<p>After visiting Duke (I'm a rising senior) and deciding that it's my #1 school of choice, I began to drive myself crazy over whether I should apply to Trinity or Pratt. I know this question has come up before, but I would love some feedback in regards to my own student profile and whatnot. I'm going to list every academic shred of info (I'm omitting activites and such because this post is geared towards the standardized aspect of each school) about me below: I appreciate any comments, opinions, or suggestions.</p>
<p>(Electives also omitted)
Cumulative GPA (weighted/unweighted): 4.34/4.0</p>
<p>Freshman classes:
Hnrs Geometry -A
Hrs English I -A
Hrs Bio -A
Spanish I -A
West. Civ./American History -A</p>
<p>Sophomore classes:
Hrs Algebra II -A
Hrs English II -A
Hrs Chem -A
Spanish II -A
World Cultures -A</p>
<p>Junior classes:
AP Econ -A
AP Physics B -A
AP English III -A
Hnrs Pre-calc -A
Hrs American History/Hrs Govt -A</p>
<p>Senior classes:
AP Calc BC
AP Physics C
AP English IV
AP Bio
Hrs Organic Chem
Hrs Anatomy and Physiology</p>
<p>SAT scores:<br>
710 Reading
700 Math
710 Writing
11 Essay</p>
<p>SAT Subject Tests:
Physics 750
Math II 710</p>
<p>ACT:
32 composite
34 Math
33 English
10 Essay</p>
<p>Your overall SAT score is on the low end of the competitive applicant pool, but between the two, I think Pratt will be more of a reach for you. Most competitive applicants to the Pratt School of Engineering will be in the 750-800 range on both the SAT Math and the SAT II math subject test. Frankly, the Math II subject test is considered easier and many applicants to engineering will have scores of 800 on that test. On a positive note, your course rigor and grades are good, as is a 750 on the Physics SAT test.</p>
<p>So would applying to Trinity be a better option? I know my ACT does stack up much better with the Trinity ACT stats, and my SAT math would barely sneak in math ranges as well.</p>
<p>Well, do you want to major in engineering or not? If you get into the non-engineering division, would you be able to major in something you like?</p>
<p>Well what I was thinking, should I apply to Trinity if it truly is easier to gain admissions into Duke, is to take an engineer’s class schedule and then transfer at the end of the year into Pratt. Ultimately, I want to go to medical school so I wouldn’t be heart broken if engineering didn’t work out; engineering is just what I WOULD do if I decide that I don’t want to go to med school.</p>
<p>I have a theory that I freely admit is based on nothing more than my speculation. However, I believe that Trinity may actually be harder to gain admission for most applicants in the general pool. </p>
<p>First of all, Trinity admits roughly three times as many applicants as Pratt. However, I would speculate that virtually all of the lower SAT scoring applicants apply to Trinity. This would include the recruited athletes, URMs, legacies with names on buildings and the like.</p>
<p>Further, my guess is that applicants to Pratt are more likely to focus narrowly on math and science ECs and are less likely to display the well-roundedness (or even well-lopsidedness) that adcoms value.</p>
<p>Based on these admittedly tenuous premises, it is possible that even though the statistics for Trinity are lower, it might well be harder for most applicants to gain admission.</p>
<p>Of course, it is also possible that I am way off base. Anyone have counterarguments as to why Trinity would be easier?</p>
<p>personally, in my honest opinion, i would go Pratt. In the past couple of years, Pratt has had a higher ED admit rate than Trinity, and with your solid SAT2 scores in Math 2 and Physics, I think you would be a good candidate. Also, your math ACT is solid. If you want, take either the SAT or ACT again in the fall and try and get it up. Also, what are your ECs geared toward. Are you more in the Pratt field or Trinity?</p>
<p>I volunteer in a hospital (showing my desire to attend med school), volunteer as a youth league umpire, participate in intramural basketball, and work part-time at a Rite Aid (a drug store), so I don’t know how that would favor one school over the other.</p>
<p>Admission into Pratt/Trinity has very little impact on your actual major. You can switch non-competitively after the first year, and you can take Pratt first year schedule in Trinity, and vice versa.</p>
<p>Pratt is probably easier to get in, especially ED. The ED rate is quite ridiculously high, but the testing scores for Pratt is also quite ridiculous. If you want to go to Duke and have no problems affording Duke, then ED Pratt.</p>
<p>edit: Before you ED Pratt, I suggest you fix your SAT II math. Ideally you would want a 780+</p>
<p>I’d retake the ACT and SAT subject tests (take Sept ACT, Oct SAT IIs maybe?) Study this summer and really try to get a 33+. Going ED will definitely help you though.</p>
<p>I was going to retake the ACT, but would it really behoove me to retake the math II subject test? I was thinking not to send any SAT scores at all.</p>
<p>This is very similar to my situation. Although my reason for applying to Trinity instead of Pratt was because I have no physics background and I was told by engineering departmental staff that it was unlikely I would be accepted due to that. From what people are saying it seems I wouldn’t have got in even with physics! But like you said, you can always transfer in. My tour guide at Duke last year was an engineer but started as an English major and then German, and was still set to graduate on time.</p>
<p>As of now, I am sticking with Trinity. However, I’m going to study my face off for the Sept. ACT and depending on how I do I might change my decision–so we’ll see.</p>