Whitman College
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Undeclared – Leaning toward Psychology or Biology
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: Japanese-American Heterosexual Female
Summary
I’ve been doing the Tennis Club, the Climbing Team, and the Alpine Skiing Team.
Background
Gender Identity: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Japanese-American
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
High School Experience: Private all-girls high school in the Bay Area, California with a graduating class of about 400 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: Yes
Major: Undeclared – Leaning toward Psychology or Biology
Minor: None
Extracurricular Activities: I’ve been doing the Tennis Club, the Climbing Team, and the Alpine Skiing Team.
Did any of your extracurricular activities have a particularly big impact on your experience?
They’ve allowed me to meet other students. I always look forward to going to those events, so it makes me very happy and a better student overall.
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your STEM classes?
For my science class, we have class every other day with a lab once a week. The course load isn’t too bad. We have homework due on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Exams make up the bulk of the final grades.
Is there anything you feel the STEM departments do especially well or poorly?
I was struggling in my science class last semester, but there’s a science center created this year with tutors that can help Thursday through Sunday, so I was there almost every day last semester. That really helped me with my class.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
I’d say it’s more collaborative. I don’t see any competitiveness from my perspective. There are lots of group projects.
How accessible are your professors?
They’re very accessible. They have designated office hours, or you can email them to set up a time. Last semester I was able to get help from my professor and I was with her for three hours straight.
How was transitioning academically as a first-generation student? Are there systems in place to help international students adapt?
In my first semester, there were SAs, who are sophomore student academic advisors. I used that a lot and it was easy to go to them for help.
Reasons to Attend
1) The people here really create a community and make you feel accepted.
2) The dining hall. The food here is pretty good.
3) The support that is available at Whitman. Whether it be science, writing, or resume help, everything is available if you take action and look for it.
4) The vibe. When you go to Whitman you don’t feel competitive. Instead, you feel a sense of helping each other.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) The lack of diversity. [The undergraduate population is about 7% Hispanic, 2% Black, 6% Asian, and 64% White.]
2) How small the student population is. You see a lot of the same people everywhere you go, so I wish it were a little bit bigger.
3) It’s a pretty small town, so you feel like you’re stuck sometimes because there aren’t many things to do. You have to learn to work with what you have and take advantage of what’s available and join lots of clubs.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman: Anderson Hall with one roommate
How was transitioning from your hometown in the Bay Area, CA to Walla Walla, WA in terms of location?
It was fine overall. Walla Walla is a small town.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the safest, I’d say it’s a 10. There is security all over campus and you could call them if you feel unsafe.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
I usually watch movies, hang out, or do homework with [the people] in my dorm’s section.
What are your favorite events or activities?
Living in California, I never saw the leaves changing from green to yellow, so seeing that here was nice. There’s something called the Whitman Events Board (WEB), and they put on events all the time. Once we had a tie-dye event which was really fun. Also, during orientation first semester there was an amazing magician that performed.
How happy are you with the weekend activities or nightlife at your school? Is there anything you would change if you could?
I’m really happy with what I have right now. I’m part of clubs and I’m able to get out of campus to different areas. If I were to change anything, I wish there were more options near campus.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
Through my clubs, activities, and in my dorm section.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Whitman?
It’s very good. Last year when I visited Whitman, I noticed how the tour guide knew everyone and how they interacted with one another. That’s one of the reasons I chose to come here. I got the vibe that the social life here was very good. People interact with others by just saying hi or smiling, which stood out to me because the students seemed happy to be here.
To what extent do people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
Sometimes I do feel like people of different races tend to be together. [The undergraduate population is about 7% Hispanic, 2% Black, 6% Asian, and 64% White.]
How do you like the size of Whitman in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How has it impacted your experience? [There are about 1,500 undergraduate students at Whitman.]
I really like it. I feel like I’m able to create this connection with people. Sometimes I do feel like it’s a little too small, and I see the same faces every day. Sometimes I wish it were a little bigger.
How would you describe the student body?
There is a certain culture and mind here. It’s very outdoorsy and even the clothing people wear has a very Whitman vibe to it. For example, some people wear carabiners on their backpack and people wear Chacos. I didn’t know what a Chaco was before I came here [laughs].
Careers
What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I’ve met with people to go over my resumes and cover letters. They’ve been helpful.
Have you learned any computer programs or computer languages that will be helpful professionally?
We’ve used Excel in my science classes.