Grinnell College Student Checklist: A Comprehensive Guide for Future Pioneers

Embarking on your academic journey at Grinnell College is an exciting endeavor. This checklist provides a structured overview of essential steps, resources, and considerations for prospective and incoming students, ensuring a smooth transition into the Grinnell community.

Application Process: Required and Optional Materials

Grinnell College, a Common Application and QuestBridge School, aims for a streamlined application process with no application fee and no required supplement.

Required Materials

To complete your application, ensure you submit the following:

Common Application or QuestBridge Application: This includes your essay and a comprehensive list of your extracurricular activities.
Two Teacher Evaluations: Grinnell prefers the Common Application Teacher Recommendation forms.
Secondary/High School Counselor Recommendation: The Common Application Counselor Recommendation form is preferred. Home-school applicants may have a parent complete this form.
Common Application Secondary School Report: Home-school applicants may also have a parent complete this form.
Official High School Transcript: An official copy of your secondary/high school transcript with the original stamp, signature, or seal is mandatory. All enrolling students must possess a high school diploma, its recognized equivalent, or be beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in Iowa.

Optional Materials

While not mandatory, the following materials can enhance your application:

Preliminary Application: Submitting a Preliminary Application allows you to get into the database early and demonstrates your interest in Grinnell. It provides you with information about timelines, scholarships, events, and the college search process.
ACT or SAT Scores: Grinnell College has a test-optional policy. Applicants are required to indicate whether or not they will submit a test score by their application deadline and are not permitted to change their test score preference after the deadline. Applicants who choose to apply with an ACT and/or SAT may submit either official or self-reported scores to Grinnell College. Grinnell will consider your best superscored ACT composite scores and your best superscored SAT math and evidence-based reading and writing (ERW) scores. Students who choose to apply with an ACT test score are not required to submit the science portion of the exam. All enrolling students who applied with a self-reported test score will be required to submit an official test score prior to arriving on campus.
Short Answer Supplement: This optional writing prompt allows you to elaborate on your background and how you would contribute to Grinnell’s community. The prompt is: "Grinnell’s core values include supporting a diverse community that is respectful, egalitarian, and committed to the common good. How might your background, respect for the lived experiences of others, and/or eagerness to be exposed to new perspectives equip you to thrive at Grinnell and serve the common good?" Your response should be between 200 and 450 words.
Demonstrated Interest: Show your interest in Grinnell by visiting in person or virtually, meeting with an admission counselor, and requesting an interview.
Portfolios for Art and Music: While not required for students planning to pursue a degree in the arts, you are welcome to submit your work for review by the admission staff. Supplemental materials, including writing samples, may be submitted after you have submitted your Common Application via the "Edit Portfolio" link on your applicant status page.

Application Deadlines

Keep these deadlines in mind when applying:

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	Early Decision I	Early Decision II	Regular Decision
Application Deadline	Nov. 15	Jan. 5	Jan. 15
Admission Notification	mid-late December	early February	late March/early April
Deposit Due	Jan. 5	Feb. 20	May 1

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Grinnell College is committed to making education accessible.

Merit Scholarships: All first-year domestic students are considered for merit scholarships ranging up to $30,000. Priority consideration is given to domestic students who submit their Common Application or QuestBridge application by December 1. There is no separate application for merit scholarships.
Financial Aid for International Students: Financial aid for first-year international students is primarily given out through grants, which meet 100% of their demonstrated financial need. International students are also considered for merit scholarships ranging up to $28,000, though this process is extremely competitive. There is no separate application for merit scholarships.

International Students: Additional Requirements

In addition to the standard application requirements, international students must fulfill the following:

English Proficiency: International applicants must demonstrate their English proficiency by submitting an official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score report if their native language is not English and/or their primary language of high school instruction has not been English. The mean TOEFL (iBT) score for international students admitted to the class of 2028 is 107. The middle 50% for Duolingo scores was 125-140. Grinnell prefers to see students with IELTS scores of 7.0 or higher. Grinnell’s institution code for ordering TOEFL score reports is 6252.
Financial Forms: Your application will not be considered complete until the appropriate financial forms have been submitted.

Standardized Testing Policy

Grinnell College has a test-optional policy until fall 2026, at which point the policy will be re-evaluated. Applicants are required to indicate whether or not they will submit a test score by their application deadline and are not permitted to change their test score preference after the deadline. Students who choose to apply with an ACT test score are not required to submit the science portion of the exam. Applicants who choose to apply with an SAT and/or ACT test score may submit either official or self-reported scores to Grinnell College. All enrolling students who applied with a self-reported test score will be required to submit an official test score prior to arriving on campus.

Whether or not you submit a test score, Grinnell will take into serious consideration your high school transcript, including your grades and rigor of courses; personal essay; recommendation letters; and engagement outside of the classroom.

Consider the following when deciding whether or not to submit a standardized test score:

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If you think your scores are an accurate representation of your ability, then you should feel free to submit them. If you feel they are not, then don’t submit them.
If you get the score you hoped for, and especially if it is above average for Grinnell, submitting the score may help you in the admission process.
We consider your test score in context. Even if your score is not above average for Grinnell, but it is for your high school or neighborhood, your score may help you in the admission process.
A high SAT or ACT score can offset a low GPA. If you don’t submit a score, we have less information about your academic performance. If you have a low GPA but do well on the SAT or ACT, your test score can be an important indicator of your potential to succeed in college-level classes.

Home-Schooled Applicants

Home-schooled applicants have the same application requirements as all other first-year applicants. Additional materials are welcome if you feel they will help Grinnell better understand your academic preparation.

Academic Planning: A Guide for New Students

Once admitted, the focus shifts to academic planning. Grinnell’s curriculum emphasizes a liberal arts education, fostering critical thinking, self-reflection, project design, intercultural understanding, and ethical judgment.

Course Load and the First-Year Tutorial

Most students take about 16 credits per semester, but between 12 and 18 is considered a full load. You’ll likely take about 8 (four-credit) classes your first year. The first class you will take is the First-Year Tutorial. Between June 1 and 15, provide your top five preferences for the Tutorial on the New Student Checklist.

Key Dates for Advising and Registration

June 1-15: Submit your top five preferences for the First-Year Tutorial on the New Student Checklist.
By July 1: Complete the Advising Information form available on the New Student Checklist to provide your faculty adviser with insights into your background and interests.
August 22-27: Meet with your adviser during New Student Orientation (NSO) to finalize your fall class registration.
Classes Start: August 28

Resources for Choosing Classes

Faculty Adviser: Your Tutorial professor is your primary resource for academic planning.
Departmental Advising and Registration Suggestions: This document describes each academic subject, suggesting courses and their order, particularly for those considering a major in that discipline.
Schedule of Courses: This displays courses offered in a specific semester, including descriptions and prerequisites. It is searchable by subject, level, time of day, and instructor’s name.
Grinnell College Academic Catalog: This contains the official list of all courses offered at Grinnell, along with departments, majors, and concentrations.
Colleague Self-Service: Use the student planning tool in Colleague Self-Service to begin adding classes.

Assessing Your Skills and Background

Language Experience: If you have prior experience in a language, take the survey in the New Student Checklist this summer and follow the instructions there.
Math Placement: Work through the math placement diagnostic to determine the appropriate starting class.
AP, Cambridge A-Level, CAPE, or IB Exams: Determine how your exam performance translates to course credit and level placement at Grinnell.
Prior Experience in Computer Science, Physics, or Statistics: During New Student Orientation, speak with faculty in these departments to determine the right course placement.

Identifying Courses Open to First-Year Students

To find classes open to first-year students:

Go to the searchable Schedule of Courses.

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Enter the following parameters in the “Advanced Search” fields:
- Results View: Choose either "Catalog Listing" or "Section Listing."
- Term: Select a semester, e.g., “Fall 2025.”
- Location: “Main Campus.”
- Course Type: “Open to First Years.”
Click “Submit.”
Narrow your search using the “Filter Results” options, particularly under “Subjects.”

Exploring Academic Interests

Study a Variety of Disciplines: A diversity of courses helps balance your workload with different types of learning tasks.
Explore as Many Interests as You Can: You will have exposure to subjects not taught in most secondary schools. Even familiar subjects are often taught differently at this level.
Think About Extracurricular Activities: Consider work on campus as a way to explore some of your areas of interest.

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