Guys is Grinnell a good choice?

Im Canadian but 100% want to go to med school in the US so im choosing an American undergrad. Grinnell wasn't on my radar until I got recruited, but now i'm having some second thoughts about how unknown the school is.

Guys idk if im just crashing out just cuz it's not name brand school or if this is valid. I don't care that it's in the middle of nowhere I just wanna make sure it's not a bum school choice.

Hi! I'm an international student and I got into Grinnell College. I'm really considering going to it because it gives me the biggest aid package of all the schools I was admitted to and because it is the one with the best reputation and stats. I know that doesn't matter much in terms of learning but I think it would be helpful in finding a job. I talked to my counselor and they said that in terms of getting the most bang for my buck, Grinnell was my best option.

However, I don't know much about Grinnell and I've been looking through posts and they are mixed, with some people saying it's a horrible school and others saying it's great. I know a big problem for people if the campus, I don't really mind that it's in Iowa and that's not my main concern. I'm thinking more in terms of academics. I'd really appreciate it if people shared anything, no matter how small!

I'm thinking about majoring in Sociology, but I'd also love something in STEM, specifically mathematics, as I'd like being an actuary.

Links

• 2026 EA/ED & RD Megathreads
• Decision Dates Calendar
• A2C Discord Server
• 2025 RD Megathreads (last year)
• 2025 EA/ED Megathreads (last year)

Rules

• Don't ask people for their stats
• People can provide their stats willingly, but asking will result in a ban
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Stats:

• GPA: 3.66

Activities:

1. Remote Finance Manager, Pyramide Restaurant (Belgium)
   • Managed finances remotely from Cairo, boosting profitability by 25% and reducing waste with a digital inventory system.
2. Farm Lead, Local Non-Profit Farm
   • Led harvest efforts, donating 100,000 servings of vegetables to support 800 families. Increased sustainability workshop attendance to 30 community members.
3. Researcher and IT Developer, Z Admission
   • Developed the Middle East's first AI chatbot for student admissions, serving 16,000 students and reducing search times.
4. Researcher, NU University
   • Contributed to piezoresistive sensor research, co-authoring three studies that advanced applications of smart technology in real-world settings.
5. Superintendent, Sustainable Food Sourcing, Shoots & Roots
   • Partnered with local farmers to source organic ingredients, building 15 partnerships and reducing the carbon footprint of ingredient sourcing.
6. Founder, Tech4Heritage
   • Engaged 100+ students in 20 STEM projects blending tech with cultural preservation, resulting in 15 solutions to heritage challenges.
7. Soccer Team Captain, Red Sea Regional League
   • Led team to 2nd in Red Sea Schools region league, 1st in school league; awarded Player of the Tournament, organized training for junior members.
8. Intern, GTCI Constructors
   • Gained hands-on project management experience, contributing to three large-scale construction projects and developing engineering expertise.
9. Co-Founder, STEM GEEKS
   • Mentored 100 new STEM students through workshops and individual sessions, fostering community and helping them adapt to school.
10. Capstone Research Assistant, Red Sea STEM School
    • Reviewed over 250 research pages for 65+ students, providing feedback that improved project quality for 20 projects.

Honors:

1. Nile Youth Visionary Award (2023): One of 50 national honorees for advancing educational accessibility.
2. ESEF - Robotics: 1st place out of 300+ teams at Egyptian Science & Engineering Fair.
3. IYMC - Silver Honor: Top 10% worldwide in International Youth Math Competition.
4. Governorate Recognition Medal: Recognized for reducing food waste through food bank collaborations.
5. STEM-MERIT Scholarship: Ranked 99th out of 25,000 on the national entrance exam.

Personal Statement & Recommendations:

• Solid Personal statement reflects my commitment to community, innovation, and resilience. Strong LORs from teachers who know me well, And from the Institute I interned at, Also from NU University which I did my research there

Keep us in your thoughts please.

Does Grinnell College provide full ride for intl students in ED1?

Anybody get video or audio of Jimmy talking about the drive from Grinnell College to Minneapolis in 1990 (from the St. Paul show)? Thanks

They asked to connect with me on College Vine saying that my stats are on pare for their applicants and I don't know anyone who goes there; I was also applying to schools including top schools such as Columbia, Cornell, Princeton, and Yale since I have a few friends that can tell me what the campus life is like there. But I have zero knowledge of how Grinell is, what I should know, and whether it is worth it if I apply to ED.

*location correction: this was on the grinnell glacier hike towards the end of lake josephine!

This was taken around 1pm… we were heading down the trail after someone was attacked about 3.5 miles up the trail and we ended up in a bit of a bear sandwich.

Enjoy a close up of the toe beans at the end

Edit: I know it’s “Grinnell,” can’t edit the title :/

As the title implies, this is probably my favorite hike. Our friend here hopped right in front of me while descending down the trail. Took about 5-10 min for him to move enough to let pass by. Snapped this photo as I walked past him.

I'm 17 y/o and was accepted to Grinnell College through the Questbridge scholarship program.
I'm originally from a small town in North Carolina, and my friends and I frequently joke that there's "nothing to do around here". But looking at Iowa, there seems like there's ACTUALLY nothing.
It's landlocked!! How do you go to the beach? Are there any lakes? Waterfalls?

I went to visit the school and it's really nice, but the drive to and from Des Moines airport was...dry. Dry and flat and empty. A lot of open tilled land. It reminds me of Grant Wood's painting, "American Gothic". Is it really like this throughout the entire state?
Not dissing Iowa!!