<p>Ok guys, I really need some advice. I called the Grinnell College admissions office and have a great conversation with the head of admissions. I have never been to Grinnell, but I have break week this week and I’m wondering if I should make the trip. There is only a small chance that I will get in, and I’m not even sure about financial aid, but if I do get in off the waitlist I won’t have long to decide. That decision would be a lot more challenging if I haven’t even visited. However, it’s going to be a couple hundred dollars for me to drive out and visit. Is it worth it? Does anyone have any advice?</p>
<p>Yes. Go explore Grinnell. Continiue your positive conversation with the admission officer there.</p>
<p>You have your safety situation in hand, and it will be fine (Geneseo). Never wonder what might have happened if I’d only gotten into the car and gone to Grinnell to continue that conversation.</p>
<p>And now, when AdCom asks you what will you do if you don’t come here, you have a better answer than before. You will say, I’d go to Geneseo and I’ve come to terms with that fine. BUT I"d much rather come here (and say why).</p>
<p>I hope you have some assurance from family that they will help you finance Grinnell, or if aid is partial, they’ll still help even if it costs more tahn Geneseo. Talk with them about FinAid. It would be heartache to get into Grinnell and then hear them say, “Fine but we’ll only pay for Geneseo.” However, since they supported your original application, I figure they’ll support you still if you get in off the waitlists!</p>
<p>Just touch base with your parents on finances now, again, given new realities. Good luck.</p>
<p>ETA: Please mention politely to the Grinnell AdCom that financial aid will continue to be needed, as in your original application, if you are fortunate enough to be accepted off their waitlist. If the conversation gets over your head, ask him to speak directly with your parents, and prepare them in case they get a phone call seeking any clarification of their financial statements. Just stand by what they said in the first round; sounds like nothing has changed much at home.</p>
<p>I like what paying3tuitions says. You must have a financial safety and you like Genesco.</p>
<p>Spend 200 dollars and go to visit if you think they will take some students off the waitlist. Why not try? They already chose you as “fully qualified” for their class so you have nothing new to prove and it is up to you to “demonstrate interest.”</p>
<p>Send in a letter about your visit immediately, if not leaving one in the admissions office before you drive home after sitting in their library and reflecting on your particular feelings and images of how you could flourish at Grinnell. Make sure you copy it to your Regional Adcom if such a person exists as well as to the Head of Admissions you spoke with. You have nothing to lose by being open at this point so I would be open and not mysterious. </p>
<p>If the waitlist doesn’t go your way, rack up the visit to a great memory. We have fond memories of colleges where our sons were either rejected or got no financial assists and had to decline. America’s colleges are a point of pride and I personally would love to see Grinnell. They got a special something going on there and each school is unique in its roots and its missions.</p>
<p>Good for you. I love your attitude.</p>
<p>Something about Grinnell really appeals to me. Even if I didn’t get in off the waitlist, it would be nice to visit in case I wanted to transfer there the next year. The head of admissions told me, when I asked what may have been lacking in my application, that it was a strong application, it was just a matter of numbers. They just don’t have room for everyone. So I thought that was a good sign, but I don’t know if my application is going to be picked off the waitlist. The head of admissions also told me that they plan to accept students off the waitlist, probably between 10 and 20, although last year they accepted 60. The thing is, it’s going to be expensive to drive out there. It’s quite a trip for me. My parents and I estimated the cost at close to $700. But it would be so good to see and tell Grinnell admissions face to face that they are my top choice. I keep going back and forth on this.</p>
<p>I think it would increase your chances to get off the Grinnell waitlist if you visited.</p>
<p>Also, maybe if you go you will find it isn’t what you thought it would be, which could make you even more satisfied with Geneseo as an option.</p>
<p>It might be cheaper than that to fly. We drove out from VT and it was over 20 hours of driving one way. I would check out plane flights. I checked Expedia and, flying from VT to Des Moines in early May, the fares were about $450 roundtrip. You could even wait until you see if you get off the wait list and fly out if you do. Taking a day or two off from school might not be that big a deal. Or, if you start at Geneseo and feel you might want to transfer, you could visit during a Geneseo break.</p>
<p>I don’t want to sound like a killjoy, but you were so happy with Geneseo a few days ago. Why are you doing this to yourself? You saw that you could be happy there and it is affordable for you. The LAC will not be as much so. The mean ACT (29-quite high for a state school!) is on par with where you are academically. You will be challenged in class and be with many diverse personalities and academically bright students even if most are from NY. </p>
<p>If you spend your life avoiding commitment in hopes of better opportunities you are very likely to end up empty and unsatisfied. You have a good academic choice–You can make it a great experience. Embrace it!</p>
<p>I still am happy with Geneseo. I’m just an optimizer by nature. I want to make sure that Geneseo is my best option, and I think it would bother me if I never visited Grinnell. I asked the head of admissions if I should visit, and he said that it would probably be good, but at the same time it’s a big trip with no guarantees. He also said that if I did get in off the waitlist, I wouldn’t have much time to decide at all. So I don’t know if it would work out for me to visit then, but I could always take a couple days off from MCC. I checked out flights but unfortunately it doesn’t look any cheaper than going by car. Maybe I should just wait and see if I get in?</p>
<p>If you decide not to make the trip right now, I’d suggest a follow-up email to the Director of Admissions, thanking him/her for the phone chat and that you remain enthused about Grinnell.</p>
<p>icefoxrocks: what did you decide?</p>