Whitman College Reviews

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.

There seems to be more crime on...

There seems to be more crime on campus this year than in the past, mostly as a result of townies harrassing students at night or stealing from dorms. However, the dorms are now only accessible with a student ID to swipe in, and there seem to be more security guards on duty on weekends. I've still never felt I needed to lock my room. Pretty much everyone leaves stuff in the library unattended (laptops, purses, books), and I haven't heard of any problems with that. If you walk with someone at night, it's really not a huge deal, and I've always felt very safe on campus.

Campus is small, and the alcohol...

Campus is small, and the alcohol and drug policies are very lenient. However, there have been a lot of thefts (of bicycles and belongings in unlocked rooms) and a few muggings recently, and some have complained that there is inadequate street lighting and security staff.

There are some very good, but...

There are some very good, but expensive restaurants. Other than that, there aren't many good inexpensive places. I would recommend Pho Sho, which is a bit of a walk but cheap and quite good. There is also a good farmer's market, with local produce.

Whitman feels like a very safe...

Whitman feels like a very safe campus. There have been reports of small thefts, but if you lock your door and keep an eye on your stuff the thefts can easily be avoided. Whitman also has a security center that you can call if you want an escort to walk you home.

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.

There are tons of great...

There are tons of great restaurants. You'll hear about them once you get into town. Go to the Taco Truck for great Mexican food--order the Walla Walla burrito. Go to Sweet Basil and get either the pizza by the slice or the calzones--awesome New York style pizza. Go to the patisseri for great desert. A lot of really nice upscale restaurants, too---have your parents look them up.

Whitman is a beautiful and...

Whitman is a beautiful and wonderfully accessible campus. All the buildings are fabulous and well kept. Let me tell you, watching the Penrose Library glow against a setting sun as you lay on Ankeney field is something that will burn itself into your mind--you will never forget Whitman College or the experiences you've had here.

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.

All the teachers I have had have...

All the teachers I have had have been excellent. They are all very nice and easy to see outside of class for extra help. They do expect a significant effort on your part, and the workload is heavy, but that's what you expect. Check out the Geology, Environmental Studies, and Politics departments.

Campus security is, for the most...

Campus security is, for the most part, staffed by students. There were some incidents, mostly first semester, in which residents of the greater community came into residents halls and stole computers and iPods, and where students were mugged and there things were stolen. The biggest crimes were bike theft, so make sure your bike is locked up, or even better, keep it inside. At all times, there is a campus security escort service available if you have to walk alone across campus, so there should never be a reason for you to feel unsafe.

The library is the best place to...

The library is the best place to see people and hang out most evenings, and it's awesome because it's open 24/7. The old gym (Sherwood) is being renovated, and the new gym is beautiful, although it's hard to find time to swim in the pool when teams or kayakers aren't practicing. The student center (Reid) is another popular hangout, and the food is good because it isn't a dining hall. But the hours that the food area is open are really limited and frustrating.

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.

Greek life's pretty different here...

Greek life's pretty different here than at a state school---it's pretty small, and it doesn't fall in to too many of the stereotypes. There are always a few independents who rail against the Greek system pretty publicly in the campus newspaper, but by and large I think Indies and Greeks get along fairly well. Lots of all campus parties that some people frequent, others avoid, and there's tons of philanthropy.

The food is very good for dining...

The food is very good for dining halls, but it can also get boring after a few months. There are always plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, which is great. Reid Campus Center offers delicious hamburgers, hot sandwiches, pizzas, and a different ethnic spotlight each week (e.g. Sicily, Asia, etc.); this is great if you get sick of the dining halls.

Professors here are so excited...

Professors here are so excited about helping you learn. Many of them emphasize learning over grades, though that doesn't mean the let up on the workload. You will get out of the classes what you put in. I know people who are constantly in the library and others who rarely do work. Obviously this is reflected in your grade, so I guess to do well, yes, you will have a big workload. But there is always time for other things.

Whitman is a very safe place, but...

Whitman is a very safe place, but there have occasionally been instances in which students have been mugged by people on campus. However, since those events took place, campus security became much more stringent.

The library is amazing---It's open...

The library is amazing---It's open 24 hours a day with ample desk space overlooking Ankeny field, plenty of resources for any project, a cafe open until 2 a.m., and a silent reading room for intense study sessions. Whitman students lack nothing in terms of a great research and study facility. The Baker Ferguson Fitness Center, opened in 2006, is a state-of-the-art workout facility equipped with machines and personal televisions and a huge pool that offers kayaking lessons and open swim. Reid Campus Center, also very new to campus, has a great ballroom that hosts campus events and dance, a personal mailbox for each student, a large bookstore, a cafe, all of the student club offices, and many general meeting areas.

Walla Walla is definitely small,...

Walla Walla is definitely small, but the winery tourism definitely attracts some quaint cafes. I love Sweet Basil---on Tuesdays they have a student discount, and their trendy NY pizza vibe is a fun anomaly in the quiet farming area. Ice-Burgs has the BEST milkshakes, with real fruit and fresh ice cream. Check out Stone Soup Cafe. A spot for older locals, this sandwich and soup eatery offers many tasty classics. You'll also find many students studying at Colville St. Patisserie, a french bakery and coffee spot with delicious gelato and miniature cakes, tarts, and mousses.

There’s pretty much nothing to do...

There’s pretty much nothing to do in Walla Walla, unless you’re bored or desperate or both. In a way, it’s nice because it brings the focus of activity to Whitman, but it’s always really frustrating when I want to leave Whitman for a while and experience some rich culture—and Walla Walla can’t offer it.

Since Walla Walla is known for its...

Since Walla Walla is known for its farming, it is agriculturally based, and that greatly affects the atmosphere. It is not a cosmopolitan town, but there are good places to go out for dinner. I grew up near a large city, so I definitely miss it, and I sometimes feel suffocated by the remoteness of Walla Walla. It helps that the people are nice, but nothing replaces the city.

Most guys at Whitman were pretty...

Most guys at Whitman were pretty attractive, especially if you like the more rugged-looking guys. A lot of them are like scruffier Greek gods, and it’s great in spring when they all walk around without their shirts.

I hate generalizations, but...

I hate generalizations, but basically everyone here is very nice and intelligent, and typically quite attractive.

There are a handful of guys who I...

There are a handful of guys who I find attractive, and that seems to be enough for me. My interaction with them varies depending on if I have classes with them or if we talked at parties, but otherwise, it seems like it’s harder for girls to meet guys than for guys to meet girls. The ratio is skewed in the guys’ favor!

My mom commented that it’s the...

My mom commented that it’s the place where healthy-looking, handsome folks go.