An Inside View: Trinity College

Guidebooks can only tell you so much. There's nothing like hearing first hand from someone who actually attends a college or university. With that in mind, I've asked several current students to share their experiences, both good and bad, at the schools they attend. I'll be posting their responses over the next few days. Keep in mind that this isn't intended to be a scientific survey -- just insight into each school as if you were talking to a friend who attends.

First up: Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Trinity is a private liberal arts college with just over 1800 students. One of the few liberal arts colleges to offer engineering, Trinity also has particularly strong programs in economics, political science, English, and psychology. Admission is highly selective, with an overall acceptance rate hovering around 35%. I asked D., a female sophomore, to share her experiences at Trinity.

When you were looking at colleges, what were the three most important
things you were looking for?

I was looking for sense of community on campus, professor accessibility, and freedom to explore different subject areas.

What other schools were on your college list?

Tufts, Brown, Amherst, Connecticut Coll, University of Connecticut, Colgate, University of Miami

What were the main reasons you choose Trinity?

I chose Trinity because the professors are enthusiastic and are accessible outside of the classroom. Most classes are small, which I liked because I felt that class discussions would be better because of it - and they are. There is a lot of freedom to explore different subject areas because there are only five classes of distribution requirements required in addition to your major (humanities, social science, mathematics, arts, science). I liked the idea of being able to have the freedom to take different classes simply because I was interested in them. The architecture is also stunning. That wasn't my main reason for choosing Trinity, but it certainly didn't hurt.

What has been your biggest surprise about Trinity (i.e., something you honestly did not expect, or something you expected that did not prove true)?

I shouldn't have been surprised based on what I had observed during visits,
but I was pleasantly surprised to find how often professors will go out of
their way to help you if you need it. They want you to do well.

How would you describe the "typical" Trinity student? If there's no "typical" student, can you describe the main groups?

The stereotype of the "typical" Trinity student is well heeled and very preppy in terms of lifestyle and clothing. While this is true to an extent - about half of the student body attended prep or private high schools - once you're there for a while you realize just how diverse Trinity is. Regardless of your background or interests, chances are you'll be able to find your niche/group of friends. Trinity students are very bright and most students seem to strike a good balance between working hard and playing hard.

What was your dorm room like freshman year?

I had a single. I requested it on my housing form and by some stroke of luck I got one. Singles are limited at Trinity and the majority of freshman live in doubles. The room itself was small and was in need of some repairs and new furniture. I wouldn't consider the dorms one of Trinity's strongest aspects, especially compared to how gorgeous and well equipped the academic buildings are. The dorms aren't terrible though. I've certainly seen worse at other schools. The good thing is that you do get to live in better housing as you pass through your upperclassmen years. My room/building this year are much nicer than the building/room I lived in
last year.

Dorm rooms really do vary at Trinity. Some are much better than others, even
among the freshman dorms themselves, but the Office of Residential Life
recognizes this, so if your room isnt the best your first year, you have a
chance of getting a much better room the year after in the Housing Lottery.
Freshmen generally live in freshmen only dorms; Trinity is beginning an
experiment in which upperclassmen and freshmen are integrated into the same
dorms- this year we're trying it with two dorms and seeing how it works out.

How did you find the food? What's your favorite item on the menu? Your least favorite?

Don't expect your mother's cooking, but the food isn't too bad for the most part- there's a large variety of options for pretty much everyone. I'm very health conscious and picky, and I didn't encounter too many problems finding things to eat. My favorite things that the eating facilities serve are wrap sandwiches (any of the chicken ones are really good), fruit flavored smoothies and the frozen yogurt from the machines at Mather Hall (the main dining hall). The pizza and salads are usually good as well. I'd avoid the stale pita squares that are served as well as the catfish casserole that is served every so often. Yuck!

How would you describe the work level at Trinity? What was your favorite class last year and why?

The work level at Trinity is moderate- to-heavy but not impossible. The reading is the most difficult part because it tends to be dense. I would recommend taking at least one class each semester that's different overall from your other classes. If most of your classes are reading intensive, take a math class or a performing arts class to break it up a little.

What's the best part of the campus? What's the worst part?

I'd say the best part of campus is the quad, because you have a gorgeous view of the
best architecture on campus and it's absolutely beautiful in the spring- and
everyone hangs out there when the weather gets warm. Vernon Street, where the Bistro ( a dining facility), some dorms, cultural houses and the fraternities are located, is also a great part of campus. It looks beautiful when it's lit up at night and it's where most of the weekend fun takes place. The worst part of campus is probably Crescent Street, where some dorms and department buildings are located. Crescent Street borders on a more rundown part of Hartford. It's not horrible, but it's certainly among my least favorites.

What do people do for fun on the weekends? Where do people hang out, on
campus and off?

Although Greeks only make up under 20% of students, fraternities dominate the social scene on the weekends, so a sizable percentage of the student body go to fraternity parties on weekends (which start on Thursdays). A lot of people also go to smaller parties in the dorms. Other people go to school sponsored events (like dances, comedians, different cultural events). On campus, people hang out in the dorms, on the quad when the weather permits, the library (seriously- people tend to do
work in small groups, so there is a lot of socializing between work), and
anywhere where coffee is served. Off campus, people go to places like The
Tap (a popular bar), clubs in Hartford, and restaurants like Fuji Sushi and
Trumbull Kitchen, both of which are good restaurants.

How would you describe the surrounding community?

Hartford does have a lot of crime and is rundown in some spots, so like any city, you have to be smart. I wouldn't walk around Hartford at night, but then again, I probably wouldn't walk around anywhere at night. I don't feel as if I'm in danger
while I'm at school. The shuttle and campus safety services are great for
escorting students around campus after it gets dark. Hartford isn't New York
or Boston, but if you're willing to look, there are things to do off campus,
from trying new restaurants to going to the theater. There are also plenty
of opportunities for volunteer work in the community (such as doing
mentoring programs at Hartford public schools) as well as doing community
service (such as Do It Day, when the school comes together and donates their
time to a variety of different organizations in Hartford). trinity doesn't
want to be seen as a sheltered off bubble away from the city and it
encourages its students to interact and give back to the city, many of
which do.

What do you like best about Trinity? What would you change?

I really like the fact that it gives you the resources & support, as well as
a sense of community, to become whoever you choose to be over the next four
years, even if you aren;t sure what direction you;re going in academically.
There are plenty of opportunities to become involved, contribute to the
campus, & grow, both in your knowledge and who you are as a person. I also
like the fact that Trinity is really a work hard, play hard school- I like
being able to work hard during the week & have a great time on the weekends
and maintain this balance. If I could change anything, I would encourage
MORE interaction between people of different backgrounds/interests (it's
gotten better but I still think there is room for improvement in this area).
The costs of books are also really high- if you can avoid it, don't buy from
the bookstore (even used, they're still a bit pricey); get your books from
someone who has already taken the class or buy them offline.