After high school, many Trinity students attend college, but the process of finding a place at one is not always understood before one is in the thick of it. It is best to be prepared going into one’s college search so possible opportunities can be seized. Finding a home for the next four years is important, and it is important to have one’s goals, strategies and mindset stable early on. This will allow everything to go as smoothly as possible.
Colleges think about who would fit at their school, and it’s best for everyone applying to also ask himself what kind of college he sees himself attending. There are more than 2,000 undergraduate colleges in the United States, and the differences in types of colleges and experiences are vast.
Large universities offer a great variety of academic and extracurricular opportunities. They typically have bustling campuses and vibrant sports communities. Students at large universities can choose from a massive list of opportunities to connect with friends who share their personalities and interests.
Small colleges boast a more laid-back approach that allows students to have more personalized college experiences. They have more ability to cater to each student, and people are less likely to become lost in the crowd like they may be at a large university.
Many large universities also have honors colleges that form what feels like a small school with the resources of a large university.
Beyond size, location is a major factor in the college decision process. The area of the country one goes to college in will affect him, so it’s important to keep it in mind. Additionally, rural, suburban and urban schools all offer different feels.
It’s good to tour several colleges with different feels to see what is right for each person. Once a prospective college student has decided what types of colleges he is interested in, he should research and write a list of potential colleges.
When learning which colleges offer the best experiences, it is best to use every available resource. For Tyler Solon, a freshman at Notre Dame, “it was helpful to talk to current students about their experiences before deciding.” Students can be honest about a college in a way that websites and admissions officers cannot.
When a college seems right, it will become obvious. Weston Judd, a freshman at the College of Wooster, knew he wanted to attend Wooster because he felt a sense of connection to the people there. “The coaches and players felt like family, and it just felt right.”
Judd was recruited to play baseball at Wooster. His insights on the process of recruitment are useful to any Trinity student interested in competing in his sport at the college level.
Becoming a recruited athlete is a difficult process and it requires practice and talent in one’s sport. Additionally, it is important to market oneself as a good candidate by putting oneself out there. As Judd explains, the college recruitment process “has a lot to do with attending showcases, contacting college coaches, and building relationships.”
It is very important to distinguish oneself athletically, as recruiters are looking for people who can contribute to their programs. However, they often also stress that their athletes be well-rounded. Judd says, “Being able to distinguish yourself is crucial to getting recruited. Getting good grades and having good test scores can really make the recruiting process a lot easier in many cases. You want to be seen as more than just an athlete, and coaches also care about how you carry yourself.” Qualities outside of skill in sport can shore up one’s candidacy for athletic recruitment.
Though the athletic recruitment process — and the admissions process more broadly — can make people feel like they need to impress colleges, those colleges also have the responsibility to provide a good experience to their prospective students. Judd believes that “when engaging with recruiters, you always want to be honest and clear. You also want to find out as much about the school and program as you can. While they are evaluating you as a player, you are also evaluating them too.” It is important to choose the college that is the best fit, and what they offer is a large part of finding that fit.
The college essay can seem like a daunting task and it is hard to know where to start. Colleges want to learn what kind of person is applying so they can decide who fits with them. Solon’s experience with the process tells him that “being authentic and writing about experiences makes a strong essay. I wrote about activities that I genuinely enjoyed — e.g., the Argentina exchange program and swim team — during high school where I had leadership skills, especially in the context of service.” By thinking about which activities meet his criteria, each student can find individual essay topics.
Trinity has a great support system for the admissions process. With two full-time college counselors on staff, students can ask for help at any time. Liam Amick, a freshman at the University of South Carolina, asked for help and was very successful writing his essays. “My process usually started with meeting with my college counselor, Mr. Manning, and brainstorming ideas.” Discussions are the origins of some of the best thoughts and are a great way to generate an essay.
Working with Manning, Amick “tried to find ideas that would work well and show my personality. Also, we tried to find topics that could potentially work for multiple prompts.” In doing so, he was able to maximize his productivity.
College admissions work can take months, so it’s important to stay organized while going through the process. There is a lot of work and deadlines can sneak up, so it’s important to know what’s coming months in advance. Amick found success “creating a spreadsheet with every school I was applying to, the application deadlines (and additional deadlines for things like scholarships, honors colleges, etc.), essay prompts, letters of recommendation, application fees, and other information.” Seeing everything together helps orient an applicant and encourages one to work ahead of deadlines.
The order that work is done is important as deadlines vary widely depending on each individual’s colleges and plans. Solon “organized by deadlines and completed my activities and honors sections before my essays.” He was also happy completing the other sections of his Common App before his essay.
Each person’s financial situation plays a large role in where he decides to attend college. Scholarships are given to people who bring unique academic, athletic or artistic qualities to a school, and they help people avoid taking on debt. Amick was very successful with scholarships, earning a full ride in USC’s Top Scholars Program. He suggests that applicants “cast a wide net, but not too wide of a net. It’s important to diversify your options but also not stretch yourself too thin on applications, especially since scholarship essays tend to be more specific and you might not be able to double up on them.”
He also advises that people keep their hopes up while applying for scholarships and keep open minds. “I got a scholarship at South Carolina that is arguably harder to get than scholarships I didn’t get at other schools, so it can all depend on who is running your interview and how you perform in their eyes. It’s incredibly important to not get bogged down by rejections and also not get a big head because of successes.” If one door closes, another door may be set to open, so remain confident and keep looking for opportunities until the right one comes along.
The college admissions process can be incredibly stressful. Not knowing where one will attend college or with what financial burden can be difficult to deal with for months on end. Additionally, the judgment and rejection that often accompany the process can get people down. Amick asks everyone to “remember that it will all work out, and the best way to manage stress is by getting your work done on time (or hopefully ahead of time).” He reminds people “that a college decision doesn’t define you as a person, and you will land on your feet.”
People should be as prepared as possible for the process and try to find the best possible match, but it is best to not worry about what cannot be controlled. Solon reminds Trinity students to “cherish your senior year at Trinity because it is a great place and the people are amazing.”
Amick also believes that senior year at Trinity is full of opportunities to find fun and connection, especially during the second semester. He encourages people to take every opportunity they can. “Go on senior retreat, do Pink and White, have fun in your classes, enjoy senior field day, and finally, once again, GO ON SENIOR RETREAT!”
