While Whitman's aid process works for most people, as evidenced by the relatively low average debt with which students leave, it does not work for all. Unusual family circumstances can result in students' aid being cut during their later years in college, when it is more difficult to transfer both emotionally and academically.
Navigating the ups and downs of financial aid from semester to semester can pose a significant challenge for FGWC students, even with support from the Office of Financial Aid itself.
Whitman's senior fund committee has collected $8,500 from their fellow seniors to fund scholarships for future Whitman students, and is on track to break the senior fundraising record of $12,000 set by last year's graduating class.
The committee, composed entirely of seniors, has already received donations from 30 percent of the senior class and hopes to expand participation to 50 percent by the end of the semester. The fund will be added to the endowment formed by previous years’ gifts, a portion of which will be given to the Office of Financial Aid at the end of the year to fund student scholarships.
