FIRST YEAR (FRESHMAN) ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

When the Trinity University Admissions Committee evaluates candidates, six main areas are assessed:

• High School Record
• Standardized Test Scores
• Essay
• Extracurricular Activities
• Recommendations

We also note students' demonstrated interest in the university, including campus visits and contact with admissions representatives.

High School Record

Trinity seeks bright students who have made the most of their high school opportunities and who challenge themselves intellectually. Eighty percent of last year's accepted students were in the top twenty percent of their high school class, and most took a demanding course load. A student's grade point average, the rigor of their courses, class rank (when applicable), and the diversity of their curriculum are all important considerations for admission. The Office of Admissions recalculates each applicant's GPA using a standardized, unweighted scale in order to compensate for discrepancies in grading scales among different high schools.

Rigor of curriculum is an important part of the application review. Particular notice is given to those who take honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate courses, if their school offers them. We also take into consideration the breadth and depth of coursework taken.

Students are expected to have completed the following courses with a C− or better in high school: four years of English, three years of mathematics (including either trigonometry or pre-calculus), three years of science with at least two years of laboratory science, three years of social science, and two years of one foreign language.

Standardized Test Scores

Trinity will accept scores from either the SAT I or the ACT. SAT II examinations are not required for admission purposes, but we will accept them as additional application information. While we do not require applicants to have a specific minimum score, most of our students perform well on standardized tests. We occasionally admit candidates whose scores are lower than normal for Trinity students, because they are stellar in other areas of consideration, or have mitigating circumstances that affected their scores.

In the fall of 2007 the middle 50% of admitted students scored:

ACT: 29 – 31

SAT I quantitative: 610 – 690

SAT I critical reading: 600 – 690

The best subtest scores on the SAT I and ACT will be used to create your composite scores, even if they are from different test dates.

Essay

Applicants should address their chosen essay topic as completely as possible, taking time to carefully craft a well thought out response. All writing should be spell-checked, and it is highly recommend that it also be proofread by at least one other person.

The essay allows applicants to prove their mastery of writing, and gives them an opportunity to explain a bit about who they are and what they can add to the campus community. The best essays are ones that cover a topic that is important to the student and convey a distinctive or personal viewpoint. This type of essay gives the committee a clearer picture of the candidate, beyond the objective information provided in his or her transcript.

Extracurricular Activities

In order to get a well-rounded view of each applicant, information about extracurricular involvement is considered. Special attention is paid to activities in which an applicant has been active for a number of years or has gained leadership experience. Trinity is a place where students can take advantage of vast opportunities, and we're seeking candidates who will add to our active campus community. Applicants should include any information about activities that are related to school, community, or church; part or full-time jobs; and accomplishments and awards they have won.

Teacher Evaluation and the Secondary School Report

Recommendations from guidance counselors and teachers are required to help the committee learn more about each student's personality and character. They also provide a place to address special concerns or explanations about the applicant's academic performance, as well as providing a more complete picture of each candidate as a person and scholar. Counselors and teachers can also provide admissions counselors context when reviewing students' academic record with respect to the school they attend.

Campus Visits and Demonstrated Interest

Although not formally a part of the admission process, applicants are strongly encouraged to visit Trinity. Not only will they get a chance to make an in-person impression upon a member of the admissions staff, but they will also get a chance to see the campus for themselves, a step that is of utmost importance in choosing a college. Click here for more information about campus visits. If you are unable to make the trip to San Antonio, you still may be able to meet with an admissions counselor during a local college fair, high school visit, or for an interview. Click here to find out if a Trinity counselor will be visiting your area in the near future.

Visiting campus, emailing or calling an admissions counselor, attending a Trinity In Focus program, talking with a representative when they visit your high school, and stopping by our table at a college fair are some of the ways to show the Admissions Committee that you are genuinely interested in attending Trinity, and help us get to know you better.

Other Hints

• The Trinity representative you speak with at your high school or at a college fair may be the counselor who will read and evaluate your application. It's a good idea to be prepared before you meet with him or her, even if you're only seeing them for a few moments. Introduce yourself, ask for his or her business card, and have a pertinent question or two in mind, and you're sure to leave a good impression.
• If extenuating circumstances leave a student with a void in one area of their application, they should take the time to explain what happened, either in their application or by contacting their admissions counselor.
• Applicants must keep up their grades throughout their senior year. We occasionally will hold an application for senior grades, and always check the final high school transcripts of admitted students. If a student's grades have fallen off significantly, even after admission to Trinity has been offered, the university may revoke that decision.
• Never apply Early Decision to more than one school. Never send an admissions deposit to more than one school. A student who has been discovered doing the above may have their admission withdrawn at those schools.