Thinking about Early Decision for Class of 2016...

<p>After I visited Trinity College a couple weeks ago, I realized it was the exact type of school I want to attend. I just have a few quick questions though. I know there are two early decisions available, but are the chances of me getting in better if I apply during the first early action rather than the second one? Also, I was wondering if my profile is up to Trinity rigor and standards.</p>

<p>White/Male
Middle Class
Catholic School/DC area
Top 15-20% of class (my school technically doesn't rank; I don't think they even put it on college forms)
Top Half of Class is Pretty Competitive
No one has ever gone to Trinity College from my school in at least the past ten years.</p>

<p>Freshmen Year - 4.15 GPA
Honors English - A
CP Spanish I - A
Honors World History - A
Honors Integrated Science - B+ (although it would be an A- now; my school switched its grade scale during my sophomore year)
Religion - A
Honors Introduction to Programming - A
Honors Algebra II/Trigonometry - B+
PE/Health - A</p>

<p>Sophomore Year (oops) - 4.02 GPA (i think)
AP Computer Science A - B+
AP European History/English - B+ (a combined two period class that involved both subjects, although we only took the Euro AP test)
Honors Geometry - A-
Spanish II - B+
Religion - A
HN Biology - B+
PE/Driver's Ed - A</p>

<p>Junior Year (projected grades) - hoping for a 4.0
Religion - A
HN Pre-Cal - B
HN Chemistry - B
AP US History - A-
AP English Language and Comp - B
AP Human Geography - A
HN Introduction to Philosophy - A-
CP Spanish III - B</p>

<p>Senior Year Load
AP Statistics
AP Calculus AB (maybe)
AP English Literature and Composition
AP US Government
HN Physics
Religion
Self Study/Teach Microeconomics (We don't have an economics teacher, so each of the students is going to take a chapter and teach it. Very small class.)</p>

<p>AP Scores:
Computer Science - 1 (Horrible teacher, and I had no idea what to expect from the exam)
European History - 3 (5 different teachers during the year; a hell of a year)
APUSH- expecting a 3 or 4
APHUG - no idea..
APLAC - probably got a 4</p>

<p>SAT Score:
1860
620 Reading
620 Math
620 Writing
I didn't do anything to prepare. Basically took the test on the whim without knowing what was going to be on the test. Plan to study over the summer though and hopefully get 2000+.</p>

<p>Extra Curricular Activities and Awards: (the years are what I should have next year)
-Boy Scouts - I'm an Eagle Scout and I was designated as helping the new Scouts transition from Cub Scouts; (all 4 years);
-For my Eagle Project, I made 450 rosaries for a Catholic School in Haiti (I finished planning my project a week before the earthquake hit)
-JV and Varsity Cross Country (4 years)
-JV Baseball (1 year)
-Varsity Track & Field/Captain for next year(3 years)
-Winter Track Club (3 years)
-Economics Club (3 years)
-Mathletes (1 year)
-Participant in Virginia Stock Market Game (3 years)
-2nd place in the Stock Market Game for Northern Virginia
-Model UN (1 year; not my thing)
-BETA club member
-National Honor Society Member
-Represented school at Virginia HOBY leadership seminar
-Selected and Attended a high school economics workshop at Chapman University
-Working at a Kids Sports Summer Camp this summer</p>

<p>Your profile seems up to Trinity’s standards. I believe that Trinity looks at your unweighted GPA but you should still be fine. If Trinity is where you want to go, then apply ED. I am not sure if applying ED 1 increases your chances Vs. ED 2. If you are set on Trinity however, I would apply ED 1 since ED 1 acceptance letters are mailed out a couple months before ED 2.</p>

<p>There are a couple of potential advantages in applying to ED 2.</p>

<p>One is that you may have a chance to raise your test scores between November and January.</p>

<p>The other is that you may have gotten a scholarship award to some other school before the ED2 date, and have changed your mind.</p>

<p>Otherwise, go for ED1.</p>

<p>The problem with ED is that if you need financial aid, you will not know what you get until after you have committed. Your stats are excellent and I do not think you will have trouble ED or RD. Good luck. My daughter (rising sophomore) loves it!</p>

<p>I will need financial aid, but I learned from my interview that they are generally more generous with financial aid if you’re applying ED. I am a little worried because my older brother is also in college. I’m just hoping for the best…</p>