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Merit & Talent Scholarships

You will automatically be considered for several merit-based academic scholarships once you apply to Whitman. We offer additional scholarships to students who have demonstrated excellence in music, theater and dance, art, or debate.

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General Merit-Based Academic Scholarships

When you apply to Whitman, you will automatically be considered for the following merit scholarships. No additional application is necessary.

Whitman awards four-year renewable merit-based scholarships of up to $25,000 to entering students who have excelled academically.

Once you are awarded a merit scholarship you will continue to receive the same merit award during each of your four years at Whitman. If you are enrolled less than full-time in any year, your scholarship amount will prorated based on the number of credits you take.

The Garrett-Sherwood Scholarships are awarded by Whitman to exceptional applicants who exhibit outstanding academic achievement, leadership and contributions to their schools and communities.

While at Whitman, Garrett-Sherwood Scholars meet regularly on campus throughout the school year for socials, networking receptions, roundtable discussions, national grant and fellowship information sessions, and other events. In addition, over spring break of junior year, Garrett-Sherwood Scholars travel to New York City for a career exploration and networking trip. There, they have a chance to meet local alumni who are leaders in finance, business, media, culture and government and can assist the scholars in making contacts in their potential career fields.

Garret-Sherwood Scholars are also invited to campus to visit at Whitman's expense during the weekend of Admitted Students Day, or any weekend of their choice.

This scholarship is awarded to an entering student who has financial need and demonstrates high academic achievement and talent in the fine or performing arts or humanities. The Eells scholarship covers tuition and fees for four years and includes a research grant.

Talent-Based Scholarships

At Whitman, we value our students’ unique talents with four-year scholarships.

Talent Scholarships—in Fine Arts, Music, Debate and Forensics, and Theater and Dance—are offered to students with outstanding potential in these areas.

All incoming students are encouraged to apply—no matter their intended major.

While students are not required to major in the area they receive a Talent Scholarship, they are expected to actively participate and contribute to that area throughout their four years at Whitman. This can look like joining a music ensemble, acting in a play or working behind-the-scenes, joining the Debate and Forensics team or majoring/minoring in Art, Music or Theater and Dance.

Fund Your Creative Spirit!

Students may apply for multiple Talent Scholarships. Each scholarship application requires an area-specific resume and/or statement of purpose as well as a sample work (an audition or portfolio).

Once applicants submit their admission application, they can access each Talent Scholarship application in the Whitman applicant portal.

Transfer students should contact the Talent Scholarship Coordinator at talent@whitman.edu before their admission application deadline if they wish to apply for a talent scholarship.

Applications open Sept. 1 and the deadlines are as follows:

Early Decision I
Admission Application Deadline: Nov. 15
Talent Scholarship Deadline: Nov. 20

Early Decision II
Admission Application Deadline: Jan. 10
Talent Scholarship Deadline: Jan. 15

Regular Decision
Admission Application Deadline: Jan. 15
Talent Scholarship Deadline: Jan. 23

If you have any questions, please contact our Talent Scholarship Coordinator at talent@whitman.edu

Official letters of recommendation for Talent Scholarship applicants may be uploaded online. If recommenders prefer to submit confidential letters of recommendation, they may be emailed to talent@whitman.edu

Learn more about individual requirements below:

Whitman College invites you to audition for the Music Talent Scholarship. Regardless of major, Music Talent Scholarships are awarded to candidates who demonstrate outstanding musical talent. Auditions are offered in: brass, percussion, piano, strings, voice, wind, and all orchestral instruments. Students receiving a music scholarship must be enrolled in one of our musical ensembles. Learn more about the music scholarship program on the department website.

If you have exceptional talent, experience and demonstrated skill in art and intend to major or minor in Art, we invite you to apply for a Fine Arts Talent Scholarship. This application requires a 10-piece portfolio of your artwork and a brief artist's statement. The portfolio may cover multiple media. For more information check out the department website.

The Department of Theater and Dance invites all students with a commitment to theater and/or dance to apply for the Theater & Dance Talent Scholarship. You can explore the application requirements on the department website. We will be accepting materials for consideration in the areas of: Acting, Dance, Design, Dramaturgy, Playwriting, Directing, Stage Management, Technical Theater, Production or Theater Management, Educational Outreach, and Marketing for Theater and Dance. Learn more about the application requirements on the department website.

Scholarships are awarded to entering students in recognition of exceptional talent in debate, forensics, and related events such as Mock Trial, Student Congress, and Model UN, regardless of experience level. You can explore more about the Whitman debate program on the department website.

National Merit Scholarships

If you are a National Merit finalist and you notify the National Merit Scholarship Corporation by May 1 that Whitman is your first-choice college, you will receive a $2,000 annual National Merit Scholarship from Whitman if you are admitted.

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