Understanding Grinnell College transfer credit policy

I'm planning to apply as a transfer student to Grinnell College and want to know how their transfer credit policy works. How do they evaluate courses from other institutions? Any advice would be appreciated!

Grinnell College maintains a fairly flexible and comprehensive transfer credit policy. They evaluate courses from other institutions mostly based on the rigor and relevance of the courses.

Firstly, to be considered for transfer, a course must be similar in nature, level, and content to a course in Grinnell's curriculum, and applicable to a liberal arts degree. This typically means that vocational or pre-professional courses might not be accepted.

The course must also be taken at an accredited institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education. For international institutions, they need to have comparable recognition. Keep in mind that Grinnell does not grant credit for 'credit by examination' courses or for courses taken at the high school level.

When it comes to grade requirements, typically, you'll need to have earned a grade of 'C' or better in a course to be considered for transfer.

The evaluation process is comprehensive, involving faculty members in the relevant academic departments who review the course content to evaluate if it aligns with Grinnell’s curriculum.

One important thing to note is that while transfer credits can be used to meet graduation credit requirements, they may not necessarily apply to specific course requirements within your intended major – this is highly dependent on the evaluation of the respective department.

Lastly, be aware of the residency requirement at Grinnell - you must spend a minimum of four semesters there and complete at least 62 credits at Grinnell to earn a degree from the college.

To ensure the courses you've taken are eligible for transfer, I'd recommend reaching out to Grinnell's admissions Office directly with specifics about your courses (name, institution, syllabi, etc.). You can find a counselor for your region here: https://www.grinnell.edu/admission/apply/contact-us/staff . They can provide a preliminary evaluation or provide further guidance on their transfer credit policy. It's always a good idea to double-check these details to plan your academic journey effectively. Good luck with your transfer application!