The Cities Program

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Here are answers to basic questions about The Cities Program that potential applicants may have:

What are the qualities The Cities Program looks for in participating students?

Exceptional academic talent and motivation; and eagerness to gain deeper knowledgeand understanding of cities, including contemporary urban issues, through rigorous,interdisciplinary study.

How do I become a candidate for admission to The Cities Program?

Each year-typically in March-selected applicants for admission to Trinity are invited to consider enrolling in the Program. If you receive such an invitation and are interested in participating, send written notice of your interest to the Program's director, Dean J. Ronald Spencer, by the date specified in the letter of invitation. Any other student seeking admission to the College who finds the Program attractive may become a candidate for it by writing to Dean Spencer.

What happens if I express interest in The Cities Program?

If the Admissions Office acts favorably on your application to Trinity, a faculty committee will then review your academic qualifications and determine whether to admit youto the Program. If you are accepted, you will be notified by mid-April and given to the end of the month to decide whether to enroll.

Since The Cities Program is limited to 25-30 students in each entering class, it is not always possible to admit everyone who wishes to participate. In that case, preference is given to those students deemed to have the greatest aptitude and motivation for the kind of demanding work the Program involves. The decision is based on information already in your Admissions Office file (school grades, teacher recommendations, test scores, etc.).

Will my chances of being admitted to Trinity be influenced by whether or not I apply to The Cities Program?

No. The Program is not a factor in Admissions Office decisions. If you are invited to become a candidate for the Program but choose not to do so, that will not adversely affect your chances of gaining admission to Trinity. Nor will those chances be improved if you express interest in the Program.

If I am invited to participate in The Cities Program and one of Trinity's otherspecial programs for selected freshmen (The Guided Studies Program: European Civilization, the Interdisciplinary Science Program, the InterArts Program), canI enroll in both?

No. It is not feasible to participate in more than one such program. If faced with a choice, select the program that you think comes closest to your particular academic interests.

Can I enter The Cities Program anytime after the start of the freshman year?

If space is available, a few qualified students may be allowed to begin the Program as second-semester freshmen or first-semester sophomores.

Who will be my faculty adviser if I participate in The Cities Program?

Since students in the Program do not take a First-Year Seminar, they have as their freshman-sophomore adviser one of the Program's faculty members or its director. When you declare your major in the spring of sophomore year, you will be assigned an adviser in your major department or program.

If I participate in The Cities Program, will I still have time during my first two years to take courses in other subjects, including those in which I may want to major?

Since the Program involves only six courses (including the final requirement), you will have ample opportunity to explore other areas of Trinity's curriculum.

Will participation in The Cities Program limit my choice of major?

No. The Program is designed to be compatible with every major offered at Trinity, including those in the arts, the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences.

Can Cities Program students study abroad?

Yes, the Program is fully compatible with study overseas. Since the Program's inception, in fact, half or more of the participating students have engaged in study abroad, typically for one or both semesters of the junior year.

Am I obligated to complete The Cities Program if I begin it?

No. Students may withdraw from the Program at the end of any semester and will receive full academic credit for all those courses in it that they have successfully completed up to that time.

If I am admitted to The Cities Program will I be entitled to remain in it until completion?

Yes, provided that you do satisfactory work. However, students whose performance falls short of the standards of the Program can be required to withdraw from it.

How does The Cities Program relate to Trinity's general education requirements?

Various Cities Program courses may be used to satisfy the arts, humanities, and socialscience distribution requirements.

What recognition is accorded students who participate in The Cities Program?

Successful completion of the Program is noted on the student's permanent academic record (i.e., transcript).