The mail has left the building

Letters go in the mail today to the 176 students who applied under the Early Decision Round 1 program at Grinnell. After spending the last three weeks learning about the applicants through their applications and discussing their merits in review sessions, the Admission Committee made acceptance offers to 90 Early Decision 1 candidates. By comparison, Grinnell accepted 107 of the 175 applicants last year in the first round of Early Decision.

A word of advice if you are deferred to Regular review. Chances are it was because the Admission Committee wants to see full semester or even third quarter grades for your senior year. Try to maintain or even improve your performance, especially if you are being challenged in a course or two, to show the Admission Committee that you can succeed at a high level. Contrary to some advice I’ve heard given to deferred students, don’t storm your teachers or employer or 2nd grade baby sitter asking for additional letters of recommendation. The Admission Committee would be happy to look at additional information but it will only strengthen your application if it provides compelling new information that was not available to the Admission Committee in the Early Decision review.