<p>Which would you choose and why?</p>
<p>What a wonderful dilemma! How much $?</p>
<p>Presuming that it is merit money, and that you didn't really need it to pay for tuition, and won't have loans, I'd choose Grinnell. Not because it is "better" or "worse", but because this money could subsidize other parts of your d. or s.'s education. Foreign travel rather than working summers. Unpaid internships. A year off taking modern dance in Paris (or whatever your fancy is.) A year of medical school paid for.</p>
<p>They are both absolutely wonderful places. I'm sure both I and everyone else could find a cavil by which we'd prefer one to the other, but I think that would be losing the forest for the trees.</p>
<p>Focus on your son (or daughter) and less on the school, and it will become clearer.</p>
<p>yes, it's merit money but i'd rather not say how much. let's just say the cost of grinnell would be quite a bit less than carleton. i'm just interested on people's views on how the two schools are considered academically.</p>
<p>They're both good schools by reputation. </p>
<p>Me, I'd prefer whichever one my kid thinks she'd like better; gives her a better chance of succeeding there, maybe.</p>
<p>Personally I prefer Carleton for town, proximity to city, and larger size.
Others may feel differently. Check specific majors, course offerings, ease of getting there.</p>
<p>When a school starts getting really teeny I grow concerned about # of course offerings. One school my daughter looked at didn't even offer a language she wanted to take, past the introductory level. That school is bigger than Grinnell, I think. But we didn't investigate Grinnell. We drove past it on the highway a few years ago, and I think the impression from that is why she wasn't interested. Seemed very isolated to me. Carleton may be as well, but there are degrees.</p>
<p>Speaking of degrees, it is darned cold in that part of Minnesota, a noticeable amount more so than even Iowa I believe.</p>
<p>But I think the kid's feel for what it's like there and how they fit in would be more important than any of these little factors, to me.</p>
<p>At my school Carlton carries much more respect for academics. It would be popular but for it's location. Though Grinnell's location makes it suffer too.</p>
<p>Carleton or Grinnell? My D loves Carleton but the cost is a major factor for us. Grinnell was lovely when we visited but we've since heard things that seem to make it less desirable.</p>
<p>I'm the oddball who prefers Grinnel. This is a really rigorous school that deserves a lot more attention. what have you heard about it?</p>
<p>This is a tough call, but a good situation, as these are two of America's finest LACs. </p>
<p>If the money difference really makes a difference to your family. . .pick Grinnell. If it wasn't in the middle of Iowa it would be ranked right with Carleton, academically and overall. I talked with several Midwestern college professors about the two schools last year and the consensus was that they were pretty darn close academically. Really slicing this decision thinly, you might favor Carleton for math or physics. </p>
<p>Grinnell's student body is just the tiniest bit more liberal and edgy than Carleton's, with a little more personality diversity, and they have the most entertaining basketball teams in Div III. </p>
<p>If the money difference doesn't really make a difference I'm with Monydad, just have your D pick. . .ideally, based on visits.</p>
<p>Our D is very mainstream small city. Her interests lean more towards athletics and bioethics than politics. We have been reading and hearing that Grinnell is so far to left and so socially militant as to alienate anyone not as commited. We lean liberally at our home so that isn't the problem. She just doesn't want to have it shoved into every discussion or activity. She doesn't see things so black and white.</p>
<p>Is this a misconception (as we hope) or is it close to the truth? On our visit we got no hint of this, but we were unaware of this reputation and so weren't looking for it.</p>
<p>My eldest son is a freshman at Grinnell, his younger brother was just accepted to Carleton. </p>
<p>My #1 son is completely apolitical. I think he has loved his political science class this semester specifically because the professor does not indulge any sort of party line. For fun at Grinnell he and his friends watch Bollywood movies and play ultimate frisbee. He also plays piano and works on theater productions. The school imports a lot of activities for the students, he doesn't seem at all bored. The school has a much higher % of international students than Carleton-- one of the reasons he chose it, and one of the reasons his younger brother is less excited about Carleton (we are Americans but live overseas, diversity is important to us). Neither school has tremendous diversiety in the American population- both schools are actively trying to increase this.</p>
<p>Both schools have thoughtful, engaged, unpretentious students. Both schools are comfortable places for a wide range of students, as the student bodies are open minded. My son has a fantastic advisor at Grinnell, the same is surely true at Carleton.</p>
<p>Grinnell has the largest per student endowment of any of the small LAC's- the facilities are superb and the school has excellent fiscal management- hence the generous scholarships.</p>
<p>I think it is a "pick-em" from the academic and social perspective. Carleton has much better proximity to a major airport and city-- which is a definite advantage..</p>
<p>I think if the money differences are significant, and if your child is comfortable with being slightly more removed from big city life, Grinnell is a fine option. If you can see both first, more the better!</p>
<p>From what I saw of Grinnell, the students enjoy informed debate much more than pressuring noncomformists. Carleton seemed more fun in a classic way (tossing frisbees around the quad) while Grinnell was fun in a quirky way (having games where armored students fight with padded weapons on the quad). </p>
<p>Both Grinnell and Carleton have top academics, committed professors, etc. But Grinnell has no requirements except for one freshman seminar. No taking classes you aren't particularly interested in.</p>
<p>I'd pick Grinnell, even without $.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info on both schools. We are in no question of the quality of education at either school. Unfortunately finances will probably decide as Grinnell has been extremely generous in rewarding her hard work and Carleton is looking for kids from very affluent families.</p>
<p>I envy families who can "let their D decide".
Her heart will break (and so ours too) but a life lesson learned.</p>
<p>"I envy families who can "let their D decide".
Her heart will break (and so ours too) but a life lesson learned."</p>
<p>For most kids, a couple of weeks at Grinnell will put all this in the rear-view mirror.</p>
<p>Grinnell is truly wonderful-- I am a hs senior who is on the liberal arts track. I loved it when I visited, but the isolation was a letdown, and thus I am choosing another LAC. I initially applied to Carleton, but withdrew my application when I realized it was just not right for me. Good luck with your decision. I was in the similar situation just last week-- stuck between 2 amazing LACs (both tied in the rankings, ironically). I let finances determine it-- one gave me a better package that puts less strain on my family. All in all, you bring happiness with you-- if you can't decide between two equally wonderful schools, choose the bargain</p>
<p>The most important part of this decision is how your son or daughter feels the school will fit them. As a parent of a Grinnellian and a Carl I can tell you that the money is not that big of difference when its all said and done. Your parent contribution and other expenses at Carleton will probably be very near what you would pay at Grinnell. And as a student you may want to look online for what is called “average indebtedness” for students. I think what you will find is that it ends up being very close and if you really want to attend one or the other it shouldn’t come down to a couple thousand dollars. We let our kids decide on their own where they wanted to attend.</p>
<p>They’re both great, so I would go with the money.</p>
<p>The OP must have chosen a college already. This post FIVE years old.</p>
<p>HAh! I wonder how it turned out for the OP as well for proudmary. where did they end up going? what are they doing now? did they transfer? was all this ‘cavil’ - THAT was a word I had never heard b4! - worth it?</p>
<p>Grinnell saves money - comparable school.</p>
<p>Academically they are extremely close, so I’d take Grinnell and the $$</p>