Intel Prospie - a few questions and "chances"

Colleges and Universities A-Z Grinnell College
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<p>I've read the past posts in this forum and I've become somewhat discouraged with the entire "You have to visit to know if it fits you" because I can't. I'm unsure if I'd fit fine in a rural/isolated location, though I know I wouldn't really survive in an urban location like NYC or Boston. Too much distraction and I've unfortunately been sheltered my entire life. (So much so I'm clueless about the metro/bus system here where I live.)</p>

<p>However, I think a somewhat isolated location is better for me so I won't go crazy spending my money and going out until the wee hours, reveling in my freedom. Oh, question What are the bookstores like in the city or in Des Moines? I've lived without contemporary bookstores (it's either classics, textbooks or hard-core bestsellers) in Vietnam and Romania and I'm aching to live in a bookstore again!</p>

<p>What's the interaction/integration of international students at Grinnell? How did they know that Grinnell was the place without visiting it? Any international students here? Any Muslim students here? Just curious how the month of Ramadan went for you, and the upcoming Eid festival...</p>

<p>Is there a special orientation for Intel students before the freshmen orientation? Such things like how to open a bank account in the US and stuff?</p>

<p>~<em>~</em>~<em>~</em>~
Here is my background, regarding my education. It's rather checkered. Moved around a lot and changed from an American to British to American system and consecutives schools didn't have the same EC choices so I'm lucky if I have anything lasting for 3 years. </p>

<p>I'm 19 and going to uni/college at 20 because I thought I could handle living alone when I was 16 at this college taking a pre-uni course (A Levels). How wrong. So now I'm living back with my parents.</p>

<p>As such, I'm in "13th" grade since I had enough credits to graduate in May but need to finish the damn IB Diploma. 11th grade was practically nonexistent.</p>

<p>SAT I: Old version: 1330 (CR: 710, M: 620)
New version: 1420/2030 (CR: 730, M: 690, W: 610)</p>

<p>SAT II: Biology (with Ecological Emphasis): 740
Chemistry: 650
Math IC: 690
Literature: 680
Writing (before March 2005): 630 (I went DOWN!!)</p>

<p>TOEFL: 290 (out of a possible 300)</p>

<p>GPA: 3.6 UW, 4.0 W, end of 12th grade
Rank: N/A (We only have 30 seniors)</p>

<p>IB Results from May: English A1 HL-5, Biology HL-5, Chemistry HL-5
Final transcript grades: English: A, Biology: A-, Chemistry: C+</p>

<p>IB Predicted: History HL-6, Math Methods-6/7, Spanish Ab Initio - 4/5 </p>

<p>E/C's:
Basketball: 9th -hs, 10th-hs, 12th-jv and 13th grade-hopefully jv captain
Volleyball: 9th, 10th
Soccer: 10th
Band-baritone instrument: 9th, 10th
School paper: 9th, 12th
Student Council: 12th - Treasurer, 13th - Secretary
Rotary Club: International Director: 11th
Community Service (little ones like helping shelving books or helping out at school events): 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th
Peace Village (home for Agent Orange victims in Vietnam): 9th
Heifer Foundation: 12th
Victor Babes Hospital (AIDS Hospital for kids): 13th - organizing comm
Drama/school play: 10th, 13th</p>

<p>Academic Awards: Dux Award(highest GPA overall in grade): 10th </p>

<p>I think the only 'hook' I can really say I have is that I've lived in Malaysia, USA, Indonesia, Vietnam and Romania...
~<em>~</em>~<em>~</em>~</p>

<p>Even if no one answers/comments about my chances, I would love some insight on the atmosphere of Grinnell, with a slight emphasis on its surroundings and intel students.</p>

<p>Thanks, everybody!</p>

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<p>First off let me be truthful I am an old fart and visit this site because my kids are looking at colleges and must admit much of what I read is hopelessly naive. From what I have read about Grinnell your chances are very good you would be happy there if you are so inclined.</p>

<p>But you have traveled the world enough to know first impressions can be very deceiving and the richness of your college experience and indeed your life has much more to do with the people who surround you and what you bring to it than the physical location. There are unhappy and miserable people in the most beautiful places on earth. Having been on them with my kids I can't see as campus visits provide much insight into what your four years will be like when you arrive.</p>

<p>How such bright kids can write and believe such drivel I don't know. Kids pick the schools that seem right for them and then go there and are happy usually and think they made the right pick without stopping to think if they had ended up at another school on their list perhaps one in which they had an bad visit they would probably be equally happy. </p>

<p>Is there such a thing as love at first sight and is that how you plan to get married?</p>

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<p>prufrock9, I never thought of accepting which college in terms such as what you put forth. Sometimes it can seem love at first sight can exist. Or at least a connection/vibe that sparks the first instant that becomes something intense and wonderful. But...getting off topic here.</p>

<p>Yes, I guess I know first impressions are deceiving and what may seem exciting at first can become monotonous and vice versa. There have been times when I hated the cities I've lived at first and only started appreciating them a few months before I had to leave.</p>

<p>However, first impressions are what most students have to go on when it comes to colleges, unless they go for repeat visits, overnight there or has a sibling or close cousin currently attending their college.</p>

<p>But thanks for your pov.</p>

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<p>Yes I am just saying if you cannot visit no big deal. I met many people who did not have a choice where they went to school. They went where they could afford to go, or their parents steered them in strong way or they went where their brother or sister went. They seemed as happy with their college experiences as anyone else.</p>

<p>Again the best thing about college is the friends you make and the people you get to know, you meet none of these during your visit so keep that in mind.</p>

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<p>I am quite sure they have an orientation week or two for the international students. When I brought S there as a freshman for the preseason soccer I think the international students had already been there for awhile.</p>

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<p>I don't know what the bookstore situation is in Grinnell - probably nothing to speak of. There's a small campus bookstore. In Iowa City and Des Moines, there most certainly would be large bookstores. There are four Border's stores in Iowa, including one in Des Moines.</p>

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<p>IzzyJ
My son is at Grinnell. Though we are Americans he was raised overseas. He attended the international student orientation(4 days, very comprehensive) , had an international roommate last year and has a lot of international friends. From discussion with him it seems that if international kids choose to not integrate, it is usually related to language-related issues. His roommate last year mostly associated with kids from his own country- but the young man was out of his home country for the first time in his life. For my son it was imperative to attend a school with a big international presence, and Grinnell has that.</p>

<p>As to the bookstore issue, the campus bookstore has a thoughtful selection, but it is not huge. I didn't see a true bookstore in town..you can order whatever you like on line from Amazon, though!!</p>

<p>My son was raised in a huge city and wanted a small school in a small city or town- and that was what he has. There were a lot of schools which fit the bill, but few that had a lot of international kids- and that was the final tipping point for him. Grinnell has fun, interesting, smart, unpretentious kids. If that sounds like something you want, and you think a small town would suit your needs, it may be a good school for you as well...I can't really comment on admissions, per se. It has become tighter the last few years, that is for sure...good luck.</p>

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<p>prufrock -i feel you are quite right when it comes to how we make most decisions. However, there is this weird trend in small liberal arts colleges where many admissions offices actively look to create certain kinds of cultures on their campus. Plus, when you have many people saying students should choose a school based on "fit" -students self-select themselves into colleges and campus-cultures become increasingly monotonous. A little creepy, but real nonetheless. Thus, though I thought exactly what you thought about campus visits last year, I've since changed my views to feeling visits really can be important for helping to decide how comfortable/happy you would be at a given campus. That, and environmental factors like traffic noise vs. isolation can be important.</p>