Grinnell vs. Colorado College

<p>I was accepted at both schools and received the same amount of aid, though Grinnell's package had no loans. I'm drawn to CC for its location, block plan, and unique opportunities, but Grinnell also seems like a good fit, even though it's isolated, based on what I've heard. </p>

<p>I just want to know more about the academic/social scenes and what makes these schools different from each other. I am visiting Grinnell this week and am considering flying out to Colorado, though I still have about 10 other schools to hear back from (including my first choice, Oberlin). </p>

<p>I'd describe myself as fairly intellectual, a little out there, but friendly and very open-minded, middle-class (don't want to be surrounded by rich kids who flaunt their wealth, though I know that's sort of a given at liberal arts colleges), not a big partier, and an undecided major. Thanks (also posting this on the CC forum).</p>

<p>SgtDonut</p>

<p>Well, I’d go to Grinnell. Depends on your personality… Grinnell has rural setting and is fairly isolated, smaller, and is ranked #18(?) I’m not sure about that though. Not a big partier makes you perfect fit for Grinnell. +Flexible curriculum thing (as you are undecided)</p>

<p>As for Colorado… well it’s a great school and is located in the ‘city’. I personally wouldn’t go to college which’s in the city. I’d even choose Grinnell over Columbia or something.
My cousin goes to Colorado and he loves it, because he’s a party and hiking person, he loves sun and can’t stand cold. It’s something to think about, Iowa is very cold.</p>

<p>I asked my English teacher the other day about Grinnell and she said it’s literally GREAT school and just the name will get me into any graduate school in the country. </p>

<p>Go to Grinnell ;></p>

<p>I’m so scared about Grinnell notification though, they’ll email in 19 days creeeepy</p>

<p>As a dad who has a son in your shoes, here are a couple of thoughts.</p>

<p>Academically, it sounds like you can’t go wrong with the choices that you mentioned. Each will give you a top-tier liberal arts education and has a great reputation. With CC being among the top choices for my son, we visited and it was very nice. We didn’t visit Grinnell, but I have worked in Des Moines and am pretty familiar with Grinnell. I also know happy grads from both schools. What I thought of when I saw your post were the following.</p>

<p>Location. From Chicago it is about a 5 hour trip to Grinnell, or about 16 to Colorado Springs. So how often do you expect to go home? Do you envision yourself heading outdoors on weekends, or is your vision of college weekends more in line with indoor activities on campus. After graduation would you like to ideally live in either area? Both have strong regional reputations and internships can lead to jobs. From what I see, grad schools think highly of both. As far as the previous post describing CC as being in the city, I disagree completely. We visited many schools and CC is not what I think of as an urban location at all. </p>

<p>Block Plan. You were right in mentioning that as it is a huge differentiator for CC. It isn’t right or wrong in my mind, just a different style that you have to decide for yourself. </p>

<p>Cost. I assume that you have the numbers and I know that Grinnell has a huge endowment and has a reputation as being about the best value out there. So if CC is more, how much more do you like it and is it worth the difference?</p>

<p>If you can get out there, a visit would probably help you decide. We didn’t visit many small, liberal arts schools so I can only compare it to some of the big and mid-sized colleges that we saw, which wouldn’t help you much. It struck me as having a nice vibe, didn’t get the rich kids flaunting their wealth feel at all. Good luck!</p>

<p>Our son went to Grinnell and loved it. We didn’t visit CC because my son didn’t want the block plan, but a friend’s D is there and loves it. My H also visited recently to speak there and was very impressed. I don’t think you can go wrong academically with these choices, it really is a matter of fit. Grinnell is very rural, but the campus is so vibrant and loaded with activities. From VT, it takes us a day to get anywhere, with 2 flights at least. From Chicago, your situation would be different.</p>

<p>My S graduated from CC in 2012, but in 2008 he faced the same choice. After visiting both schools he decided CC was the right fit for him. He was born and raised in Des Moines and his dad attended Grinnell so the urge to try something new help him make the right decision for him. The other posters have given you good advice. Both schools offer a great education. My S found CC a little less “granola” and he loved the outdoor opportunities at CC. The block plan is pretty intense especially for a science major ( he majored in biochem) so that should factor into your decision. Good luck…you really can’t go wrong. My youngest S never considered Grinnell and is currently sophomore at CC. He loves CC as much as his brother did, maybe more.</p>

<p>My H went to Oberlin and I think our son wanted to try his own place. He chose his colleges so carefully that he would have been happy at any of them. None of the midwest colleges we visited had wealthy kids flaunting their wealth. I’m not sure that’s true everywhere.</p>

<p>@swimming08- s is torn between CC and elon. I’m pushing for CC, he is worried about “the granola” stereotype at CC. We are from northeast, preppy town. Can you shed a little more info on your sons CC experience? My s is interested in economics and education as a major(education just added as a major at CC), taking advantage of outdoors (skiing etc)and Greek life (very small at CC and very big at elon).
I would love to hear anyone’s thoughts!</p>

<p>Didn’t really seem that granola to me when I visited. Definitely more preppy and moneyed than I expected. Outdoors are huge. Everyone was very nice.</p>

<p>Anyone else can give their opinion on this thread?
I’m facing the exact same problem</p>

<p>Guille19, the OP of this thread is now at Grinnell and is answering questions in another thread. Try posing your questions there!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/grinnell-college/1575957-current-grinnell-student-answering-questions.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/grinnell-college/1575957-current-grinnell-student-answering-questions.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Thank you Lucie!</p>