So im conflicted as to where I should apply ED — Trinity or University of Rochester
I take the Cambridge curriculum. For IGCSEs i got 4A*s 2As 1B and 1C and for my AS i got AAB. My academic transcript as a whole is pretty good except for my act grade which is a 27. It was my first time taking the ACT.
As for extracurriculars, I have done/I do poetry, music, drama, im president of mentorship program and President of the MUN club + im planning to run for VP (i have been in the student council before though).
Please give opinions on which university i’d have a better chance of getting into as an international student OR recommend universities i could apply to and have a good chance of getting in (the university should be fairly generous when it comes to aid).
Thank you 
I don’t know anything about Trinity. Honestly, I think that ACT score needs to come WAY up for University of Rochester, like around 5 points. Also, when you say the grades are “pretty good,” what does that mean? The ECs are average. Most applicants to top schools have more in number and significance. The essays also would need to be extraordinary. UR only accepted 25% of applicants last year, and all of those did not get merit scholarship offers. Some pretty impressive kids (@ top 5-10 % in the class) from my child’s well-regarded high school did not get in at all. For reasons that are not entirely clear to me, UR is an excellent institution that is underrated in the forum of popular opinion, despite its high ranking in college lists. It seems to do little in the way of PR, is routinely confused with the much weaker RIT, and is situated in a city that attracts few people. It’s a shame because the school really is top notch. Evaluating your chances on the information you’ve put forth, I would say your chances for an acceptance at UR are not too strong.
Google this past week’s NY Times article on college admissions, which had an inside view of Trinity’s admissions office, and where it is made very clear ability to be full pay is an important factor.
That ACT score is going to be a big problem as far as U or R goes. Being an international who needs FA won’t help either. One kid at my son’s HS was rejected last year despite a 1530 SAT, top 10% of class, and all state musician. Your chances are probably better at Trinity, but still far from a sure thing. Also, why U of R and Trinity? They seem like very different schools to me.
Im planning to not submit my act grades seeing as u of r is test-optional and see how it goes from there @WhirlingColleges
@WhirlingColleges by pretty good i mean my academic transcript from school is full of mostly As and A*s and 2 Bs at most
Well, those two Bs aren’t going to do you any favors. It looks like you also got a C? The competition for the top schools is so brutal these days. I would say that a couple of Bs could be offset by a killer ACT score but you’ve got to go out and get one. By all means apply but I would be focusing heavily on reasonable safety schools. UR is a definite reach for you. Safeties would include the SUNYs but even Binghamton is a stretch with those scores. Maybe Geneseo and Buffalo SUNYs are more of a sure shot. Maybe Penn State or University of Vermont or Rhode Island or UConn. As far as private colleges go, you could try Union or Pitt (also no guarantees there as I think both would be reaches for you (albeit lesser ones than UR) or RIT (if you’re interested in STEM), or perhaps Providence College. Don’t count on money anywhere without demonstrated financial need (but I think this is very iffy with international applicants). There are many other colleges/universities to consider if you are open to geographic areas other than the Northeast US.