I wish you luck if you have yet to decide.</p>
<p>I haven't sent in my deposit for U of C or Whitman yet....I am still deciding....I think socially and academically---whitman is going to be better, but U of C is a lot closer and easier to travel to...soo..</p>
<p>My parents really want me to go to U of C...but socially I don't think I will fit in. Even though I am not the most popular kid at my high school, I would like to have some friends, and all my friends who have gone to U of C say it is really hard to have a group of friends b.c you are constantly studying. Please help me out with some other reasons for why I should go to Whitman b.c the time is running out, and my parents are understanding the fact that college is about the fit...they seem to just want me to be close to them for that "just in case" factor. I have no trouble traveling to Washington, and they know I can do it, but what they aren't understanding is that I will fit in better at Whitman....i hope!</p>
<p>Since I am not a student yet, I can't say much as I have questions about it myself, but of all of those I know who did attend Whitman, they absolutely loved the community feel of it and Walla Walla didn't seem to be as lame as I thought because it really fostered that feel on campus. The kids are smart, but not competitively so, I'd say the biggest benefit is that the atmosphere is more nurturing than at a place like uchi where it is sink or swim. Still, my first choice used to be uchi so I can see how you are torn. Good luck in your decision, down to 10 days!</p>