Calling for 3 Connecticut College Contrasts and Comparisons...wesleyan,CC,Trinity

College Search & Selection
1

<p>We have seen CC and liked it. My D will be applying there.</p>

<p>But how about Wesleyan and Trinity?</p>

<p>Will be sseing Conn. Colleges weekend of 11/12 since she has interview 11/12 w/ Conn. College.</p>

<p>Should we also see Wesleyan and Trinity too? Why?</p>

<p>I have done some research on Wesleyan and feel she wouyld love it but may be a bit stiffer competition than CC as far as admittance. We are still awaiting SAT scores from 10/8. Ugh...........they were late since she took test as walk-in. If her score rose than maybe not so tough but at present she is under Wesleyans median score according to class of 2009.</p>

<p>Trinity..........have only heard from hs guidance counselor......she does not reccomend. Hartford a rough city.....non existant town gown relations? therefore I did not investigate much, yet on our CC tour the guide told us they interact frequently w/ the three schools. It sounds like an interesting school from books and college material I have read. I am curious and since we will be in Ct I was wondering what College Confidential Members thought of it.</p>

<p>Any alumni, parents of kids who attend, friends of students who attend or better yet students from these schools have any opinions to share?</p>

<p>Her intersets lie in History, Art, English. Possible graphic design,journalism,photo journalism, art...teach, art therapy,explore and develop her art and photography. History.....art history,all types....not sure.
Basically Liberal Arts......undecided.</p>

<p>Strong transcript......SAt lopsided....trying to correct by taking over and also taking ACT.</p>

<p>Should we include checking Wesleyan and Trinity out on our weekend or shall we leave her list alone?</p>

<p>At this fragile point as we enter November adding to the list may cause more frustration than good. But we will be in the area and they are interesting schools....................haha...........easy for me to say I only have to visit I'm not the one who has to write the essay and do all the paperwork!</p>

<p>Opinions, advise appreciated.</p>

2

<p>Aside from being in the same state, these are three very different environments. </p>

<p>Trinity has a small but attractive campus in the middle of grim and gritty urban neighborhood. Some wonderful interdisciplinary programs. Because of its location its selectivity is disproportionatel to its intellectual intensity. If you like urban, you’ll get a great education. Not especially known for studio arts, but art history is quite good. Has own campus in Rome.</p>

<p>Wesleyan has a campus that is both nice and a bit run-down (lived in, I’d say, but in a good way). It’s the most selective of the three and the most intellectually driven. Prides itself on diversity of all sorts. Engaged, energetic students. GREAT arts programs.</p>

<p>Conn College has by far the prettiest campus and most mainstream student body. Good studio arts programs – maybe not as good as Wesleyan but better than Trinity.</p>

<p>My son considered all three. Loved Wesleyan. Liked the idea of Trinity but not the location. Found Conn College hard to characterize.</p>

3

<p>I can only comment on Trinity - I was born around the corner and visited my grandmother, who lived within sight of the campus, every week for 20-some years. The surrounding neighborhood was undeniably rough a decade ago (drugs, prostitution, gangs; after my grandmother died, there was even a murder in her old backyard). There has been a valiant effort to improve the situation, and my understanding is that it's been successful, at least in part. I've heard that town-gown relations are actually good. Hartford has its problems, but it offers strong cultural and medical communities. Trinity is recognized as one of the city's jewels, and the campus itself is lovely.</p>

<p>I certainly suggest adding Trinity to your tour and investigating campus safety issues while you're there. It sounds as if it would make a good match/safety for your daughter, particularly given her interests.</p>

4

<p>My recollection of your earlier posts about your daughter suggets that Wesleyan would be a significant reach. But it is a beautiful campus in a town that has improved its apperance (and presumabyl its overall ambience) considerably in the last five to ten yers. It sounds as though it would fit your D's interests and preferences very well, but the application should probably be regarded as a major longshot. </p>

<p>As you probably know, Wesleyan has a reputation for strongly liberal political leanings and a degree of activism that might outpace some other schools on her list. However, both times I visited with my children (one of whom applied and was admitted, the other of whom would have applied had the admissions information session been nearly as appealing as the tour guides), I was struck not only by how pretty the campus was but by how many of the students we saw looked just like college students anywhere. My sense is that Wesleyan is large enough (about 3,000, I think) so that it has room for a bit more variety in outlook amongi ts students than some of the other LACs do. So it's win-win: politics for those who want it, mainstream college life for those who prefer that, and the chance to participate in some of both depending on mood.</p>

5

<p>My D graduated from Wes last year, and I think Mattmom characterizes it very well. There is a strong activist presence, who could run the gamut from a out-there to very thoughtful (often both). And there are tons of students who do not participate. My D tended to the activist type, but had very close friends in both spheres. She and her friends dressed like typical, non-preppy college students (jeans and T-shirts, not much blue hair or excessive piercings). Very intellectually engaged, tended toward arty but not always. It's worth a look, though it's getting more and more selective, so adding it at the last moment should not entail a big change in the rest of her list (I dont know your D's stats, so that's just a general statement). For what it's worth, probably not much, her best friend (nonactivist) transfered there from Conn College. I don't know the reasons.</p>

6

<p>Wesleyan is the most difficult to get into, Trinity and Conn are pretty much equal on prestige.
Conn has the most "college-y" campus.
Middletown, Hartford, and New London are not the greatest college towns, so there is no clear cut winner there.
Trinity is probably the preppiest, Wesleyan the least.
Wesleyan is known for political activism and has great arts, Trinity is has a great economics department, Conn has great humanities and social science and study abroad programs.
None of the schools has particularly strong sports team, though Trinity has great football and squash.
I looked at all three, and the only campus that I felt comfortable on was Conn- I was looking for a very collegey feel that I didnt feel on the other campuses.
All three schools have very bright, motivated, and fun loving kids. Wesleyan is definitely the "quirkiest" of the three.</p>

7

<p>I think all the responses have been spot on. Trinity has gained some traction lately as the anti-Wesleyan. I don't know how true this is, but, George Will and Tucker Carlson both graduated from there; a Young Republican group raised a lot of cash by selling t-shirts that read "Young Republicans -- Without US We'd Be Wesleyan"; and, yes, they have a lot of the accoutrements of a more conservative, preppier LAC, including rowdy crowds and a football team with an undefeated season.</p>

8

<p>Thanks everyone. I personally feel Wesleyan would be great for her but like I said would be a reach.</p>

<p>Trinity was the one I am not sure of but I'd like to see it.</p>

<p>Her requests for college were originally one near Quinnipiac University( boyfriend attends here........I know, I know what can I say.........any small wonder we are looking in Connecticut?)
other criteria included good lac featuring Art(esp. photography)History and English, not too large ...maybe 2000-8000 students,Northeast coast closest to Long Island and Connecticut, an urban setting or suburban but definately not rural and a college that would offer scholarships.</p>

<p>We ended up with this list:</p>

<p>Reach: Boston College, Conn. College ( possibly add Wesleyan?)</p>

<p>semi-reach: Fordham University</p>

<p>Match: Quinnipiac( don't say it)......Salve Regina, Newport RI,( Possibly Sacred Heart University.....will see it 11/12)Marist in Poughkeepsie NY</p>

<p>Scholarship match but not as thrilled: Manhattan College, Emmanuel College in Boston,St. Johns in Queens NY</p>

<p>Safety : SUNY Albany</p>

<p>How does this sound?</p>

<p>We also saw Vassar and Bard and I would have loved to have seen Skidmore because it seemed like a reach but good fit.</p>

<p>She loved Vassar but we thought was too much of reach and she bumped it. Is it?</p>

<p>I also felt Kenyon or Middlebury were good and Hamilton but she was not interested.....too far. Hamilton too late in the game not interested in Upstate same w/ Skidmore. Oh well........she is the one who needs to be happy at college not me. She is doing a great job w/ her apps and I am proud of her. So much happening for our family at this time and she is staying focused.</p>

<p>Good luck to all who are in this process along with her.</p>

9

<p>Yeah, Kenyon and Middlebury would be rural Hell, judging from your remarks. Take a look at Hampshire - quirky, strong art and science programs - not nearly the reach as sister college, Amherst; the location is not exactly urban but nearby Northampton offers some artsy-craftsy diversions. Also, Bard - it's a woodsy campus that is not that far from New York or Connecticut. And in New York itself (on Staten Island, to be exact) there's a little known place called, Wagner College that has a much nicer campus than St. John's and has breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline to boot-- compare their course catalogues and see how they size up.</p>

<p>Not sure what you mean by lopsided SATs, but sure, if you're looking for more reaches, add Wesleyan or Vassar by all means. Also, don't forget Barnard.</p>

10

<p>We looked at Barnard and for awhile it was on her list but she dropped it. She knows a few girls from her school appying there and she does not like them ( they are more active in school than she is too....class president, leaders of this or that). I guess this is the real reason, she just says she is not interested in an all girls school and ignores the fact that Columbia's mixed gender interacts freely w/ Barnard.
If she doesn't like it, she doesn't like it. Right?</p>

<p>Also considered NYU but her grandmother told her how many kids have commited suicide there due to all the pressure and turned her off. Also we have heard that they are very stingy w/ fin. aid and we are dependent on a good amt of aid unfortunately. </p>

<p>Otherwise both would have been good choices.</p>

<p>I had thought of Wagner as opposed to St. John's. Yes. Thank you for mentioning Wagner. I may look into it because she really was not too thrilled w/ ST. John's but is applying only because she may be given a scholarship. Thanks for the tip.</p>

11

<p>have you considered providence college for a match/safety? also, skidmore is easier to get into than the other reaches you mentioned, so you may want to visit there</p>

12

<p>luliztee, I think all three of these schools are need based aid only, and I know that is an issue for you. </p>

<p>I think (but double check) that Bard, Skidmore & Hamilton offer merit aid but not tons. Wells offers great merit aid, but in the sticks (tho near Cornell.)</p>

<p>I don't think it is wrong to toss two or three "Need Based" schools onto the list but the likeliehood of significant aid and low loans is extremely slim to none. </p>

<p>Part of the problem with the "urban" schools is that so many kids want them that they are not obliged to offer $ to draw top kids.</p>

<p>Have you looked at Union or Syracuse? Both are urban and in the size territory your D wants. Syracuse has excellent Art dept; one of my friends went to grad school (MFA- painting) there.</p>

13

<p>johnwesley, did Tucker Carlson actually graduate?</p>

14

<p>syracuse IS a good choice..........I attended a info session @ her HS w/ a rep from there. She had it on her list for awhile then dropped it because she does not want to be that far "upstate". Although Albany is pretty far north.........I think she just has too many apps going (11) and has to make cuts. It's she who is attending not me so she will decide what to apply to and not to I can only suggest. But yeah, I thought Syracuse was good choice..........great art and journalism program and I have heard they are generous w/ aid.</p>

15

<p>Tucker Carlson attended Trinity but did not graduate.</p>

16

<p>My D is interested in studying music (not performance, possibly music ed); plays in HS select orchestra; and wants to no more than 2 1/2 hours from NYC. Any thoughts about these schools and their music programs?</p>