<p>My college guidance counselor dissuaded me from applying to Grinnell but I've been accepted to every school I've applied to (so far, with the exception of one waitlist). I truly regret not submitting an application. Maybe it's a case of wanting what I can't have... but from all that I've researched, Grinnell is the ideal college for me.</p>
<p>Does anyone know how tough admissions was this year?</p>
<p>How difficult would it be to transfer from a top-20 LAC to Grinnell as a sophomore, with a mediocre high school academic record?</p>
<p>Thanks so much.</p>
<p>This was probably the toughest year ever to get into Grinnell. Applications spiked 52%. So yes, it was difficult to get in.</p>
<p>That said, transferring is going to be difficult as well, but your high school record likely isn’t going to be considered if you complete a full year at another college. They’ll look at your college GPA instead.</p>
<p>It’s hard to extrapolate from year to year what might happen with a transfer application, because it’s a crap shoot as to whether there will be 20 slots or none. It will depend on retention rates of current students as well as the yield from that year’s first year applicants. Factors from previous years can play in as well–For instance, I am guessing that the # of transfers admitted in the last few years has been pretty low, because the class of 2012 was unexpectedly large and that caused a few “pig-in-the-python” type issues. </p>
<p>I think your best bet is to attend the school you like best of those where you were admitted and do everything you can to craft a great college experience there. Get involved in ECs and get out and make friends. Do everything you’d do if you planned on being there for four years. </p>
<p>It’s hard to know after the first three months of school if you’re going to be happy there, but if at winter break, you still want to apply to Grinnell as a transfer, file the application. If you are admitted, you can make up your mind fairly late in the school year if you actually want to transfer. Seems like that’s the way to make sure there are no regrets–or at least as few as possible. Good luck!</p>
<p>Actually, your high school records will definitely be considered unless you complete a full two years at another college. Transfer admissions are usually easier than freshman admissions, at least as a general rule. If you think you could have gotten admitted as a first-year, you’ll probably stand a good chance as a transfer. Just know that financial aid isn’t as great if you’re transferring.</p>
<p>I hope the process goes smoothly for you! Grinnell truly is an amazing place, but I’m sure the other colleges you’re considering are, too :)</p>
<p>
I’m about 90% sure that if you have a full year of transcripts, they’ll look at your college GPA. The confusion might come about since most people applying for transfers while in their first year intending to enroll the falling fall would only be able to submit one semester worth of grades (since they would be in the progress of finishing their second semester at the time of application), in which case the college likely would ask for high school grades.</p>
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At large universities, yes. At a small LAC with high retention, it can vary greatly depending on the year. Given Grinnell’s abnormally large freshman and senior classes this year, for instance, there weren’t very many transfers accepted; I think they said something like ten transfers total at the beginning of the year. Next year might be easier because the very large 2012 class will be out of the school and they’ll have more room to take transfers.</p>