I grew up in a small ski town called Taos and spent my childhood either hiking, skiing, or rafting, depending on the season as outdoor activities are the only activities in rural northern New Mexico. As a child surrounded by mountains, I always dreamed of escaping the elevation to a city near the beach. By my junior year of high school, I had decided on attending a small college on the east coast hoping for an experience out of Gilmore Girls. However, after visiting a few schools in Massachusetts and Vermont during the winter, I realized how much I disliked cold weather.
Then I found Whittier College. I’m not saying climate was the only reason I choose to go to Whittier, but it did play a factor. Whittier College checked off all the other requirements on my list for choosing a school I would potentially commit four years to — and it happened to be within driving distance to a sunny beach.
Whittier College is a small school that creates a small classroom experience that I really love. It is easy to form a relationship with your professor and have a hands-on learning experience. Due to the small class size, professors will hold you to a higher degree than at larger schools and pay attention to your own needs, allowing you to pop-in for a visit during their office hours. The professors care about you and your success, whether it be in their classroom or another. Their support is plain to see. It is also easy to create friendships in the classroom as it’s likely you’ll see them again either in The Spot or another class. Now that school is operating remotely, things are different, but I find the classroom size and availability of professors to be a great assist in this transition.
Coming from a small town, I was nervous about moving to a large city right away, as were my parents. The town of Whittier seemed like a perfect stepping stool with it being so close to the hustle and bustle of L.A. while having small-town charm. The campus is gorgeous with hills of green grass and many palm trees. During my freshman year, I lived in Stauffer Hall and could easily walk to the upper quad and take a nap in the sun. Of course, Los Angeles is always just a drive away and so is the beach! Location, location, location. I love the beach! Lucky for me, the nearest beach is only 40 minutes away (depending on traffic of course). Unfortunately for me, I’ll be spending this winter snowshoeing through the Rocky Mountains dreaming of warm sand, California sunshine, and our own palm trees on campus.
Another big one for me: financial aid. Of all the schools I applied to, I was only seriously considering the ones that offered me a large financial aid package. Fortunately, Whittier College was one of them. Did you know more than 85% of students receive some form of aid? The amount of aid given from the school also creates a diverse student body which is something I value as a member of a minority.
The value of humanities is something that definitely got my attention. I am not a math or science person in the least, so I was happy to hear that while Whittier College creates more STEM opportunities, it has always been based on a well-rounded approach that makes connections between the material, the humanities, and the world around you. I’ve found every course I’ve taken in the humanities to be interesting and always leave with a sense that I have learned something new and maybe have even become a better person in turn.
