<p>what does CC think of this LAC?</p>
<p>The least isolated of all the NESCAC colleges and the only one located within the city limits of a state capital. Beautiful gothic campus combined with a fairly conservative student body, it probably has more in common with Washington and Lee than with Wesleyan. The only school in the conference that regularly whips Williams’ a$$ (athletically, but, alas, not quite academically.)</p>
<p>From The Princeton Review
“Connecticut’s Trinity College “offers a rare combination of high academic standards, a balanced political climate, intense athletic competitiveness/participation, awesome financial aid” and, last but not least, “a huge party scene,” prompting some students to opine that “Trinity offers the most even balance of academics (amazing professors, room to find your niche) and social life” among U.S. colleges. Here, “Monday through Thursday everyone goes to class, studies, and gets their work done,” but, “Come the weekend, people let loose and party just as hard as they study.” Weekdays offer “a great learning experience that provides ample opportunities,” thanks in part to the school’s small size (which means undergraduates have opportunities for research), a faculty staffed by “brilliant and caring” professors who “prioritize teaching above publishing,” and a library that is “nothing less than phenomenal.” Students also appreciate Trinity’s urban setting, noting that “the city of Hartford [is used] as a valuable learning tool” and pointing out that, unlike “the majority of top liberal arts schools . . . [where] internship opportunities are limited, Trinity offered me the opportunity [for] many hands-on experiences.” This may be particularly true if your field of interest is politics (Trinity’s “location in a capital city means lots of opportunities for political internships,” explains one student). Other standout departments include English (both literature and creative writing), Engineering, Theater, French, and the interdisciplinary program in human rights.”
““Despite admissions’ efforts, Trinity is still characterized by the New England boarding-school grad in polos and pink pants,” undergrads here tell us, although some assert that “what many see as the typical student is actually a minority.” Still, “The picture that immediately comes to mind is a blond, blue-eyed girl buying Coach . . . with daddy’s money.” Adding some diversity is “a growing population of ‘Wesleyan-types,’ who probably got rejected from our fellow Connecticut school. There’s [been] an influx of intelligent, down-to-earth people at Trinity who are passionate about a lot more than getting wasted Thursday through Sunday.” Students tend to be “over-wired” when not in class, attached to a “cell phone, IM, computer, [or] iPod, and therefore socially awkward or impolite. . . . In class, they are overachievers, very articulate and competitive. Most spend an impressive amount of time studying.””
“For many Trinity undergrads, “The fraternities dominate the weekend social scene,” and because these groups can be “fairly elitist” when it comes to allowing people into their late-night soirees, “Sometimes it’s hard to find something to do.” Other students take a broader view of campus life. Such students tell us that new groups are “gaining social power,” among them “The Fred (named after late professor Fred Pfiel),” which hosts “open mic evenings, nonalcoholic competitions, [and] theme nights,” among other events. They also call out Trinity’s Cinestudio, “one of the best on-campus student-run movie theaters in the country.” While campus theater, orchestra, a cappella, and chamber groups have limited participation, their performances are often well attended by the student body. Students note that “everything is available on campus so there is minimal effort to find things off campus.” Those who have cars “often travel to nicer parts of Hartford or other Connecticut towns.” One student observes, “Hartford, Connecticut is not as bad as people make it out to be. It has a lot to offer as long as you are willing to leave campus. There are some great restaurants and lots of shows to go to. Don’t let yourself get stuck on campus every weekend.””</p>
<p>Best to visit this college before applying - location in Hartford is
not for everyone and may concern some parents.</p>
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<p>ever heard of Tufts??</p>
<p>I knew someone would mention Tufts. Tufts is located along Boston’s urban ring, in the city of Medford. Trinity is not only located within the City of Hartford proper, but the minute you step off campus, you’re in one of the most ethnically diverse parts of Hartford. Medford is a suburb by comparison.</p>
<p>Hartford is a dump and I wouldn’t want my kid to go there. The area around Tufts is far nicer.</p>
<p>You might call Hartford “ethnically diverse,” but it is also scary dangerous. I would not want to go there, and this is coming from a former U Chicago student. (And yes, I’ve visited.) I agree that Tufts is far nicer and it is still close to the city area. (Actually, Davis Square can be quite nice depending on what you are looking for)</p>
<p>Ethnically diverse is a nice way of saying slum when referring to Hartford which has no redeeming features.</p>
<p>
Whoa.
I have lived (practically next door to Trinity) and currently work in Hartford. I have also been associated with Trinity as a consultant/contractor. Anyone who characterizes Hartford as having “no redeeming features” is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off base. “Scary dangerous” is an even more ridiculous characterization.</p>
<p>No real input on the quality of a Trinity education, but can definitely speak to the quality of the Hartford community environment.</p>
<p>Go ahead and tell me some more about Hartford. I only spent 30+ years living and growing up in the area. I’ve seen it decay from the 1950’s on. My father lives right off of New Britain Ave. I go through there every weekend to take him grocery shopping. Its a bad area with pretty much nothing to do. Hartford unlike New Haven has no redeeming factors -no major university such as Yale to draw any life to the area. I also don’t consider Trinity, Uof H etc major universities. We have friends who’s daughter went to Trinity one year, rented a place on Fairfield Ave (a signicantly better area than right around Trinity) and was mugged. Tell me all about Hartford!</p>
<p>Archiemom: You must have a pretty good commute on 84 through Waterbury and Hartford in the morning.</p>
<p>Any large city has its problems and Hartford is no different. Would I suggest walking around New Haven at 1:30 in the morning? Heck no. Kids need to have some ‘city smarts.’ </p>
<p>But cities also offer a lot for students to enjoy as well. Bushnell and the Hartford Stage Company offers a lot of theatre and performances. The XL Center has sports. Wadsworth Atheneum is a flat-out terrific art museum covering things like early European art through modern art. For someone that likes colonial history there are many historical homes to discover and enjoy. The area has much to offer. A Trinity student can go bike riding through Avon and Simsbury. Participate in biathlons along the Connecticut River. Go river riding on the Farmington River. If someone is interested internships in medicine or research, there are there are several hospitals in the area. Food? Terrific Italian restaurants aren’t just in the New Haven area. No, you’re not getting a great mix of terrific eateries and no Hartford is not Boston but compared to many cities of its size, I think it measures up pretty well.</p>
<p>I thought Trinity had a more attractive campus than Amherst.</p>
<p>“If someone is interested internships in medicine or research, there are there are several hospitals in the area.” Yes Hartford Hospital has quite a reputation - particularly lately.</p>
<p>well, let’s assume DocT is right and that Hartford is some kind of mashup of Compton, Watts, West Philadelphia, and East St. Louis all put together. Nevertheless, for the past thirty years, ~2000 young people in green polo shirts and pink pants have been able to figure out how to have a good time of it. Sometimes, you can tell a lot about a college by their CC forum, and one thing I’ve noticed about Trinity’s is the almost complete absence of helicopter parents.</p>
<p>One thing I’ve noticed is the complete absence of anybody on their forum in comparison to other forums.</p>
<p>Trinity was the only school on my son’s list that he took off the list after visiting. The campus is beautiful; the facilities are up to par with what one would expect for the level of academia (and price), and we were prepared for the run-down state of the surrounding area (and yes, it IS a little “scary dangerous”), so that wasn’t the problem. My son took it off his list because of the apparent apathy and, in some cases, downright depression that we saw in the students we encountered, in admissions, on the tour, in the student center, in the library and just walking around. They were very nice kids and clearly intelligent, but all of them had the same lack of spirit. We hadn’t seen that on any other college visit. I’m not surprised their forum is inactive.</p>
<p>That lack of spirit is because of the location. It is also true at U of H even though the area in general is significantly nicer (not withstanding Albany Ave). The Hartford area is just not that youth oriented and many feel out of place. It is a complaint for the area from the time I was a kid to now.</p>
<p>^^that much we can agree on. There is a kind of Nutmeg State crankiness that that seems to distinguish itself chiefly by tamping down on public dispays of youthful exuberance. As far as I can tell, it’s been that way since the Puritans. That would make you how old?</p>