Not everyone who entered Whitman as a first-year in fall of 2005 will walk across the stage at this month’s commencement.

As at most schools, students transfer into and out of Whitman for a variety of reasons each year, and the class of 2009 was no exception to that trend. With first- and second-year retention rates reported by Whitman’s Office of Institutional Research at 92.8 percent and 88.4 percent respectively, the vast majority of the 2005 cohort: also known as the graduating class of 2009: remained at Whitman for   all four years. But what became of the other 11.6 percent of the 2009 class. Where did they transfer to and why?

Two ex-members of Whitman’s class of 2009 are Ava Jacobi and Nick Landau. Jacobi left for Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., at the end of her sophomore year in May 2007. Landau left Whitman upon completion of his junior year in May 2008 to attend Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore..

Jacobi sensed from the beginning of her Whitman experience that she wanted a different type of school.

“While I got quite a lot out of my time at Whitman, I knew that it was never the perfect fit for me,” said Jacobi. “I was far away from my family and from internship, work and cultural opportunities I hoped to pursue.”

Ultimately, the feeling of tension did not make her decision any easier. Though the choice was a hard one, Jacobi has no regrets.

“The decision was very difficult because I loved Whitman, but ultimately I realized that I had two more years and should try something new rather than stifle my curiosity,” Jacobi said.  “Ultimately, I’m glad that I left Whitman when I did because I never became bitter or regretted attending for two years. I can truly say I’m happy with my somewhat bizarre college experience and wouldn’t do anything different.”

While Washington, D.C., may be a livelier area than southeastern Washington state, there are still things that Jacobi misses about Walla Walla. Despite having left, she still feels pride for Whitman. Next year Jacobi plans to attend Cornell Law School.

“Certainly there are things I miss,” said Jacobi. “Living in D.C., I miss fresh food, clean air and water, and the generally low cost of living [in Walla Walla]. Mostly I miss my friends and professors, intramural football, club lacrosse, the awesome gym and how close everyone was on campus.  Especially my first semester as a transfer student, there were times when it was very difficult and I was nostalgic for Whitman.”

For students considering transferring from Whitman, Jacobi has some advice to make the transition easier.

“If you do transfer, don’t cut and run,” Jacobi said. “Stay in touch with the people who made a difference for you at Whitman.  Awesome people are awesome people wherever they are, and you’ll regret it if you don’t talk to them because you will have left with an ‘eat my dust’ mentality.  You’ve met some incredible people and you should do all you can to keep them in your life.”

Unlike many transfer students who switch schools after experiencing dissatisfaction with their situation, Nick Landau had always anticipated his transfer from Whitman.

“I always knew I was going to transfer even when I first applied to Whitman,” said Landau. “Becoming an engineer was my goal from the start but I wanted to develop a strong liberal arts education as a base before I focused down into my major.”

At Oregon State, Landau has had a hard time communicating with administrative bureaucracy, but his switch to an engineering college has been a welcome adjustment.

“The only thing I really don’t like [at OSU] is all of the red tape. Getting my classes to transfer properly has been a hassle and a struggle because there are so many channels I have to go through,” Landau said. “Despite this, it is nice being in the engineering college and among technically like-minded people.”

The class of 2009 has seen members transfer out of Whitman, as well into Whitman. Men’s basketball standout Chris Faidley is a graduating senior who transferred after his first year at Seattle Pacific University in 2006.

“I think I’m a totally different person than I would’ve been had I stayed at SPU,” said Faidley.

Faidley’s decision to come to Whitman greatly enriched his academic and personal experience as a college student.

“I’m way more independent. [At Whitman] you’re forced to think for yourself,” Faidley said. “The academics here are way different. The liberal arts education…has totally changed who I’ve become. I’ve had to re-shape the way I even think, it’s been great