<p>Why would the admit rate be anywhere near that? It was 33% last year. This year, it'll probably be under 30%.</p>
<p>biofreek</p>
<p>They do, of course, admit many kids from the Midwest, but they want national and international diversity, as well as other kinds, e.g., economic, ethnic etc., so I'm guessing they might not want to lock in lots of students from their most common applicant region this early in the process. This does not, imho, mean you have no chance in the RD round, but you need to get excited about some other schools and get your apps in. Where else are you thinking of applying?</p>
<p>I haven't really been too excited about any other schools. We looked at Marlboro, Williams, Hampshire, Olin, Kenyon, and Reed. Grinnell was the first school that felt good. I'm not really sure what to do now. I looked at Cornell College online last night, maybe it could work. Also considering Carlton and perhaps Harvey Mudd but I haven't looked at any of them and I am sort of feeling like if I can't get into Grinnell early decision, I probably don't have much of a chance of getting in anywhere regular decision. It is hard to get excited at this point. If you have any school suggestions, I would be very grateful. I think I need small and probably liberal arts or science/engineering school.</p>
<p>What about me? I'm from Kentucky but I'm an international student...</p>
<p>Try Harvey Mudd, Bio. However be forewarned, acceptance % is very low there. It is extremely competitive.</p>
<p>Reed whould not be your best choice for science/engineering, but a great liberal arts alternative.</p>
<p>Marlboro is a great school. Hubby went there (and I spent a TON of time there) and then he went on to Yale for a masters and PhD in biology. Maybe take another looksee there as well. If an LAC is your desire, look at Beloit and St Olaf too</p>
<p>There are some second tier engineering schools worth looking into. Have good records for kids going on to grad school at top tier schools - look at Rose-Hulman, Rennsalaer, and WPI, all relatively small.</p>
<p>It would be a good idea to have some back-up schools in hand.</p>
<p>good luck, but also get moving because many of those apps are due soon</p>
<p>Neal</p>
<p>Yeah I'm from northern Iowa and a lot of the Counties around probably have less then 5 stoplights (we have 1) so it is a little joke to describe how rural the Iowa can be. And I'm also surrounded by corn fields and a pig farm. And gaint windmills.</p>
<p>Biofreak,
Please don't despair, the ED deferral doesn't really say anything. They may tend to defer more midwestern folks. My daughter, now a firstyear at Grinnell, had stats very similar to you. Her unweighted GPA was a 3.4 (w4.3) and there were 4 (gasp!) Cs on her HS transcript. Two of her HS classmates got early writes (something Grinnell doesn't do until RD admit time) and D did not. However, both of the early writes were offered smaller merit scholarships than D. I have no explanation for this. Both also ranked higher than D in HS. I don't think their SAT/PSAT stats were as high. Your national merit status does help (as I believe it did D). Also if you have a special contribution you can make to Grinnell (theatre, sports, music, etc) send Grinnell an update and tell them what you could offer them. </p>
<p>Good luck. I know this is a challenging time. You will feel so much better next year.</p>
<p>As back up, other posters have listed some good schools to check into. A plan B, C and D always helps!</p>
<p>Definitely apply to Carleton and hang in there with Grinnell. You are a great candidate. Reed and Marlboro are wonderful schools, as are Cornell College and Hampshire. How about Oberlin and Macalester? The others you mention are probably great too--I just have no personal contact. Do not put too much weight on the ED decision. Grinnell is in an unusual spot this year.</p>
<p>Everyone, thank you for the kind words and very helpful suggestions. I will take everyone's input and move on to the task of sending out more college apps that are hopefully a little bit stronger. It is just such a stressful week with college decisions and finals hitting all at once. I will also keep my fingers crossed behind my back that grinnell has a spot for one more science geek that likes cornfields! (-:</p>
<p>casual,
<a href="http://www.grinnell.edu/Offices/institutionalresearch/reports/GC_CDS_0708.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.grinnell.edu/Offices/institutionalresearch/reports/GC_CDS_0708.pdf</a>
this is grinnell's common data set, the admissions rate was 49%ish last year. i dunno why it says 33% on their website somewhere (i know wut u're talking about, it threw me off too, it's such a big difference!), i think they count int'l students in that or something but the common data set just can't be wrong.</p>
<p>biofreek!
everything will end up okay, u'll get into a college u want to go to, u're stats are good. like somebody said before, it's probably just more of a demographic thing (they do really try to lock in a lot of diversity across the board in the early process at every college).</p>
<p>mcawesome,</p>
<p>Although that is the common data set from last year, it gives the admissions rate for the year before (like, they'll come out with this year's data set and it will have the 33% on it even though that was from last year.) It even says that it's for students that will enter the school in fall 2007.</p>
<p>The 33% is from Grinnell's student newspaper.</p>
<p>hold up hold up hold up.....dropping 17% in the last year!?!?! plz god no. i hope that 33% is counting internationals.
plz don't be right casual cause then i'm uber screwed...kinda.</p>
<p>I consider Grinnell as an excellent LAC.
& I really love it.</p>
<p>That 33% does include internationals, and it is right. I wouldn't expect to see another 17% drop this year, though.</p>
<p>Casual is correct-Admissions staff said the acceptance rate was around 33% for this year's freshman class when we visited for parents weekend, and it would have been lower had they known how oversubscribed they were going to be (40+ more students than anticipated).</p>
<p>Agree with M's Mom. We heard the 33% for the class of 2012 at parent's weekend as well. Unfortunately, you are part of one of the largest age cohorts applying to college in recent years. This also adds to the 17% drop. </p>
<p>Do check into Macalester as an alternative. You might also consider Earlham or Whitman. We have friends with happy, bright students at these schools. With your stats, either could be a good fit.</p>
<p>I'm applying to Grinnell! It's my last minute addition -- I've been reading about it all week, and it sounds perfect me. I'm from New York, though, so I won't be able to visit. My mental image of the school is a bit like the setting of the end scene in Casino, in which Joe Pesci is brutally beaten and buried alive in a cornfield.</p>
<p>GRINNELL IS AMAZING AND I WANT TO GO SO BADLY I'LL DIE IF I DON'T GET IN!!!!
okay that's a lie, i won't die.
i'm just venting all this nervous energy now that i'm on break (snow day today!) and basically just have to wait around around til january sometime to hear back...</p>
<p>Acceptance rate is around 30% for domestic and 8% for international.</p>
<p>I am international :(</p>
<p>^ It's still a higher acceptance rate than that of a lot of other schools. </p>
<p>I'm International, too by the way.</p>