It’s no secret that Whitman students have a reputation for achieving particularly high academic standards, but do our study and sleep habits really reflect it?

To find out, the Pioneer randomly surveyed 400 students through campus-mail regarding their study and sleep patterns. We found that nearly all students surveyed get on average less than eight hours of sleep per night. Surprised? Probably not.

The results were unanimous across the board: Whitman students don’t get enough sleep. But lets be realistic- we’re students at a high-achieving academic school, most of us are involved in a million different extra-curricula’s, and sometimes we even attempt some sort of social life.

So, we talked to experts like Dr. Richard Simon, a sleep disorders specialist in Walla Walla and Juli Dunn, Director of Academic Resources to ask what kinds of realistic tips they had for students like us. Instead of preaching the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation, the Pioneer offers some practical tips on how to maintain healthy sleep and study patterns while balancing all other aspects of your life.

Results to the Pioneer survey

All results compiled from a randomized campus-mail Pioneer survey.

Of people with 3.75 GPA and above:
50% get 4-5 hours of sleep
30% get 6-7 hours of sleep
20% get 8-9 hours of sleep

Of people below 3.75 GPA and below:
50% get 6-7 hours of sleep
40% get 8-9 hours of sleep
10% get less than 4 hours of sleep

Of all students surveyed, 34% have ever pulled an all-nighter

Top 5 study distractions (results from randomized Pioneer campus-mail survey)

1. Internet other than Facebook (33%)
2. Friends (24%)
3. Library (14%)
4. Facebook (12%)
5. Eating (10%)