Behind-The-Scenes With Grinnell College Admissions

When Sarah Fischer moved to Grinnell in 2016, she got a VIP tour from a familiar face in town.

“I remember her pointing out the wine bar,” laughs Fischer. “I was so nervous moving from Houston to Grinnell because of the huge transition, but it has been a great one!”

Since then, Fischer has helped make Grinnell home for a number of students across the world as Grinnell College’s assistant vice president of admissions.

“Our students always tell us how much they love the community feel of downtown,” says Fischer. “And they love the chance to support local businesses. For a lot of them in urban areas, it is a lot harder to do.”

But how does Grinnell College shape the incoming class? This year alone, Fischer’s team reviewed over 11,000 applications — and as international and pre-orientation students begin to trickle into town, you can see how the incoming class has shaped up.

These students hail from 42 states and 30 countries, with the admissions team securing 19% of their incoming class from overseas. About a third of the class is eligible for a Pell grant, and 15% of new students are first-generation.

But the coolest statistic hits closest to home — 11% of new students will be hailing from Iowa, with 3 students coming directly from Grinnell High School!

“We are really proud of our team — this is the highest percentage we’ve had in recent years,” says Fischer. Part of the College’s success is their active work to recruit more Iowans.

“There is a large misconception that Grinnell College is like this castle on the hill and that it is too expensive,” says Fischer. “So we created the Iowa Dean’s Scholarship for students that offers a $50,000 scholarship for students who graduate from an Iowa high school. To receive it, students must have either received a 4.0 weighted GPA or have been taking the most rigorous curriculum.”

The Admission Office plays a tactical game — they admit over 1,000 students to hit their target to enroll 460 students. “We work with a consulting firm to determine the number of admitted students who will actually choose to enroll here,” says Fischer. “The firm looks at the characteristics of our admitted students — like have they visited campus? Are they from the Midwest? Those students usually tend to choose Grinnell at higher rates than those who do not.” says Fischer. Fischer and her team have also increased the number of applicants with no loan and test optional policies.

Another strategic component? Securing students with early decisions. They enroll over half their incoming class with the binding admissions program, a real advantage for students who immediately know Grinnell is home. But what characteristics do these incoming students have in common?

“In potential Grinnell students, we look for intellectual engagement,” says Fischer. “These are students that have an excitement and curiosity for learning across different subjects.”

In their market research, the team has found that students often consider academic prestige as their #1 reason for coming to Grinnell — and Grinnell is ranked as #13 Nation's Best Liberal Arts Colleges.

“We also say we tend to attract risk takers, and I don’t mean risk takers like bungee jumping,” Fischer laughs. “For our students, coming to rural Iowa doesn't scare them. It excites them. It’s an adventure to try something new.”

And those students are now here and arriving throughout the next week! Welcome them to town by waving a friendly hello or offering a warm welcome on the sidewalk. Introduce students to area events, our local businesses’ shop guide, and eat guide so they know where to dine out!

“Families who visit Grinnell always comment on how friendly and hospitable the community is,” beams Fischer. “This is so meaningful for us at admissions. We want them to have a great experience with our office, across the college, and the community.”

Chamber Ambassadors from left to right:

• Becky Broadston — Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
• Nikki Armstead — Grinnell Chamber
• Yesenia Mozo — Grinnell Chamber
• Monique Shore — PFLAG Grinnell Poweshiek
• Blake Pearson — Converge Chiropractic PLLC
• Dedee Lehman — All In Real Estate Inc.
• Karen Dillon — Grinnell Remodeling
• Evan Petig — The Grinnellian Bed and Breakfast
• Monica St. Angelo — Grinnell Area Arts Council
• Libby Eggert — Grinnell College with Grinnell College Community Connections
• Sarah Smith — Grinnell College Community Connections
• Sarah Fischer — Grinnell College
• Geneva Knobbe — Grinnell Motors
• Nicolle Donnelly — Poweshiek Insurance Agency
• Donnette Ellis — Grinnell College Community Connections
• Jennifer McAlexander — JM Consulting & Hawkeye Lock & Security
• Dan McCue — McCue & Associates LLC - American Family Insurance
• Sarah Bacehowski — OnMedia TV And Digital Marketing Sales
• Cooper Muckler — Future Entrepreneur
• Mike McGuire — Inspired Tech
• Marcus Brandenburg — Anthem Heating & Cooling