Visiting Grinnell during one of our on-campus programs is one of the best ways to see what college life is like for current students. We highly encourage all of our prospective students to visit Grinnell during one of these programs; this is the ideal way to get an in-depth, personal look at the Grinnell community.
Summer Preview Day
July 19, 2019
Summer Preview Day is our summer open house for prospective students and guests. It’s the perfect time to visit Grinnell and explore the Grinnell community! We have a full day of activities planned, including opportunities to speak with faculty members, administrators, and current students.
From 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., you'll experience:
- information session conducted by an admission counselor and a current student
- campus tour led by current students
- current student panel
- complimentary lunch with current students and faculty members
- mock class led by a faculty member
- presentation by the Center for Careers, Life, and Service
- specialty tours (optional)
- admission interviews (optional)
- financial aid appointments (optional)
Discover Grinnell
Sunday and Monday, September 29 – 30 and November 3 – 4
Discover Grinnell is our fall 2-day open house program for prospective students. It’s a great way to get a broad overview of the Grinnell experience, whether you are just getting started with your college search or finalizing your application list.
Come join us and discover everything that Grinnell can offer you!
Over the course of two days, you’ll have the chance to:
- attend classes
- stay overnight with a current student
- interview with Office of Admission
- tour campus
- enjoy meals at the Marketplace Dining Hall
- interact with current students and other prospective students
- attend sessions on academics and student life and meet with faculty, administrators, and coaches
- experience Grinnell after hours with specialized tours, live music, and evening activities led by student organizations
Please note that registration is limited and only available online.
Sign up for the September 29-30 Discover Grinnell
Sign up for the November 3-4 Discover Grinnell
Fall Preview Day
October 14, 2019 (Columbus Day)
Fall Preview Day is one of our fall open house programs for prospective students who are high school juniors and seniors. We have a full day of activities planned, including opportunities to speak with faculty members, administrators, and current students. It’s a great time to visit campus and get to know the Grinnell community!
Activities run from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. and include:
- information session conducted by an admission counselor and a current student
- campus tour led by a current student
- complimentary lunch in the Marketplace Dining Hall
- class visits
- presentation by the Center for Careers, Life, and Service
- specialty Tours of Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, the Humanities & Social Studies Center, and Noyce Science Center (optional)
- admission interviews (optional)
- financial aid appointments (optional)
Diversity Travel Opportunity
Sunday and Monday, September 29 – 30
The Grinnell Diversity Travel Opportunity (GDTOP) offers you the chance for a free trip to campus for one of our Fall Discover Grinnell program. The preview program is a great way to discover your place at one of the nation's top liberal arts colleges.
Program participants will:
- stay overnight with a current student host
- go on a tour of the Grinnell campus
- attend classes
- attend an information session on admission and financial aid
Applicants must be high school seniors, students of color (African American, Latinx, Asian, Native American) or the first in their family to attend college, and interested in a liberal arts education (arts and humanities, mathematics and sciences, and social sciences).
Applicants must submit the following by Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m.:
- Diversity Travel Opportunity application
- an unofficial (or official) SAT or ACT score
- an unofficial (or official) high school transcript, showing final grades through the end of Junior year
Please note that the Diversity Travel Opportunity cannot accept applications from international students or transfer applicants.
Junior Visit Day
February 17, 2020
Whether you're a high school junior who is already in the thick of your college search or you're looking to go on your very first college visit, we’ve designed a program just for you.
During our Junior Visit Day, you'll be able to tour campus, attend class, and get an overview of Grinnell's uniquely personalized academic program, life beyond the classroom, and our admission and financial aid process. It's a great opportunity to meet current students, eat in the dining hall, and start to think about whether you might be a Grinnellian.
Admitted Student Weekend Programs
April 5 - 6 & April 26 - 27
You’ve applied and been accepted. Congratulations! We invite you to experience Grinnell’s endless possibilities at one of our admitted student programs, designed specifically for you.
Over the course of two days, you’ll have the chance to:
- sit in on a class of your choice
- spend the night on campus with a current student
- interact one-on-one with faculty members at our Academic & Campus Resource Fair
- learn about student life during small group breakout sessions with senior students
- go on a student-led tour of campus
- tour the performing arts and athletics & recreation centers
- relax and and enjoy Sunday evening activities with other admitted students
- attend panels on the academic experience, the Grinnell residential community, and post-graduate opportunities
Registration will be available in March
Admitted Student Day Program
April 17
We realize that not every student can attend one of the above admitted student weekend programs, so we invite you to spend a half-day on campus this spring instead.
Over the course of the day, you’ll have the chance to:
- sit in on a class
- hear about post-graduate opportunities and funding for internships from staff members in the Center for Careers, Life, and Service
- learn about student life and our residential community during a current student panel
- go on a student-led tour of campus
- tour the performing arts and athletics & recreation centers
- spend the night on campus with a current student
Registration will be available in March
Grinnell College welcomes individuals with disabilities and strives to provide the fullest access possible during the visit process. If any member of your party requires an accommodation as the result of a disability, you must request accommodations at least two weeks in advance of your scheduled visit to ensure that the fullest range of accommodation options are available. It may not be possible to meet all requested accommodations when accommodations are requested fewer than two weeks in advance.