jeff1743

From everything that I've seen and read about Grinnell, it appears that the school and students are emphatically liberal. As a more moderate, slightly conservative leaning student, would I find being at Grinnell very difficult? I am very interested in Grinnell and am visiting later this summer, but I would very much like to know what I might be getting into if I were to be accepted.

etceterae

It seems to me they're relatively liberal. I have a friend that goes there that says if she had to say, it'd be smack between moderate and left.

Personally, my social views veer toward the left (but not that much) and I go to a very conservative school where the majority of my friends are adamant, adamant Republicans. I don't find this annoying or a hindrance, though. Everywhere you go, you should be able to find conservative and liberal voices.

Dairy State K8

It is definitely liberal, but the Grinnell community is very accepting of all sorts of diversity and i don't think political views are an exception. You would be in the minority and you would likely find yourself in many political discussions, if you are so inclined--but look at it as an opportunity to hone your debate skills.

stepherzzz

Grinnell is definitely very liberal, but I know quite a few people who are moderate and a smaller number of conservatives, most of whom seem to do fine. I do know a couple of conservative people who find Grinnell a little too liberal for them, but those people are QUITE conservative. It all depends on how you can handle the majority of students sharing a different view from you. People won't pick on you for your views, but if you shout them very loudly, you might want to be prepared to argue your points, because people won't just sit and agree with you if they really disagree.

That being said, I doubt you'd find Grinnell's liberal culture "difficult" unless liberal people really, really annoy you. The Campus Democrats are VERY active, but last year was an election year, so I may have an exaggerated sense of how active they usually are. I'm quite liberal but I've had few political discussions at Grinnell simply because, in my experience, it doesn't come up in conversation that much.