Grinnell Anthropology Major

Grinnell is known as the "granola" school, where the students worry less about fashion and personal hygiene and more about their academic and extra-curric work. We seem to be mostly liberal, activists, and very interested in personal expression and originality. Students are very friendly, open, and accepting.

The majority of Grinnellians do, in fact, shower. I suppose we get the stereotype because we still accept the students who do not. Grinnellians are extremely friendly, and constantly looking for interesting conversations. We are pretty liberal-minded, but not entirely - Republicans exist there too.

I chose Grinnell, not for its high academic rigor, but rather for its opportunities over the summers and post-graduation. I love that Grinnell is so interested in taking care of their students and student life outside of the "campus". Usually, when I tell people I go to Grinnell, they either react with confusion ("oh, you go to Cornell?") or they seem impressed, and comment "that's a really good school". Best thing is, it is important to the students that Grinnell IS a good school, but we would rather not be "name brand". We are more interested in subtle quality, not high-brow reputations.

At Grinnell, you had better be prepared to do your work. All of your professors will expect the utmost work out of you, and they are pretty good and deciphering when you could have done better. The homework load is known for being probably the largest in liberal arts colleges. Most classes are discussion based, and you are challenged not to repeat what you are told, but rather to question what you are told and give reasons why someone might decide to tell you that in the first place. The best part of learning at Grinnell is you are taught how to learn and question, as opposed to learning facts and rules.

The diversity at Grinnell is not as high as colleges at, say, Las Angeles or in D.C., but for a liberal arts college in the middle of Iowa, there is quite a bit of diversity. Our LGBT(etc) group on campus is huge, and consists of both LGBT and allies. There are other programs too based around ethnicity (Asian American Coalition, Society Of Latinos/as), but the best part is that Grinnellians are curious to understand people of all races, types, and classes. Clothing-wise, well, that is the least of our worries when it comes to mid-sems or finals week, after we studied until 3am and then proceeded to bake cookies with the roommate. Economic class is practically unknown while you are on campus - the school is highly egalitarian, even with professors. We also have a unique governing principal we call "Self-Government", which has been successful since its implementation a few decades back. In this, students are responsible for themselves, and are expected to be responsible for their own actions. Also, other students are expected to be able to go directly to a student to solve a problem (first), before going to an academic or student life leader. This has caused a great student community, and far less disciplinary instances, except for in extreme cases.

Some popular groups include: a cappella choirs (men, women, and mixed), theatre (independent and school-produced), basketball and other sports, among many, many others. Life on campus is very trusting - most students leave their doors open and your hall community is typically very tight. There is no greek life on campus, but there are various sports and themed houses near campus.

Grinnell is awesome! People work hard, and party hard.