<p>Is it okay to visit Grinnell but not during the "Discover Grinnell" weekend? Will I miss out on anything? I could get off that weekend if I absolutely had to but it would be really inconvenient for my boss...so I am wondering if I would get as much out of the visit if I visited during some other weekend.</p>
<p>Hi! I remember you.</p>
<p>Visit anytime students are on campus if you can. When is "Discover Grinnell" weekend?</p>
<p>I remember you, too, andreaaaaaa. Did you decide to take a gap year? </p>
<p>My son and daughter both visited Grinnell during the Discover weekends, but the most enjoyable parts of their respective visits were the "normal" things that you can do at anytime: stay in the dorm, eat in the dining hall, attend a class, chat with host and floormates, etc. Also, if I recall correctly, you are more likely to be able to schedule an interview if it is NOT Discover weekend (when there are too many people for individual interviews).</p>
<p>My daughter was also unable to do "Discover Grinnell' due to conflict with her HS play. She ended up going on a random weekend that worked in her schedule, she was able to get an interview no problem, stayed in the dorms for 2 nites (due to distance she traveled), and got a good feel for "real life" at Grinnell. From that one visit, she decided to apply ED.</p>
<p>Great, thanks everyone. </p>
<p>Yeah - I took a gap year. I currently am working full time for a mom and pop appliance repair shop. There are only six employees and I guess three of them are going to be gone the weekend of Discover Grinnell (Oct 10) so I can't really take those days off as well or there would be no one to run the business. I have decided to just go the weekend before. I am thinking I want to apply ED to Grinnell but I want to visit just to be sure.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any travel tips...for example what airport should I fly into?</p>
<p>If you're interested in talking, I took a PG year before applying to college. I happened to be looking at the Grinnell thread and it seems you're doing the same. Feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Fly to Des Moines, I think there are many more flights going there. They have a free shuttle service for prospective students. It is about an hr ride. Enjoy the ride - my daughter wrote her 'why grinnell' essay about the chatty retiree who drove the shuttle!</p>
<p>Yes, definitely Des Moines if you can, rather than Cedar Rapids. It is much easier to get to campus by shuttle from Des Moines.</p>
<p>My son, who will be a sophomore has given me permission to say he can be a contact person for CC students visiting Grinnell. He's a guy, obviously, so you can't stay with him, but he knows a lot of GREAT girls (women) you could meet. He LOVES Grinnell. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I will fly into Des Moines.</p>
<p>Do you guys know if staying two nights at Grinnell is allowed? I can't seem to find two flights on consecutive days where the times work out.</p>
<p>I don't know, but I think they would find you a place for two nights. If not, let me know.</p>
<p>Do you know who I would ask?</p>
<p>Admissions.</p>
<p>Okay, I will email them.</p>
<p>Okay, some other random questions...</p>
<p>Can freshman have cars at Grinnell? Does anyone know about the parking situation or anything like that? I am not entirely sure if I want to bring my car but I am considering it.</p>
<p>I have a number of dual enrollment credits, and I am wondering how many will actually transfer. Who should I contact to check on this? I imagine it would be someone in the transfer student dept, but I wanted to check.</p>
<p>Yes, students, even first year students, can have cars on campus. You have to buy a parking permit from Safety and security 641-269-4600. No idea what it costs.</p>
<p>I think admissions would determine which credits would transfer.</p>
<p>I was planning on visiting around October 1st but I won't really be able to afford my ticket until September 16th, when I get paid...does that seem too late to book my flight? Do you think I should visit later?</p>
<p>bethievet might have a better answer since she has a current student at Grinnell (mine is a recent grad), but I think early October is a good time to visit--and you should still have enough time to book a flight by September 16th. Keep in mind that Grinnell’s fall break is October 17-27 and avoid those dates.</p>
<p>Sometimes you can get good deals at the last minute online and sometimes the last minute prices are really high. It wouldn't hurt to check what's available. But do avoid the break week. You want to visit with students on campus, stay overnight, etc.</p>
<p>Okay, now it looks like I won't be able to afford my ticket with my next paycheck anyway. It looks like I will need to pay for a root canal instead. My dentist doesn't have any openings until October, but that seems like a long time to wait - and also a long time to be on pain pills. I don't want to accidentally become addicted to anything. So I am considering going outside my network to a dentist who can see me sooner, and just paying for it. I still haven't decided yet, though. </p>
<p>So anyway if I decide to buy my root canal, the next time I could visit (after fall break and everything) would be around November 3rd. How does that sound?</p>
<p>That should be fine. Sorry to hear about the dental problem!</p>