Admission to the School of Professional Studies

Trinity College's School of Professional Studies seeks men and women interested in either undergraduate or graduate study who demonstrate academic potential, have a record of scholastic achievement, and possess the capability for independent learning outside of the classroom setting. Trinity regards these characteristics as essential for intellectual and personal growth. Students are admitted without regard to race, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or disability, and applications from qualified students of diverse cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged.

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Admission Requirements and Procedures for First-Year Undergraduates

Secondary School (or Equivalent) Requirements
Application Procedure

Secondary School (or Equivalent) Requirements

Candidates for admission to all undergraduate programs (offered on the weekends and evenings) must have a high school diploma or GED (high school equivalency certificate). Applicants for undergraduate study are not required to submit entrance examination scores.

Application Procedure

To apply for admission to the Weekend College program at Trinity as a first-year student, candidates must:

  1. Complete the application form and return it to the Office of Admissions with the nonrefundable application fee of $40.
  2. Applicants who have not taken college course work or have completed fewer than 15 credits in a regionally accredited college or university should have high school transcripts and any college transcripts sent directly from the institutions attended to the Office of Admissions. Applicants who have completed 15 credits or more at a regionally accredited college or university should send only their college transcripts from all institutions attended.
  3. Submit an essay (see application for essay topic).
  4. Send one letter of recommendation supporting the application for admission. The letter must come from a recent employer and/or instructor and attest to the applicant's aptitude for further academic growth and capacity for independent study.
  5. An interview for admission is recommended. Call the Office of Admissions at (202) 884-9400 to schedule an appointment with an admissions representative.
  6. All materials should be sent to:

    Office of Admissions
    Trinity College
    125 Michigan Avenue, N.E.
    Washington, DC 20017

There is no fixed deadline for application; however, candidates should apply and arrange for all credentials to be forwarded at least six weeks prior to the semester in which they wish to enroll.

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Admission Requirements and Procedures for Undergraduate Transfer Students

Transfer Admission Requirements
Transfer Application Procedure
Transferable Credits

Transfer Admission Requirements

Candidates who have attended accredited colleges may apply to the Weekend College Program. Consideration for admission will not begin until after a candidate has submitted all of the credentials listed below to the Admissions Office. Applications for admission to Trinity College are considered on a rolling basis. Candidates will be reviewed within three weeks of receipt of all required credentials. If additional information is required, candidates for admission will be notified promptly.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the campus, attend classes, and arrange for an interview with an admissions representative. Prospective students should call the Office of Admissions at (202) 884-9400 for an appointment to visit the campus.

Transfer Application Procedure

To apply for admission to the Weekend College as an undergraduate transfer student, applicants must:

  1. Complete the application and return it to the Office of Admissions with a nonrefundable application fee of $40, payable to Trinity College.
  2. Submit an essay (see application for essay topic).
  3. Send a letter of recommendation from a professor or faculty advisor at the last institution attended, supporting the application for admission.
  4. Request a copy of the applicant's official transcripts of all credits earned from each previously attended institution. These transcripts should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions.
  5. If the applicant has less than 15 transferable college credits, or has never completed any college coursework, he or she must also submit a high school transcript.
  6. All materials should be sent to:

    Office of Admissions
    Trinity College
    125 Michigan Avenue, N.E.
    Washington, DC 20017

Transferable Credits

Students admitted to the School of Professional Studies as undergraduate students may transfer a limited number of credits from regionally accredited institutions. Weekend College students may also qualify for the Trinity Experiential Lifelong Learning (TELL) program, which can provide up to 30 credit hours of college-level experiential learning. Courses eligible for transfer must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university with a final grade of "C" or better, and must be applicable to Trinity's liberal arts program. For more information on specific policies regarding the transfer of credits to Trinity College, please refer to the Academic Policies section of this catalog.

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Admission Requirements and Procedures for Undergraduate Non-degree Students

Individuals interested in taking courses at Trinity on a part-time basis may apply as non-degree students. Non-degree students must complete an application for non-degree student status with the Office of Admissions and provide documentation for all requirements as stated on the application. Non-degree students must provide an official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts, if applicable.

Once admitted, a non-degree student may apply for status as a degree student according to the applicable admissions policy. Some credits earned as a non-degree student may be applied toward the degree subject to the requirements at the time of enrollment as a degree candidate.

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Admission Requirements and Procedures for International Students

International applicants must submit all credentials for undergraduate first-year, transfer, or non-degree admission listed above. The student is responsible for submitting all transcripts from institutions attended outside the United States for evaluation to the World Education Services, Inc. (WES).

To apply for admission to Trinity College, international applicants must present the following documents:

  • An application form, accompanied by a non-refundable fee of U.S. $35.00, payable to Trinity College.
  • A copy of the applicant’s official high school or college/university transcript. Transcripts must be translated into English and evaluated by an accredited agency such as the World Education Services, Inc. - www.wes.org or the American Association of Collegiate Registrar’s and Admissions Officers - www.aacrao.org/credential/index.htm
  • A letter of recommendation from an instructor or supervisor from a previous college/university or workplace, supporting the application for admission.
  • Official score reports of TOEFL to be sent directly to the Office of Admissions. (A basic score of 550 is a must.)
  • Proof of financial responsibility, such as a Declaration/Certificate of Finances or an official bank statement for the first year of study.
  • A 250 - 500 word essay, written in English. (The applicant may choose to write about his/her future ambitions, goals, a special talent or unusual interest that sets him/her apart from peers, or a significant professional or community experience.

Trinity College will issue the form I-20 (for the F-1 / Student Visa) to applicants that:

  • Are admitted to Trinity College.
  • Are proficient in the English language.
  • Demonstrate sufficient funds to cover expenses for at least one academic year.

Deadlines: All required documents must be submitted by July 1 for the fall term and November 1 for the spring term. Financial aid is not available to international students.

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Admission Requirements for Degree-Seeking Graduate Students

Who Should Apply
Entrance Requirements
Application Procedures
Interviews
Application Deadline
Transfer Credits for Graduate Degrees

Who Should Apply

Trinity College seeks students who have academic potential for its graduate programs, a record of scholastic achievement at the undergraduate level, and promise for success in the professional area in which they are applying. Students are admitted without regard to race, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or disability. Applications from qualified students of diverse cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged.

Entrance Requirements

Candidates for admission must possess a bachelor's degree from any regionally accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.

Students who do not meet the standard admission requirements but who demonstrate potential may be provisionally admitted and may take up to six credits during their first semester. A student must receive a minimum grade of "B" in each of these courses in order to be fully admitted to a graduate program.

Application Procedure

Candidates for admission to graduate programs in the School of Professional Studies must submit the following documents to the Office of Admissions:

  1. A completed application form with a nonrefundable application fee of $40.
  2. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended at the undergraduate and graduate level. Students should request that the transcripts be sent directly to them in a sealed envelope.
  3. Two letters of recommendation in support of the application testifying to the applicant's aptitude for graduate education and potential for professional growth and development. Letters from college instructors and employers are acceptable.
  4. An essay that outlines personal and professional goals.
  5. A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
  6. All materials should be sent to:

    Office of Admissions
    Trinity College
    125 Michigan Avenue, N.E.
    Washington, DC 20017

Interviews

An interview may be required for admission to the graduate degree programs. Interviews will be scheduled after the Office of Admissions has received a completed application.

Application Deadline

There is no application deadline, but candidates for admission should apply and arrange that all credentials be forwarded well in advance of the semester in which they wish to matriculate.

In some instances, students may be permitted to register for up to six credits prior to the receipt of all admission materials. Such students will be assigned non-degree status for no more than one semester. In such cases permission to register should not be construed as conferring admission to the degree program.

Transfer Credits for Graduate Degrees

Students enrolled in a graduate degree program may transfer a maximum of six credits from regionally accredited institutions toward a degree at Trinity. For specific rules governing transfer credits, see the Graduate Academic Policies section.

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Admission Requirements and Procedures for Non-degree Graduate Students

Students who hold a bachelor's degree and meet the 2.8 minimum GPA requirements are welcome to register as non-degree or non-matriculating students for a maximum of six credits, which meet their needs and interests. Every effort will be made to accommodate such students subject to prerequisites and enrollment limitations. In no instance should permission to register as a non-degree student be construed as conferring admission to the degree program or to student teaching. Non-degree students must complete an application for non-degree student status with the Office of Admissions and provide documentation for all requirements as stated on the application. Non-degree students must provide an official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

Non-degree students may apply for status as a degree student according to the admissions policy set forth in the Academic Policies section of this catalog. Credit earned as a non-degree student may be applied toward the graduate degree subject to the requirements at the time of enrollment as a degree candidate. A maximum of six graduate credits earned as a non-degree student at Trinity College may be applied toward a graduate degree (students should refer to Academic Policies for exceptions).

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Admission Requirements and Procedures for International Students

International applicants must submit all credentials for graduate degree-seeking or non-degree admission listed above. The student is responsible for submitting all transcripts from institutions attended outside the United States for evaluation to the World Education Services, Inc. (WES). 

To apply for admission to Trinity College, international applicants must present the following documents:

  • An application form, accompanied by a non-refundable fee of U.S. $35.00, payable to Trinity College.
  • A copy of the applicant’s official high school or college/university transcript. Transcripts must be translated into English and evaluated by an accredited agency such as the World Education Services, Inc. - www.wes.org or the American Association of Collegiate Registrar’s and Admissions Officers - www.aacrao.org/credential/index.htm
  • A letter of recommendation from an instructor or supervisor from a previous college/university or workplace, supporting the application for admission.
  • Official score reports of TOEFL to be sent directly to the Office of Admissions. (A basic score of 550 is a must.)
  • Proof of financial responsibility, such as a Declaration/Certificate of Finances or an official bank statement for the first year of study.
  • A 250 - 500 word essay, written in English. (The applicant may choose to write about his/her future ambitions, goals, a special talent or unusual interest that sets him/her apart from peers, or a significant professional or community experience.

Trinity College will issue the form I-20 (for the F-1 / Student Visa) to applicants that:

  • Are admitted to Trinity College.
  • Are proficient in the English language.
  • Demonstrate sufficient funds to cover expenses for at least one academic year.

Deadlines: All required documents must be submitted by July 1 for the fall term and November 1 for the spring term. Financial aid is not available to international students.

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Graduate Readmission

A student previously registered as a degree candidate who has failed to maintain continuous enrollment in the same graduate program for one calendar year or more must apply for readmission. A letter requesting file reactivation should be submitted along with a $40 nonrefundable application fee to the Admissions Office. Two current letters of recommendation and a writing sample should also be forwarded to this office.

Students who have not taken classes for five years or longer must apply for admission under the current academic program. Under certain circumstances, students who leave the college may be required to repeat courses that have expired. Students in specific programs may be required to complete additional course work to meet degree, licensure, or certification requirements. The student's transcript and program of study will be evaluated by the appropriate Dean.

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