Small School, Small Town

Introduction
Get to know Whitman students as best you can; visit campus and listen in on conversations, watch how professors and students interact in class, or if you can't visit you can try to get the feel of a student by talking to someone over the phone. I chose Whitman because I liked the general sense of humor that everyone seemed to share; I liked the interest the kids had in their studies and yet their laid-back air.

I wouldn't come to this school if you really want a wide social life and night life; this is a small school in a small town. You can get to know some great people very deeply here, which I love, but you should know that by your Junior and Senior years you pretty much know a little bit about almost everyone you are peers with. I would also say that this isn't the ideal place for anyone who identifies very strongly as a jock or a preppy--intramural sports here are far more popular than those varsity. If you like to rock-climb or hang out in your Chacos, you're at home. If you want a strong base of football fans or to be around people who would recognize Prada, then this isn't really your place.

Campus Life and Social Life
This past weekend I played some frisbee with a friend, did homework, worked at my job, went to a drunken wild party, and watched a movie with my housemates.

There is definately a heavy alcohol culture at Whitman. While the Greek system is not as hardcore or typical as it might be at other, larger schools, it is present and definetely produces very typical beer parties. There usually is a list of places to go party and drink on a weekend; and smaller circles of friends often throw their own parties. There are, however, only three bars in town and really only one that students ever consider going to.

Clubs THRIVE at Whitman; there are so many out there with many interests represented. The Tea Club--I think that they honestly just get together and drink exotic teas. Activist clubs like VOX or Campus Greens. There's an investment club. Most people I know affiliate, at least loosely, with one or more clubs.

Sports are pretty low key here. Varsity sports are supported, but not all that big a deal. Intramural sports get a lot more attention and involvement; flag-football, ultimate frisbee, dodgeball. Lots of groups and lots of just circles of friends start up teams and have fun; and the rest of campus stops by the watch.

The worst bits of social life would include the inevitably small number of people at the school, and the isolation that Whitman seems to have from any other masses of people our age. If you don't mind a small setting, then things are okay. I personally like the fact that if I bike over to class, I know the names of 90% of the people that I pass and probably say hi to 70% of them. But if you don't want anyone knowing your personal business, small might not be for you.

Dating also seems to be missing from Whitman social culture. We can't even explain it; people seem to either be in long, very serious relationships, or keep things highly casual and just hook up. Advertisement
Academics
Most of the Professors at Whitman are superb--great personalities, great minds, and friendly demeanors. One exception is Spanish Department... it's notoriously bad. I personally took First Year Spanish and loved it, but many people tell me that they come here wanting to major in the subject just to decide against it when they meet the department. The science departments are great for a liberal arts college, and the theatre department as well. I am an Anthropology major and would have to say that the department is very small, and thus limited, but just one great professor has kept me solid with my choice of major.

Student Body
Most of the students are from the Pacific Northwest. Most were kinda nerdy in high-school. Many are liberal, but there are strong streaks of moderates and a few conservatives. Whitman students love learning; they will talk to each other about the crazy stuff they got into in class and then that might lead on to discussing philosophy for a couple of hours in a dorm lounge. The students here are, by and large, very friendly to everyone. There are a few loner types who just want to study and avoid interactions, and some "cool kids" who just seem to be in a social world of their own, but for the most part this is an extremely socially open campus.

Whitman students are mostly white, middle class kids. There are lower class kids here who manage to thrive, and some people more rich than I had ever had contact with. There also are some international students and a minority of minorities, as it were, who are completely incorporated into the campus.

In Closing...
Whitties and Whitman just have a feel; decide if you like it. I love this school, even with my quibbles with elements of it or some of the students here. I have found a more concentrated group of people who I find interesting and easy to get along with here than most other environments in which I have been.