“As an international student preparing to move to the U.S. for college, I had no idea what to expect or what life at Whitman would be like. Honestly, I was nervous about whether I’d ever feel truly at home. But all that worrying turned out to be for nothing—the community at Whitman College made sure I felt welcomed even before I stepped foot on campus.”

—Ruth Chane ’28, Computer Science major from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Jonathan Becker ’26, Hispanic Studies & History major from Menlo Park, California

Why Whitman?

I chose to come to Whitman because I love Walla Walla! I grew up in the Bay area, so I wanted to make sure I visited campus. That’s the best decision I could have made. I instantly fell in love with the small town feel and the Pacific Northwest kindness that everyone expressed. I knew that this was a place that I wanted to call home for the next four years. So, as soon as I got home, I submitted my Whitman application Early Decision!

Quote from Meera:

“One thing I love about Whitman is its connectedness. I went to a big high school so getting to experience things on a smaller scale has been nice. It truly feels like its own community, and people here are so welcoming. Being able to connect with students, staff and faculty is something that I didn't think I would appreciate so much. And Whitman does a great job in creating an environment where students can balance both academics and personal life.”

Quote from Chase:

“I’m so glad I chose Whitman College because of its academics and its community. Being able to thrive in a liberal arts model, where I have the freedom to pursue the classes that I'm interested in, has been so important for my academic journey. When I have free time, there's always something to do—whether that be dances, plays, club meetings, outdoor hikes, guest lecturers or movie nights. I could go on forever. I've cherished my time at Whitman and am so happy I chose to come here.”

Quote from Andrea:

“Coming to Whitman as a transfer student made me a bit nervous because I wasn’t sure I was going to find my place here, but making friends through the Fly-In program and having existing friendships already at Whitman, it gave me the courage to get together with some friends and create a new affinity group for others to also find a community on campus!”

Quote from Alejandro:

“At Whitman I was introduced to a bunch of really cool people that helped me find my niches. I started rock climbing at the start of my first year and now I climb outdoors and teach kids how to rock climb with Friends Rock. Outside of rock climbing, I love dancing and have gotten to try a bunch of different forms too! Through a Hip Hop class at Whitman, I recently learned how to breakdance.”

Quote from Siena:

“I am so grateful to attend a school that encourages students to explore internship opportunities. This experience has made me realize what I am really passionate about with my future goals!

Through the care and support of Whitman College and the Whitman Internship Grant, I was able to intern at the ICAN Children’s Therapy. I will be forever thankful for this learning opportunity! At my internship, I have been helping alongside behavior technicians, speech therapists, and BCBA’s to help the children reach various personal goals. I have learned so much about communication and accommodation from working directly with the kids in our program.”