If you are not a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident, and you have been enrolled full-time in any post-secondary educational institution, you should apply to Grinnell as an international transfer student. There are cases where students would like to clear a past record and begin their university studies over again, but this is not an option available at Grinnell. All university-level course work must be assessed for transfer. International transfer students are eligible for the same financial aid as entering first-year students.
*If you already graduated from secondary school but have not yet begun postsecondary studies, you are not a transfer and you should apply as an international first-year student. In this case, you must also submit a supplementary short-answer essay to 'Describe your activities from your high school graduation until now.' This essay can be submitted as Additional Information when you submit the Common Application.
International Transfers must follow the same Application Requirements as first year international students, with the following additional conditions:
- April 1 deadline for international transfer applications (admission is only possible for the fall term).
- Additional essay for Transfer Applicants: Submit an essay describing your reasons for wanting to transfer to Grinnell College. If you are not currently attending school or were at any point not attending school full-time, please describe in detail the activities you pursued during this time.
- SAT or ACT and TOEFL scores: We DO require these tests for all International Transfer Applications. *If you took these exams in order to be admitted to your current institution of higher education we will accept a photocopy of these results. The photocopy must be sent by postal mail and it must contain an original school signature and stamp on it attesting that the results are true and accurate. If you did not take these exams before, you will be required to take them and submit the results by Grinnell's application deadline. Your application will not be considered without them. The TOEFL waiver policy which applies to first-year applicants also applies to transfer students.
- College Official's Report. *If you graduated from high school more than one year ago, you do not need to submit the Secondary School Report Form.
- Regarding the two Teacher/Faculty Recommendations: If you are in your first year at another university, we will accept letters from high school teachers who taught you in English, mathematics, science, social science, history, or foreign language; we also encourage you to submit at least one reference from a faculty member at your current/last postsecondary institution. If you are already in your second year of post-secondary studies, we suggest that BOTH recommendations come from faculty at that university. Regarding your official transcripts: We need your final high school transcript and completion certificate or diploma. We also need transcripts from each college or university you have attended. If these are not originally in English, we need official copies in their original language and an official English translation. *Failure to present documentation of previous university-level studies at the time of an application for admission can result in rescindment of admission and expulsion from Grinnell.
Any university-level coursework that you have completed that is comparable to Grinnell courses will be considered for transfer. If you are accepted, we will provide you with an estimation of the number of credits that will transfer at the time of your admission. A final official evaluation of your transfer credits will be conducted prior to your arrival in August. It is possible that not all of the university coursework that you have completed will be accepted for transfer.
All Grinnell students are required to complete at least 62 of the minimum 124 credits needed for graduation 'in residence' at Grinnell. Individual departments generally expect that the majority of courses constituting a major program will be Grinnell courses. Transfer students who enter Grinnell will be required to complete the following minimum number of credits in residence here:
| A Transfer student who enters as a: | Must complete at Grinnell at least: |
|---|---|
| Second-semester first-year | 92 credits |
| First-semester second-year | 78 credits |
| Second-semester second-year | 62 credits |
| First-semester third-year | 62 credits |
Students admitted as transfer applicants are not obligated to pursue the same line of studies that they followed at their previous university; the transfer student advisor and your academic advisor will work closely with you to design an academic program that fulfills your needs and the College's requirements for graduation.
For more information on transferring credits, read the Transfer Credit section of Grinnell's course catalog.
International Student Application Instructions
Financial Aid for International Students
Frequently asked Questions (and answers)
*Visit The Office of International Student Affairs (OISA)
