My D26 is also a recruited athlete and was in conversations with the coach at Whitman but has decided on Grinnell. For my daughter the coach at Grinnell was who sealed the deal for her. Aside from top academics, the 2nd most important thing for her was a coach she loved and a team where she felt like she fit in. We have visited schools up and down both coasts and in the Midwest. She understands Grinnell is in the middle of nowhere but she knows she will be so busy with school and travel for her sport that she will not be bored. From our area of the Southwest, Walla Walla was much more difficult to get to. There are more options for flights to Des Moines as well as Cedar Rapids. The other great thing about Grinnell is it’s an hour from Des Moines, an hour from Iowa City and an hour from Ames. You are allowed to have a car on campus all 4 years. Having both college towns and Des Moines an easy drive away is a plus! We live in a smaller town 1.5 hours from a large city so she is used to that. Both schools are wonderful and your son cannot go wrong with either. I will say, after visiting Grinnell it is hard not to love it! I have 3 daughters and have been visiting colleges over the last 10 years so I have seen a ton! For my daughter, Grinnell passed the broken leg test which was the first time she said that to me after many college visits. Good luck to your son!
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