Grinnell College

Date: Jan 25 2007
Major: Religion/Religious (This Major's Salary over time)
Grinnell is designed to produce graduate students. To this end it emphasis rhetoric, the written word, and a familiarity with current intellectual trends. Unfortunately, its emphasis on sharp academic thinking often translates to a neglect of all that actually exists in reality. A student at Grinnell can expect to be involved in classes that last for hours, revolve around tightly worded arguments, and that are profoundly intellectual… yet never, at any time, reference anything that could be described as objective reality. The intellectual attitude of the school could be described as 'post-modernism on steroids' or 'debating theory without ever looking out the window'. In short, if a student wants to get into grad school and spend their life in front of a chalkboard this place is heaven… but if they want to either study the world in person or enter the non-academic sector it is hell.

Grinnell likes to insist that it is a haven for the creative with many interests in hobbies… and most Grinnellians insist that this is true. However, a quick look at the activities Grinnell offers reveals that the activities at the school are almost all based on political ideology or 'alternative counter-culture'. There are few activities that are not political or hipsterish in nature. Though it talks a great deal about diversity, the college is entirely devoted to only one demographic segment: Hard Left counter-culturalists who are preparing themselves exclusively for grad school. I'm not saying that the school would have been better if it was 50% conservative and 50% liberal (or more 'down to earth')… but what I am saying is that the school really only cares about students it thinks will be liberal professors one day. Anyone who isn't seen that way is just considered a tuition-payer.

In terms of the campus' atmosphere, the school is VERY tolerant of people with alternative lifestyles. In fact this school is the place to go if you were picked on in high school. However, this tolerance often becomes intolerance as any student who is seen to—even possibly—not be ultra-tolerant can find themselves as the target of a witch hunt. Ironically, the student leaders who lecture about tolerance are, themselves, intolerant of anyone who even slightly disagrees with them.

As far as the students themselves go, Grinnellians are always extremely brilliant. All of them. Many are down to earth. Unfortunately, this brilliance—and sense of social commitment—often makes them extremely self-righteous and arrogant. They do not hesitate to lash out at society (though, humorously, they become infuriated by anyone who wants to criticize them).

As for myself, I had a few close friends at school but otherwise hated it. When I graduated I didn't have any confidence in my degree (I honestly do think it's only good for getting into grad school) and so I worked jobs that I was overqualified for. Lately, however, I've been able to teach my self a trade in the arts and, after a few years out of college, have finally begun to enjoy life. The sad thing is that I could have skipped Grinnell College altogether and found happiness with what I am doing now.