vonlost18636 replies13892 postsSuper ModeratorSuper Moderator
Being need blind or not should be irrelevant when applying; it doesn't affect the desirability of the school, nor how much aid you get; it might affect only your chance of being admitted.
Likewise, giving merit aid or not should also be irrelevant when applying, but it can make a big difference when deciding among various admittances!
vonlost18636 replies13892 postsSuper ModeratorSuper Moderator
^ An exception could be if you believe you MUST get some merit aid to be able to afford a school, especially when applying to a school KNOWN not to meet 100% of need. You might feel you're wasting your application fee at such a no-merit-aid school.
I'm not too concerned for Reed's financial aid if I get accepted. In all probability, it would be cheaper for my family then UO. Whitman on the other hand, can be a mixed bag. I know they meet a lot of need, but it depends on how badly they want you. As for the stats, I am not way above but I think I could qualify by showing a unique and diverse side to me. Just a thought. I am trying not to be concerned with fin aid until I have acceptances and then compare them. However, it must be taken into consideration because some places I know will not meet all of my need, these schools being worse than Whitman and Reed. For that reason, I am not applying to them. I am however applying to schools with a history of good aid but easier admissions such as Willamette.
bopambo1241 replies56 postsRegistered UserSenior Member
Willamette is a great school. Have you taken a look at University of Puget Sound? Are you limiting yourself to the NW? Sometimes you can get a positive bump when you apply to schools across the country, lots of schools are looking for geographic diversity.
I am not applying to Puget Sound because my sister got a lot of scholarships there but it still had us paying 5k a year at least more than other schools she got in to. I am not limiting myself just to the NW. Reed, Whitman, Willamette, and College of Idaho are the only ones. I have 1 california, 1 colorado, and a few midwest. I am staying away from the east coast because I like the west coast layed back attitude. I have no huge draw to it.
3rdP, I think it's wise not to try to predict which colleges will give you the most aid. I've been through this with two sons now, and some colleges that claim to meet 100% of need offered worse packages (in some cases ZERO) than some colleges that made no such claims. Like you said, better to cast a wide net and then compare offers once they come in.
I will say that Whitman made good offers to both my sons. For S1, Whitman was the best FA offer he received out of eight schools, including six that claim to meet full need. For S2' Whitman was second best (and better, incidentally, than Willamette, even taking the merit aid into account). Good luck with your search!
BTW, S2 is finishing his first semester and is ecstatically happy. And as a parent, I could not be more pleased with Whitman. I am actually looking forward to writing the check for next term, which is high praise indeed!
Yep I have decided to apply to various schools where I am above, below, or at average based on statistics. I am applying to schools that meet full need, those that don't as well as need blind and need aware. Financial awards vary depending on so many factors it can be impossible to predict.
I am interested in applying to Whitman, but I am worried about it being isolated. I live near Seattle and I love the big city feel. Does Whitman ever feel isolated to you?
bopambo1241 replies56 postsRegistered UserSenior Member
luvcu95, I'm copying the text to a blog by a Whitman student that answers your question directly:
Is College Better if there is a Big City Nearby?
Posted on December 23, 2011 by Kayvon Behroozian
"I don’t know, cause I don’t go to a College that is near a big city. But I imagine not.
Last night I was having a conversation with a prospective student, and they raised a big concern that I myself had when I was going through my college search. That concern was “Isn’t Walla Walla too small and boring?” That question was the only one that kept me from immediately picking Whitman when I got accepted. It was the same question my parents kept telling me to consider. And it was the only one that I couldn’t quite come to terms with, even after I picked Whitman and sent in my acceptance. But I want to tell you, DO NOT BE AFRAID. The answer to that question is NO.
In italics I have included selected excerpts of what I was saying to this prospective student last night mixed with additional things that I wish I had included in the conversation.
Right now the city/town of the schools you are applying to is going to seem like a huge deal. But as you’re looking at schools you need to consider what it is going to be like when you actually get to school and have to study! You don’t need a big city near you to distract you from your studies. And with big cities it is very often the case that the dorms and campus empties out on the weekends, or you have to commute long distances to have “fun” with your friends. Imagine if you would be happy with students all leaving campus on the weekends to go into the city, and feeling obligated to follow your friends out into the city each weekend to have fun.
In my opinion, what makes Whitman the amazing tight-knit community where everybody knows and loves each other is Walla Walla. The school doesn’t get desserted each weekend…in fact, if you go downtown on the weekend its a 15 minute walk that you’ll usually take with your section-mates to go to the farmers market, grab some pastries and walk back to enjoy them on Ankeny field. Or, during the summer its a 10 minute walk down to Brights candies for an ice cream cone, that you’ll enjoy together on your way back to play frisbee. You spend time with your friends, talking with them and getting closer and the very act of going to downtown Walla Walla is an activity. You bond over the small things that only a small charming town like Walla Walla can offer.
Some people worry that Walla Walla is a town that makes college less fun. But the thing is, the town is what allows Whitman to provide the ideal “college experience”. Its “smallness” allows for you to meet and get to know everybody, because you aren’t all running off to different parts of some big city whenever you are looking to go out. And part of the “college experience”, in my opinion, isn’t to go to the city looking for fun things to do as your idea of “going out”, rather, it is all the great things that the college itself provides as its own fun. Be it the party scene at Whitman, the amazing events, speakers, and activities the Whitman Events Board funds, organizes and puts on, or the quirky, awesome, and uniquely Whitman things that only Whitties can make up for fun to do with each other! That is what the real “college experience” should be: self sustaining and unique experiences. Cause, and I’m serious this is real truth right here–> anything the big city offers at other schools while you are in college are the same things that you are going to have the opportunity to experience and enjoy when you are graduated anyways! So why not go to a place where you can get a unique experience??
And you think right now that you wanna go to a school with lots of activities around it to keep you “occupied”, “Busy”, and “Happy”. Well, when you get to Whitman you will be occupied with all the amazing people you meet and live with, you will be BUSY AS HELL with school work, and you will be Happy because all your friends live with you and don’t run away each weekend, cause they are all on campus doing all the AMAZING AND FUN THINGS there is to do on campus.
I honestly didn’t believe my tourguide when she told me that there is always something to do every single night of the week at Whitman. (And your schedule will be so packed with school work, extra curriculars, and other fun events that are happening at the same time that you won’t have time to go to them all, let alone go out to the city!)….the only reason I actually picked Whitman was cause the people there were so nice and I felt like I fit there really well. But when I got here, I discovered that my tourguide wasn’t lying to me, and I absolutely didn’t need a big city near by to be happy too.
In the end I want to reemphasize the crux of my argument. The small town of Walla Walla that Whitman resides in is a town that facilitates an amazing community feeling among our student population that very few schools, in my opinion, are able to foster like Whitman has been able to.
It is a legitimate concern to have; the concern of the town being too small. However, I assure you, almost every student arrives at Whitman with this concern, you aren’t and wont be the only one. But I want to further assure you, almost all of those with this concern discover after just a few few weeks, even days (for me at least), that the small town of Walla Walla was a non-issue the whole time, rather it is actually the reason Whitman is so uniquely Whitman. We study together, eat together, go out together, live our lives together, and enjoy all that is college, and the “college experience” together in the same place. That place being Whitman College, in Walla Walla Washington.
P.S. we were named “Friendliest Small Town in the Nation”
beablue116 replies0 postsRegistered UserNew Member
I am applying ED II to Whitman but when I notice that "Financial aid money is only available for students applying to begin at Whitman for the fall semester using the Regular Decision process. First-year and Early Decision international applicants are only allowed to apply early or for the spring term if they are not applying for financial aid."
Does that mean I will receive no aid applying ED since I am an international student? Could you pls help me out I am kinda confused now
"Financial aid money is only available for students applying to begin at Whitman for the fall semester using the Regular Decision process. "
Further: "international applicants are only allowed to apply early" ... "if they are NOT (emphasis added) applying for financial aid"
This means that Whitman ED is only for full-paying students. If beablue11 needs aid, he should not apply ED because FA decisions are made only during the RD process. Further he will appear misinformed or stupid if he submits an EDII application and seeks FA . Apply RD.
^^^ It does look like ED is not available for internationals applying for FA. Just to clarify, though, Whitman ED IS available for non-internationals who need FA: Early Decision- Whitman College
oompaloompa64137 replies6 postsRegistered UserJunior Member
Very impressed with Whitman. We took our son (HS junior) to visit the campus a few weeks ago. The professors were accesibile. Same for the staff. Enthusiastic alumni. There's a sense of a community among the students. Hope he applies there next year.
Delighted to hear your son is considering Whitman. S2 is a first year, and has found it to be an exceptionally welcoming place, with challenging classes and inspiring professors. Being from Seattle, you no doubt have many good sources of info about Whitman, but even so, feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
oompaloompa64137 replies6 postsRegistered UserJunior Member
Thank you, Sunmachine. I am familiar with you from other posts; think you have another child that either is or graduated from Carleton. I value your informative posts, and may PM you as we get closer to his application date, etc.
Replies to: Current sophomore, any questions??
Likewise, giving merit aid or not should also be irrelevant when applying, but it can make a big difference when deciding among various admittances!
I will say that Whitman made good offers to both my sons. For S1, Whitman was the best FA offer he received out of eight schools, including six that claim to meet full need. For S2' Whitman was second best (and better, incidentally, than Willamette, even taking the merit aid into account). Good luck with your search!
BTW, S2 is finishing his first semester and is ecstatically happy. And as a parent, I could not be more pleased with Whitman. I am actually looking forward to writing the check for next term, which is high praise indeed!
Is College Better if there is a Big City Nearby?
Posted on December 23, 2011 by Kayvon Behroozian
"I don’t know, cause I don’t go to a College that is near a big city. But I imagine not.
Last night I was having a conversation with a prospective student, and they raised a big concern that I myself had when I was going through my college search. That concern was “Isn’t Walla Walla too small and boring?” That question was the only one that kept me from immediately picking Whitman when I got accepted. It was the same question my parents kept telling me to consider. And it was the only one that I couldn’t quite come to terms with, even after I picked Whitman and sent in my acceptance. But I want to tell you, DO NOT BE AFRAID. The answer to that question is NO.
In italics I have included selected excerpts of what I was saying to this prospective student last night mixed with additional things that I wish I had included in the conversation.
Right now the city/town of the schools you are applying to is going to seem like a huge deal. But as you’re looking at schools you need to consider what it is going to be like when you actually get to school and have to study! You don’t need a big city near you to distract you from your studies. And with big cities it is very often the case that the dorms and campus empties out on the weekends, or you have to commute long distances to have “fun” with your friends. Imagine if you would be happy with students all leaving campus on the weekends to go into the city, and feeling obligated to follow your friends out into the city each weekend to have fun.
In my opinion, what makes Whitman the amazing tight-knit community where everybody knows and loves each other is Walla Walla. The school doesn’t get desserted each weekend…in fact, if you go downtown on the weekend its a 15 minute walk that you’ll usually take with your section-mates to go to the farmers market, grab some pastries and walk back to enjoy them on Ankeny field. Or, during the summer its a 10 minute walk down to Brights candies for an ice cream cone, that you’ll enjoy together on your way back to play frisbee. You spend time with your friends, talking with them and getting closer and the very act of going to downtown Walla Walla is an activity. You bond over the small things that only a small charming town like Walla Walla can offer.
Some people worry that Walla Walla is a town that makes college less fun. But the thing is, the town is what allows Whitman to provide the ideal “college experience”. Its “smallness” allows for you to meet and get to know everybody, because you aren’t all running off to different parts of some big city whenever you are looking to go out. And part of the “college experience”, in my opinion, isn’t to go to the city looking for fun things to do as your idea of “going out”, rather, it is all the great things that the college itself provides as its own fun. Be it the party scene at Whitman, the amazing events, speakers, and activities the Whitman Events Board funds, organizes and puts on, or the quirky, awesome, and uniquely Whitman things that only Whitties can make up for fun to do with each other! That is what the real “college experience” should be: self sustaining and unique experiences. Cause, and I’m serious this is real truth right here–> anything the big city offers at other schools while you are in college are the same things that you are going to have the opportunity to experience and enjoy when you are graduated anyways! So why not go to a place where you can get a unique experience??
And you think right now that you wanna go to a school with lots of activities around it to keep you “occupied”, “Busy”, and “Happy”. Well, when you get to Whitman you will be occupied with all the amazing people you meet and live with, you will be BUSY AS HELL with school work, and you will be Happy because all your friends live with you and don’t run away each weekend, cause they are all on campus doing all the AMAZING AND FUN THINGS there is to do on campus.
I honestly didn’t believe my tourguide when she told me that there is always something to do every single night of the week at Whitman. (And your schedule will be so packed with school work, extra curriculars, and other fun events that are happening at the same time that you won’t have time to go to them all, let alone go out to the city!)….the only reason I actually picked Whitman was cause the people there were so nice and I felt like I fit there really well. But when I got here, I discovered that my tourguide wasn’t lying to me, and I absolutely didn’t need a big city near by to be happy too.
In the end I want to reemphasize the crux of my argument. The small town of Walla Walla that Whitman resides in is a town that facilitates an amazing community feeling among our student population that very few schools, in my opinion, are able to foster like Whitman has been able to.
It is a legitimate concern to have; the concern of the town being too small. However, I assure you, almost every student arrives at Whitman with this concern, you aren’t and wont be the only one. But I want to further assure you, almost all of those with this concern discover after just a few few weeks, even days (for me at least), that the small town of Walla Walla was a non-issue the whole time, rather it is actually the reason Whitman is so uniquely Whitman. We study together, eat together, go out together, live our lives together, and enjoy all that is college, and the “college experience” together in the same place. That place being Whitman College, in Walla Walla Washington.
P.S. we were named “Friendliest Small Town in the Nation”
Does that mean I will receive no aid applying ED since I am an international student? Could you pls help me out I am kinda confused now
"Financial aid money is only available for students applying to begin at Whitman for the fall semester using the Regular Decision process. "
Further: "international applicants are only allowed to apply early" ... "if they are NOT (emphasis added) applying for financial aid"
This means that Whitman ED is only for full-paying students. If beablue11 needs aid, he should not apply ED because FA decisions are made only during the RD process. Further he will appear misinformed or stupid if he submits an EDII application and seeks FA . Apply RD.
Delighted to hear your son is considering Whitman. S2 is a first year, and has found it to be an exceptionally welcoming place, with challenging classes and inspiring professors. Being from Seattle, you no doubt have many good sources of info about Whitman, but even so, feel free to PM me if you have any questions.