Revae Nelson '02

Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid

Offices, Departments, or Centers: Financial Aid ,

Hometown/region: Iowa and Minnesota

Degrees: B.A. (Grinnell College)

Undergraduate major: Mathematics

What I love about my job: There is enough of a cycle between months, semesters, and academic years that it feels like there is always something different to work on. I love variability in projects.

What I love about Grinnell: Grinnell has always felt like home. I love watching basketball games in Darby Gym (both old and new), seeing students in the Spencer Grill between classes, and reading old periodicals on the fourth floor of Burling Library.

Hobbies/activities: I love flipping through cookbooks to find new recipes to try — savory dishes are my favorite. I relieve stress by participating in band and orchestra; immersing myself in the sounds of Bach, Beethoven, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Smetana, or Sibelius is a blissful way to pass a few minutes.

Advice about searching for schools: Don’t be scared of the cost of attendance (the published price of one year of college). Financial aid is available, and many applicants will qualify for some sort of financial assistance. Don’t rely exclusively on the FAFSA’s determination of federal aid. Most students at Grinnell do not receive federal grants. Several colleges — including Grinnell — have institutional funds they can utilize to help make college more affordable for you.

Advice about applying for schools: Admission and financial aid counselors are available to help you. If you have questions, we love to answer them!