The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach – they’re sharing their college experiences as well. Jesse is a New York City tutor and 2012 graduate of Trinity College. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and tutors several subjects, including english tutoring, public speaking tutoring, and writing tutoring. Check out what Jesse had to say about his time at Trinity College:
VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike?
Jesse: The Trinity College campus is beautiful, with historic buildings and a landscaped central campus. The campus itself is situated in the middle of urban Hartford. It’s a safe campus as long as you use your head. There are buses; however, Hartford’s public transportation is not as reliable as other cities’. I would recommend a bike.
VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants?
Jesse: In my experience, the professors, advisers, and teaching assistants are very available.
VT: How would you describe the dorm life – rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students?
Jesse: My undergraduate experience was a bit different in that I went back to school as a working adult, so I did not participate in dorm life as many undergraduates do. But there is plenty of opportunity to socialize through clubs, extracurricular activities, and sports.
VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study?
Jesse: Trinity College has a reputation for being a policy-based institution. Political Science, Sociology, and History are its strong areas of study.
VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life?
Jesse: I transferred to Trinity College in my junior year, so I do not have experience as a freshman. However, I made plenty of friends in and out of the classroom. Greek life plays a role in campus social life, but there have been recent efforts by the faculty to cut down on its impact because of the activities of a few fraternities. That doesn’t mean that all fraternities or sororities are “bad,” however.
VT: How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Do many reputable companies recruit on campus?
Jesse: The Career Center is very helpful for underclassmen. Many reputable companies recruit at Trinity College.
VT: How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious?
Jesse: The study areas are well-lit, quiet, spacious, and in modern facilities.
VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between? To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus?
Jesse: Hartford, CT is a post-industrialized city with a vibrant West Indian, Latino, and African American community. Students from Trinity College who are not afraid to leave their collegiate bubble can experience a different community than the one they are learning in, or they can take a bus to West Hartford and have a suburban experience similar to their collegiate bubble. Students sometimes venture downtown, but they mostly stay on campus.
VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes?
Jesse: The student body is relatively small, as are the class sizes. The largest class may have 25 to 30 students – the smallest, under 10.
VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most.
Jesse: One memorable experience I had was being able to study abroad in South Africa. When I returned, I took an African History class with a professor who was really engaging, and who opened me up to connecting with other students on campus as well as within the Hartford community.
Check out Jesse’s tutoring profile.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
