Visit Programs and Events

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.

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 the 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.

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

Summer Preview Day

July 17, 2020

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)

Registration will be available in early Summer, 2020.

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.