Advising FAQs
Understanding Trinity's Distribution Requirements
Each first-year student enrolls in a First-Year Seminar; if they are in an Academic Gateway, it will include a FYSM. The Seminar fulfills the Writing 1(W1) requirement. For transfer students, the FYSM requirement is waived.
- What if I get below a C- in my FYSM?
You don’t repeat the class, but you must fulfill the W1 requirement by taking at the RHET 125 level or above.
- How do I fulfill the W1 requirement if I’m a transfer student?
This will depend on the courses you transfer in. You will hear from us about whether you need to take one or two RHET courses.
Depending on your Guided Writing Assessment, you may be required to take RHET 103.
After you take the Quantitative Literacy exam, you might be required to take QLIT 101.
- What if I want to take an advanced math course?
Your score on the Quantitative Literacy exam will indicate which math courses you are eligible for. If you think you are eligible to take a math course beyond first-semester Calculus (Math 131), you should be in touch with the chair of the math department to take the advanced math exam.
You are required to take ONE course in each of Trinity’s five divisions (Humanities, Social Sciences, Numerical and Symbolic Reasoning, Arts, and Natural Science.) There are many courses in each of these divisions to choose from, geared toward majors and non-majors.
Writing 1 (W1): Fulfilled by your FYSM or Gateway Seminar if you get a C- or above. (If not, you must take a RHET course at the RHET 125 level or above.)
Writing 2 (W2): Each major designates at least one course as Writing Intensive. You take this requirement via a course in your major.
You must take at least one course with a Global designation. It might also count as a distribution requirement.
- How do I find Global courses?
Note the DIST column on the right side of the Schedule of Classes. GLB means that the course fulfills the “global” requirement. If a course also fulfills another requirement it is listed there as well—for example GLB2 means that the course fulfills both the global and the social science requirement.
Go to my.trincoll.edu and click on View Transcript. Your transcript will list your remaining requirements.
The Trinity "Plus" Curriculum
Trinity requires 35 credits to graduate. Of these, three “Plus” credits will give you the opportunity to apply your learning in experiences like internships, Teaching Assistant-ships, Research assistantships, etc. These credits are listed on your transcript as “co-curricular credits” and contribute equally to your semester total. If you want, you can also design your “Plus” as three academic credits.
Explore internships, summer research, short term global study, J-Term courses, as well as leadership opportunities to fulfill your Trinity Plus.
By your sophomore year, it’s useful to begin thinking about your “Plus”. You may want to pursue an Experiential Certificate, internship, research assistantship, etc. It will be most useful to you if you have reasons for choosing your extra courses that suit your own purposes, not simply as check-boxes. This is a useful topic to discuss with your academic adviser.
No, Co-Curricular credits carry equal weight as an Academic credit toward your semester minimum of 4 credits. You can apply up to three full Co-Curricular credits toward your 35 total credits for graduation.
The Wellness Requirement
On the Schedule of Classes under subject: “Wellness”. Some require that you sign up with a specific person—see information in the course description.
Your Wellness Experiences will be listed on your academic transcript when completed, among your course listings in any given semester. Your transcript will also display progress towards completing the Wellness Requirement in the top requirements section.
Staying in Good Academic Standing
Most incoming students take 4 credits in their first semester or year. After that, you can work with your academic adviser to decide how to supplement that minimum so that you have 35 credits by the time you graduate.
Here are the standards, from the Registrar’s website. See the bulletin by clicking on Bulletin on the my.trincoll. portal and then “pdf version,” and go to pp 47-49.
Until the mid-point of the semester, you can withdraw from a class via a form on the registrar’s website with your adviser’s signature. Once you withdraw, the course will remain on your transcript with a W grade, which has no impact on your GPA.
- I am on Financial aid or a specific scholarship–will withdrawing be a problem if I drop below 4 credits?
It may; make sure to check with the financial aid office before withdrawing.
- I am an on a NESCAC team, will dropping below 4 credits be a problem?
It may: check with your coach before withdrawing.
Professors send Progress Reports when students are not fulfilling the attendance and/or work expectations of a class.
Students, here are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to responding to a progress report:
Do:
- Take responsibility for your own situation. You have many options, and you have the power to decide which is best for you.
- Make contact with your professor. Sometimes students who are behind in a class hesitate to contact professors, out of fear or embarrassment. Those feelings are understandable, but worth striving to conquer. Remember: professors send progress reports because they want to help you get back on track.
- Reach out to your academic advisor for support, at least for a quick check-in. Your advisor too wants to help you find a way to do better in your course.
- Make a plan. Sometimes being behind can feel daunting. Dividing your work into smaller tasks, and checking them off as you finish, can help. Small steps add up!
- Connect with friends and classmates. Working together on course material can be very useful for learning and completing assignments.
- Seek out the many other resources at Trinity that are here to help you.
- If you are so far behind that you don’t think you can catch up, consider withdrawing from the class. You can do so with your adviser’s signature up through the middle of the semester. If you withdraw you get no credit for the class, but also no penalty to your GPA. You get a W on your transcript.
Don’t:
- Hide and hope the problem goes away. It won’t.
- Give up. There are many paths you can take. Reach out for help.
- Tell yourself things will get better in the future. Start now!
Trinity’s Academic Resource Collaborative combines academic support centers to impact your success. Get started by exploring the Writing Center, Math Quantitative Center, Bloom Center, and Library.
Student Life Centers are available for you including the Counseling and Wellness Center, the Women and Gender Resource Action Center, and the Queer Resource Center.
Get involved on campus by exploring Wellness Experiences!
Life Design Coaching
The Career and Life Design Center offers Life Design Coaching to help you learn strategies and identify resources for academic skills such as:
- Time management
- Productivity vs Procrastination
- Developing Your Support System
- Organization Skills Development
- Planning, Prioritizing, and Goal Setting
Schedule a Life Design Appointment!
Consider utilizing WELL 169 – Thriving: Moving Beyond Surviving or WELL 170 – Your Success by Design! to fulfill your wellness requirement.
