It is boring and isolated.

When I was there (eons ago), the quantity, quality, and variety of entertainment and activities available were amazing. I learned so much by going to concerts (national acts) and movies (all “free”). Yes, a small campus in a small town in the middle of farm country could be intense, but I wouldn’t call it isolated.

Based on campus visits and other data points, I believe Grinnell is now a better school academically (more options on and off campus), physically (a much improved campus), and socially (more diverse in every way) than it was in the late ‘70s. Students seem more connected to the world as well as eager to make it better.

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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?

There are as many weekend activities as you can handle. There are parties every weekend. Lots and lots of parties. Super-social, extraverted DC, who liked to party way too much, didn't have time to attend every party she wanted to attend. She sometimes went from one party to the next on a Saturday night. The college organizes weekly themed parties (Halloween parties, for example). The college also brings in many speakers, concert artists, etc. Theater is popular, and there are always student productions going on. There's a weekly Nerf gun fight, if that's your thing. There are game groups and Dungeons and Dragons groups. Students bake one another birthday cakes in the dorm kitchens and hold birthday parties. Apart from the noisy parties, some parties consist of groups getting together, eating and drinking, and just talking about life, the universe, and everything. The theme houses organize events. Students sometimes swim, play tennis (there are indoor courts, in case it's cold), or visit the gym on weekends. DC and her boyfriend usually ate out at a local restaurant in town at least once a week. Grinnell is small, but it has some decent restaurants and coffee shops. My energizer bunny DC was never bored.

It’s like in the middle of nowhere.

If you’re looking for a job at Field of Dreams … perhaps

I'm coming to the discussion late (apologies), but in response to the question of what Grinnell is really like, I can share my perspective as the mother of a recent graduate. My daughter had a WONDERFUL experience at Grinnell. It is a magical place with small classes, brilliant and involved professors, absolutely incredible academic and athletic facilities, and a bright, active, friendly, unpretentious student body. The academics are VERY demanding, but it's a perfect environment for a bright, curious kid who is prepared to work hard. The town is really cute and pretty, and it has some lovely restaurants and coffee shops. The only thing that could have been better were the dorms, but they are being extensively renovated, and a new one is being built. All new builds and renovations are attractive, comfortable, and environmentally sound, and all dorms will soon have A/C. The newest dorm will have a green roof and will offer apartment-style living. My daughter and her boyfriend were both athletes and loved their undergraduate experience. Both are headed for grad school but have chosen to work for a few years first. Both walked into excellent jobs straight out of college. They are very nostalgic and upbeat about their Grinnell experience and go back to visit their alma mater when they can.

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Anonymous wrote: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

I have no connection to Grinnell whatsoever, but that's a weird take. You're suggesting that students who are going on to grad school from college are less mature? Because they know what they want to study and are ready to make a commitment to that?

Not pp but it means they’re delaying entry into the real world & job market.

Meh -- grad school is the real world -- there are deadlines and professors/bosses and coworkers/peers and unless you're in a very long-term PhD program, you're starting to look for a job almost from the get-go. I say this as someone who worked for two years between college and law school. When I went back to school, I found my daily routine to be much the same as it was when I worked. The major difference (besides not having a regular paycheck) was that I worked every weekend in law school, but had a longer winter break.

+1 Also, personally during grad school I wasn’t living in a dorm or on a meal plan like an 18 y/o college student. I was fighting with my insurance billing, managing my own money—you know, everything a normal adult does.

My DD, a senior at a SLAC, does this. Why would this be something that only people in the "real world" do?

No idea. It’s a SLAC. Not a Ritz Carlton.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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

I have no connection to Grinnell whatsoever, but that's a weird take. You're suggesting that students who are going on to grad school from college are less mature? Because they know what they want to study and are ready to make a commitment to that?

Not pp but it means they’re delaying entry into the real world & job market.

Meh -- grad school is the real world -- there are deadlines and professors/bosses and coworkers/peers and unless you're in a very long-term PhD program, you're starting to look for a job almost from the get-go. I say this as someone who worked for two years between college and law school. When I went back to school, I found my daily routine to be much the same as it was when I worked. The major difference (besides not having a regular paycheck) was that I worked every weekend in law school, but had a longer winter break.

+1 Also, personally during grad school I wasn’t living in a dorm or on a meal plan like an 18 y/o college student. I was fighting with my insurance billing, managing my own money—you know, everything a normal adult does.

My DD, a senior at a SLAC, does this. Why would this be something that only people in the "real world" do?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this thread a discussion of the merits and demerits of liberal arts colleges versus big state schools in general? There are other threads about that. Here OP’s question was specifically about Grinnell.

So posters are only permitted to discuss positive aspects of Grinnell College ?

LAC people are way too sensitive. Grinnell College students discuss such matters openly & frequently.

It is easy to romanticize LACs and to demonize large publics, but the realities are important when investing large sums of money and four very important years of one's life. Brings the discussion back to dealing with reality versus a romanticized vision.

The only demonization is of Grinnell and its peers. I think you can get a great education at a large or small school and be well positioned for career success. You are making snide anti-LAC comments like, oh well if it’s the right fit then it makes sense to send your kid to high school 2.0 in the middle of nowhere where they will have to go to grad school to get a real education, but maybe that’s just the right fit.

School size/location present various pro and cons socially and culturally but the main error is the idea that future grad school attendance is some kind of defect.

In short, it is about making an informed choice.

Anonymous wrote:Why is this thread a discussion of the merits and demerits of liberal arts colleges versus big state schools in general? There are other threads about that. Here OP’s question was specifically about Grinnell.

So posters are only permitted to discuss positive aspects of Grinnell College ?

LAC people are way too sensitive. Grinnell College students discuss such matters openly & frequently.

It is easy to romanticize LACs and to demonize large publics, but the realities are important when investing large sums of money and four very important years of one's life. Brings the discussion back to dealing with reality versus a romanticized vision.

Anonymous wrote:Jesus will you two annoying posters stop your back-and-forth about LACs versus bigger schools? That has nothing specifically to do with Grinnell and you guys are long winded annoying bags.

Well, it is clear that someone is annoyed & annoying.

Why are you so afraid of a discussion about perceived differences between large & small, isolated schools--especially in a thread about a very small, very isolated school ?

An earlier post shared a link to an article concerning statistic about the high number of Grinnell College students who want to transfer.

Grinnell is a wealthy school which offers strong academics and, according to the college's own publications, strong post-undergraduate degree placement among grad schools and employers. But, many do not realize the negative aspects of attending this small, isolated school until after matriculation as evidenced by the desire of a very significant percentage of Grinnell students who express a desire to transfer out of the school.

Why is this thread a discussion of the merits and demerits of liberal arts colleges versus big state schools in general? There are other threads about that. Here OP’s question was specifically about Grinnell.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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

I have no connection to Grinnell whatsoever, but that's a weird take. You're suggesting that students who are going on to grad school from college are less mature? Because they know what they want to study and are ready to make a commitment to that?

Not pp but it means they’re delaying entry into the real world & job market.

Meh -- grad school is the real world -- there are deadlines and professors/bosses and coworkers/peers and unless you're in a very long-term PhD program, you're starting to look for a job almost from the get-go. I say this as someone who worked for two years between college and law school. When I went back to school, I found my daily routine to be much the same as it was when I worked. The major difference (besides not having a regular paycheck) was that I worked every weekend in law school, but had a longer winter break.

I meant that attending an LAC in a rural, isolated location is a way to delay entry into the real world & job market as it is a continuation of high school that almost necessitates that one attend grad school.

I get the idea that a SLAC can have a more “prep school” feel than a large university but fundamentally the college education one might receive at a SLAC is no different from what one might receive at a mid-sized or larger university. You could argue that some majors (like business or comp sci) prepare one for immediate entry into the workforce than others (like comparative literature). But that has nothing to do with small vs large school. You can go to UVA and major in the humanities like thousands of kids do and it’s the same deal.

I don't disagree with your assessment. Different environments do affect one's undergraduate experience even though studying the same major.

Continuing: The undergraduate college experience will be quite different for a student studying a humanities major at the University of Virginia versus a student studying the same major at Grinnell College.

A large or mid-sized university will offer a greater variety of courses in one's major as well as expose the student to a wider variety of students and professors.

Different does not necessarily equate to superior or inferior as much depends upon the individual student's preferences and comfort level.

You’re drawing too much of a distinction between a SLAC college experience and a larger school. All colleges are bubbles. SLAC grads are no less well prepared for the real world than Ohio State grads. SLAC students may enter grad school more frequently because they are more scholarly, they come from more affluent backgrounds esp vs public, and they are not normally pursuing business degrees or other directly pre-professional degrees.

^^ To add to this, your comments have a really stupid vibe. You’re basically saying SLACs are like some kind of post high school extension whereas large schools offer some kind of adult educational experience. And this is why SLAC grads may end up at law school, med school, business school, PhD programs more frequently. You are twisting the fact that SLAC grads pursue advanced degrees into some kind of indictment of SLACs. It’s ridiculous. SLAC grads are smart and often come from wealthy backgrounds aka they can afford grad school. This is why they go.

Because they do. Kids at Ohio State live off-campus in Columbus, handle leases, deal with landlords, take public transit, cook their own food, source their own furniture, many are working at establishments in the city to make rent & tuition and are in classes with hundreds of kids.

Ridiculous. You send your kid to college to study great ideas and interact with brilliant motivated professors and students - not to haggle with dirtbag landlords and evade mentally ill people on public transit. By your logic, a kid should work at a 7/11 instead of enrolling at Amherst. I went to an Ivy League school and had virtually zero “real world” things to contend with and it was just fine. It could not have been more of a bubble. Plenty of time for kids to deal with real world drudgery the rest of their lives.

Your viewpoint is telling.

Your overall position is preposterous. Your argument is this: because LACS are just glorified boarding schools that prevent kids from growing up, these deficient young people are then often forced to go to medical school, law school, MBA programs and Doctorate programs. Unlike the noble state u grad, skilled in the art of leasing a one bedroom apartment and eating dinner at Chipotle, who goes straight into the middle management training program at Ernst and Young! You are a true fool.

CORRECTION: Parents, not parent's.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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

I have no connection to Grinnell whatsoever, but that's a weird take. You're suggesting that students who are going on to grad school from college are less mature? Because they know what they want to study and are ready to make a commitment to that?

Not pp but it means they’re delaying entry into the real world & job market.

Meh -- grad school is the real world -- there are deadlines and professors/bosses and coworkers/peers and unless you're in a very long-term PhD program, you're starting to look for a job almost from the get-go. I say this as someone who worked for two years between college and law school. When I went back to school, I found my daily routine to be much the same as it was when I worked. The major difference (besides not having a regular paycheck) was that I worked every weekend in law school, but had a longer winter break.

I meant that attending an LAC in a rural, isolated location is a way to delay entry into the real world & job market as it is a continuation of high school that almost necessitates that one attend grad school.

So, it's okay to "avoid" the real world by going to a public university, just not an LAC? I'm not sure how going to a university is more "real world". If you think students should go right from high school to the real world, shouldn't they just get a job and skip college all together?

It is a personal choice.

Easy to understand parent's who want their children to attend school in an intimate, protected environment with fewer administrative hassles. But, small and isolated has negative aspects as well--the most obvious being too few options socially & academically.

Until very recently, the top LACs had yield rates of about 40%.