<p>I know a few people who started at Whitman this past January. From conversations with them, starting in January doesn’t sound too bad. It is a great opportunity for an unexpected trip or work to pay off Whitman’s fairly heft pricetag. I’ve heard of people going on fun, extended outdoor excursions, volunteering, working 7 jobs, so it’s really what you make of it.</p>
<p>Also I’ve noticed that all of the Jan Starts are all really close. Instead of the usual number of core sections, there are only 2 for Jan Starts, leading to interaction in and out of the classroom. The tradeoff is that a Jan start may or may not have a hard time bonding with their section. People have often found their group of friends by this point, though it obviously isn’t impossible to join one.</p>
<p>All in all, if you feel like Whitman really is the school for you, and plan your semester off wisely, starting in the spring isn’t such a bad prospect.</p>