This page provides answers to common questions we receive from international applicants. We’ve attempted to consolidate all of the information (or quick links) that you will need, including the additional facts below about: Applications & Credentials; Financial Aid; and Communicating With the Office of Admission.
Feel free to contact us if you have questions that are not addressed on our site!
APPLICATIONS & CREDENTIALS
Application Instructions are posted here.
Can an international student apply Early Decision (ED)? Yes, we welcome Early Decision (ED) applications from international students. *Additional commentary on the ED option. Historically, the admission rate for ED candidates is higher than the admission rate for Regular Decision candidates. When applying ED it is required that you read, understand, and submit the signed ED Agreement and the International Student Financial Aid Application by the ED deadline. Admitted ED students are considered for any merit or need-based awards for which they are eligible, and financial aid is awarded in the same way as Regular Decision candidates. ED applicants receive applicable financial aid awards with the admission letter on the specified ED notification date, typically 3-4 weeks following the ED deadline.
*If you have high financial need and are most interested in being considered for one of our highly competitive comprehensive International Special Scholarships, you should apply as a Regular Decision candidate. These scholarships are awarded by special review committees which do not make their final recommendations until early spring.
*If you begin an ED application but are unable to complete it by the deadline, you may request that your application be switched to the Regular Decision pool. Students denied in the ED process may not re-apply or re-activate their applications for Regular Decision consideration in the same year.
Do all international applicants HAVE to submit the TOEFL? We require the TOEFL for all international applicants, but you can request a waiver of this requirement in limited circumstances. Request a waiver by sending a written request and supporting documentation to confirm one or more of the following:
- a score of 600 or more on your SAT I Critical Reading section;
- that you have studied at least three years of high school in an English medium school within the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand;
- that you hold a minimum of sophomore standing in a US College or University and have earned satisfactory grades in humanities and social sciences courses;
- or that you have attended one of the United World College schools
Once we receive proof of one or more of these conditions through receipt of your official SAT score report or official transcript , we will consider a waiver of the TOEFL requirement. Any approved waiver will be reflected on your Pioneer Web account. Note: We do not accept the SAT II results in lieu of the TOEFL
May I submit my TOEFL score even if I meet one of the TOEFL waiver conditions? Yes. We encourage you to submit your score report, even if the requirement has been waived for you. Presenting a strong TOEFL score can only help your case for admission.
Do you accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam? Yes, we will accept the IELTS in lieu of the TOEFL. We require a minimum score of 6.5.
What are the minimum required scores for the TOEFL, SAT I, or ACT? We do not set minimum test score requirements, but we only admit applicants who can demonstrate a very strong command of the English language because of the significant reading and writing demands required for success at Grinnell. For the class entering in August 2011: the mid-50% TOEFL(iBT) score was 99-105; the SAT I Critical Reading mid-50% range is 580-650; and the SAT I Math mid-50% range is 640-770. Note: We do not currently consider the SAT I Writing score in our academic evaluation.
SAT and TOEFL offer exam dates in December, so results might not be available until after Grinnell’s January 15 Regular Decision application deadline. Will you still accept these exam results? Yes, we will accept them through early January. We highly encourage you to request a “rush” report of the results. All other application documents MUST be submitted by the January 15 deadline. We strongly encourage students to sit for these exams on or before their December administrations to ensure full consideration at Grinnell. We will not consider exam results taken after the December administration under any circumstance.
Do you accept the SAT II? These results are not required by Grinnell College. Submitted SAT II results can provide the admissions committee with additional information about your academic strengths, but the test scores are not included in the final analysis that is used in admissions decisions.
I have only taken the O-Level exams. Do you require the A-Level’s? Yes, applicants submitting O-level exams results only will not be considered for admission. For A-level candidates we require Advanced Subsidiary (or equivalent) results and A-level predictions, usually indicated in the Secondary School Report and/or the counselor or headmaster recommendation letter. This requirement also applies to students who have studied in countries with similar education paths. Examples include, but are not limited to: Ghana: GCE or BECE must be followed by the SSSCE; India: ISSCE must be followed by the ISSE, or ICSE must be followed by the ISC.
I have taken IB, AP, or A-Level courses. Can I get Grinnell College credit for them? Yes, Grinnell recognizes the rigor of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and A-level programs and will award general academic credit (applied toward the graduation requirement) for strong performance on these examinations. Enrolled student may apply for AP/IB credits to count toward their major distribution, but this distinction is department specific. First-year students are limited to a maximum of 24 pre- and post matriculation transfer credits (AP, IB, A-level, or college credit). See the specific policies through the Office of the Registrar.
Can I submit my application online and send the supporting documents by mail? Yes. This is the method that most of our applicants use. In fact, if you apply on-line the $30 application fee is automatically waived.
Do I have to submit everything all at the same time? You may submit your documents all at once, or you may submit them individually (or in small batches) as they become ready. Each document must contain your full name and your date of birth. As information is submitted and received we will match them up with your application file.
What is the mailing address for mailing my documents to Grinnell College?
Office of Admission, John Chrystal Center
1103 Park Street, Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA 50112, USA
I can’t afford to send official TOEFL or SAT score reports directly from ETS or the College Board. Is there another option? We will accept a photocopy of your test results, sent by postal mail, fax or email attachment. It must have an original school stamp and signature on it attesting that the results are true and accurate, and the mail, fax or email must clearly indicate that it is being sent to us by a school administrator. If there is any cause for concern regarding authenticity of documents, we reserve the right to contact school officials for confirmation and/or request original, stamped and signed documentation.
I am from West Africa. Can I send you a photocopy of my WAEC and NECO results? No, we require that you purchase a scratch card and send us the scratch card information by email to intladmission@grinnell.edu so that we can verify your WAEC or NECO results online.
Do you need my transcripts in the original language or in English? If your original school transcript is not in English, you must send a copy in the original language and a copy that has been translated into English. The original document must have a school stamp and signature, and the English translation must have formal attestation that the results are true and accurate. We prefer that transcripts come directly from the issuing authority by postal mail. We will accept documents submitted via fax or email attachment, but only if they clearly indicate that they are being sent to us by a school administrator. If there is any cause for concern regarding authenticity of documents, we reserve the right to contact school officials for confirmation and/or request original, stamped and signed documentation in order to complete the application file.
My mid-year grades cannot be sent until late January or February. What should I do? We recognize that there are many school systems which run on a different time-line from ours. Submit everything else for your application file by the January 15 deadline and then submit your mid-year report as soon as it becomes available, preferably no later than the end of February. Please be in direct communication with us in this case.
Can I send supplemental application materials? While they are not required, we will gladly accept additional writing samples, essays, letters of recommendation, and other appropriate documents if you feel that they will enhance your application. For art and music portfolios we strongly prefer to receive them electronically (through a link to a website or a YouTube link).
Can I pay for my application fee or admission deposit by credit card? Yes, you can pay these fees by credit card. Contact us at intladmission@grinnell.edu for the details.
How can I get an application fee waiver? Grinnell automatically waives the $30 application fee for students who submit the Common Application electronically. International students are strongly encouraged to apply online, but if this is not possible, you may submit a letter (preferably from your school counselor) explaining why you need a fee waiver. In most cases, these requests are granted.
FINANCIAL AID
International aid policies and projected comprehensive fees are posted here.
I cannot afford to pay the full comprehensive fee at Grinnell College. Will my financial need hurt my chances of being admitted? Like the majority of highly-selective, private liberal arts colleges in the U.S., Grinnell employs a need-sensitive admission policy for international students. This means that your financial aid application is considered along with all of the other components of your application during the admission evaluation. Grinnell has a substantial, but limited, financial aid budget for each international class. The need-sensitive model allows us to best distribute these resources in order to enroll a high-achieving, multi-talented, and geographically diverse class.
How much financial aid do you offer? Is it available to first-year and transfer international students? Each year, Grinnell awards roughly one million dollars to the incoming international class. The average aid award for students receiving aid in the class of 2015 was $30,550. We offer a full range of financial aid opportunities including scholarships, grants, loans and on-campus employment. Admitted international transfers are packaged in the same way as first-year applicants.
I have high financial need. If I do not win an International Special Scholarship, what percentage of my demonstrated need is likely to be met by Grinnell? Grinnell offers international grants that typically meet between 70% - 85% of your need, as determined by Grinnell’s review of your International Student Financial Aid application.
Are my SAT results high enough to be considered for full financial aid? Grinnell’s financial aid awards are based primarily on demonstrated need, not on exam results. There is no specific SAT score or qualification that would guarantee a particular grant or scholarship amount.
Does Grinnell raise tuition every year? How a college handles the inevitable annual tuition increases can have a significant future impact on your financial aid situation. Like most schools, Grinnell tuition typically increases by a small percentage annually. However, unlike many schools, Grinnell increases gift aid by 100% of any tuition increase.
What ‘supporting documents’ are required to be submitted with the financial aid application and Certification of Finances forms? Supporting financial documents would include bank statements, parental salary confirmation letters, tax returns, etc. These documents need to provide solid proof of the funding you claim on the ISFAA or CF forms. This documentation can be submitted via fax, mail, or email attachment and need to be signed by the responsible parties on corresponding letterhead. If you are admitted to Grinnell, you will be asked to provide additional documentation that is crucial to your F-1 Student Visa application (prior to I-20 issuance).
COMMUNICATING WITH INTERNATIONAL ADMISSION
How can I receive information and mailings from Grinnell? The best way to notify us of your interest in receiving information about Grinnell is to submit our online Inquiry Form. If online submission is not an option, you are welcome to email your request to intladmission@grinnell.edu. Please include your full name, mailing address, academic and extra-curricular interests, and desired application term within your message.
I haven’t received my prospectus mailing from Grinnell. How long will it take? We update our prospectus materials each summer. New versions are typically available for distribution by our office in mid/late August. During the first week of September we do a mass e-mailing of these materials to all rising seniors in our database, and we issue a weekly mailing to students who are entered as ‘new’ prospects thereafter. For example, if you are a rising senior who submits an inquiry in April, you would immediately be sent a more general packet of information; and you will receive the prospectus packet by email in September.
I have questions that are not addressed on this web site. Where can I direct these questions? We have created the intladmission@grinnell.edu address as a portal for all international admissions-related inquiries. Messages sent to this account are forwarded to the appropriate staff member, and we strive for a 24-hour response time. In most cases, our student interns are able to field most questions. On occasion, questions will be referred on to the International Application Coordinator or the Associate Dean/Coordinator of International Admission.
May I contact a current Grinnell student with my questions? Certainly! We encourage you to submit your questions, about life and learning at Grinnell, to our intladmission@grinnell.edu. Our student intern (a current international student) is the primary respondent for this account, but he/she will also be happy to connect you with another student (perhaps someone from your home region) if you request this.
When and how will I be notified of my admission/financial aid decision? Your admission decision and financial aid award, if applicable, will be available on your Pioneer Web account. We post decisions to Pioneer Web no later than April 1. Admitted students are sent the Admission letter and Financial Aid Award letter via FedEx Express Courier. We will email you with the tracking number for your convenience. If you are placed on Grinnell’s Wait List, or if you are denied admission, we will mail your notification letter via regular international mail service, which takes 2-4 weeks. In addition, this information is posted on Pioneer Web.
What is the “Pioneer Web” account? When your application for admission is received and processed, we create a unique username and a password for you. You will receive notification by e-mail of your username and password. P-web is an online service so you can monitor the status of your application, and confirm Grinnell’s receipt of the required application documents. Through P-Web, you can see a list of the documents that have been processed for you, and a list of the required documents that are still outstanding. You can also view your admission decision, once this information has been released.
Can I arrange a personal interview with a Grinnell admissions representative or alumnus in my home city? Will students who have a personal interview have an advantage in the admission process? Grinnell College does not require personal interviews, nor do we give special preference to students who participate in on or off-campus interviews. The International Admission Coordinator and/or his admission colleagues may offer interviews to applicants in cities included in our international travel schedule. If we are traveling to your region, we will send interview invitations to you several weeks prior to the interview day. Skype interviews may also be a possibility, but only after you have officially submitted your Common Application to Grinnell. Admission counselors submit written summaries of all interviews conducted. These summaries may be considered in the evaluation process, but do not weigh heavily on the ultimate decision, largely due to fareness issues since the vast majority of our international applicants are unable to have interviews.
