College Expert

WCCO Radio 2nd Half of Education Roundtable with Sue Luse

May 15, 2013

Listen to the second half the Education Roundtable on WCCO’s News and Views with Roshini Rajkumarof when Sue Luse enters the roundtable. This recording (18 minutes) does not contain the entire 1PM show with Roshini Rajkumarof. It starts with the introduction of Sue Luse.

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To listen to the podcast in its entirety (1 hour) on iTunes, go to yesterday’s blog (May 14)

Posted in College, In the News, Sue in the News, What Colleges Look For,

Sue on WCCO Podcast

May 14, 2013

If you missed Sue Luse on WCCO’s News and Views with Roshini Rajkumar, the host for Education Roundtable, you can listen to the May 12 show on podcast. Select the 1 PM show featuring Sue Luse, Dale Kurschner (Editor-in-Chief, Twin Cities Business Magazine), and Amy Hertel (Mineapolis Foundation). Sue appears in the second half of the show at time: 18:04. The image below is how it appears on the list of podcasts dated 5/12/13.

Posted in College, In the News, Sue in the News, What Colleges Look For,

Sue Luse on WCCO Sunday, May 12, 1-2 pm

May 11, 2013

Sue Luse will be on Education Round Table this Sunday, May 12, 1-2 pm on WCCO Radio’s News & Views. Listen on 830 WCCO Newsradio with Roshini Rajkumar @RoshiniR @wccoradio #NewsandViews. You are welcome to call and/or text in with questions relating to preparing for college or selecting colleges.

You can listen live online at http://www.wcco.com/roshini. If you missed the show, you can find post-show podcasts at http://www.wcco.com/roshini.

Posted in College, In the News, Sue in the News,

A Visit to Yale University

April 13, 2013

By Sue Luse

Location

I had an absolutely awesome tour of Yale, even though it was a really cold day! This charming campus is located in in the heart of down town New Haven, Connecticut, which is known as a vibrant community full of opportunities. As Yale’s President Richard Levin has said, “New Haven is large enough to be interesting but small enough to be friendly.”

Campus Housing

Yale Residence Halls

I was very impressed with Yale’s Residential College System. Each of the twelve residential colleges has its own distinctive architecture, courtyard, dining hall, and library, as well as activity spaces. It reminded me of Harry Potter and Cambridge and Oxford. It is often said that most freshman quickly become convinced that their residential college is the best residential college.

Yale Students

Freshman are randomly assigned to one of the twelve residential colleges giving them a built-in community from the moment they arrive on campus. Each residential college has approximately 450 students and this is their home for all 4 years at Yale. The residential colleges reminded me of a fortress home away from home. They are comprised of suites with a large common room and bathrooms shared by approximately 8 students. These colleges bring together faculty and students forming a unique bridge between academic and social life.

Academics

Yale Architecture

75 majors to choose from
Students choose majors at the end of their sophomore year
There are no minors, but you can double major
Approximately 12 of your 36 courses will be within your major
36 courses needed to graduate
Yalies typically take four or five courses each fall and spring
Student-to-faculty ratio is 6:1
In the Engineering Department,the faculty to student ratio is 1:1
Students take 1/3 of their courses within a distribution requirement (rather than core classes) and 1/3 in their major and 1/3 are electives
2,000 classes are offered every year
Over 70 languages offered
800 research labs
95% of science students do research
Most students are published

Yale Tour

Yale has what they call a “Shopping Period” – the first 10 days of each semester are a time when students can visit dozens of classes that interest them in order to decide which ones they want to take. Students build their class schedule as they “shop”. During this shopping period students also meet with academic advisors to sort through all of the academic opportunities. Through this process, students formulate their most fulfilling academic semester!

Admissions

Yale Architecture

While Yale evaluates each applicant as an individual, academic strength is their first consideration. A rigorous high school courseload is very important. Yale likes to see students take advantage of any advanced opportunities at their high school.You may submit scores from the SAT and any two SAT Subject Tests or the ACT Plus Writing Test. Interviews are not required but encouraged. Remember that the goal of any interview is an outside “validity check” to prove that you have accurately presented yourself. Two letters of recommendation are required preferably from teachers who taught you during your junior or senior year. Teachers need to mention specific example(s) of how the students perform in the classroom, so it’s a good idea to give your teacher specific examples to use in this letter. You should allow your character to come out in your essay. This is your opportunity to show Yale how you think, what drives you and that you are intellectually passionate. Definitely be yourself in your essay. It’s also a great idea to have a friend or parent read it and see if it actually sounds like you. Your extracurricular activities are important. Yale likes to see that you are driven by something outside of the classroom.

Financial Aid

Yale Campus

Need blind
Need based
No merit or athletic scholarships
Scholarships meet 100% of need
Cost of attendance is approximately $56,000 a year
The average financial aid package is $36,000
55% of undergraduates receive need-based aid directly from Yale
Families whose total gross income is less than $65,000 are not expected to make a contribution towards their child’s Yale education
No loans offered

Sue at Yale

Posted in College, Colleges Visited, Tours,

Opinion: Surviving the College Denial

April 10, 2013

We’re sorry to inform you…

When a message begins like that, it’s never good, especially if it’s from a college informing you on whether you’ve been accepted or not. Never good quickly transitions into the horror of all horrors if it was your first choice, dream school, as it unfortunately was in my case. All anxiety and cheery false hope drained from me, replaced by shock and a tightness in my chest. It felt funny that something so electronic and unfeeling could ravage the most passionate and human emotions inside of me.

From that moment, a borderline soap opera occurred. I mustered up enough grit to leave the kitchen without tears. I pressed my cellphone to my ear to tell my friend the news as I had (now regretfully) promised.

“Yes?” The smile on the other line was sickingly optimistic. The grit vanished, and stoicism escalated into sobs of despair.

“I didn’t get in.”

I flung myself onto my bed and cried. My mom snuck in to extract the Hamilton College sweatshirt off of my floor to hide in some dark crevice of her closet. My friend consoled me over the phone, and the tears fell as horrifying thoughts circled about my brain. Hamilton College, my first choice college, had denied me. With it, I had lost any hope of my future and had in turn gained the harsh realization that all of my work over the past three years had been for nothing. It was December 15th; ten days to Christmas and the ultimate present had been torn from me.

If this has read off as some melodramatic sob story, then you’re following. That’s what it had felt like- some drama-dripping Sunday afternoon soap opera that starred me as its victim. It had felt like all of my dreams of academia, success, and happiness had been crushed. According to my peers, parents, and private college-counselor, I was supposed to be apart of Hamilton College, class of 2017, or at least deferred. But no- a blatant denial stood before me, sending me spiraling into shock followed by childish sobs of defeat.

I’m not the first student to be denied by their number one college, and sadly I won’t be the last. But I can assure each and every student two things: one- you will feel crushed. You will contemplate putting yourself into solitary confinement in your bedroom as you blast morbid (yet unbearably catchy) Adele songs. You’ll want to devour a carton of Ben & Jerry’s, covering the pain with creamy sweet relief. You’ll want to watch tragic war movies that always end in death, (or a new episode of Glee) as you dab at your puffy eyes with lotion infused Kleenexes. You’ll want to sink into a pit of despair. Your academic successes will feel obsolete. Your ACT score you slaved over will feel like a waste. Every flashcard you’ve ever made, every study session you’ve stressed through, and every late night trying to find the ever-allusive ‘x’ in your math homework will feel purposeless and unfair. Denial is not an emotionally enjoyable experience.

Here, we arrive at point two: nothing you’ve done has been pointless, nothing has been lost.

I had viewed my situation on the same playing field as a zombie-apocalypse. My denial felt like the end of the world, the annihilation of all that was good. But this wasn’t the case. Goodness still existed. Rainbows came after rainstorms, ice cream was in the freezer, and Christmas break was on the horizon. The world wasn’t encompassed by evil. I had just gotten denied by a college – nothing more and nothing less.

Yes, the situation was emotional. I’m the kind of person who cries during sappy TLC commercials, so of course I was distraught at the denial. But what I had thought I had lost- my future, my happiness, my “perfect fit”- was still intact, but I wouldn’t find it in Clinton, New York. A month earlier I had been accepted into Fordham University, a private, Jesuit college nestled in the Bronx. It had been my second choice college. In my mind, it wouldn’t be able to give me the happiness and success that Hamilton, my “perfect fit” would have given me. However, my friend kindly reminded me of my infatuation with New York City, a love affair that had begun in eighth grade.

I was in the city for my uncle’s wedding, with all of my blatantly tourist cousins. We were riding the subway, holding onto the greasy bar as we leaned with the sharp turns of the train, laughing. It wasn’t a pretty sight- there were a good number of native New York City passengers giving us critical looks. The subway was dark, dirty, and smelled of aluminum and city natives. It was hot that day, we were all sweaty from walking. Despite all of this grime, I turned to my mom, all aglow.

“I belong here.”

It was a simple story, perhaps even borderline Hallmark card, but it was true. I didn’t belong atop a hill in the village of Clinton. I belonged in New York City. Somewhere in this college process, twelfth grade me had forgotten what eighth grade me had confidently known.

What Fordham offered that Hamilton couldn’t was close internship opportunities and the city experience. The commute from the Bronx to The New York Times headquarters on Eighth Avenue was just a subway ride away. While Hamilton may be ranked for their creative Writing program, Fordham offered me hands-on experience, only minutes away. My success and my happiness was secure in Fordham: I would be able to live in the city that I had fallen in love with as well as have so many job opportunities that would allow me to make a living doing what I loved- writing. Experience and opportunity trumped numbers for me. But what about the “perfect fit”?

I’m not going to tell you the old cliché that there is no “perfect fit,” because I disagree. There is, but whether we know that the “perfect fit” is perfect for us is debatable. I clearly didn’t know before my Hamilton denial. When it came to finding the “perfect fit” on my own, the task was impossible. Thankfully, I didn’t need to find the “perfect fit” on my own, because someone had already laid it out for me.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” This verse from Jeremiah 29:11 was my saving grace, and the knowledge that God’s plan is always the perfect plan truly got me through this experience. There is a plan. We are not just clumps of atoms bumbling about the planet. We each have pasts, presents, and futures. Happiness is out there, whether it’s at Princeton, Hamilton, Fordham, Northwestern, Pepperdine, or Community College. Chaos will not ensue with a simple denial. Order will be restored, and that is something us haggard, stressed seniors can cling to.

If Hamilton had denied me, then it clearly wasn’t the “perfect fit”. Hamilton College is a fabulous school full of prestigious scholars, kind people, and academic growth. But it clearly wasn’t for me. The perfect fit had been an imperfect fit. My second choice school became my first, and I am more than excited to be part of the Fordham University class of 2017.

So, to all of my fellow seniors awaiting college acceptances or denials, and to the future seniors, I leave you with this: do NOT fear the denial. Use it as an excuse to put on your fat pants and devour some ice cream, but do not let it swallow you into a personal pit of despair. The denial is not the death of you, but the savior. Clearly the school wasn’t for you. So yes, your “perfect fit” and “perfect plan” didn’t work out, but that is only your perfect plan. The truly perfect plan will be carried out, and that is something that should be profoundly calming and reassuring to us all.

Madelyn , Orono, MN

Posted in College, Rejections, Seniors,

Coping with College Rejection

April 5, 2013

Here is an article – Coping with College Rejection: How Parents Can Help that Sue Luse contributed to for Fox Business Network. It appears in the Personal Finance College Planning page.

Posted in College, In the News, Rejections, Sue in the News,

A Visit to Pratt Institute

April 1, 2013

By Sue Luse

Campus Overview

Located in Brooklyn, New York, Pratt is the opposite of Pace or New York University. This campus is a very peaceful place with lots of green, open spaces. Pratt is among quaint old brownstones within the historic Clinton Hill residential neighborhood. Lots of cute little eateries and plenty of families, kids and dogs walking around. I felt very safe on this campus. This place looks and feels like an art school and is only 25 minutes from the art center of the world – Manhatten. Pratt students enjoy the campus’s uniquely acclaimed and contemporary sculpture garden. There is also a subway stop on campus.

Pratt’s Mission Statement

The mission of Pratt Institute is to educate artists and creative professionals to be responsible contributors to society.

Pratt’s Schools & Curriculum

Pratt is home to :

School of Architecture
School of Art & Design
School of Information & Library Science
School of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Center for Continuing and Professional Studies

Pratt has always believed that educating generalists rather than specialists (Industrial designers rather than car designers, writers rather than journalists) is essential in supporting our mission: to educate creative individuals to be leaders in their fields. The fact that this philosophy is reflected in the professional world with the boundaries between various art forms disappearing confirms this approach.

Top Three Reasons Students Choose Pratt

A distinguished faculty of practicing artists, designers, architects, writers, and librarians, many of whom have received awards for their work and are leaders in their fields. Often it’s faculty connections that land you your internship and eventually your first job whether it’s directly through your instructors or through our Center for Career & Professional Development. Pratt’s professors are working professionals who take time off from their successful careers to teach, mentor, and help students find internships and eventually jobs. Google any professor’s name at Pratt, and you’ll find that he or she is at the forefront of contemporary art, design, architecture, writing, or library science. Ask students why they chose Pratt, and invariably they will say, “the faculty.” The fact that Pratt is one of the largest art schools means that you get to choose from hundreds of faculty and courses. Classes are small so that you can work alongside your professors, receiving feedback on your work, advice about your strengths, and an education focused on your own interests.
The professional nature of the curriculum which starts in the first year as opposed to a traditional liberal arts college where you choose your major in the third year. Because of Pratt’s size, you get to choose from an extraordinary variety of majors and concentrations including majors in creative writing and critical and visual studies.
The Campus: Pratt is the only East Coast art school with an enclosed campus. Twenty-five acres of tree-lined bricked roadways, grassy areas, five residence halls on campus, and outstanding facilities offer students plenty of “green space” in which to work, relax, and spend time with friends.

Additional Information

Beautiful library with Tiffany interiors
Frats and sororities and lots of clubs to join
Brand new building for digital art
An Admissions Portfolio is required for most programs
Pratt uses slideroom.com to upload portfolios: http://slideroom.com/
They do not take the Common App
Pratt is highly selective for certain design majors
I have a student who applied for their Fashion Design major in the Art & Design School

Posted in College, Colleges Visited, Tours,

A Visit to Pace University

March 29, 2013

By Sue Luse

Campuses

Pace is a private metropolitan New York multi-campus university. Students can get all the classes they want at either campus and don’t need to go back and forth. The New York City campus is located in lower Manhattan near Wall Street. This campus is in the heart of one of the city’s most vital and dynamic areas – alive with activity. Great location – only blocks away from Grand Central Station.

NYC Campus

The Pleasantville campus in mid-Westchester County is set on 200 acres of rolling countryside where Pace flourishes as the only private university in the county, and offers a broad range of undergraduate degree programs in a stimulating collegiate environment. The Briarcliff annex, a short distance from Pleasantville, is the location of residence halls, recreational facilities, and administrative offices. A shuttle bus provides continuous service between the campuses. Pace’s School of Law, and a center for other graduate courses in business, public administration, and computing are located in White Plains, the hub of Westchester County.

All campuses are linked by the powerful, goal-oriented features of a Pace University education—personal attention, flexibility, and responsiveness to the needs and expectations of a diverse and demanding student population.

Pleasantville Campus

Academics

Pace is home to the renowned Lublin School of Business which offers a 5-year MBA and CPA program. Location, location, location – Pace’s location affords business students with great internship opportunities on Wall Street. In fact, Pace is ranked in the top 5 universities in the country for business internships. They offer an exceptional Finance major for prospective investments bankers. Go to Lublin School of Business for more information.

Pace also has much to offer in the area of performing arts – especially musical theater and acting. They also offer Commercial Dance, not ballet. Again Pace’s location presents students in the performing arts with ample opportunities.

Aside from the Lublin School of Business and the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Pace is also home to the College of Health Professions, School of Education, and the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

Admissions

Pace accepts either the SAT or ACT. The average GPA is 3.3 and the average ACT score is 23. Unlike New York University or Columbia, Pace offers generous merit scholarships.

Student Body

All different kinds of kids go to Pace – the student body is very open and accepting of everyone. Most Pace students are driven, self-motivated, appreciate diversity and are the independent type. The gender demographics are 60% female/40% male.

The Bottom Line About Pace

Pace University is a great option for kids who want to go to college in New York City and are interested in either business or performing arts. It’s an especially great option for students who can’t get into New York University or Columbia and are in need of merit scholarships.

Posted in College, Colleges Visited, Tours,

A Visit to Connecticut College

March 25, 2013

By Sue Luse and Lindsay Berg, Class of 2003

Location/Overview

Perched atop a hill overlooking Long Island Sound and the Thames River, Connecticut College cherishes its small class sizes, honor system and dedicated professors. Separated from downtown New London on a hilltop originally considered to be “the finest college site in the world,” Conn College (as it is commonly referred to) is its own little slice of New England. Students wander across the grounds, stroll through the 750-acre arboretum, live and study in Gothic and Georgian style buildings, utilize state of the art academic and athletic facilities, and compete in the NESCAC conference. It is two hours away from New York and Boston. With its close proximity to Providence, New Haven, and several quaint New England towns, students find themselves with ample opportunity to explore the East Coast.

History

Founded in 1911 after Wesleyan decided to deny entry to women, Conn originally opened as a women’s college and became co-ed several decades later in 1969. Known as one of the “little ivies,” Conn prides itself on educating “Students to put the liberal arts into action as citizens in a global society.”

Academics

Connecticut College students find themselves in small classes where discussion, dialogue and writing play key roles in academics. Professors engage their students, include them in research, and act as mentors and friends. Moreover, professors support student independence, and self-designed research and independent studies are commonplace. This focus on individualized thought has led Conn to produce more Fulbright Scholars than any other Liberal Arts School in the country. Conn is strong in the humanities, sciences, and arts, and to help craft a well-rounded education, students are required to take seven courses from a wide area of disciplines. First year students also enroll in a freshman seminar year, and Conn’s incredible CELS (Career Enhancing Life Skills) program provides funding for all students to pursue internships during the summer between their junior and senior year.

Connecticut College’s honor system dictates all walks of life on campus, and it fosters Conn’s open and friendly environment. Based on trust and mutual respect, Conn students created the code in 1922. At Conn, exams are self-scheduled and are not proctored; this allows students to take their finals when confident and ready, and students and professors trust one another to be ethical and respectful.

Recreation

Connecticut College does not have a Greek system, instead students find themselves awash in activities ranging from Capella group concerts, dances, theater, renowned speakers, art trips to New York City, outings to Harkness Beach, boat trips to Block Island, ice cream and pizza in neighboring town Mystic, Camelympics (dorm wars), and Floralia (a day-long spring music festival).

Quick Facts

Student-faculty ratio is 9:1
Average class size is about 19
50% of students receive financial aid
Submission of standardized tests is optional in the admission process
More than 40 majors
178 full-time professors; 90 percent hold a doctorate or equivalent
Strong interdisciplinary programs, including five interdisciplinary academic centers
1,900 students from 45 states, Washington, D.C., and 71 countries; 40% men, 60% women; 16.4% domestic students of color; 12% students with an international background
Highly selective, residential, co-educational
Housing is provided all four years on campus
Member of NESCAC: the New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA Division III

Being environmentally conscious plays an important role at Conn College; the school composts, has its own garden, purchases green energy and has a comprehensive recycling program to reduce its ecological footprint
A national reputation for outstanding service-learning programs and community partnerships
Pre-law, pre-business and pre-med programs. In recent years, the acceptance rate for our seniors applying to law school and graduate programs in the health professions is about 80 percent.
Brand new $20 million state of the art facility for life sciences and computer science.

Posted in College, Colleges Visited, Tours,

A Visit to Wesleyan University

March 23, 2013

By Sue Luse

Sue’s Impressions

Students are very involved and exhibit an abundance of energy and passion. The student body of 2,800 are diverse, curious and incredibly vibrant! They are busy and very obviously loving every minute of it. On this campus you can feel free to explore what interests you and enjoy being yourself.

While all undergraduate students are required to live on campus, you will find the housing is unique – well worth checking out: Residence Halls

Wesleyan’s Highlights

Wesleyan is a small liberal arts college, and while there are many, each one is different. Like Wesleyan, most have bright students and great faculty; however, Wesleyan stands out for it’s reputation as a research university. They are committed to research but not at the expense of their faculty, so Wesleyan’s science faculty teaches one less class per semester in order to allow time for research. Some examples of areas where students have collaborated with professors: translating a French novel, a documentary about Argentina, dance choreography, and the economic impact of climate change.

Wesleyan promotes the idea that how you come to know things is more important than what you come to know. Thinking creatively is emphasized.

Admissions/Academics

Considered both rigorous and individualistic
No core curriculum
Students are helped and encouraged to develop programs of study based upon their own interests
Students are challenged to pursue their interests at the highest level
Easy to double major
Recently added minors
3-2 Engineering Program which allows students to obtain bachelors degree from Wesleyan in 3 years and then transfer to Cal Tech, Dartmouth or Columbia for an additional 2 years to earn bachelor’s degree in engineering

Recreation/Social Life

Four blocks from campus is the downtown area located on the banks of the Connecticut River. Middletown is not a “typical” college town that mostly caters to students. Lots of coffee shops and dining establishments. Wesleyan is not far from Millers Pond State Park Reserve – great place to go hiking. Wesleyan is also only approximately an hour and a half from New York City.

Rather small Greek life – 3 fraternities and 2 sororities. While many of Wesleyan’s athletes are Div 1 caliber, most students tend to be more excited about academics than sports. Wesleyan’s athletics facilities are considered to be the best in the country and are open to everyone.

Posted in College, Colleges Visited, Tours,

A Visit to Quinnipiac University

March 19, 2013

By Sue Luse

Overview

Quinnipiac (in case you’re wondering it’s pronounced KWIN-uh-pe-ack) is located in Hamden, Connecticut, with 6,200 undergraduate students. There are three campuses: Mount Carmel Campus is home to most of the residence halls, academic buildings, University offices and athletic fields; York Hill Campus, only a 1/2 mile from the Mount Carmel Campus, is home to the Rocky Top Student Center, very new residence halls, a parking garage and the TD Bank Sports Center; North Haven Campus, just a short drive from the Mount Carmel Campus, houses the School of Health Sciences, the School of Nursing, and the School of Education.

Hamden is a safe suburb with easy access to New York City by train. Quinnipiac is located very near Sleeping Giant State Park – beautiful place to hike.

Demographics/Student Body

Quinnipiac Street View

To give you an idea what type of students comprise Quinnipiac, here is information on their Class of 2016:

Applications

Total Applicants: 19,760 Admitted: 63%
High School Class Rank information for the incoming class
- Top Tenth of HS Class: 22%
- Top Quarter of HS Class: 55%
- Top Half of HS Class: 90%
Average SAT of entering freshmen:
- Critical reading: 550
- Math: 570
- Writing: 560

Geographic Distribution

Quinnipiac Scnenic Walkway

Connecticut: 409
Massachusetts: 356
New York: 464
New Jersey: 320
ME, NH, VT, RI: 113
MD, OH, PA, DE, DC, VA: 48
CA, FL, IL, MN, NE, TN, TX, WA: 45
International: 33

Composition

American Indian: 0.3%
Black Non-Hispanic: 4%
Asian American/Pacific Islander: 3%
Hispanic: 8%
Caucasian: 78%
Multi-racial: 1%
Do Not Declare: 6%

Gender

Male: 39%
Female 61%

Academics

Quinnipiac Grounds

Quinnipiac offers 58 undergraduate programs, including degrees in the arts and sciences, business, communications, engineering, health sciences and nursing. They excel in Health Sciences and have a great Pre-Med Program. Quinnipiac is slated to open the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine in the Fall of 2013. They are also known for excellence in the areas of technology, business and communications.

Being only 1 1/2 hours from New York City means internship opportunities are abound. Quinnipiac boasts having 45 students interning with ESPN and there are even students who have interned with the David Letterman Show.

Assorted Tidbits

Their reputation is growing, especially their business majors
They have Div 1 Hockey and are working on getting a Hockey Club
99 % of students live on campus
B students are typical
Greeks comprise 23% of student population
They give merit scholarships
The dorms are very fresh, new and modern
Known for small classes
Students are very involved in campus life and recreational activities

Posted in College, Colleges Visited, Tours,

A Visit to Trinity College

March 19, 2013

By Sue Luse

Overview

Located in the state capitol city of Hartford, Connecticut, Trinity College looks like a traditional New England liberal arts school. However they espouse to act in untraditional ways with groundbreaking programs and staff as well as an urban-global education commitment. Trinity’s 100 green-acre campus is dotted with historic buildings. Given it’s urban location, the surrounding area is rather “sketchy”, but there is plenty of campus security.

Academics/Admissions

A rigorous institution with a broad choice of majors in the liberal arts and sciences, including engineering. Trinity’s academic experience includes the following key characteristics:

A dedicated first-year program
Educational breadth through requirements
Individual flexibility
Special academic programs
Professors as teachers

Trinity campus

When evaluating candidates for admission, high emphasis is placed on your high school transcript – both grades and course selection. While standardized test scores are taken into consideration, Trinity admits students with a wide range of test scores and there is no minimum score required. They require one guidance counselor recommendation as well as two teacher recommendations – and prefer that one of these be from a teacher that can comment on your writing, i.e. an English teacher. Interviews are not required but are strongly encouraged. Interviews can take place via Skype or a local alumni. Approximately 30-40% of candidates are accepted.

Student Life/Recreation/Athletics

Our tour guide

Trinity offers many student-run clubs. They hold an 80′s dance in the fall. Lots of big concerts, free music festivals and shopping trips. There’s also plenty of multicultural clubs and houses and they often serve free food on Friday nights!
Plenty of dining options are offered with great food.
Zip cars on campus.
Trinity is a NESCAC institution (New England Small College Athletic Conference).
Trinity has a Div 1 Squash Team; the rest of the athletics teams are Div 3, including a great football team.

Trinity grounds

Posted in College, Colleges Visited, Tours,

A Visit to Fairfield University

March 13, 2013

By Sue Luse

About Fairfield

Fairfield University is one of 28 Jesuit universities in the United States. They promote a holistic approach to education with the intent to educate the whole person – mind, body and spirit. They are committed to offering a comprehensive core curriculum, and distinctive living and learning experiences. Fairfield believes in lifelong learning and the pursuit of social justice and global citizenship. They are recovering well from Hurricane Sandy and with their own power plant, they did not lose power during the hurricane.