The 18-year-old has been awarded a scholarship and leaves for the United States in August.
Whittaker had her choice of about six universities but settled on McKendree University because of head coach Tim Strange's persuasive powers and the university's academic reputation.
''It came down to about two or three in the end which I thought looked really good,'' Whittaker said.
''I had to decide so I spoke to the coaches and weighed up the pros and cons of each of them,'' she said.
''The coach was a big factor. Just through email contact and speaking on the phone, he [Strange] seemed like a really nice guy and the football seems quite good over there.
''The [university] is academically strong as well, which is good, because I'm going over for my education as well ... My education comes first and the football a very close second.''
The talented FootballSouth striker finalised her decision in February and her letter of intent arrived earlier this month. It is a four-year scholarship, which starts on August 10.
Whittaker, who went to St Hilda's Collegiate, is doing some coaching for FootballSouth in the meantime to ''pay some bills''.
She has been in touch with New Zealander Danielle Hareb, who is a student at the McKendree University, and is expecting to be pushed harder than she has been before.
''I'm trying to get my fitness up and my agent said that I have to be at my peak fitness when I go over. I spoke to the girl from New Zealand and she said they train twice a day most days of the week and have two games - so it is quite full on.''
It is what Whittaker has been working towards, though, and she is excited by the challenge of playing for the Bearcats.
