Solving for Fit

Sometimes the college process can feel like a never-ending equation. Factors of cost and class size, distance and diversity, pre-professional opportunities and postgraduate outcomes. And on top of it all, you’re supposed to look for a school that feels like the right “fit.”

What does “fit” even mean, and how are you supposed to go about finding it?

It’s difficult to isolate a variable that is as frustratingly vague as it is deeply personal. Lana Katai ’21 saw herself in our inclusive community.

“When I visited campus, I wasn’t surprised to meet a bunch of creative, intelligent people who are doing amazing things,” says Katai. “What I didn’t expect was their complete lack of pretentiousness. 

“If I had to describe the typical Grinnellian, it would be someone who is purposeful, open-minded, socially responsible, and globally aware. Beyond that, we couldn’t be more diverse.” 

Now in her first year on campus, Katai is confident she made the right choice.

“I love that I go to a college where the only thing people care about is the quality of my character and the things that I bring to the table, not what I’m wearing, or how I sound, or how I look. At Grinnell, I feel free to be who I am.”

If Katai’s story resonates with your own college search, Grinnell might be your right fit. Explore why Grinnell feels like home.

And if you’re ever lost on campus, just look for Katai: “If your bike is broken, I’m going to stop you and ask if everything is okay. If I see someone crying, I’ll offer a hug. That’s the kind of community I found here, and it’s something I want to pay forward.”