So much will happen during your next four years. What’s important is that, at Grinnell, you’re never going at it alone. In fact, you’ll have three advisers to support your journey every step of the way:
Your Advisers
Crafting a curriculum for you.
Your First-Year Tutorial professor will play a much bigger role than just teaching your first class at Grinnell. They will become your faculty adviser, responsible for developing a program of study that combines your particular interests and long-term goals (the hallmark of the Grinnell curriculum). Academic Planning for First-Year Students provides you with space from the very beginning to explore our variety of programs and where you see yourself belonging. So that by late in your second year, you’ll have declared a major and gained a good understanding of what your academic focus can lead to, and exactly how to get there.
Connecting your interests to real opportunities.
At Grinnell, preparing for your future isn’t something you have to figure out alone— it’s built into your student experience from the very beginning.
Every incoming first-year and transfer student is paired with an adviser from the Exploratory Career Community, who will support and guide you as you begin to shape your career path.
As you gain clarity in your interests and goals, you will begin working with our industry-focused career communities, including advising appointments, events and workshops, treks, and other opportunities.
You can also explore Global Fellowships and Awards, including nationally competitive merit-based awards and Grinnell-specific opportunities designed to support your ambitions.
Through Civic Education and Innovation (CEI), you’ll have opportunities to connect learning with action, working alongside campus and community partners to make a positive impact while developing the knowledge and skills needed for engaged civic participation.
Visit the Center for Careers, Life, and Service website to learn more.
Making sure you always feel at home.
Moving into a new environment with an entirely new group of people brings exciting experiences, but may also require some adjustments. Your residence life coordinator (RLC), who lives in your residential community, is the primary resource for you and your neighbors as you navigate your shared space together. RLC’s are available throughout the day, with someone on call 24 hours a day, should you need anything late at night. Your RLC’s role is to support your success at Grinnell academically, socially, and personally, and be there to help you feel at home away from home.
