Northwest SLACs

[Anonymous]

I graduated from Whitman a long, long time ago. I had a terrific and challenging experience -- requirements for most majors included either written and oral comprehensive exams or a thesis/thesis defense. I think some of those requirements have changed and depending on whether your kid would find that engaging or horrifying, would be worth checking out for their likely major(s).

Beyond academics, some things to consider -- Walla Walla is a beautiful, medium-ish sized town in far southwest Washington. Fall and spring are lovely, cold and sometimes snowy winter, very hot summer. Plenty of sunshine. The next closest significant communities are Pendleton, OR and the Tri-Cities (Richland, Pasco, Kennewick) of WA. Social and cultural life is heavily centered on campus. The location is terrific for outdoor activities -- biking, hiking, camping, kayaking/rafting, skiing. Other popular activities include intramural sports, performing arts, Greek life. One of the hallmark programs (new since my time) is "Semester in the West", which is an off-campus, interdisciplinary field program held throughout the interior US western states, with a focus on conservation. The school has built new dormitories since my time, but many students live off-campus at least part of their time as juniors/seniors. Getting to Walla Walla from the East Coast likely requires flying to Seattle and either connecting to flights to the Tri-Cities or Walla Walla, or a 4+ hour drive. The school draws heavily from the West Coast and most graduates either stay in the West or go on to graduate school. (Very strong graduate school placement.) And lastly, it is small (1300ish), even by liberal arts college standards, and struggles with improving racial/ethnic diversity.

I think of peer SLACS in the NW as Reed, Lewis & Clark, Willamette, UPS. Whitman also competes in athletics against Whitworth, Pacific Lutheran, Pacific, Linfield and some other schools that aren't really SLACs (Evergreen, for example). Some of those schools might be interesting to look into but I can't offer any real insight. One of my classmates' children recently graduated from Willamette and had a good experience (although affected by the pandemic, of course).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is expressing interest in SLACs in the Northwest - places like Puget Sound, Whitman, Willamette, Lewis & Clark, etc. I really don’t know much about them. Does anyone have any feedback or recent experience with these? TIA.

Lewis & Clark is located in an attractive area of Portland, Oregon.

University of Puget Sound offers a lot of Asian studies / international business & economics / 9 month trip through several Asian countries every other year. First President of the school was a former President of Northwestern University.

Reed College is in its own world. Visit to see if it is a fit. Rumors about lots of drug usage.

Western Washington University is not an LAC, but is a great school for environmental subject areas. Beautiful location.

Whitman College is well respected. Walla Walla is arid and has wineries. I have never been to Walla Walla, but it should be within driving distance of the Columbia River--which is spectacular. Whitman College has a very active Greek social system.

We visited Puget Sound and Reed and Lewis& Clark and Whitman with DC. Whitman is a long drive from Seattle or Portland. It's on Mars, basically. Walla Walla is very cute and the campus is nice, but the area arouit is arid and brown and terrible. The Columbia Gorge closer to Portland and Mt. Hood is absolutely spectacular. Not so much as you head east.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from Whitman a long, long time ago. I had a terrific and challenging experience -- requirements for most majors included either written and oral comprehensive exams or a thesis/thesis defense. I think some of those requirements have changed and depending on whether your kid would find that engaging or horrifying, would be worth checking out for their likely major(s).

Beyond academics, some things to consider -- Walla Walla is a beautiful, medium-ish sized town in far southeast Washington. Fall and spring are lovely, cold and sometimes snowy winter, very hot summer. Plenty of sunshine. The next closest significant communities are Pendleton, OR and the Tri-Cities (Richland, Pasco, Kennewick) of WA. Social and cultural life is heavily centered on campus. The location is terrific for outdoor activities -- biking, hiking, camping, kayaking/rafting, skiing. Other popular activities include intramural sports, performing arts, Greek life. One of the hallmark programs (new since my time) is "Semester in the West", which is an off-campus, interdisciplinary field program held throughout the interior US western states, with a focus on conservation. The school has built new dormitories since my time, but many students live off-campus at least part of their time as juniors/seniors. Getting to Walla Walla from the East Coast likely requires flying to Seattle and either connecting to flights to the Tri-Cities or Walla Walla, or a 4+ hour drive. The school draws heavily from the West Coast and most graduates either stay in the West or go on to graduate school. (Very strong graduate school placement.) And lastly, it is small (1300ish), even by liberal arts college standards, and struggles with improving racial/ethnic diversity.

I think of peer SLACS in the NW as Reed, Lewis & Clark, Willamette, UPS. Whitman also competes in athletics against Whitworth, Pacific Lutheran, Pacific, Linfield and some other schools that aren't really SLACs (Evergreen, for example). Some of those schools might be interesting to look into but I can't offer any real insight. One of my classmates' children recently graduated from Willamette and had a good experience (although affected by the pandemic, of course).

Ack, fixed big editorial/brain fog/geographic mistake! Walla Walla is in southeast WA state, not southwest ....

[Anonymous]

OP here. I thought I would update this thread. Thank you all for all the feedback! It was very helpful.

We visited Washington and Oregon in the fall. DC really loved Lewis & Clark, Puget Sound, University of Portland, and Willamette. DC didn’t love Reed and Whitman as much. Whitman felt too isolated and far away, and Reed was a little too out there. DC is applying to several schools across the country, but still prefers the Northwest. Fingers crossed for DC!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your update, OP! I didn’t see your post the first time around, but I’m a Puget Sound grad who went on to get a PhD and am now a professor elsewhere, so follow higher ed pretty closely. In my PhD program, we recruit heavily from
SLACs and are always very impressed by students from Willamette, Puget Sound, and Whitman in particular—independent thinkers, strong writers, hard workers, and more. I loved my time at Puget Sound and wouldn’t hesitate to send my kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your update, OP! I didn’t see your post the first time around, but I’m a Puget Sound grad who went on to get a PhD and am now a professor elsewhere, so follow higher ed pretty closely. In my PhD program, we recruit heavily from
SLACs and are always very impressed by students from Willamette, Puget Sound, and Whitman in particular—independent thinkers, strong writers, hard workers, and more. I loved my time at Puget Sound and wouldn’t hesitate to send my kids there.

OP here. Thank you so much for chiming in! This is great to hear.

[Anonymous]

I lived in Portland for some years and Lewis and Clark is a great school for international relations, environmental studies, nice law school.

Reed has more of a “hippie” reputation, is in a more walkable part of town.

Visit both if you’re in PDX.

University of Portland is a Catholic school, worth adding to a visit maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in Portland for some years and Lewis and Clark is a great school for international relations, environmental studies, nice law school.

Reed has more of a “hippie” reputation, is in a more walkable part of town.

Visit both if you’re in PDX.

University of Portland is a Catholic school, worth adding to a visit maybe.

PDX ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lived in Portland for some years and Lewis and Clark is a great school for international relations, environmental studies, nice law school.

Reed has more of a “hippie” reputation, is in a more walkable part of town.

Visit both if you’re in PDX.

University of Portland is a Catholic school, worth adding to a visit maybe.

PDX ?

Trying to make the airport code happen: Portland.

[Anonymous]

I went to Lewis & Clark and had a great experience. I was a science major and did undergraduate research with a professor. In the end, I ended up going to law school (Harvard). A real strength of the school is its overseas programs. I did two semesters in Poland that was life changing. The Northwest is blessed by several great SLACs. Good luck!