Hi All,
My D just received an email from Grinnell inviting her to submit an option “Why Grinnell” essay. Is this the norm for Grinnell since they stopped requiring supplemental essays? I assume they sent it to everyone who applied. She’ll definitely write one as she is very interested in Grinnell, but I thought it was odd. Guess they’re trying to increase their yield?
Is she applying rd? Because I haven’t gotten an email about that but I’m applying ed2
She applied RD. I think if you applied ED2 they know you’re really interested. And good luck! Let us know how it goes.
My son received the same email (he applied RD). Grinnell is not one of his top choices so I am not sure he is going to write this “optional” essay. It is very short, so it shouldn’t take much time, but I think he is done with application essays.
^^ fighting with D about this- 100 words should be easy. I’m assuming they just want some indication that you know something about the school and there is some semblance of match. If I remember correctly there is no app fee and no supplemental essay so I feel like this is actually a required essay if you are actually interested in the school.
Yes, we definitely feel it’s required is she is interested, which she is. Our D is not happy, but it’s only 100 words. Will be so happy when this process is done!
My son did end up writing it. It was short enough and took almost no time at all.
My D loves Grinnell but thought she was done with her essays! And she says the 100 word limit makes it harder, not easier, for her to write. I am really wondering why Grinnell decided to ask for this optional essay now, rather than including as part of the Common App.
I suspect that since Grinnell didn’t have a supplemental essay or a application fee, they probably ended up with so many apps that they need some way of narrowing it down. Just my guess, but this is probably a way to see which students are really interested and which ones are not.
No essays and fees at the onset increases applications which increases selectivity in the end. Having post-app essays increases knowledge about who is really interested which increases yield. I believe both numbers matter for rankings. That’s my cynical take anyway :). D isn’t pleased, but will write it this weekend. Good luck everyone!
@Dawnpaige, I think you’ve nailed it. Good luck to all!
when is the deadline?
The deadline was Feb 8th.
I’m almost certainly not getting in. I pretty much screwed up the optional essay. Oh well.
I know how you feel; the 100 word limit was brutal. I think I screwed up by trying to shoehorn too many points into that essay. That said, it is after all an optional essay, so I don’t think a poor essay could harm an application too much. Stay positive!
@lostint Well, I screwed it up as in I was careless, and 2 out of 3 times spelled Grinnell with one l.
I think a typo is less damaging than an insincere essay. As long as your essay didn’t seem overly generic or like it was written for another college with Grinnell’s name pasted in, I think it’ll still give you a leg up on those who didn’t attempt it at all.
I never submitted the essay, but I was accepted early (with a scholarship!) so I don’t think it was a huge factor in the admissions process tbh