You despise receiving the same questions, but bare with me. I’ve been reading everything I can come across about the colleges, and I’m still left utterly confused as to where I’d like to go. Since I want to study International Relations and apply to Trinity One, Trinity seemed like a good option. Then, I started reading different forums and even your answers simply to discover that it’s full of rich assholes who think they’re better than everyone else? I don’t consider myself to be an elitist dipshit and having to spend the next four years of my life with such really doesn’t constitute a good university experience for me. Obviously, i’ll meet a wide range of people and personalities at such a large university and city, yet I’m still concerned with living in a hostile environment like what I’ve read many believe it to be. Also, do you know where I could find pictures of Trinity residence? Since I’m from Norway, I don’t really have the opportunity to go on tour and see for myself. The only other residence I really like is Woodsworth, but I much prefer what Trinity offers, except for the nauseating thought of wearing a gown to dinner. If I choose Woodsworth I can’t be a part of Trinity activities, correct? Thank you!
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Bare with you? Okay. *aska’s shirt comes off*
What do you mean that’s not what you meant? Oh. You meant bear with you.
Honestly, I think you’re making too big a deal out of the whole college thing. The college that you choose does not dictate the life you’re going to life for the next 4 years. You don’t even have to make friends from your college. You can *gasp* hang out with people from other colleges. Yes, it’s true that residence will affect a lot of your first-year experience, but if you don’t like your residence or college, you don’t have to take part in the activities that are there. Honestly, I don’t think living in residence is necessarily for everyone, anyway. I lived in residence in first year, but moved back home this year, and I’m still having a blast in University. Another thing to consider is that residence is impermanent and if you after a while, you find that the rez life (and the campus food) is not for you, you can always live somewhere else in second year – maybe you could rent an apartment in the city.
What the college system does do is effectively split up the huge population of Arts and Science students into 7 main groups, so that the administration can provide you, me, and everyone else with more personal attention and help. Students are immature and vain creatures who think the world revolves around the courses they take and the marks they get, so more personal attention from staff = happier students.
As for Trinity college being elitist, I can’t give you an honest opinion, because I am not a part of Trinity college. I have a few friends that belong to Trinity, and if the ‘elite attitude’ does exist, they don’t really seem to mind it much. I really doubt that everyone in the college is elitist and snobby, though. It’s just a stereotype. There has to be some people you can get along with.
This is a webpage with good advice with choosing the colleges, and it even has links to 7 other articles, each with an independent review of the college and an interview with the students who live there! You might want to read some of those interviews; (especially the Trinity one). They’ll give you some good opinions and information.
Also, you can check here for a virtual tour of Trinity College… enjoy! As well, here‘s another good site with virtual tours of several of the other colleges, too. You’ll have to use Internet explorer to view it though (I used Firefox and it didn’t work for me until I changed Internet browsers).
If you choose Woodsworth, you can probably still attend some of the Trinity College events. I know my friend at Woodsworth College was part of Trinity One and even went to some of the Trinity dances. But of course, you won’t be able to attend events that are restricted to Trinity college students only.
As far as the gown thing goes, I agree with you that it’s a nauseating thought, but at the end, it’s just a tradition. Be thankful you don’t go to a private university (ew). If you decide to go to Trinity you’ll honestly just have to suck it up. If that thought doesn’t sit well with ya, I suggest you go to another college. Anyway, if you find after first year that you made the wrong choice, you can always try to apply for a college transfer.
4 Comments
Bee
You only wear the gowns to late dinners or high table at Strachan. I’m in second year at Trin, and haven’t worn my gown a single time this year. Last year I wore it maybe three times, mostly during frosh week. There are two types of people at trin, the type who love the tradition and wear the gowns and go to LIT and Episkopon and such, and the rest of us. If you don’t want to participate in the tradition, you will not be alone. You’ll just have to learn to ignore the overbearing presence of those who are into that stuff. Choosing a college is a personal choice, so my experience may be different from yours, but I’ll admit, at the beginning of my first year I was unhappy at Trin. However once I found other people who are also not so into the traditions and the “elite”ness, I’ve been very happy here. It’s nice to be at such a small college, and although it’s often quite cliquey, once you settle into your clique you’ll be fine. There are some very interesting, very intelligent people here, and it’s worth wearing a gown once and awhile in order to make some great, lasting friendships.
But seriously, if you don’t plan on doing the tradition stuff, don’t buy a gown. It was a waste of my money.
aska
Thanks so much for the input, Bee. 🙂
Gloria
Now officially a year since grad and … the only word of advice: chillax. *Chillax.*
nn
What Bee said. There are the people who are really into Trin tradition, and there are the people who don’t really care about it. TBH, some people can let Trin get to their heads, but there are plenty of unpretentious people around, too.
BTW, St. Hilda’s tends to be quieter than the main Trin building, so that might be a consideration when you’re doing your resapp.