Choosing Grinnell
Are you looking for a school that:- has top academic programs,
- is in a unique location,
- maintains a commitment to social issues and civic engagement,
- fosters a global outlook,
- has a culture of student responsibility and self-governance on campus?
If you answered yes, we hope you'll apply to Grinnell College.
We know, choosing a college is a big decision, and current Grinnell students know exactly how you feel, and know that Grinnell College is a perfect fit for them. Here's why:
From Phoebe Souza '08 of Los Angeles, Calif.: "I chose Grinnell, in part, because I wanted a completely new experience and environment, in addition to a challenging academic setting. Rural, small town Iowa seemed to be as different as I could possibly get from living in a studio warehouse in the middle of a massive metropolis. I was excited about the location of my new home, although it has been the people at Grinnell who have made my college experience so incredible.
Friends and family in California have asked me why I would want to go to school 'in the middle of nowhere.' In my experience, Grinnell, Iowa is more like being in the middle of everything. It is in the center of the country, and the student body and faculty come from literally every state and from all over the world. I have met people from countries I had previously only known in books. My previous roommates have been from Honduras, South Dakota, and India. At Grinnell, the question is never what to do, but rather how much can one do and still have time for homework and friends. The school provides activities on campus, and any given weekend there are always a variety of concerts, parties, movies, speakers and performances making it impossible to see and do everything."
From Allison Brinkhorst '11 of St. Louis, Mo. "By my senior year of high school, I knew that I wanted to attend a small, liberal arts college that was not located in a big city, because I observed that these campuses had the best senses of community, and I was leaning toward colleges in the Midwest that were far enough away for me to become independent but close enough to home that I could visit my family somewhat easily. I was also looking for challenging academics, students who were intelligent and motivated but not competitive, small class sizes, approachable professors, and a student body with a diversity of backgrounds, interests and opinions that was also cohesive and accepting of these differences. I ended up visiting over 15 colleges and applying to 8. Based on a combination of all of these factors and my gut feeling of where I would fit in socially, I chose Grinnell."
Read more messages and advice at our Student Voices and Choosing Grinnell pages.