Check out what current students have to say about choosing Grinnell.

Phoebe Souza '08

I am a senior history major and global development studies concentrator from Los Angeles, Calif. I chose Grinnell, in part, because I wanted a completely new experience and environment, in addition to a challenging academic setting. Rural, small town Iowa seemed to be as different as I could possibly get from living in a studio warehouse in the middle of a massive metropolis. I was excited about the location of my new home, although it has been the people at Grinnell who have made my college experience so incredible.

Friends and family in California have asked me why I would want to go to school "in the middle of nowhere." In my experience, Grinnell, Iowa is more like being in the middle of everything. It is in the center of the country, and the student body and faculty come from literally every state and from all over the world. I have met people from countries I had previously only known in books. My previous roommates have been from Honduras, South Dakota, and India. At Grinnell, the question is never what to do, but rather how much can one do and still have time for homework and friends. The school provides activities on campus, and any given weekend there are always a variety of concerts, parties, movies, speakers and performances making it impossible to see and do everything.

In addition to the events, politicians and speakers that come to campus, the number of clubs and teams to which students devote so much time and effort always impresses me. Students at Grinnell are passionate and involved in a wide variety of organizations and causes. For me personally, joining the cross country team has been an incredible way to meet fantastic people while also releasing stress through exercise. We run year round, regardless of the weather, and spend time talking, laughing and venting. I have been involved in the housing committee, a buddy program with the local elementary school, and I even started swing dancing. Grinnell is a great place to try new activities and the small size of the student body facilitates involvement at all levels.

When I was deciding on a college, the most important non-academic factor was the vibe of the student body and faculty. When I visited Grinnell, I was impressed by the kind, enthusiastic, and welcoming attitude of the students. The professors also embody this attitude and have a deep devotion to their work, subject, and students. I have spent time with faculty during office hours seeking extra help, which has enabled me to really get to know my professors. At Grinnell learning goes beyond the classroom; I remember the time my Spanish professor invited the class to her house for tea and conversation.

I appreciate Grinnell's focus on interdisciplinary studies and encouragement of off-campus study. I spent last spring abroad in Ecuador, which allowed me to apply much of what I had learned at Grinnell in a concrete way. I earned credit for my global development studies concentration by doing an internship in a public hospital and I improved my Spanish by taking classes and living with a host family. When I returned, I was able to incorporate some of my Ecuadorian experiences and studies into to my Grinnell classes. For example, my history seminar paper focused on the floral export industry in Ecuador, which was a topic that sparked my interest while abroad.

One of the amazing aspects of going to school in the Midwest is the weather. I will always remember my excitement the first time I saw snow! I have grown to love the seasons and to observe the subtle changes throughout the year. For me, the year is now marked by the seasons: crunching through beautiful leaves in the fall, bundling up and making snow angels in winter, and running through new grass in the spring. This year I even tried sledding for the first time!

I have learned more in my time at Grinnell than I ever thought possible. In addition to exploring academic interests and future career goals, the daily interactions and the unique teachers and students at Grinnell have made each day an adventure. Feel free to contact me at Phoebe Souza with any questions.

Allison Brinkhorst '11

I am a first-year student from St. Louis, Mo. I'm interested in majoring in sociology or psychology. I know that this time of year can be crazy for seniors as you are asked to make such big decisions, so I just wanted to tell you what I love about Grinnell to give you more information on which to base your college choice! Even though I could go on for pages about Grinnell's challenging, discussion-based classes and engaging, friendly professors, I'm going to focus on the non-academic aspects of Grinnell that have made my first semester so incredible.

By my senior year of high school, I knew that I wanted to attend a small, liberal arts college that was not located in a big city, because I observed that these campuses had the best senses of community, and I was leaning toward colleges in the Midwest that were far enough away for me to become independent but close enough to home that I could visit my family somewhat easily. I was also looking for challenging academics, students who were intelligent and motivated but not competitive, small class sizes, approachable professors, and a student body with a diversity of backgrounds, interests and opinions that was also cohesive and accepting of these differences. I ended up visiting over 15 colleges and applying to 8. Based on a combination of all of these factors and my gut feeling of where I would fit in socially, I chose Grinnell.

When all of the college visits blended together in my mind, I still remembered the excitement, individualism, and social awareness that seemed to emanate from Grinnell students, and this first impression has certainly proved true. My favorite thing about Grinnell is that not only are all of the students intelligent and ready to work hard, but everyone is also passionate about something, whether it's Russian History, music, Biology, saving the environment, fighting with foam swords with members of DAG, politics, or composting, as is a girl on my floor who has a box of worms that she feeds with rotting produce. The homesickness that I was expecting never came because I have found an amazing group of friends, and I would say that almost everyone I know seems to have done the same; there are some pretty eccentric people at Grinnell, but they are all accepted and seem to find other eccentric people whom they relate to.

While I knew that small, rural campuses fostered community, I didn't anticipate the sheer number of activities that Grinnell would offer nor how much fun a group of friends can have when they come up with their own fun. Because campus is in the middle of rural Iowa, the college works to assure that there are always plenty of activities offered on campus: school-sponsored dance parties, theatre productions, and concerts are all frequent, free events. When we decide to not take part in organized events, we go star-gazing or sledding, walk to the bakery in town at 2 in the morning, go to typical college parties, watch movies with friends, and hang out on loggia -- the roofs of the walkways that connect the dorms. I knew that the academics would be great - and they have been - but I had no idea how much fun I would have with a group of friends that has become closer than I ever would have imagined.

I hope this gives you a better sense of what life is like at Grinnell. Please don't hesitate to email me at Allison Brinkhorst if you have any questions that I or another current student could answer. Thanks for your interest in Grinnell!

Frida Rodriguez '11

I am originally from El Salvador and I have been living in the United States for about seven years. My family decided to immigrate because the situation in my country was tumultuous, and the United States provided more opportunities for my siblings and me. When we first arrived in the United States, we lived in the Midwest and East before settling in Houston, Texas, which is where my family resides now. I had been living in Houston for about three years when my college search process began. I was really confused and unsure about where to apply because there are so many options and I just didn't know if I was ready to move away from the security of my home.

I was afraid I would not find the right school because I have a diverse list of interests. I was looking for a school that has a variety of majors. I was looking for a place where I would feel like I was at home, a place with friendly people who would be willing to help. I was looking for a place where my professors would be interested in me as an individual and not as number. I was also looking for a place in which I would feel comfortable living.

I was really happy when I discovered Grinnell College. Grinnell has everything I could ask for: a variety of majors, a friendly community, professors who care about students' education, a beautiful location, and academic breaks every semester. Grinnell also provides great on-campus activities, such as 100+ student organizations, free movies at the on-campus movie theatre, free concerts, parties every weekend, and a myriad of different events that encompasses all interests.

Once I made my college decision, many fears came along with it. I did not know if I would like my room, if my roommate and I would get along, or how difficult my classes were going to be. Basically, I was scared I would not survive my first semester. Fortunately, all these fears were calmed when I finally arrived at Grinnell. I loved my room, my roommate, my classes, and my professors. The faculty and staff care about the students and are always available if anyone needs help. I just love this school! The College makes learning exciting, while at the same time I feel the safety and security that I felt in Houston. Grinnell quickly and easily became my new home and haven; I am so glad I decided to apply and enroll at Grinnell.

Please let me know if you have any questions through email at Frida Rodriguez. Good luck with the application process and study hard!

Heidi Conner '09

College is about adventure, new experiences, learning and seeing new things-all of which are possible at Grinnell College! Congratulations to you for considering Grinnell-it's really a wonderful place, filled with lots of learning and fun too. My name is Heidi Conner and I am from the little, petite town of Chelsea, Vt. (my town's population is equivalent to Grinnell College's population). I am a History major and a Global Development Studies concentrator and I am a member of the Student Environmental Committee, additionally I run cross country and I am a barista at Saints Rest Coffee Shop (which is owned by a Grinnell alum). Grinnell is a pretty cool place and it has challenged me in more ways than I ever considered possible-one of those challenges has been being in Iowa. I'd like to share this experience with you. Good luck with your college search!

Grinnell is like no place I've been before-this is Iowa! Grinnell's location was actually a major factor in choosing Grinnell College. Iowa is different from Vermont, I wanted that. At college I wanted to be challenged by place and experience a new culture. I urge you to consider Grinnell for this reason too.

Although Grinnell offers many features one expects in an elite liberal arts institution-an intellectually engaged student body (Grinnell: 1500), great facilities (our LEED Certified, Joe Rosenfield campus center was completed in 2006 and our new athletic center has just broken ground among other great buildings), and a small student faculty ratio (Grinnell: 9:1)-Grinnell also resides in a unique community. The town of Grinnell is rather small, it is rural, and comprised of lots of farmers and friendly people.

For me, learning in the classroom is equally important to learning outside the classroom and I have learned a lot about Iowa and the community of Grinnell through my job as a barista at Saints Rest Coffee Shop. It is here that I have befriended many Grinnell community members and I have found a big family. At the coffee shop I have "adopted" a few younger brothers and sisters whom I baby-sit for from time to time as well as a few adopted grandparents. It is here that I get all the latest Grinnell gossip and also share many stories. One of my friends, Howard, owns a farm, which I have visited. I have also had dinner with Howard and his wife Sue; the dinner was comprised only of the food they had grown on their farm. Yum! My friend Isadore owns a scrap yard and graduated from Grinnell in '49-he just welcomed his second granddaughter into the world this past December. I also get to see my professors with their families in the coffee shop, GASP! Most recently, I have met presidential candidates.

Many may find that the town of Grinnell is intimidatingly small, but that smallness makes for great community. Part of college is challenging yourself; consider going far from home and experiencing something different…something new. And although Grinnell is far from home without mountains, a town food co-op and is lacking a supply of aged hippies, it really is a great community to be a part of. Come visit us-and be sure to stop by Saints Rest on Broad Street, I'd love to have coffee with you and introduce you to some Grinnell characters.

I did not give tons of information about on-campus life, or academics….but feel free to email me at Heidi Connor! I promise to answer any questions, honestly of course.