<p>Applications were up from all regions of the country, and it was due in large part to new outreach efforts by the school. I think that the applicant pool has always been pretty self-selecting, as reflected in the high caliber of the student body, even with the historically high admit rates.</p>
<p>My impression is that the school has been very purposeful in its admissions outreach as well, not trying to only increase the number of applicants but keep that pool a very high quality bunch who fit in well with the school. </p>
<p>It will be interesting to see if yield stays the same or not.</p>
<p>I think that between fit and merit aid, Grinnell does do a good job of getting applicants to turn down other equally or more selective schools.</p>
<p>My son certainly did turn down several more selective schools for Grinnell, including Carleton, Vassar, Haverford, Reed, Oberlin and Pomona. It just felt right to him. Though he’s always lived in VT, we visit the midwest often, so it feels familiar to him. I’m thinking another factor in increased apps is an increase in International applicants.</p>
<p>Is there a place to see apps from intl students? I keep hearing that there’s been an uptick everywhere but am wondering where to find the numbers. Is it on the CDS? I didn’t see it on quick perusal …</p>
<p>According to an article in the Grinnell newspaper, 1,428 of the approx. 4500 applications were from international students. 23 were admitted ED, 84 RD. Historically yield for international students is 38%, which means Grinnell assumes 32 international kids from regular pool will accept, for a total of 55. Grinnell goal is 12% international, of 450 that is 54. I think all of this means approx. 1400 domestic students were admitted out of approx. 3000 domestic applicants, so something like 45% acceptance rate for domestic, 7.5% for international. Domestic yield historically is 28%, which would mean 392 +/- students, getting them to 450 for freshman class.</p>
<p>My math was bad. Approx 1250 domestic admits out of approx 3100 domestic apps, so approx 40% domestic admit rate. 1/3 of applications coming from int’l seems extraordinarily high to me, but I have no basis to compare it to other schools.</p>
<p>Well, you’re better at math than I am, but I think the currant president has worked at getting the word out internationally and I believe that Grinnell gives better FA offers to international students than many other LACs.</p>
<p>I think that having a free online application contributed a lot to the increase in applicants. Most applicants aren’t applying to the common app’s maximum of 20 schools and with no application fee it’s incredibly easy to send in an app to a school that has a pretty good reputation even if it isn’t what that particular student is looking for.</p>
<p>I can’t help thinking it’s silly to throw out extra apps to a school that isn’t what one is looking for, but maybe that attitude will have changed for some if they’ve been waitlisted elsewhere.</p>
<p>Change in applications is what Loren Pope worried about. Grinnell was once selected. Now it is selective. I liked when it was chosen for love – not for label. But, at the same time, I’ll bust more buttons when discussing undergraduate alma mater.</p>
<p>Thought y’all would appreciate this post from another thread:</p>
<p>“Ok, now that the May 1st deadline passed, friend’s DD applied to 5 Ivy’s, MIT along with Grinell and Carleton as “safety schools”. Well guess what, declined at all but Carleton and parents are now mad because she is such a “top student”. Yes, she is a very good student but, she isn’t Ivy material and honestly got into Carleton as a legacy. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do NOT do this to your kids. She has dreamed of going to school out east for YEARS but they didn’t apply to any east coast safeties because they thought she was a “sure thing” into all the schools she applied to. Graduating #1 in her class, 35 ACT, 2380 SAT…no one is a “sure thing”. Not only that, they were planning on the income based tuition for assistance at the Ivy’s and now, they get to foot the full bill at Carleton, or most of it anyway. Guessing that with their income they MIGHT get $5000 above any loan aid.”</p>
<p>This story dovetails with what I wrote (thinking Midwest LACs are safeties) and Father wrote (that Grinnell used to have a self-selected applicant pool but now is catching the attention of others for whom it really isn’t a fit). Bravo to Grinnell adcoms for recognizing what was going on with that applicant!</p>
<p>I wonder if she reported to Grinnell where else she was applying. My son did report his whole list whenever he was asked on an AP, but his list was very different from hers. Well, she’ll get a fabulous education at Carleton. We certainly didn’t consider Carleton or Grinnell as safeties.</p>
<p>I don’t know why this assumption that because applications to Grinnell have increased, that means the school “has the caught the attention of others for whom it really isn’t a fit.” </p>
<p>The school increased and improved its admissions outreach. And worked specifically on continuing to increase diversity. I’ll bet the Young Innovator in Social Justice Prize was an attraction – particularly for those students for whom Grinnell IS a good fit!!</p>
<p>If you read posts from previous emails, one thing some parents have said was that Grinnell really didn’t do much to sell itself. Well, now it is. And alot more people are buying. </p>
<p>Where in all this does anyone get information that students apply to Grinnell even though it’s not a fit for them? Do some students do so? Sure. But you could say the same for any school. </p>
<p>In any case, I think that schools with no extra essay are just as – if not more appealing – options for students who are looking to throw some extra schools in the mix.</p>
<p>The funny thing is, Father of the Boarder, that students still are choosing Grinnell not because of the label, but in spite of it! Kids still have to explain that it’s Grinnell, not Cornell, and that yes, Iowa is a great place to go to college!!</p>
<p>It’s still one of those schools that (unless you’re from the Midwest, I suppose) when you or your kid tell someone where they go to school, you either get a polite, but vacant, nod, or else a real “wow, that’s a great school,” from those few who have heard of it.</p>
<p>SDonCC–that’s certainly the kinds of reactions I get from people around here. I found it irritating at first and then I got over myself. Why would the average person who doesn’t spend huge amounts of time studying about colleges, as some of us do on CC, know about every little LAC in the country, no matter how good these schools are?</p>
<p>SDonCC - Many current students are highly critical of the Social Justice Prize because it was something that came from above and not something that was actually asked for by current students and faculty. Some people, myself included, see it as something that is just another attempt at increasing Grinnell’s prestige. Considering this, students attracted by that prize are likely to be different from current students.</p>
<p>well, I know my S attended the events, found the winners inspiring and had an amazing experience at one of the workshops led by one of the winners, and I imagine the students who are having internships now with the organizations of the winners aren’t quite so unhappy with the program. Or the students who were chosen to be on the prize search committee.</p>
<p>I know, I’m not on campus and I’m a parent, but I find it hard from what you say to figure out how much is the fact that it wasn’t a student-initiated program and how much people really don’t think the program is that good or worthwhile. </p>
<p>Sure, an objective is to increase awareness of Grinnell, but it seems to have an awful lot of incredible benefits for the school, for the students, and for the winning organizations.</p>
<p>To me, it shows a school that is willing to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to making social justice not just something to study, but to engage in as a real-world experience. It does not just confer a prize, but involves students, faculty and the prize-winning organizations in a shared learning experience and ongoing encounters.</p>
<p>I still don’t see why new students who would be attracted by such a program wouldn’t be a fit for Grinnell. I can’t imagine that any prospective student is thinking, “oh this prize makes Grinnell so prestigious.”</p>
<p>Just a very minor point: we’re in the NE, and my kids went to Barnard and Williams, and we get vacant looks. LAC’s are never going to be well heard of. If Grinnell is gaining greater visibility, that will give more people chance to attend. The students attracted by the prize have no idea of the campus politics involved, and being attracted to social justice can’t really be read as a negative trait.</p>