Understanding "fit" at Whitman College : the role of race and class in crafting Whitman’s student body

"Fit" is a category employed at many stages in the college admissions process. In this thesis project, I have identified three locations that serve as windows in to how "fit" acts: the former Whitman College application supplemental essay, (as well as the admission decisions themselves), admission officers' understanding and use of the word "fit," and public relations material produced by the college. These sites where "fit" is forged and mobilized prompted questions: What role does "fit" play in the admissions process? How is "fit" used and determined?