Worth Visiting or too much of a reach

dalmatiansrock · 07-17-2009, 08:54 AM

I don't have that much money to visit colleges, and I think a visit to Grinnell will cost about $350, so I'm wondering if anyone knows if Grinnell is such a reach for me I should spend my visiting $$ elsewhere. Here's my stats

2100 SATs
prob Merit Scholar if not commended
Super tough well-known public high school where 30% go to top colleges. School average GPA 2.7 so no grade inflation
GPA 3.3 GPA without freshman year 3.7 (clear upward trend)
only 1 honors class, no APs (school offers only math and science APs and 2 honorsHistory classes. I wasn't put on the math/science AP track freshman year)
Extra History classes (my strength)
Many substantial community service activities during school year and summers abroad and in rural US
Worked 20 hours/week during school since I was 16 at same two jobs (1 manual labor, 1 more service/intellectual)
Intramural sports
No financial aid needed (I know that doesn't go with few visiting $$ -- the explanation doesn't belong here)

From what I read, Grinnell would be a perfect fit. Still, I'm worried that it might be too much of a reach, and I will have wasted my visiting $$. Any thoughts?

M's Mom · 07-17-2009, 09:55 AM

Take a look at Grinnell's Common Data Set for 2008-2009. You can see where your math and verbal scores fall relative to the distribution at Grinnell for that year. (I don't believe they looked at the writing score in past years-not sure about this year). Are you in the top 25% of your class?-90% of Grinnellians are. With a 2100, you are probably fine, but the Common Data Set provides more detail.

Since your school doesn't offer a lot of APs, and math and science aren't your areas of interest, I wouldn't worry about it. Your school sends an acadmic profile, so the Grinnell admin knows you didn't neglect to take APs in your areas of purported strength and interest.

You don't mention what part of the country you are from-it helps slightly if you are not from the midwest. And yes, you should definitely visit. Demonstrated interest matters at Grinnell and an interview would be helpful too. It also is important that you know you will be happy there: It's a small school in a very rural location with a distinctive culture. (S loves it and can't wait to go back, but only you know what works for you.)

SmallCollegesFTW · 07-17-2009, 11:44 AM

Okay, Grinnell is going to be tough for you. Test scores have very little importance, they say it effects less then 25% of your decision while more then 50% is GPA on their website. GPA/Course rigor is highly important. They expect students to take the highest level classes in ALL disciplines. They like well rounded students. Your GPA is pretty low, but the upward trend helps. Grinnell does look at freshmen grades, however. I would say Grinnell is a pretty large reach based on your stats. Their acceptance rate dropped to 27% this year. I would almost definitely apply ED if I were you, if Grinnell is your first choice.

Less Selective Alternatives that are very Similar to Grinnell: Knox, Beloit, Lawrence, Macalaster (the Mac is still pretty selective), Hampshire, Whitman (also still pretty selective)

bethievt · 07-17-2009, 01:06 PM

If you don't need financial aid and Grinnell is your first choice, applying ED, as SmallColleges suggests, would certainly convey your interest! What makes Grinnell sound like a perfect fit for you?

oracle_bones · 07-19-2009, 06:31 PM

Based on your stats, I think you probably could get in. If I could get in, I don't see why you couldn't, especially if you are a nat'l merit semifinalist or scholar. Frankly, I think that the main reason I got accepted was because I was a nat'l merit semifinalist. My SAT scores were only slightly better than yours (2110) and I could list all my extracurriculars on the fingers of one hand (i.e. I didn't have many ECs). And I had no AP classes, though my last two years of high school were pretty unusual. I was also offered a merit scholarship, which is only to say that it seems I didn't just barely get in. Basically, I think you'd have a decent chance. Just be sure that if there are any "gaps" in your application (such as no APs), explain why if there's a legitimate reason.

dalmatiansrock · 07-19-2009, 07:39 PM

Thanks, particularly Oraclebones for your encouragement.

I think I am going to visit. I guess what strikes me as special about Grinnell is that it seems
to be one of the few highly intellectual LACs that doesn't have the reputation of mostly wealthy and athletic students. (The walk on sports teams, intramurals and club sports are
really appealing to me.) As a somewhat introspective bookish quirky late bloomer from a family without too much money to spare, I think I might more easily find my niche at Grinnell.
In addition, I like the idea of living in a small town in the midwest but want to visit to see if I
might like the reality.

If anyone has any other suggestions about schools to consider, I would love to hear about
them.

phishsticks · 07-20-2009, 12:00 AM

as a former prospie, i'd suggest Carleton, St. Olaf, College of Wooster, and Cornell College if you want a college similar to Grinnell.

SoCaDad · 07-20-2009, 12:33 AM

3 years ago at at an Eight of the Best college gathering, a rep from Grinnell said "if we're going to give you a break for a bad year, you'll get a bigger break for a bad 9th grade than 11th grade". I think Grinnell is definitely doable for you. Just explain your bad year whether it's in an interview or in the application. As far as your description of yourself you would fit in just fine.

bethievt · 07-20-2009, 09:48 AM

I think you've described the student body very well. Now that I think about it, applying ED without visiting is probably not a great idea. I think it's worth the investment to visit. And definitely visit when students are on campus.