Songs to Read By

I  generally like to keep my music upbeat when reading applications; it helps me set and sustain a good pace and keeps my energy level high, even when I’m pushing through into the third or fourth consecutive hour.  In no particular order, some of my favorites lately have been:

1) Ophelia - The Band
2) And Your Bird Can Sing – The Beatles
3) Into the Mystic – Van Morrison
4) Morning Sun – Al Barry and The Cimarons
5) Animal - Miike Snow (Punks Jump Up Remix)

So now you can probably guess my picks on the Songs to Wait By list last week. My favorite place to read is by far my house. Lucy, my puppy dog, can hang out and is more than happy to distract me for a minute or two in between each file. That way I can start each one with a fresh eye. Snacks are also in close proximity, a clutch component of being well-prepared for an afternoon of reading.

“Why Whitman?” Part III

Our third entry in the “Why Whitman?” series comes from Lauren McCullough, a Politics major from Wilsonville, Oregon. Happy writing to all you ED applicants working on your own Why Whitman essays!

When I applied to college, I knew there were a few qualities I had to have in my college experience. The first was a small school with a strong sense of community, so I exclusively considered tiny liberal arts colleges. I was interested in all things Humanities and Social Sciences, so it didn’t make sense for me to pick a school based on only one of those departments. Actually, I guess the requirement was a well-rounded college strong in all academic departments. Looking back, this was an excellent decision: I’ve changed my major four times before happily settling down in the Politics department!

After these basic size and academic considerations, the student body was the most important component to me. I wanted to be a part of an eclectic, intelligent student body where people were also quirky and friendly.

I already knew Whitman fit this profile well because both my brother and sister attended. However, not surprisingly, I thought I would never go to the same school as both my siblings. Yet, when I went and visited schools, Whitman stood out for me above the rest. Current students were all friendly and the professors were fascinating during Admitted Students Day and my time there really convinced me that Whitman was a school I would be happy and not at all seen as anyone’s little sister.

I was also comforted by the fact that my two siblings, who have very different personalities and interests both thrived at Whitman. My sister was involved with theater and art and majored in Psychology. My brother, on the other hand, majored in Philosophy, played varsity soccer, was active in Greek life, and tutored local elementary students.

Ultimately, I chose Whitman because it felt right, academically and socially, and because I was confident that I would be happy here. When I was forced to think about where I truly wanted to spend the next four years of my life, Whitman stood out as the right place; almost four years later I’m glad to say I was right!

Useful Tips for the College Admission Process

Ever wonder what college admissions officers really think about SAT scores, college essays and emails from students? Well you’re in luck! The writers from Woman’s Day Magazine talked to admission officers across the country and compiled a list of ten useful tips for the admission process.

We hope this will answer a few of your questions about the application process. Reading this article may also produce some questions and we’d be happy to answer them for you. Check out our list of admission staff and email the officer assigned to your hometown.