What does the admissions committee look for in an applicant?
When the committee evaluates candidates for admission, it looks at five main things: a student s academic performance in high school; standardized test scores; the essay; recommendations; and extracurricular involvement. Students who Trinity accepts have made the most of their opportunities. Those who attend schools that offer honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate courses should take those upper level courses when possible. Trinity considers the additional challenge of those courses to be similar to the challenge of a college course. Trinity accepts both the ACT and the SAT and has no preference for which exam a student submits. The middle 50% of last year s class had scores ranging from 1220-1370 on the SAT and from 27-30 on the ACT (with 25% having higher and 25% having lower scores). Information about extracurricular involvement also gives the committee a well-rounded view of each applicant. Special attention is paid to activities in which a student has been act
The admissions committee welcomes highly qualified individuals with a commitment to public service, demonstrated leadership abilities, and distinguished academic records to consider Fels for graduate studies. Although we do not require previous full-time work experience, we strongly encourage current undergraduate students to gain several years of post-collegiate work experience to strengthen their applications. Participation in programs such as Teach for America, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, NYU Urban Fellows, and Coro Fellows are one way of demonstrating a commitment to public service.
The Admissions Committee considers the following factors: GPA, GRE (general test) appropriate foundation coursework, fit with the program relative to current faculty interests, perceived ability of the applicant to do scholarly research and writing as gleaned from the statement of purpose, writing samples and letters of recommendation. The goal of the Ph.D. programs is to produce scholars who will be able to do outstanding independent research and teaching.
