Grinnell College Top Questions

Is the stereotype of students at Grinnell College accurate?

Kelsey

Sometimes. Usually pretty smart and environmentally conscious.

Jen

To a large extent

James

Of course they are entirely accurate.

Hannah

Absolutely not! While there are some students who are smart, rich, liberal and smoke pot, the majority of the students are not. The campus does seem like it's in the middle of nowhere, but there are great cities (Iowa City to the east and Des Moines to the west) that are only an hour away. Also, being in a small town gives students everyday opportunities to interact with the community.

Marie

Eh, sometimes. Depends who you are around. There is more of a variety than that though.

Andy

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Liz

Grinnell is very academic and over-all liberal. I find that there are differences between the students, but they are no where near as distinct or easy to categorize in such terms as "athletes and hippies." Grinnell is full of well-rounded students who balance academics and socializing well. I would agree with the "work hard, party hard," though I think students here are pretty responsible in terms of partying.

Alex

YES!

Emmerson

All types live on all parts of campus, and even as a "jock," I've got lots of friends who don't play sports. Connections are made through mutual interests like potential majors or student organizations or campus jobs or completely drunkenly, accidentally, or randomly. There is a lot of partying here, sober and not so sober, and for some people the drinking doesn't ever stop. However, there are actually a number of students on campus who are sub-free, even outside the sub-free dorms. Basically, alcohol is available if you want it, but it will never be forced on you.

Sandy

Sure I agree with that, hell I say "I play football" and not I'm a football player. However, keep in mind that at Grinnell their are no athletic scholarships, so every varsity athlete here was admitted exactly the same way as every other student. We are all placed on the same scale and weighed the same. Most if not all the football players took AP courses in high school, and get this, passed the exams too. So please, while I'm sure you will encounter a handful of douchebags, not everyone on the football team is a jerk. With the exception of maybe five guys, everyone else is cool to hang out with; I just ask that you don't shy away from meeting athletes because of that one asshole you met that not even the football team likes.