<p>Hi, I'm a sophomore at Trinity and on the newspaper...I was just putting myself out there if anyone had any questions about Trin.</p>
<p>My d was curious about the tripod. Did you join as a freshman? Who would she talk to about joining and get info on what positions are open to first year students? Also the trincoll journal? The slate? The other voice?</p>
<p>And thanks for replying to my other question about setting up her dorm room...the tip about Walmart was very helpful.</p>
<p>The Tripod is great fun and has really become a great student newspaper in the last semester or so. First year, first semester students can't be editors as the elections for those positions occur the semester b4 (today actually!). In the first semester she could become a copy editor, a staff writer, a cartoonist, circulation manager, business manager etc (basically non-editor positions)...second semester she can become anything she is nominated for (e.g. if she is an opinions staff writer first semester (which basically means she writes every week) she might be nominated for opinions editor, as I was...and if she makes a friend on staff she could always just ask to be nominated). If she is very good at grammar and proofreading first, then first semester she should become a copy-editor (and all she has to do is walk in to become that). As elections are today I can't tell you yet who the next semesters editor in chief will be but she can always contact me when she gets here (<a href="mailto:joseph.tarzi@trincoll.edu">joseph.tarzi@trincoll.edu</a>) and I will get her the info she needs (and if she wants to be a copy editor I'll just tell her when to come in)...additionally, there is an activities fair but that is easy to miss and occurs a few weeks into the semester.</p>
<p>sorry, just reading the rest of your post...the trincoll journal...hmm...is that on our website because I've never heard of it? The Slate and The Other Voice are...hmm...they're not too popular...very often they simply get few submissions and do not publish (in fact, as far as I can remember I don't remember ever seeing a copy of either). Every year a couple of freshmen come in and try to start up those publications again but there is simply a lack of interest. The Tripod is by far the most widely read publication at Trinity...if she wants to write she should write for that...if she wants to do some creative writing she might look into the features section (which basically publishes our odds and ends). Also...she can write as soon as she gets here for any section; news, opinions, arts, features, sports - all she has to do is contact the section editors (or me, if she wants to write b4 the first issue comes out - a list of the section editors will be in the first issue).</p>
<p>I'm sorry...i keep seeing parts of your post I missed...I wrote for opinions first semester sophomore year and this semester (second sem. soph.) I am opinions editor and a nominee for news editor.</p>
<p>Would the experience be awkward for a Jewish student with a Jewish background at Trinity? Have you met any Jews on campus (I know there is a Hillel), and do you think that they feel comfortable at Trinity? </p>
<p>Also, is the general area surrounding Trinity dangerous?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your time.</p>
<p>I know several Jews on campus and we have a very active (and modern) Hillel House. I don't think Trinity is would be more awkward than any other New England college (except Brandeis) when it comes to that. I think Jews feel very comfortable at Trinity and have never heard of any being unhappy because they were treated differently or anything like that. </p>
<p>The area around Trinity is not the best...anyone will admit that, no one would walk very far from campus alone. There is, however, nothing really around Trinity that would interest students...the mall is 3 miles away (a streight bus run, no transfers) and downtown is a mile away (also a streight trip). Honestly, most freshmen tend to spend most of thier time on campus, which I think contributes to how unhappy most people are as freshmen (a guilded cage is still a cage), although some people love that. Either way, by the time Sophomore year rolls around either you have a car or you know someone with a car and can go nice places...Hartford is a very poor city, but also very small...Trin is in one of the poorest areas of CT and one of the richest areas in the state is only 2 miles from campus.</p>
<p>What is the econimics dept. like?</p>
<p>BIG....I wish I could tell you more but as a History major the only thing I know is that every 3rd or 4th person I meet is an economics major.</p>
<p>Thanks, jtvoyager.</p>
<p>I will be a history major also. How is the program?</p>
<p>I don't really have a basis for comparison but I think the department is pretty good, there are lots of good profs, some not so good, interesting classes most semesters. You can look up the course schedule on the Trincoll website.</p>
<p>My d is trying to figure out what classes she is going to register for and is running into a problem.</p>
<p>She will be a freshman in the fall and we are taking her to Trinity for June advising day to schedule classes and take the math placement test.</p>
<p>The first three classes are easy to register for since they are guided studies courses but then she has to pick one more. It seems that every class she looks up on custom search is filled or only has one seat left.( Drawing 1, Gen Psych, Even most Bio are only Fri aft left?)</p>
<p>Does this happen every semester to Freshman and Sophmores? She e-mailed her 1st yr adviser but they said that some classes reserve a few seats for 1st yrs but that it is completely random as to who gets in.</p>
<p>If she wants to major in Psychology and minor in Studio Art but can't take the prerequisite inro courses the 1st semester it will back up her whole 4 yr schedule w/ advanced courses. She plans on studying abroad( probally Rome Campus) and will need plenty of research and intern opportunities down the road........how will she fit all that in if she can't take the intro courses right away?</p>
<p>I know @ her friends colleges the same thing happens the freshman and even sophmores get burned every time since priority is given to upperclassmen for registration.</p>
<p>Any suggestions about who to see or what to do?</p>
<p>Did this happen to you the first year?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Could you describe what's available to do on a typical weekend? Also, is there much involvement in intramurals, clubs, etc?</p>
<p>I know that the art department has been backed up as of late with a jump in interest as of late. The sciences I don't know too much about. Professors however, will get you into a class if there is room, the best thing for her to do would be to contact professors directly, express an interest in the classes, explain her situation, and see if there is anything she can do (after June days, or even after classes start, as long as it is done before the end of add/drop in early September). I've been locked out of several courses that I later got into with a simple e-mail and may be trying that again this semester with (coincidently) drawing 1. So, I would sidestep the registrar and go streight to the profs, even if they cannot squeeze her in they may be able to suggest an alternative she may be unaware of. </p>
<p>Also, a note about guided studies, I was in that program my first semester and, while it was a good program, it wasn't my cup of tea so I left (the one great thing is there is no obligation, so you can try it and leave), however, Gstud will not really help out a Science Major/Art minor...none of the Gstud classes will fit into those, and contrary to popular belief among admits, Guided Studies is not an honors program and has no real advantages unless you are interested in the subject matter (first semester, classics, philosophy and bible (which is basically Prof. Larry Lyke talking about Genesis for 10 weeks...very interesting, but not much help for a psych major). </p>
<p>Additionally, if worse comes to worse, D might be able to take summer courses at home (if you're from NY, do a SUNY) then she could take, say her math req. during the summer freeing up time during the school year for more important classes. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Hmm, a typical weekend...there is always a party going on at one of the frats on Vernon Street, which is where many people spend thier weekends. Vernon Street is generally the social side of campus housing the frats, cultural houses, and the Vernon social center. Maybe once a month there is a major dance party thrown by the school (the biggest being the 80's party in October-ish and the massive orgy that is Spring Weekend at the end of April). And some frats are better than others, not all of them consist of typical fratboys, if you are looking for a different kind of party scene try Cleo, which bills itself as a 'literary society'. People who don't do the frats every weekend typically make thier own fun. I read a student study not too long ago saying that it takes about a year for a typical Trinity student to find thier social group, I find that was true with me, although some people had their groups the moment they came. I guess what I'm trying to say is it takes a little while to find your groove at Trin (and probably does everywhere) but once you do you have fun and there is no shortage of things to do (I even know of one group who gets together every Saturday night to play dungeons and dragons)</p>
<p>This is appalling. I did not realize that I have to start jockeying for classes now before I have even met with an advisor at June Days. I am in Southern California....there is NO way I want to take classes in the summer at our disgusting Cal State colleges to get classes out of the way. I am supposed to be in Guided Studies...now I am re-thinking that. I really liked the description of GStudies because I love history, poli sci, philosopy, etc. but I don't want to be put into a bind because I can't get classes. Am I freaking out or is it not that bad?</p>
<p>No, I think you misunderstood, all I was saying was that if a class is closed out, and it does happen, you can contact a prof. and usually get in fairly easily, depending on the department. Taking summer classes was only an option I was putting forward, most people who do that are double majors who simply cannot do everything they need to in 5 classes per semester and choose to take lower level courses at home (ex. bio 101 for a bio major) to make space to take higher level courses at Trin...similar to people taking AP courses in HS to get a leg up...this is not unique to Trin, people do this everywhere, but taking a summer course is not really common here, just something some people do. Also, if you love the humanities you will probably be very happy in Gstudies. Gstud is very rewarding for those who are interested in it, I just think that some people take it not because they are interested, but because they believe it to be an honors program, which it is not. Also, you should definatly not do anything regarding classes before you talk with your advisor during June days.</p>
<p>Thanks, jtvoyager</p>
<p>thanks for the guidance jtvoyager. I am calm again.</p>