*Disclaimer: You may notice I have two other threads on this account with different stats and schools, which is why I don’t have official stats on my page to avoid confusion. Those are for a friend (who also got into Grinnell, yay!) and she is quite awesome as well!
I’ve seen some odd looking forums on the Grinnell CC page, including a guy implying that “Great Minds” need not apply. For all of those who may be worried if Grinnell is the right place due to it’s caliber in comparison to some of your other choices, I would like to share a few words.
I am probably of of the luckiest out there and I was accepted into every school that I sent my application. I say this to emphasize that ultimately, I had a lot of choices. Some of these choices included schools such as Stanford, Pomona, Boston University,etc. Since the application process, I have visited all of these schools, and Grinnell was my favorite, by far! The community, the closeness, the involvement of professors, the lack of entitlement among the students – all of these factors appealed to me. For these reasons and many more, I will be attending Grinnell next fall!
I suppose I could be considered one of those “Great Minds”. With an ACT of 36, 4.0 GPA, and #1 in my class at my private school, on paper I understand why I could be considered a great candidate. However, I was accepted at Grinnell, a school which I may have been a part of the upper portion of the density curve score-wise, because I was obviously interested in the school, and because like so many of the students there, I have a passion for learning.
So, I say all of this to say that you should not be discouraged. You obviously are still researching Grinnell because you’re interested and despite what anyone says (trust me, I’ve heard otherwise often), your interest IS important in a school, even if it’s not the one everyone else would pick for you. For once, I’m advocate for saying everyone else really isn’t important in this decision.
For future applicants: Apply where you’re interested, demonstrate your interest, and if you’re a good student, whether you’re good or the very top of your class, I truly believe you’re going to get good results. Then, the most important part, pick where you WANT to be, and ignore all of the frankly sometimes entitled people on CC. Grinnell looks for something special in their applicants and scores are not enough 
For those accepted: Congratulations! You deserve it. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I hope to be seeing you some in the fall!
I am having so much trouble deciding between Grinnell and Bowdoin. Both are very special schools that focus a lot more on the person rather than just stats/EC. So hopefully, I’ll be able to decide and make the best choice (although both are AMAZING choices. I really hope to see you but I just can’t give up my Maine polar bear.
To future applicants: it’s impossible to not fall in love with Grinnell. Truly research it (visit if you can). It’ll change how you see what truly matters.
current grinnell student op sounds insufferable
CARRIE OMG. IT’S BEN. CRYING RN.
Sorry I gave you that impression! Not my intentions at all. I know, however, through Internet communications, it’s difficult to convey tone and intent. I think that you should consider my true purpose for this post, and that is something that relates to a lot of recent conversations about Ivy Leagues and “top” schools as of late. I believe that it’s so easy to consider names and prestige when choosing a college, when ultimately I believe there other schools that offer you personally a lot more than “top” schools do (or, maybe not! All depends.) I have found myself having to constantly justify my decision when it shouldn’t be that way at all. I’ve heard of similar issues with my peers and classmates. I think that I intended to initiate a conversation about things relating to College decisions and the feeling of obligation to go with the most prestigious one when it should be something very different. I hope this is food for thought, and I hope to meet you next year! Perhaps we may start again.
Ben! You’re beautiful.