Grinnell College Top Questions

I would say that the academics here are superb. I love the personal interaction with the professors and how they know about you. I also love the class sizes. They are small enought that you are able to have discussions that are meaningful in class. The size allows you to get the personal interaction that is essential for higher learning. Classes are pretty rigorous though, and studying takes up almost all of your time during the weekdays and most of the weekends. While this is not bad because you learn more than you ever thought you would, it can get overwhelming at times.

Academics at Grinnell are three things: 1) demanding, 2) challenging, and 3) your top priority no matter what. There are no core requirements (only a composition tutorial in your first semester is required), the classes you take are dictated by your interests, your major, and what's left over after cuts and closures. The student body is generally not competitive, and professors are very open to helping you with your work. The professors are incredibly intelligent and very approachable, but you usually have to schedule appointments to get help. There is one major caveat: you will have to work hard. Very hard.

The extent to which the community reaches beyond the dorms and into the classrooms is amazing. Professors and students really do interact on a personal level. All of my professors know my name and are in contact frequently.

Profeesors know your name by the second class time. Most all professors at Grinnell are very helpful and willing to answer questions. Grinnellians are known to study a lot. It really depends on the students, in general, I think my friends at grinnell study hard and play hard. Even while outside of class, at lunch or reading in the library is very easy to start intellectual conversations.

All Grinnell students are capable of a high level of academic performance, however the freedom of Grinnell seems to hamper actual output through a very active drug and party scene. While all professors here are accessible, to use that as a reason to come here is very much superficial, you will get out what you put in, and most of us are intellectually capable of getting by with little effort. The academic structure does not have requirements beyond your chosen major, which transfer's motivation towards and enjoyment of your classes to the individual as they are the agent. Through academic and social freedom, most students are locked into a binge and crash cycle. Discussing academic and intellectual issues is very common during social activities because of sheer exposure, the school compensates for its rural setting by continuously holding academic symposia, there is literally a talk of some sort to go to any day you choose to. The academic life is all we have to do here.

My favorite classes obviously fall within my majors anthropology and religious studies. However, students are encouraged to take classes outside of their major and outside their general area (ex. outside the humanities or languages). Students are also encouraged to study abroad and I think about 2/3 do at some point. The education strategy is definitely geared toward both learning for learning's sake and a career. It seems like Grinnell students typically go on to some kind of post-undergraduate schooling (graduate school) or service (Peace Corps, Teach for America). I like that students are encouraged to do these things instead of having the pressure to get well-paying job immediately following graduation. I think that the professors understand that a job is important and they want to prepare you for it, but they also want to make sure you are immersed in the world and take advantage of the opportunities that are there.

Academics are tough, but when you find what you are looking for, you can enjoy things and it becomes a lot easier. Grinnell is more of a learn for learning sake kinda school. Professors tend to make themselves every available and open to students. It is a regular thing to have dinner at profs homes, or go out to dinner as a class.

I like academics here, although they are often extremely rigorous. Professors here find out what's impossible for you, then they place the bar about a notch or two below it. Therefore, they expect a lot from you, but they understand your capabilities and trust that you're able to do it. Once you increase your abilities, they shift up the bar. Because of the small size, class sizes are often no bigger than 25. Professors often learn of your name, but not all are that friendly. Sometimes, office hours are inaccessible, or just plain old incompatibility gets in the way. There is competition, but it's often not in the same form as it was in many high schools. Students care about their grades, but they understand that a B in Grinnell is an A in millions of other schools. Also, they don't care about getting the .01 point above the rest of the class; yes, they want their friends to do well, but it's not everything.

Classes are very personal. Teachers know their students well. My tutorial class bonded well and is having a reunion dinner soon with our professor. The professors are genuinely interested in seeing a student grow and learn. They will often come support students at events outside of the classroom. As a volleyball player, I enjoy seeing professors at the game and knowing that they are interested in their students' lives. There is a level of respect given to the professor from a student that clearly marks the distinction between professor and student, but there is also a level of casualness and comfort that creates a sense of friendship and equality. The classes at Grinnell are interesting and challenging. It is nice have small classes that are based more on student discussion rather than large lectures that consist of a professor speaking the whole time. Teachers grade fairly hard here, and students who used to be straight A students find it hard to accept that getting straight A's isn't as easy at Grinnell. However, students learn to value the experience more than the grade, and they realize that just being a Grinnell graduate will open up many opportunities.

All profs have known my name. Yes, class participation is common. Generally an open minded, not competitive student body.