Whitman College Reviews
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Geneva
11/13/2010Reviewer is A current student here.
3 out of 3 people found this review useful. 1 of 11
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Whitman is great for the academically inclined, liberal/open-minded, athletic, eco-conscious and/or nerdy student.
Tips for prospective students Visit the campus to make sure that Whitman really seems right for you, the academics are tough so if you're looking for an easy college experience or you want to be involved in a lot of activities AND sleep, you might want to discount Whitman.
Bang for the buck Whitman is an expensive school, yet it's hard to believe how you could expect more from one college. Whitman provides extensive resources including a 24-hour library, technology services, free printing and multiple facilities throughout the campus. If you really take advantage of these resources it is unquestionable that you'll get your money's worth.
Am enjoying being here I love Whitman. The college constantly has amazing events going on, there's never really a dull moment on campus. From theater productions to quidditch matches to lectures to random craft projects something is always happening.
Am learning a lot Whitman is well known for its rigorous academics. To start with all freshmen must take an encounters course, which includes the study of texts most people would not have studied in high school (including The Qur'an or The Odyssey). This alone makes it difficult to not learn even during your first semester at Whitman.
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Tanner from Hanover, PA
06/28/2011Reviewer is A current student here.
2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 2 of 11
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Gee golly... I would say just about anybody would be made to feel welcome by the people at this school, but I would venture a guess that if you're not a fan of the small community feel that Whitman would not be the place for you. To make a wide-sweeping generalization using a few adjectives, Whitman students are: genuine, fun-loving, intellectual, outdoorsy, laid-back, outgoing, and modest (many students have amazing experiences about which you will hear nothing until knowing them for quite some time)
Tips for prospective students Don't hesitate to strike up a conversation with people (even upperclassmen). Have a good time, but make sure to set aside time for academics as procrastination can be a slippery slope and your Whitman classes will probably ask more of you than your high school did.
Bang for the buck It's definitely not a cheap school, but I think that the atmosphere of what I would describe as the 'densest population of genuine people I've ever experienced', coupled with great academics, seemingly limitless academic and recreational resources, etc, etc make it well worth the extra cash.
Am learning a lot Having not attended another college aside from Whitman, my frame of reference is definitely a narrow one. I can still confidently say that my needs as a student are met exceptionally well, and I have been learning very much from some truly great faculty.
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Diana from Walla Walla, WA
07/31/2011Reviewer is A current student here.
2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 3 of 11
Categories Comments Great for these types of students I have met so many different types of people at Whitman. Whether you're a jock, nerd, hipster or whatever is most comfortable for you, you will find a place at Whitman. I do find that a lot of the people at Whitman are very open-minded to different views and life styles and respectful of others,
Tips for prospective students VISIT if you can! I decided on Whitman after my first visit because I just felt that it was a really good fit for me. Wallla Walla was just recently named the friendliest city in America and Whitman definitely lives up to it. Don't be shy, talk to current students and ask them why they chose Whitman. Also keep in mind that Whitman is a small school but there are always events during the weekends.
Bang for the buck I'm not going to sugar-coat it, Whitman is very expensive but when it comes down to it, I have loved my first year of college and you cannot put a price on that. The key to helping you pay for such an expensive school is preparation including getting your FAFSA done in time and applying for scholarships. If you don't qualify for financial aid, there are many scholarship websites you can use where a simple essay can earn you at least $1000 in scholarship money.
Am enjoying being here Whitman is the only school that I've actually been excited to return to. I miss my friends and learning from extraordinary professors. Everyday I see Facebook posts from my Whitman friends saying how much they miss school and how badly they want to go back.
Am learning a lot I can honestly say I have grown so much in the past year both in and out of the classroom. I am academically stimulated and challenged in my courses but I also enjoy the college lifestyle. I have gained a larger interest in my studies now that I can choose which classes interest me instead of classes I had to take for high school.
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Daniel from Walla Walla, WA
10/16/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 4 of 11
Categories Comments Greek Life Not for everyone, but if you are involved it can be very fun!
Great for these types of students Liberal, hippies
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Fountains on hot days!
Bang for the buck Although it is pretty expensive, the experience here is unlike most others. Professors truly want you to succeed and will put in a lot of work to see that happen if you want it. Students are very accepting and open and just friendly in general. Faculty puts in countless behind the scene hours to make sure life on campus is enjoyable.
What to do for fun Many events such as movie screenings, public speakers, student musicians, etc. are put on during the week. Lots of people go to house or frat parties on the weekends, but there is no pressure to be involved in the party scene.
Food and Dining Food can get boring and repetitive, but overall the dining services go to great lengths to accomodate everyone and serve tasty and healthy food.
Dorm Life Freshman year in the dorms is one of the most exciting times you will experience. It is so conducive to meeting and getting close to a lot of people.
Academic Rigor Some students seem to get by fairly easily, but academics are definitely a challenge. One thing that I have noticed is that the atmosphere concerning academics is much more relaxed than other schools I have visited.
Tips for prospective students Come visit! And stay a night with a current student if you can. You really get the feel for the people and the campus.
In three sentences I would describe Whitman as my extended family. Everyone, from the professors to the students to the janitors, have been nothing but supportive since I have been here. I have met some of the most interesting and caring people here.
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Ethan from Littleton, CO
06/22/2010Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 5 of 11
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Students who want to work hard, learn, exercise, and love the outdoors will be right at home.
Tips for prospective students Come and sit-in on a class. I never had the change but I wish I did. The class sizes are quite small, very engaging, and the professor has a personal connection with every student. It's the only way to learn well in my opinion.
Bang for the buck The school is quite expensive at $50,000 a year, but if you work hard in high school they are very willing to help you out in your expenses. It also helps to not be Caucasian. Plus, college is an investment in yourself. I'm willing to pay that much to lead a happy career the rest of my life and a great education is what you'll find at Whitman.
Will enjoy being here The campus is gorgeous and there is an unlimited supply of activities to be occupied with on and off campus.
Academic Rigor Learning occurs nonstop here. It's never tedious, unless you are taking a subject that absolutely bores you (I don't recommend doing that), but comes with a price. That price is the willingness to actively participate and enjoy what you're learning. If those steps can be followed, you will collect a vast amount of knowledge during your time here.
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Keiler from Portland, OR
10/14/2010Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 6 of 11
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Outdoorsy, friendly, academically collaborative not competitive, non-pretentious, involved
Bang for the buck The academics of the school are obviously impressive, but I think you can find good professors at any school you go to, big or small. In all honesty I think what makes the difference in cost worth it is the experience that it comes with. This is the last time that a small, tight-knit community will be built for you in this way, and Whitman is a perfect place to take advantage of it.
Am enjoying being here Life is beautiful out here. The people are amazing, friendly individuals who genuinely seem to care about those around them. The college does a good job of putting on enough events that there is something to do no matter what your interest is. At times it can feel a bit claustrophobic and limiting when you realize you haven't left a two mile radius bubble, but it sure is a nice bubble to be stuck in.
Am learning a lot In Encounters (the Freshman writing class) I especially feel like I'm learning. The amount of feedback and personal attention that the professors are willing to give, for all classes, makes it far easier to develop and progress, because you're not playing a guessing game.
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Allison from Olympia, WA
05/15/2011Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 7 of 11
Categories Comments Will enjoy being here I visited Whitman in April. The campus was amazing. Definitely sign up for the tour and the meeting with the admissions advisor. They really helped guide me in the college making process.
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Alaska
08/12/2011Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 8 of 11
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Even shy people will find their niche at Whitman - people form close-knit groups, but no one is exclusive or unkind. Anyone with a lot of motivation and personality will fit right in.
Tips for prospective students Visiting Whitman was what sold me. It's difficult to get the full feel of any school without visiting it, and Whitman is no different. Sitting in on classes gave me an idea of the learning environment there, and I would definitely recommend that to any prospective student - the students and faculty are very friendly and welcoming to prospies.
Bang for the buck Whitman is a very expensive school to attend. However, they're good at providing financial aid, and the opportunities your money buys are endless and unparalleled by comparably-sized schools. Not many people have heard of Whitman outside of the region, so if you're looking for a school with prestige, it's no Harvard or Princeton.
Am enjoying being here My freshman year at Whitman was the best year of my life. The people are open-minded, friendly, and stimulating, and I've been counting down the days until I can go back. The school has high expectations of your performance, but it also allows you more personal freedom than many other schools (read: lenient alcohol policies/very chill staff).
Am learning a lot The curriculum is rigorous, but not overwhelming. The Encounters program is a good introduction to the Whitman experience, as it coaches college writing and seminar skills. Most professors are extremely helpful at providing extra help, constructive comments, and direction for starting your career.
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Shiann from Grangeville, ID
04/11/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 9 of 11
Categories Comments Bang for the buck The education aspect is outstanding if you use it right. The Whitman degree behind your name looks really good to employers, but plan on working extremely hard for good grades.
What to do for fun There are multiple clubs to join, intramural sports, rock climbing wall, functions at sororities and fraternities are just a few examples.
Food and Dining The school food is amazing, and freshman and sophomores are required to get a meal plan. They have the best Sunday brunch, and meals throughout the week have different themes, but you can also get regular food if you want it. There is also a grocery store four blocks away if you want anything extra.
Dorm Life Making friends is so much easier in a dorm. Some dorms are better than others due to partying issues.
Academic Rigor The school work is hard, but it can be done if you put enough time into it.
Tips for prospective students Plan to work hard. Cramming for tests isn't acceptable if you want to have a high GPA. Teachers expect an enormous amount of work from each student, but they are also highly willing to help if you put the effort forward.
In three sentences The students and faculty at Whitman College are very welcoming. It is a diverse campus, both in ethnicity and the beliefs of students. It has a beautiful campus decorated by artistic statues.
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Maricela from Los Angeles, CA
01/14/2013Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 10 of 11
Categories Comments Campus Safety At Whitman there is something called Green Dot. It allows other Whitties to help you when you may find yourself in an awkward situation. There is always security around. Also, there is an app that you can download on your smart phone and with a click on a button it sends a message to your friends and security to help you if you are in any trouble and it gives them your exact location.
Greek Life Whitman has four sororities and four fraternities. The sororities on campus are Alpha Phi, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, and Kappa Alpha Theta. The fraternities are Beta Theta Phi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi, and Tau Kappa Epsilon. You do not necessarily need to be part of the greek life to have a good time at Whitman; Indies also have loads of fun.
Clubs and Activities At Whitman you will never get bored, everything happens on campus. There are many clubs here from GLBTQ, First Generation Working Class to Fencing. If there isn't any particular club you fancy you can always form your own!
Great for these types of students Whitman is for you if you want to get academically provoked, interested in living in a small town, being part of a community, and having small classes, attention from your professors and having easy access to all of the offices (Financial Aid, Student Engagement Center etc.).
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus An unusual tradition that Whitman has is Beer Mile. During the Spring semester students run a mile around Ankeny Field naked. There is also a fish statue that if you stand two feet away and speak you can hear yourself!
What to do for fun At Whitman there is always something to do whether it is joining clubs, going to parties during the weekend, taking strolls, getting athletically fit at the Rock Climbing Wall, or simply going into town.
Food and Dining Bon Appetit is where you would get most of your food in Whitman. Most of the food tastes fantastic. If you are a vegetarian do not worry because there is always a lot of choices for you as well. You do not always have to go to the dining halls you can go to Reid or go into town.
Dorm Life Dorm life is amazing. Resident life is separated into sections to help you bond easier with other students. First year dorms are Jewett, Prentiss (all girl dorm), Lyman, Anderson, and North. Usually, sections tend to dress up for section dinners and have section meetings.There are also interest houses that you can apply after your first year. You will have an SA your first semester of college to guide you and your RA to help you in anything.
Academic Rigor Whitman College is a liberal arts institution. It allows students to experience different classes even if it is not a course required for your major; through that students are able to try new things that may change your minors and majors. There is a required class called Encounters that all first years have to take to ease the transition from high school to college and help you improve on your writing and analytical skills.
Tips for prospective students If you are looking for a welcoming environment Whitman would be it! Whitman College has many friendly students, advisers, professors and faculty ready to help you in every way possible. Whitman College also offers fly in programs so you can come and check out the campus for yourself!
In three sentences Whitman College is located in Walla Walla, Washington. Whitman College challenges you in every way possible: from academics to sports to the meaning of life. Whitman makes you question everything you know and on top of that expects the very best of you.
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Purple cat
11/24/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
11 of 11
Categories Comments Campus Safety The campus is very safe. If you are in the library for a long time, and don't want to walk to your dorm by yourself, we have security escorts that you can call and they will walk you from wherever you are to your dorm. The security escorts are also students, so it's not just any random person walking you to your room. Whitman security also has an app for a smart phone that allows you to contact Whitman security much faster.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus We have the Naked Mile, which is bunch of people getting naked and running a mile around ankeney field, a week before finals. People get naked, but some wear bathing suits or shorts at least, your choice. It's purposely before finals, so that people relieve some stress and just let lose for a bit, literally.
What to do for fun The Whitman campus always has events going on. If you are a party person, you can always go to the greek parties which happen pretty much every weekend. The town of Walla Walla is small, but like I said, I think the college puts of enough events to keep you entertained. We have a group called WEB, which is the Whitman Events Board, and they bring guest speakers to campus, put on movie screenings, bring a kind of well-known artist every year to perform a concert.
Food and Dining The food at Whitman is really healthy. The food is also really good, yes you might get tired of it sometimes, but we also have a cafe that is open longer and where the food is cooked there, they have really good pasta and burgers. You won't starve, that's for sure. The chefs are always taking feedback, so the dinning halls have bulletin boards where you can write a suggestion or request, like bring back the carrot cake.
Dorm Life Dorm life is great. You get to rank the dorm of your preference your freshmen year, which is why I would suggest prospective students to visit the scholarship and get a feel of which dorm they might want to live in. Some dorms are more noisy and social than other, so it really depends on your personality, but you'll love it wherever you stay, and if you want to switch out of a dorm into another, you can do so after the first semester.
Academic Rigor Academics at Whitman are definitely rigorous, but no matter how difficult a class is, Whitman offers so many resources to you to help you prosper. For example, we have the Academic Resource Center (ARC) which pairs you up with a personal tutor for any class you are struggling with. Professors are also a great resource because they have super flexible office hours and they are really nice and approachable, so they are your first resource whenever you feel like you just don't understand something about the class or the material.
Tips for prospective students I would say to prospective students to apply for the Visit Scholarship Program that Whitman offers and come visit the campus so you can stay with an overnight host and see if Whitman is for you.
In three sentences Whitman College is like home away from home. I love the atmosphere of people being genuinely nice to each other. There is no competition between people when it comes to academics, instead we are there to help each other thrive in what we are best at.
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