Whitman College - Overall Experience

Whitman's not just school. My...

Whitman's not just school. My professors are accessible and brilliant, my class sizes small, and the facilities—the labs, gyms, library, and classrooms—are all top notch. But the Whitman experience has been so much more than that. My overall experience includes trips with geology professors to the Columbia River Gorge; rock climbing neighboring ranges on the weekends with people I've only just met; backpacking in the beautiful Wallowa wilderness; tutoring community members in a literacy program through the College; enjoying speakers like Salman Rushdie and Marjane Satrapi and bands like Girl Talk, U.S.E., and Talk Demonic for free; planning summer volunteering in Guatemala; and having all of the resources and support necessary to start a second literary magazine on campus and create real and lasting change. I've found that if one has the initiative, everything is possible at Whitman, and everyone here helps everyone else succeed. You don't see intense competition between students but rather collaboration among the student body, faculty, and staff. We all know each others' faces, and I've found so much passion and good humor in the student body here that, frankly, I didn't see matched anywhere else that I visited in my extensive college search a few years back. Though it took me a little while to start loving the small town feel of Walla Walla (sure, we don't have as much great shopping as NYC or Seattle, but we do have great wineries, excellent food, beautiful wheatfields, café owners who know you by name, multiple open mics nights within a few blocks of campus each week...), it's hard to imagine leaving. That's probably why there are a large number of alumni who come to visit Whitman or to speak here on campus about the incredible life experiences and jobs they have had after graduating from Whitman.

Whitman is fantastic. I absolutely...

Whitman is fantastic. I absolutely love it. The people here are incredibly smart and genuinely nice and outgoing. The classes are stimulating and difficult. You definitely have to study, and it's very cooperative among your peers, not competitive. It's laid-back for sure. The admissions office looks for well-rounded kids, and this school is full of them. Everybody has fascinating stories of what they did or where they came from. I love it. This an amazing school.

If I could do it over I would have...

If I could do it over I would have ranked Whitman higher on my college choices. There is so much advantage in going to a school that really looks out for every student. Simple things like paying for expenses if you are presenting at a conference make life so much easier and allow you to really pursue research and academics without having to worry about finances. My favorite memory is the president (George) dedicating a fountain to my class year because we managed to fit more than 40 people in it at once. It is now the 'Class of 2009 Honorary Swimming Pool.' I really like that he finds out what students do and acknowledges it instead of just sitting in an office dealing with paperwork and ignoring the students.

I love Whitman, and I'm very glad...

I love Whitman, and I'm very glad I chose it. It's a very intellectual environment, and I've learned a lot from peers and professors both inside and outside of class. Even though Walla Walla is small, there is an abundance of groups and activities to get involved in on campus. I find myself almost too involved.

The first few months were...

The first few months were rough—getting used to such an open, liberal environment was challenging coming from my hometown and background, but I wouldn’t change the experience for anything. I learned an equal amount from the living experiences and personal interactions at Whitman as I did in the classroom.