Trinity College ( CT) VS. Connecticut College?

<p>My D was accepted to Trinity yesterday, we still await the fin aid pkg but should be here next week. She is very happy! But we have not seen the school yet and don't know too much other than it's a good Liberal Arts College in the city of Hartford. She was invited to apply to the Guided Studies Program which she did. Does anyone know someone who did this and what it's like?</p>

<p>She is awaiting a decision from Connecticut College, I think it will be here today ( oh the waiting!) We have seen this school and she loves it.</p>

<p>She is interested in History, Communications, Film/Photography/Visual arts,and possibly the Education Program..........basically undecided but those are her areas of interest and skill.</p>

<p>She will have to decide between these two schools, we plan to attend both admitted students day and see the schools again. But if anyone who attends, alumni, friends or family of a current student would answer and tell us your input on the two, compare contrast?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>i found conn to be much friendlier than trinity. trinity is a little more conservative and preppy and conn is a little more liberal and artsy.</p>

<p>i visted triny earlier, and the campus is beautiful..it seemed like a very nice school, and the only thing that kept me from applying was the fact that it was in CT...not to mention the sticker price..</p>

<p>i don't know all that much about Conn. College, but I hear that its not too bad..the bathrooms are co-ed, thats about all i know</p>

<p>the co-ed bathrooms really are no big deal. its a little strange at first, but you quickly get used to it. there are usually multiple bathrooms on every floor, so you will rarely see someone in there at the same time as you. also, if you are really uncomfortable with the idea of it, you can always request to live on a single gender floor.</p>

<p>The Guided Studies program is selective.</p>

<p>It is more indepth than many honors programs. Covers the western world from its beginnings to present. An excellent program and well intergrated. The friends that did or do participate love it. They all became close and got awesome recs for grad school (the older ones). It's a two year prescribed program, but well worth it, especially given your D's interest. Only about 30 are extended the invitation, so you D is very lucky.</p>

<p>BTW, Trinity is great with aid. As for Conn...it has a more laidback campus, and the kids tend to be slightly more liberal. I'd vist to get a feel for both if you can.</p>

<p>Hope this is of use.
IB</p>

1 Like

<p>She was invited to apply but we did not hear yet if she was chosen. It does sound like an interesting program. I believe the info they sent her mentioned that it would take the place of the first year seminar? I saw on the website that freshman are housed w/ the same kids that choose the same seminar topics.........I wonder if she would automatically be housed w/ other guided studies kids? Or if that has no bearing on where she resides?</p>

<p>Also....IB are you a current student? You mentioned friends in the guided studies program. Was wondering what kind of intergrating is meant in the program.....particularly film/photographic end of documentaries? Does the history dept work w/ film studies or journalism dept?</p>

<p>Also a question about transportation at Trinity........does the shuttle take students to the bus/train sta in Hartford? She would like yo visit New Haven from time to time and needed to look at routes she would take. I believe Ct public transportation is free w/ Trinity ID card?</p>

<p>Huskem.........you seem like a real supporter for Connecticut College....are you an alumni? What year?</p>

<p>What would you suggest we see or ask about when we visit Connecticut College in a few weeks? This will be her final trip before she makes her final decision......what should we not miss?</p>

<p>Lots of Trin kids visit Yale, actually. The shuttle will take her to train as well. Most kids share a taxi...just a few bucks to get to the nearby train.</p>

<p>Guded Studies kids are housed with other first-years. As for intergration, I mean that the programs look at the perinial questions that humans face no matter the venue. GS does take the place of the seminar, but it is definately a more sturctured program. More like a seminar style eviornment for a year or two, depending on the option chosen.</p>

<p>I actually am trying to chose between several colleges as well. I do have friends that graduated from Trinity and a couple friends that attend. A handful went with guided studies and it informed their four years of study at Trinity no matter what their major.</p>

<p>IB.</p>

<p>Yup- I'm a camel, c/o 2004. </p>

<p>When she visits in a couple of weeks, I would try to do things off the tour. Go sit in the main dining hall (or if she is a vegetarian go to the veggie dining hall)l, sit in the college center and listen to the conversations going on.
Walk through a couple of the dorms in different parts of campus- most students leave their doors wide open while in their rooms and will be happy to show you. See the infamous co-ed bathrooms.</p>

<p>Stop some students walking around and ask them what they like and dislike about the school. </p>

<p>if your daughter is into sports/fitness, go see the athletic center. if she is into theater or dance or art, make sure you see all of the facilities. I would also definitely sit in on a class or two- i believe that if you go onto the website of the registrar office, there will be a list of the classes of the semester and she can pick out some that sound interesting. most professors will be more than happy to let her sit in.</p>

<p>well the mail came early today..........</p>

<p>Bad news.......looks like connecticut college will be deprived of my d's talents and skills. She will be disappointed, she really loved that school. But now Trinity looks even better, also considering one or two others...but Connecticut seemed her first choice.</p>

<p>thanks for all your input.</p>

<p>luliz:</p>

<p>I'm disappointed to hear that. Know that Trinity is more selective than Connecticut, so it is a surprise.</p>

<p>Not to worry. I'd visit Trinity and the other schools so that your D will be able to make a great choice.</p>

<p>Again, sorry to hear the news. I know how that feels. I got waitlisted at Union, but got in at Trinity and Hamilton to name a couple. Really strange admissions season.</p>

<p>Have your D do something fun and then reassess.
IB.</p>

<p>not to be picky isleboy, but here are the selectivity numbers:</p>

<p>average sat scores:
conn- 1390, trinity- 1310</p>

<p>acceptance rates:
conn- 33%, trinity39%</p>

<p>yes, but conn's SAT average is based on those who submit them-which, as you know, is optional; I suspect those that score low do not submit and are not averaged in-that is why conn college is rated lower than its 'selectivity' would suggest it would be in most polls</p>

<p>huskem:</p>

<p>Traditionally, Trinity has been more selective up to last year, simply by statistical measures. The application pool is a bit different as well. I go to a prep school, so it might be different for publics.</p>

<p>Also, this part is heresay, but some of my friends who applied to Conn C. as a safety were rejected but accepted by their matches and some of their reaches. Likewise, the endowment at CC is much smaller than at Trinity. Thus, it is likely, again just a rumor, that if applicants need much aid, CC is more likely to reject them than Trinity.</p>

<p>I hesitate about this posting because that is my understanding given what my friends and their sibs have gone through at my private school. It might be very different at others, but I cannot attest to that.</p>

<p>I'm curious, what are the middle-50% scores for the SATs and the % in the top 10% at Conn C. and Trinity? Again, I ask due to historic performance....the tide might be might be changing.</p>

<p>IB.</p>

<p>just dont get caught up with the usnews rankings.</p>

<p>huskem55:</p>

<p>Not all kids get caught up in the rankings (thank goodness!).</p>

<p>It is definately more about fit. I know...I'm trying to get into a school where I was waitlisted (a LAC) while using one of my reaches as a safety which is ranked far higher on the ranking scale. People ( my parents especially) think I'm nuts, but oh well.</p>

<p>IB</p>