Gabrielle Matthews ’17 takes  a selfie with her family.

Welcome to the Grinnell Community

Information for families of admitted students

Welcome, parents and families.

Congratulations on your student’s admission to Grinnell College, and welcome to our global community (1,700 students from all 50 states and more than 70 citizenships; one in four students is a domestic student of color; one in five is international; and more than 60 languages are spoken on campus). You play an important role in your student’s transition to college, and the resources on this page will help you fulfill that key role.

Joe Bagnoli

Congratulations!

Programs & Events

Hear from students, faculty, and staff, and ask all your questions about Grinnell.

Landscaping in front of HSSC including curving sidewalks, plantings, boulder seating and signage

Virtual Happy Hour for Parents and Families

Zoom registration required.

Join us for a conversation with the parents of a current Grinnellian as well as staff from Admission and the Department of Alumni Relations during this hour-long virtual happy hour session. Bring your questions, as the entire event is devoted to listening to the stories of other families and asking questions you might have about your student’s future experience at Grinnell. We encourage this event to be just for parents and families.

April 7, 6–7 p.m. CT

Students smiling on a field

Events for Students

Parents are welcome to accompany their student to most of the below upcoming events!

When registration is available in the months ahead, your student can sign up through their  admitted student portal (login required). Please keep checking in for more April events!

  • Customizable Daily Visits: Monday-Friday, Saturdays in April

  • On-Campus Admitted Student Programs: April 11–12 and April 18–19 

  • Virtual Admitted Student Program: Sunday, April 21

  • The International Student Experience at Grinnell (Virtual): Friday, April 5

  • Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Grinnell (Virtual): Sunday, April 14

Helping your student get ready for Grinnell

Congratulations! Your student has been admitted. What's next?

Here’s a brief timeline of activities and events to plan for before the school year begins.

Screenshot from Virtual Tour

At Time of Admission

Commit! And keep learning more about your student’s new community.
Gates tower

May – June

Make some exciting decisions.
  • May 1: This is the deposit deadline for students who were admitted through Regular Decision.
  • mid-May: Your student will receive their Grinnell email address and network credentials.
  • mid-June: Your student’s roommate and housing preferences form is due. (And don’t worry, we have space for everyone!)
  • late June: Your student’s top-five ranking of First-Year Tutorial options is due.
A parent helps a student carry luggage.

July – August

Help your student stay on top of the paperwork.*
  • late July: Your student’s first Grinnell College bill is due.
  • early August: Your student will receive their roommate and residence hall assignment.
  • late August: Your student will participate in New Student Orientation (NSO).

* All forms will be available through Grinnell’s intranet site, GrinnellShare (login required).

Parent Testimonials

Hear from Grinnell parents who have come before you.

The Gifford Family smiles for the camera.

Bret & Doreen Gifford, P ’23

Manchester, New Hampshire

“Our daughter formed a tight group of friends on the second floor of Norris, where she lived during her first year. These friends sustained and supported her during the period of remote learning. She has been challenged by the courses in her intended majors (biology and Spanish) and is excited about exploring new areas (dance and East Asian religions).

“Faculty and staff have worked hard to provide our daughter with the best possible college experience. Professors have been actively engaged in her education in many ways, including one-on-one conversations outside the classroom. The administration has been responsive to her needs. When she needed to return home mid-semester for family reasons, the student assistance staff were very helpful.”

The Coen Family smiles for the camera.

Matthew & Emily Coen, P ’25

St. Louis, Missouri

“Grinnell is everything we could have hoped for Henry and MORE! Henry has made an amazing group of friends and loves being an active member on campus. Whenever we talk to him, he is practicing for the next improv or Neverland Players performance or going to spoon carving. Grinnell, along with its top-notch academic facilities and educators, is full of all kinds of opportunities to get involved with.

“The last time we visited Grinnell, we just took note of Henry's sheer happiness. The friends he has made will be lifelong; they are the kinds of people who are not just about having fun but who truly care about each other. These friendships can be hard to find, but Grinnell is full of these kind, thoughtful people. We're so lucky Henry found his place at Grinnell. What an amazing choice.”

Keeping your student safe and supported

Grinnell’s campus is nestled in a residential neighborhood, just one mile from a regional medical center. The College takes your students' health, wellness, and safety seriously.
Students at the Student Org Fair on campus

Counseling and Medical Services

On-campus resources include in-person and virtual appointments with nurses, licensed psychologists, mental health counselors, social workers, a family therapist, and a physician assistant. They dispense over-the-counter medications and can prescribe medications as needed. They can also schedule appointments with local providers as needed.

Students have class outdoors near blackboard outside HSSC

Campus Safety

Your student's safety and the security of all on-campus property and programs is the focus of Grinnell’s 24/7 Office of Campus Safety. The security staff complements Grinnell’s philosophy of self-governance and personal responsibility by working with students, faculty, and staff to prevent safety issues and provide a safe campus environment in which to live, learn, and work.

storm clouds over east campus dorms at Grinnell College

Academic Support

Academic Advising works with students on nearly any academic concern. They consult with your student about study skills and time management and offer peer tutoring. During times of personal challenge, the team supports students, explains academic policies, and can discuss how to apply for a leave of absence.

Photo of Gallery of Flags

Welcome, International Students and Families

Our Commitment to Experiential Equity

We meet full financial need for all students, and we do it without loans. But that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our community-minded campus. Funding for internships, off-campus study, and paid research opportunities means that support is available for everyone. In fact, among our students who are studying off campus this year, the number of very-high-financial-need students matches the number of students who are not receiving any need-based financial aid. And our students are taught and mentored by full-time faculty members, not TAs. This kind of commitment to experiential equity turns heads, and it brings together a remarkable group of students. Here are just a few national rankings that recognize our dynamic student body:

#8
Most International, U.S. News & World Report
A+
Diversity, Niche
#7
Most Politically Active Students, Princeton Review

Understanding financial aid and billing

Here are some things to keep in mind in the months ahead.
Gates Tower at sunrise

At Time of Admission

Review your student’s notification of financial aid eligibility and plan ahead.
students in a hammock

May - June

Prepare for the fall semester bill.
New Student Orientation - many students together in front of Gates Tower

July - August

Pay the fall semester bill and prepare to arrive to campus.
Photo of rays of sun poke through clouds

Just hit “play.”

Hear from our students, faculty, staff, and alumni themselves.

Photo of Microphone and Mac running mixing software in room with sound insulation, lit with red light

Dive into Grinnellians’ published work

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