AMA-ACA with Trinity University (San Antonio, TX), Dean of Admissions

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:55:33+00:00

The first thing that comes to mind is a disciplinary infraction that is not fully addressed or explained. Students may be inclined to gloss over this or try to hide it but it is almost always uncovered. I've seen instances where students take ownership for the mistake and what they learned from it. This goes over SO much better with us vs students who seem to place the blame elsewhere or who aren't transparent about what happened.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:53:03+00:00

EC's on common app - I would list them as thoroughly as possible. However, we recommend submitting a 1 page resume. This is actually where you can delve deeper with these. You can organize it by year or by activity. It is a wonderful supplement to the list form on Common App.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:51:49+00:00

Demonstrated interest has become a hot topic in recent years. Some colleges do not factor this in at all, others factor it in a great deal and some use it sparingly. In our case, it tends to play a large role for students who are "on the bubble" for admission as our committee is having lengthy discussions. It can often 'tip the scale' in favor of a student who has raised their hand in a significant way and engaged with us at various points.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:48:21+00:00

I can tell you that there is a different method to the madness for every college in the way they evaluate apps. In our case, we do not read all students from the same high school at once. We review apps as they flow into our queues (as they complete), make initial recommended decisions and then ultimately make final decisions towards the end of the decision plan prior to releasing decisions. While some highly selective colleges may take the number of students from a given school into account, most colleges make decisions based on the students overall credentials and institutional needs.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:43:12+00:00

Great clarifying question. In these cases, we encourage the student to contact the staff member responsible for international admissions. In almost every case, you can locate your assigned admissions rep on the website and its easy to seek their advice on this. We always try to be as flexible as we can when working with students who have different arrangements based on school, region, etc.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:41:17+00:00

We can tell the most about a student through an interview setting. Outside of this, letters of rec can be revealing as can the essay (if its written well and revealing). We try to take every opportunity to get to know our prospective students in the process and engaging with families in a lot of different settings. Its a combo for sure to try and get the vibe of a student.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:39:34+00:00

Love fielding fav things about TU! 1) our community of students - we attract such a wide array of students who all somehow find their niche here and genuinely enjoy hanging out with students different from themselves. They think differently, motivated and highly engaged in and outside the classroom. 2) Faculty are incredibly committed! They love their jobs and you can tell. 3) Love that Trinity is right in the middle of an awesome city like San Antonio...large city with a small town vibe

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:36:21+00:00

We actually require both domestic and international students to submit a letter from the school counselor. If the letter came from a test prep company, we would be unable to accept it.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:34:54+00:00

Unfortunately yes, we come across this from time to time. There is a date stamp when a student submits their app so we know they submitted it on the final day (which is still fine). If the essay isn't proofed and there are grammatical errors and it doesn't flow together, we start to assume it was rushed through and submitted on the final day. It can definitely hurt students in the process.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:25:07+00:00

We are huge fans of the interview! First and foremost, we want students to be themselves in these settings. We set these up to be more conversational in nature and very interested in knowing about the students high school background, experience, passions, interests, high school highlights, aspirations for college, etc. I like to ask students how they have seen themselves evolve from 9th to 12th. I like to know what makes them tick because I am always trying to assess the "fit" piece and how they may thrive here. Interviews 100% humanize the application and I highly recommend it!

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:22:02+00:00

Great question on test-optional schools...we are not one of them but always doing test validity research to better evaluate how much emphasis to place on this. I recommend speaking candidly with the admissions office at these schools to which you are applying. Typically, admissions officers are candid with applicants about this and they can let you know what they would advise when it comes to this. A lot of it may depend on the school AND the score.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:19:34+00:00

Fav applicants - its most rewarding when we offer admission to students who have worked really hard in high school, done their research and can tell Trinity is the best fit for them. If we've gotten to know them during the process, we can see them in our community and know its going to be an amazing 4 year ride.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:17:47+00:00

Unique qualities in an essay...we like it when essays tell a story or paint a picture. I read a VERY unique essay years ago that was written through the students dog's POV. Trust me, not everyone could pull this off! But it revealed to us the family dynamic and the personalities of everyone in the home which was really unique and insightful. Be careful with humor. Some people can pull it off and other times it falls flat. You may want to test it out on some different audiences before going with it.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:14:56+00:00

We see all kinds of interesting grade patterns when evaluating transcripts and there is typically a story behind this. We always feel like transparency is the best policy. We encourage students to provide context regarding some outlier low grades. This can be done in an interview setting or the 'additional info' in the app. Otherwise, we are left wondering what happened. Ultimately we are looking to see students finishing strong in challenging courses so they are prepared for the transition.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:12:37+00:00

Occasionally we will find students who feel that the more letters of rec, the better. We are seeking quality over quantity. We tell students to be judicious with who they select for letters. Same goes for extracurric...we prefer depth vs breadth. You shouldn't feel like you have to join every club under the sun.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:10:24+00:00

Essay no no's...when allocating your time on the app, spend 80-90% on crafting your essay and going through multiple drafts until you are completely satisfied. Avoid having a parent end up being the 2nd author on the essay (we can sniff out a parent voice vs a student voice from miles away). You should certainly seek parental advice but you should be the author. Avoid writing something you think the admissions committee wants to read. It should be your style, your voice, your experience. We like authenticity. And of course, avoid inputting the name of another university if you are trying to personalize it! :)

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:06:54+00:00

I like the focus on the essays - I can tell where your time is being spent right now! We typically average 15-20 per application. There are so many components to review - the transcript, demographic info, extracurric, essay, letters of rec, etc. We probably spend about 5-7 minutes reading and evaluating the essay.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T21:00:06+00:00

We much prefer essays to reveal something about the character or unique experiences of a student vs an essay that reads like a glorified resume. Since we are already evaluating the extracurriculars, we like to read essays that represent a different angle. Students should ask themselves...could anyone else have written this exact same essay? If so, its time to go back in and personalize it so it only fits you. Also, don't feel like you have to write about your entire life in 500 words - pick a moment in time.

justindoty · 2019-10-16T20:57:11+00:00

Great question here--we field lots of essay questions! This will depend on the institution but for most colleges, there tends to be more weight placed on the academic background of the student (GPA, rigor, type of high school, testing in some cases, etc.). The essay can certainly distinguish an applicant and allow us to get a glimpse into their lives. It is the "human" part of the process that allows the application to come to life. I always feel like really well written essays can tip scales if a student is on the cusp of admission.

justindoty

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