Grinnell Global Gateway Program

Experience an immersive first-semester study abroad experience for distinguished students selected through a rigorous admission process.

In partnership with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), the oldest and largest nonprofit intercultural exchange organization in the United States, Grinnell is proud to support two select cohorts of incoming first-year students annually. Each cohort spends the fall semester of their first year of college in CIEE's programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina or Seoul, South Korea.

Program overview

The Grinnell Global Gateway Program, offered through the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) at Grinnell College, gives exceptional high school seniors the opportunity to begin their Grinnell education through a distinctive international experience. As part of a close-knit cohort studying in a city outside the United States, selected students — known as Global Scholars — engage the world directly while building the curiosity, confidence, and cross-cultural understanding that define a Grinnell education.

Global Scholars experience their host city as a living classroom through field excursions, guided reflection, local engagement, and virtual connections with Grinnell. They share their observations through blog posts and meet with their faculty Tutorial adviser in-country during fall break to discuss life at Grinnell, academic goals, and spring registration.

Your Contact

"Studying abroad as a Grinnell student was transformational for me. I learned more about the world and myself, had unforgettable cultural experiences, and became more independent, self-aware, and open-minded. I'm now eager to help students learn more about the Grinnell Global Gateway Program so that they can have similar transformational experiences of their own." —Conner Stanfield '21

Contact Conner

Eligibility

Criteria for consideration:

U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Academic interest(s) in the humanities, languages, and cultural or social studies
Success in a rigorous college preparatory curriculum
Demonstrated maturity in decision-making
Interest in learning about cultures and communities outside the United States

Applying

All eligible applicants for admission to Grinnell College will automatically be contacted about pursuing this opportunity. However, you may proactively opt in to be considered by indicating "Yes" to the global entry question on Grinnell's Common Application or by contacting admission@grinnell.edu.

Apply to Grinnell

What makes Grinnell's approach distinctive?

The Grinnell Global Gateway Program makes global learning the starting point of college — not an optional later experience. Global Scholars receive the Global Scholarship, a renewable $20,000 annual award recognizing their promise as globally engaged leaders. Because Global Scholars spend the fall semester abroad and the scholarship applies only to semesters enrolled on campus at Grinnell, first-year recipients receive $10,000 for the spring semester. Together, the cohort-based semester abroad, scholarship recognition, advising, faculty connection, re-entry programming, and peer leadership create an integrated pathway from admission to campus engagement.

Begin globally: Global Scholars start college with global engagement before arriving on campus.
Belong from the start: A cohort model builds early connection, confidence, and community.
Receive integrated support: Scholarship, advising, orientation, faculty engagement, and re-entry support are intentionally connected.
Stay connected to Grinnell: Global Scholars engage with Grinnell while abroad through reflection, advising, and virtual connection.
Return as ambassadors: Global Scholars share their learning through presentations, mentoring, and campus leadership.

"The CIEE staff was very accommodating and made me feel comfortable asking for things whenever I needed it. Everyone here is so friendly and has helped me through whatever I needed."

"Overall, everything about the academic aspects of the program was good. The courses were engaging, the instructors were knowledgeable and approachable, and the classroom activities were interactive and enriching. The site visits added a practical element to the learning experience, and the environment felt inclusive and supportive throughout."

"I loved my homestay experience. My host family was incredibly welcoming and made me feel like part of their family, which greatly enhanced my cultural immersion. The house was comfortable, and I appreciated the opportunity to experience daily life and traditions firsthand. I wouldn’t change anything about my housing; it was the best part of the program."

“We planned our goals for the semester early on, which really helped me focus on working hard this semester. I also feel like the workshops built a safe space and community, knowing that we were there to support one another and becoming familiar with the faculty.”

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What will I gain as a Global Scholar?

Global Scholars begin their Grinnell education abroad and arrive on campus ready to be active participants in a globally engaged community. Global Scholars may extend the impact of their experience as ambassadors for global learning through peer mentoring, campus leadership, research, internships, and future study abroad — helping build a more connected, curious, and globally engaged Grinnell community.

Through this experience and consistent with global learning goals at Grinnell, Global Scholars will also develop the ability to:

Engage deeply with places and communities beyond their home country
Understand global systems and challenges that connect communities across the world
Examine issues and ideas from multiple cultural perspectives
Place their own experiences within a broader global context
Navigate diverse societies, collaborate across cultures, and communicate across languages and differences

How do I apply?

Only one application is required to be considered for this opportunity: the Common Application (or QuestBridge application, for those who qualify). Grinnell will identify and select students for this opportunity; there is no separate CIEE application. While not required, you may express your interest in these programs by indicating “Yes” to the global entry question on Grinnell’s Common Application or by contacting admission@grinnell.edu.

Is there any admission or Grinnell College financial aid advantage available to Global Scholars?

Admission to Grinnell is competitive regardless of the application round. However, applicants who apply through Early Decision are admitted at a higher rate, largely due to the volume of Regular Decision applications received each year. Students interested in the inaugural Grinnell Global Gateway Program can expect admission rates comparable to those typically associated with the application round in which they apply.

In addition, all Global Scholars, regardless of admission round, will receive a renewable Global Scholarship of $20,000 per year. Students seeking need-based financial aid during their years at Grinnell should submit all required financial aid forms and supporting documents as part of the application process.

What are the deadlines and overall timeline for pursuing this opportunity?

To be considered for this opportunity, you must apply for admission to Grinnell College by our published application deadlines:

Early Decision 1: November 15
- Notification by mid-late December
Early Decision 2: January 5
- Notification by early February
Regular Decision: January 15
- Notification by late March/early April

You will learn if you've been selected as a Global Scholar when you receive your admission decision from Grinnell.

How much will this opportunity cost?

In the inaugural year of the Grinnell Global Gateway Program (fall 2027), the program cost is $8,080, a fee set by Grinnell’s educational partner, the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). This fee covers core academic and living essentials, including tuition for transferable college credits, housing, orientations, on-site local staff support, scheduled cultural excursions, workshops, academic transcripts, and iNext travel and medical protection. Global Scholars will be responsible for various travel costs, including their flights to and from their program site, as well as incidental expenses while abroad.

What type of candidates will Grinnell choose for this opportunity?

Grinnell seeks Global Scholars who are academically prepared, intellectually curious, open to unfamiliar perspectives, and ready to begin college in an international setting. Foreign language proficiency is not required. As part of the rigorous selection process, finalists will complete a required interview that gives them the opportunity to reflect on their interests, readiness, and aspirations for the experience. Strong candidates will show independence, resilience, thoughtful engagement, and a desire to contribute to a close-knit liberal arts community.

In the selection process, Grinnell will consider the following criteria:

Academic interest(s) in the humanities, languages, and cultural or social studies
Success in a rigorous college preparatory curriculum
Demonstrated maturity in decision-making
Interest in learning about cultures and communities outside the United States

Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents can qualify for participation in the Grinnell Global Gateway Program.

Can you tell me more about the CIEE programs?

Of course! You can learn more about both the Buenos Aires and the Seoul programs via the CIEE webpages for those programs. For starters, though, the Buenos Aires program includes a homestay, and the Seoul program includes dormitory-style accommodations. You will live with other future Grinnell students in both locations, but non-Grinnell students will be enrolled in the programs, too.

What will my academic semester abroad look like?

Your semester will be 12 weeks long and consist of 12–14 total credits to be completed through 15–20 course options across two 6-week academic "blocks" (two courses per block). Participants will pre-register by sending CIEE their class preferences, and CIEE will assign them. The courses must be taken in person, on site. Language learning is absolutely an option for academic focus, and CIEE offers weekly academic tutoring. All participants will take three CIEE-led excursions.

How will I engage with Grinnell before and during my time abroad?

SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration) will help students prepare for the fall semester abroad through virtual cohort meetings, pre-departure and academic advising, passport support, and early connections with your first-year classmates. We will also bring you to campus for pre-departure programming and to meet other new Grinnell students.

Upon beginning your CIEE program, you can expect mid-semester check-ins from Grinnell contacts (including your Tutorial adviser on site), peer mentoring from and meet-ups with Grinnell students completing traditional study-abroad experiences in these locations, connections with Grinnell alumni in these locations, and a supported credit transfer process.

Additionally, during your time abroad, CIEE will contact Grinnell's liaisons in the Institute for Global Engagement about any health and safety issues, and the Academic Success Center about any academic concerns.

What will my transition to Grinnell look like for the spring semester?

When the cohort arrives on campus in January, Global Scholars will bring a semester of shared discovery and global perspective. Orientation, re-entry programming, First-Year Tutorial, Cooking and Culture with the Dean of the College in the Global Kitchen, and other opportunities such as global internships, research, and future semesters abroad will help you connect your international experience to life and learning at Grinnell.

Will all my CIEE credits transfer to Grinnell?

During the CIEE course preference process, CIEE will provide you with course options that align with Grinnell's academic offerings as well as guidance about what these courses count toward at Grinnell (e.g. general credit, major elective, or major requirement).

Can I choose which program/location I will be considered for, or will I be assigned?

We will collect location preferences from finalists, and we will do our best to honor those preferences.