How to Choose a College

There is barely a week to go until the May 1 deposit deadline and the office staff has really enjoyed working with the hundreds of you who have visited campus or met us at receptions across the country this month. We know many of you are still undecided, so I’ve compiled some words of advice from our staff:

Katie: “Ask yourself these questions.  At which school was I the most at ease?  At which school did I find conversations with students the easiest?  And lastly, if one college were to call you today and offer to fly you to campus for free next week, which would you be the most excited to return to?  You’ve done a very thorough job in this college search process.  Trust your gut.”

Robert: “Trust your heart! Reflect back on your campus visits and chose the place where you connected with the student body, faculty, and staff and where you felt most ‘at home’. Chose a place that is going to push you inside and outside the classroom and will provide you the opportunity to grow into the person you aspire to be. “

Esther: “Look at the course catalog of the institutions you are considering. Which ones make you the most excited?”

Bruce: “Ask yourself these questions: Where could I see spending the next four years? What was it about college x that makes me feel it’s the best fit?
What do I want from my college experience/education? Does x college provide that? Can I/my family handle the financial obligations? Was the student atmosphere engaging?”

Josh: “If a place fit and you loved the classes, people or vibe, let that weigh strongly. Don’t pander to media antics. And no school is worth $30,000+ in student loans for undergrad.”

John: “Enjoy the view from my office:”

Songs to Celebrate By

Congratulations Class of 2016!

The entire Whitman community is looking forward to welcoming you to campus next fall! They’ll be plenty of time to work out the details. Now it’s time to get up, jump around, and celebrate all your hard work and success!

Tighten Up - The Black Keys
Signed, Sealed Delivered – Stevie Wonder
Good Feeling – Flo Rida
Home - Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeros
I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston
Dancing in the Moonlight - Toploader
All My Friends – LCD Soundsystem
Sweet & Dandy – Toots & The Maytals
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
Rock with You – Michael Jackson
Dancing in the Street – The Mamas & The Papas
All Right Now - Free
Summertime Clothes – Animal Collective

Don’t forget to join the Class of 2016 Facebook Page and like Whitman Admission! Again, congratulations; we here at the Office of Admission are thrilled to be the first to welcome you to the Whitman family.

Letters are Out!

Letters are out!  As many of your know by now, we mailed letters on Friday, March 26, and Monday, March 29.  After months of intense reading by admission officers and weeks of review and discussion, we are all glad to be done with the selection process.  As many of my colleagues have shared, it’s always a privilege to be given a snapshot into the lives and minds of so many bright, interesting people.

The admission and financial aid spent a week getting ready for the mail to get out.  It was a week of printing letters, signing (all hand signed by Kevin Dyerly and me), then stuffing.  On Friday afternoon, a few of us helped deliver the boxes of mail to our on-campus mail center to be stamped and sealed.  A few folks then helped take them to the Walla Walla post office.  We know that so many students were anxiously waiting, so we wanted to get those letters out.

Regardless of the outcome of decisions, our staff appreciates the effort that students took to complete their application and to share with us their stories.  It truly was an honor to get to know so many interesting students.  Best wishes to all.

Decisions are in the Mail!

OK, folks – We have delivered the last of the admission decisions to the post office, so watch your mailbox this week!

Kevin and Anne moving admit packets.

Tony and Anne unloading admit packets.

Crunch Time!

Kevin Dyerly, Director of Admission, signing letters. Yes. He signs each letter by hand.

After traveling around the country getting to know you, walking you through the application process, reading your files, and discussing them, it is decision time.  It has been an incredible process this year, and we cannot wait for the next step.  Decision time is crunch time here in the Whitman Office of Admission – lots to do in a tight window.  We are signing letters, stuffing envelopes, and getting ready to mail decisions.  Rest assured, we’re working as hard as we can.  Early next week, the decision letters should arrive on your doorstep or in your mailbox.  As for now, we will keep plugging away.