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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. By starting their college journeys abroad, these students gain the confidence, global perspective, and resume-boosting opportunities that today's competitive world demands, all while knowing that their experience will transfer seamlessly to Grinnell for the next seven semesters of their college experience.

Your Contact

Meet your Grinnell admission representative, Jon Edwards.

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Eligibility

Eligible candidates have:

U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
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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.

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"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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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.

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 and indicate your interest in the programs by our published application deadlines:

Early Decision 1: November 15
Early Decision 2: January 5
Regular Decision: January 15

Can you tell me more about the CIEE programs?

Of course! You can learn more about the 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.

How much will this opportunity cost?

The cost for the fall CIEE semester in fall 2027 is $8,080, billed directly through CIEE (once the spring transfer to Grinnell takes place, all billing will occur through Grinnell College). Grinnell financial aid is not available to assist with CIEE expenses, as students will not officially matriculate to Grinnell until the spring of their first year; however, upon selection for this opportunity, you will receive a $20,000 minimum annual scholarship from Grinnell.

What will my academic semester abroad look like?

Your semester will consist of 12–14 total credits, to be completed through 15–20 course options and across two 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 be engaged with Grinnell during my time abroad?

Before your semester abroad begins, you will attend Grinnell's New Student Orientation (NSO) on campus, where you will meet your future classmates and Tutorial adviser. Upon beginning your CIEE program, you can expect mid-semester check-ins from Grinnell contacts (including your Tutorial adviser on site), peer mentoring and meet-ups from Grinnell students completing traditional study-abroad experiences in these locations (our students regularly study in these countries), guaranteed credit transfer, and discounts on future CIEE study-abroad opportunities.

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 alert issues.

Will all my CIEE credits transfer to Grinnell?

All credit-bearing courses will count toward graduation requirements at Grinnell, except for courses that CIEE offers that Grinnell does not (e.g., business courses) — students can transfer back up to five credits of this type.

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