Here's the truth: Trinity University is an overlooked, academically solid liberal-arts college with a lingering, somewhat-deserved reputation as being filled with upper class, suburbanite, WASP-y Texans. While some students fit the bill, there are also plenty of out-of-staters, international students, and middle-class kids on scholarships (like me!)
The academic flexibility and rigor is a big draw, as well as the small class sizes, bountiful internships and undergraduate research opportunities (and being in the heart of San Antonio doesn't hurt either.)
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Getting in is fairly straightforward: break 1300 on your SAT (or a get a 30-ish on your ACT) write good essays, have a good GPA, etc., etc.
If you want merit aid, especially show effort in your essays and EC's. The process is surprisingly holistic, and you may end up getting more than you counted on. Conversely, don't assume that having that shiny score will guarantee you a full-ride.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
The rigor starts in your Freshman year with seminars like HUMA 1600 (a Western Civ. survey seminar which manifests itself as a six-hour class that requires multiple papers per week and tons of reading) and it certainly doesn't end there.
There are a fair number of kids that major in things like Business Administration, but the work can always be as rigorous as you allow it to be.
However, flexibility is also definitely a major part of the curriculum. Just about everyone double-majors, or at least takes a minor. It's so common you often find yourself automatically asking another student what his or her majors are. Furthermore, the GPA requirement to maintain a scholarship is a mere 2.5, simply because the school wants to encourage students to take classes outside of their comfort zone.
Lastly, it is important to note that the University really does prepare its students quite well. Internships are plentiful, and they always come with either class credit or good old $. Being a LAC, there's no grad-students, so guess who gets to help out on research?
To illustrate: 65% of graduates end up attending grad school within six years, and plenty of them go to programs with shiny names.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
They spoil you. Suite-style dorms, residence mentors that actually help you out, room-cleaning service -- it's all there. CosmoGirl once called Trinity's dorms the nicest in the nation. They're not half wrong.
The downside? You will inevitably get sick of paying for said luxuries, but you're required to live on-campus until your Senior year.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Food is limited to the cafeteria and a few small places on campus (Einstein Bros., a Java City cafe, and a little grocery store called the POD.) There's a lot of nice restaurants a few blocks away, if you get really sick of cafeteria food.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Downtown San Antonio is a couple miles away, and there's no shortage of activities on campus, either. If you're bored at Trinity, you're doing it wrong.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
A lot of kids come here for the scholarships. They're not disappointed.
Trinity is consistently listed on those Best Value College lists, so that's something.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Free nachos every Wednesday at 3:33pm. You get to sign a brick when you graduate. Oh, and tell everyone your birthday is in the Summer. They throw you in the fountain at midnight on your birthday.
There's a few more mischievous ones, like the Calvert Ghosts, which involves streaking through campus.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Students who are:
Laid-back
Smart
Down-to-earth
Active
Rich
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
It's there if you want it.
There's been a lot of controversy about some alleged hazing on campus, (which ultimately amounted to underage drinking and a required trip to a strip-club) and a couple of fraternities have been suspended. Greek alumni are not taking kindly to it, but no one else really seems to care.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
No public streets run through campus, and there's an emergency security button every few feet. We have our own parking garage, and the entire campus has the feel of a gated community. You're fine.
Here's the truth: Trinity University is an overlooked, academically solid liberal-arts college with a lingering, somewhat-deserved reputation as being filled with upper class, suburbanite, WASP-y Texans. While some students fit the bill, there are also plenty of out-of-staters, international students, and middle-class kids on scholarships (like me!) The academic flexibility and rigor is a big draw, as well as the small class sizes, bountiful internships and undergraduate research opportunities (and being in the heart of San Antonio doesn't hurt either.)
Getting in is fairly straightforward: break 1300 on your SAT (or a get a 30-ish on your ACT) write good essays, have a good GPA, etc., etc. If you want merit aid, especially show effort in your essays and EC's. The process is surprisingly holistic, and you may end up getting more than you counted on. Conversely, don't assume that having that shiny score will guarantee you a full-ride.
The rigor starts in your Freshman year with seminars like HUMA 1600 (a Western Civ. survey seminar which manifests itself as a six-hour class that requires multiple papers per week and tons of reading) and it certainly doesn't end there. There are a fair number of kids that major in things like Business Administration, but the work can always be as rigorous as you allow it to be. However, flexibility is also definitely a major part of the curriculum. Just about everyone double-majors, or at least takes a minor. It's so common you often find yourself automatically asking another student what his or her majors are. Furthermore, the GPA requirement to maintain a scholarship is a mere 2.5, simply because the school wants to encourage students to take classes outside of their comfort zone. Lastly, it is important to note that the University really does prepare its students quite well. Internships are plentiful, and they always come with either class credit or good old $. Being a LAC, there's no grad-students, so guess who gets to help out on research? To illustrate: 65% of graduates end up attending grad school within six years, and plenty of them go to programs with shiny names.
They spoil you. Suite-style dorms, residence mentors that actually help you out, room-cleaning service -- it's all there. CosmoGirl once called Trinity's dorms the nicest in the nation. They're not half wrong. The downside? You will inevitably get sick of paying for said luxuries, but you're required to live on-campus until your Senior year.
Food is limited to the cafeteria and a few small places on campus (Einstein Bros., a Java City cafe, and a little grocery store called the POD.) There's a lot of nice restaurants a few blocks away, if you get really sick of cafeteria food.
Downtown San Antonio is a couple miles away, and there's no shortage of activities on campus, either. If you're bored at Trinity, you're doing it wrong.
A lot of kids come here for the scholarships. They're not disappointed. Trinity is consistently listed on those Best Value College lists, so that's something.
Free nachos every Wednesday at 3:33pm. You get to sign a brick when you graduate. Oh, and tell everyone your birthday is in the Summer. They throw you in the fountain at midnight on your birthday. There's a few more mischievous ones, like the Calvert Ghosts, which involves streaking through campus.
Students who are: Laid-back Smart Down-to-earth Active Rich
It's there if you want it. There's been a lot of controversy about some alleged hazing on campus, (which ultimately amounted to underage drinking and a required trip to a strip-club) and a couple of fraternities have been suspended. Greek alumni are not taking kindly to it, but no one else really seems to care.
No public streets run through campus, and there's an emergency security button every few feet. We have our own parking garage, and the entire campus has the feel of a gated community. You're fine.