Grinnell - what is it really like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remote. So incredibly remote.

+1 unless you have a really introverted life of the mind kid, I think it’s better suited to smart students from the rural Midwest who are still comfortable being in that environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remote. So incredibly remote.

What’s your connection to the school other than Mapquest?

Mapquest!!!! Friend’s kid is there. Unhappy, but I don’t know her well enough to know how much it is due to Grinnell. Friend has *driven* out to visit.

Not much of a connection. Just as I suspected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The endowment is $3 billion thanks to some historical association with Warren Buffett. It’s among the largest of the SLACs.

Grinnell provided the seed money for Intel. Which is pretty crazy tbh. They made a fortune, but sold out too soon in retrospect (because they were a college, not a hedge fund, and needed to be conservative). But they took those Intel proceeds and put them in a little fund called Berkshire Hathaway.

Say what you want, but they're not dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The endowment is $3 billion thanks to some historical association with Warren Buffett. It’s among the largest of the SLACs.

Grinnell provided the seed money for Intel. Which is pretty crazy tbh. They made a fortune, but sold out too soon in retrospect (because they were a college, not a hedge fund, and needed to be conservative). But they took those Intel proceeds and put them in a little fund called Berkshire Hathaway.

Say what you want, but they're not dumb.

That provides an intellectually stimulating job for the adults involved in Grinnel finances, but doesn’t help the student who might feel stuck in that area for four years.

[Anonymous]

It's like Williams or Bowdoin, but with a lot shorter winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The endowment is $3 billion thanks to some historical association with Warren Buffett. It’s among the largest of the SLACs.

Grinnell provided the seed money for Intel. Which is pretty crazy tbh. They made a fortune, but sold out too soon in retrospect (because they were a college, not a hedge fund, and needed to be conservative). But they took those Intel proceeds and put them in a little fund called Berkshire Hathaway.

Say what you want, but they're not dumb.

That provides an intellectually stimulating job for the adults involved in Grinnel finances, but doesn’t help the student who might feel stuck in that area for four years.

then that student shouldn't apply

DC is there. Didn't grow up in Midwest, but is fairly familiar with the area. Really likes it but occasionally complains like kids that age do.

Wanted a SLAC and that hasn't changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The endowment is $3 billion thanks to some historical association with Warren Buffett. It’s among the largest of the SLACs.

Grinnell provided the seed money for Intel. Which is pretty crazy tbh. They made a fortune, but sold out too soon in retrospect (because they were a college, not a hedge fund, and needed to be conservative). But they took those Intel proceeds and put them in a little fund called Berkshire Hathaway.

Say what you want, but they're not dumb.

That provides an intellectually stimulating job for the adults involved in Grinnel finances, but doesn’t help the student who might feel stuck in that area for four years.

Kids who don't want a remote campus shouldn't apply.

Also, kids who don't want a city campus: NYU is not for you.

Honestly, people.

[Anonymous]

Very town and gown
Bikes everywhere
Ditchweed
Everyone goes off to grad school so it feels a bit high-schoolish, albeit an alternative high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The endowment is $3 billion thanks to some historical association with Warren Buffett. It’s among the largest of the SLACs.

Grinnell provided the seed money for Intel. Which is pretty crazy tbh. They made a fortune, but sold out too soon in retrospect (because they were a college, not a hedge fund, and needed to be conservative). But they took those Intel proceeds and put them in a little fund called Berkshire Hathaway.

Say what you want, but they're not dumb.

That provides an intellectually stimulating job for the adults involved in Grinnel finances, but doesn’t help the student who might feel stuck in that area for four years.

then that student shouldn't apply

DC is there. Didn't grow up in Midwest, but is fairly familiar with the area. Really likes it but occasionally complains like kids that age do.

Wanted a SLAC and that hasn't changed.

Tell us more if you know more! What type of weekend activities do they provide for the students? Do the dorms organize any social activities? Do they bring in acts? Does the school with their vast sums of money provide activities for the students to do on weekends?

[Anonymous]

btw the direct flight from DCA to Des Moines can be pricey like $500.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:btw the direct flight from DCA to Des Moines can be pricey like $500.

I fly to Des Moines for work which is why I know there's a direct flight. It's almost always btw 400-500. You can also get there for under 300 if you fly via Minneapolis or Chicago. I dont pay for this, so naturally I'm going to go direct. It's a super easy flight. But also I dont think $500 is all that expensive. I mean, maybe 600 bucks more per school year than going to a college that's a 300 RT flight away? Wouldn't be a factor in my decision making.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell ended up being my Arlington kid's second choice in 2020. A few things that were very attractive: (1) they seem to have a very pro-active career center, which reaches out to students and (tries to) make(s) sure that they are doing what's necessary for summer and post-grad employment. My kid would have benefited from that kind of system; (2) they have a ton of money, and offer significant merit aid (I think my kid was offered $28K per year). This is very, very rare at top notch institutions like Grinnell; (3) the campus is very nice, and has a very human scale.

The biggest downside, of course, is that its not easy to get there. As someone mentioned above, its about a 5 hour drive to Chicago, and 4 hour drive from Minneapolis, and while Des Moines is (relatively) close (maybe an hour or so by car), flying to Des Moines from the DMV isn't easy or convenient.

A great option, in my opinion, for the right student, but a bad one for someone who wants much (anything?) in the way of off-campus activities and/or entertainment.

Can someone name some schools with similar traits but closer and where someone with a not-so-stellar academics can get in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell ended up being my Arlington kid's second choice in 2020. A few things that were very attractive: (1) they seem to have a very pro-active career center, which reaches out to students and (tries to) make(s) sure that they are doing what's necessary for summer and post-grad employment. My kid would have benefited from that kind of system; (2) they have a ton of money, and offer significant merit aid (I think my kid was offered $28K per year). This is very, very rare at top notch institutions like Grinnell; (3) the campus is very nice, and has a very human scale.

The biggest downside, of course, is that its not easy to get there. As someone mentioned above, its about a 5 hour drive to Chicago, and 4 hour drive from Minneapolis, and while Des Moines is (relatively) close (maybe an hour or so by car), flying to Des Moines from the DMV isn't easy or convenient.

A great option, in my opinion, for the right student, but a bad one for someone who wants much (anything?) in the way of off-campus activities and/or entertainment.

Can someone name some schools with similar traits but closer and where someone with a not-so-stellar academics can get in?

College of Wooster
Gustavaus Adolphus College
Kalamazoo College
Knox College
Lawrence University

[Anonymous]

As a prospective parent, is this concerning?

https://thesandb.com/43065/article/47-of-students-have-considered-withdrawal-from-grinnell-college/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grinnell ended up being my Arlington kid's second choice in 2020. A few things that were very attractive: (1) they seem to have a very pro-active career center, which reaches out to students and (tries to) make(s) sure that they are doing what's necessary for summer and post-grad employment. My kid would have benefited from that kind of system; (2) they have a ton of money, and offer significant merit aid (I think my kid was offered $28K per year). This is very, very rare at top notch institutions like Grinnell; (3) the campus is very nice, and has a very human scale.

The biggest downside, of course, is that its not easy to get there. As someone mentioned above, its about a 5 hour drive to Chicago, and 4 hour drive from Minneapolis, and while Des Moines is (relatively) close (maybe an hour or so by car), flying to Des Moines from the DMV isn't easy or convenient.

A great option, in my opinion, for the right student, but a bad one for someone who wants much (anything?) in the way of off-campus activities and/or entertainment.

Can someone name some schools with similar traits but closer and where someone with a not-so-stellar academics can get in?

College of Wooster
Gustavaus Adolphus College
Kalamazoo College
Knox College
Lawrence University

Allegheny
Juniata
Gettysburg
Muhlenberg