nowhere else - Whitman College

A Unique CombinationRanked by U.S. News & WorldReport (2011) as a “Top 50Best Value” school, Whitmanenrolls about 1,500 studentsfrom 45 states and 30 nations.With the College’s 10:1student- faculty ratio, classesat Whitman average only17 students; 75 percent liveon campus.The Back StoryThe College was named after Marcusand Narcissa Whitman, medicalmissionaries who settled in theWalla Walla area in the 1830s.Whitman began as a college in1882 with five professors and eightstudents. Whitman has been coedand independent from its founding.An Environmental EthicWhitman students take pridein their role as stewards of theirown community. Campus recyclingand composting, as well as usingecologically friendly materialsand a 25,000 kWh solar array, areamong the ways Whitman helpspreserve a better tomorrow.The rugged beauty ofWhitman’s Pacific Northwestlocation helps define theexperience. The access towestern mountains, rivers,and open space draws manystudents to Whitman. Thelegendary Whitman OutdoorProgram not only providesopportunities to explore, butalso builds leaders, promotesteamwork, and instills confidence.Whitman’s campusand Walla Walla personify awestern ethos that is friendly,open, and encouraging.Whitman students havediverse interests—including,for many, an active interestin environmental and socialissues. Whether conductinggenetic research, volunteeringin a medical outreachprogram in Kenya, restoringa local habitat, mentoringan elementary student,or serving in the PeaceCorps, Whitman studentsface complex problems witha sensibility that balanceshuman needs and a respectfor the environment. Theyseek ways to make a differencein the world.An Authentic TownWalla Walla—winner of a recentGreat American Main Street awardfrom the National Trust for HistoricPreservation—has a rare authenticity.A “pocket of serenity” thriving amongthe region’s vineyards and farmlands,the 30,000-resident city boasts finerestaurants, one-of-a-kind boutiques,coffee shops galore, and historichomes along tree-lined streets.Walla Walla was recently featuredin Sunset magazine as one of thetop downtowns in the West andranked in many wine and gourmetmagazines as a “hot” location.Whitman ranked on six of ThePrinceton Review’s 2011 top 20“Best” lists, including “Best ClassroomExperience,” “ProfessorsGet High Marks,” “School RunsLike Butter,” and “Everyone PlaysIntramural Sports.”“Whitman has been everything I thought college shouldbe—aesthetically and academically.”—Jennifer Maples | Palo Alto, CA | Sheehan Gallery Committee,art mentoring, Delta Gamma sorority | art history/studio art double majorHigh-Achieving StudentsAdmission to Whitman is highlycompetitive. Admitted studentsare selected based on academicachievement, diversity of background,and range of interest.Since 2000, 53 have graduated withFulbright fellowships; others havewon prestigious Rhodes, Watson,Truman, Udall, Beinecke, Trudeau,and National Science Foundationscholarships. Whitman students andteams have also included nationalchampions in skiing, snowboarding,cycling, debate, and classical piano.Distinctive ProgramsWhitman’s Encounters—a two-semesterseminar for first-year students—distinguishes the College academically,along with the annualWhitman Undergraduate Conferenceand required comprehensive projectsand oral exams in the senior year.Also of note: Semester in the West,Whitman’s traveling environmentalstudies program; and a wildlypopular outdoor program.What People SayU.S. News & World Report (2011) ranksWhitman among the top six coed liberalarts colleges in the West.Whitman was also one of only twoNorthwest institutions to be nameda “Top 50 Best Value” school by bothKiplinger’s Personal Finance andThe Princeton Review (2011).August 2010 Forbes magazine rankingplaces Whitman 16th among all liberalarts colleges in the United States.Teach For America lists Whitman 13thin the nation among small collegesproviding teachers to its program.In addition, the Whitman Outdoor Programwas ranked #1 in Washington bythe Tacoma News-Tribune (2006).Beyond these plaudits, Whitman’shigh level of student satisfactionspeaks volumes: the College’s graduationrate of 88 percent is among thebest in the nation, and the percentageof its alumni who give to the College’sAnnual Fund puts Whitman amongthe top three colleges and universitiesin the West.4 A Unique Combination A Unique Combination 5