How to Get Into Trinity School
Key Dates and Information
- Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan
- The application for the 2025-2026 school year opens on September 3, 2024
- Application deadline:
- Kindergarten application deadline: October 25 2024
- Grades 1-11 initial online application deadline: November 15, 2024
- Supporting materials deadline: January 9, 2025
- Financial aid deadline: January 9, 2025
- Admissions tests:
- Kindergarten: Thinking and Engagement Assessment
- Grades 2-7: ISEE
- Grades 9-11: ISEE or SSAT
- Admissions interview:
- Trinity contacts families directly to schedule interviews
- Interviews may be virtual or in-person
- Admissions decision: February 21 2025
Introduction
Founded in 1709, Trinity School has an established reputation of academic excellence and deep roots in New York City. In 2023, Trinity was ranked the 14th most sought-after school, and was the 3rd most sought-after school in New York City.
Trinity has many great offerings and opportunities for students, so it draws a large applicant pool each year. It can feel intimidating to apply to such a competitive school, so we’ve created this guide to help you understand and prepare for the application process.
We recommend using this guide in conjunction with the Test Innovators Admissions Assist courses. Our courses will help you understand what schools are looking for, give you the tools to write your strongest application essay, and prepare for your admissions interview.
Application
Applications to Trinity are submitted through their portal, which will be available on their website starting on September 3, 2024.
Trinity’s entry grades are kindergarten and grade 9. For other grade levels, openings depend on current family enrollment, but interested students are still encouraged to submit an application. Here are the required application steps for each grade level:
- Submit initial online application
- Deadline: October 25, 2024
- Submitted through Trinity’s portal
- $75 application fee
- Applicants applying for financial aid may request a fee waiver
- Attend virtual events
- September: kindergarten open house
- October: parent-to-parent roundtable event
- November: diversity and community event
- Complete virtual tour and interview
- Parents interview with a member of the admissions team
- Complete the virtual Thinking and Engagement Assessment
- Schedule classroom observation
- If student is enrolled in a pre-k program at another school, Trinity will schedule a virtual or in-person visit
- Send report from current school
- Send video clip of student
- Video should be casual, observational, and under 60 seconds
- Ensure application file is complete by early to mid January
- Submit initial online application
- Deadline: November 15, 2024
- Submitted through Trinity’s portal
- $75 application fee (collected only if application is processed)
- Applicants applying for financial aid may request a fee waiver
- Attend virtual events
- December: virtual information session
- Complete virtual tour and interview
- Family will receive virtual tour via Zoom
- Parent interview and child assessment are conducted virtually with a member of the admissions team
- Take the ISEE
- The Primary ISEE required for grades 2-4
- Send school report from current school
- School report can be sent after student is informed of an opening
- Submit letter(s) of recommendation
- Grades 2-3: one letter of recommendation from current teacher required
- Grade 4: two teacher letters of recommendation required
- Letters of recommendation can be requested after student is informed of opening
- Grades 2-4: submit writing sample
- Student’s writing sample should be from a school assignment, with teacher comments and explanation of the assignment
- Ensure application file is complete by January 9, 2025
- Submit initial online application
- Deadline: November 15, 2024
- Submitted through Trinity’s portal
- $75 application fee (collected only if application is processed)
- Applicants applying for financial aid may request a fee waiver
- Complete the admissions interview
- Trinity will contact families to schedule interviews in January and February
- Interviews are virtual and last one hour
- Take the ISEE
- Submit two letters of recommendation
- Recommendations should be from English, history, math, or science teachers
- One from current teacher, one from teacher the year prior
- Option to submit a third letter of recommendation
- Letters of recommendation can be requested after student is informed of an opening
- Recommendations should be from English, history, math, or science teachers
- Send transcripts/report cards from current and previous year
- Transcripts can be requested after student is informed of an opening
- Submit parents’ statement (optional)
- Submit initial online application
- Deadline: November 15, 2024
- Submitted through Trinity’s portal
- $75 application fee
- Applicants applying for financial aid may request a fee waiver
- Complete the admissions interview
- Register for a campus tour and interview
- Must be completed by December 21st, 2023
- If Trinity is unable to carry out the interview, the application fee will be refunded
- Take the ISEE or SSAT
- Submit letters of recommendation
- Deadline: January 9, 2025
- Recommendations should be from English and Math teachers, as well as one from a counselor or principal
- Send transcripts/report cards from current and previous year
- Deadline: January 9, 2025
- Submit parents’ statement (optional)
- Deadline: At least one week before the interview
- Submit financial aid application (if applicable)
- Deadline: January 9, 2025
- Submit initial online application
- Deadline: November 15, 2024
- Submitted through Trinity’s portal
- $75 application fee (collected only if application is processed)
- Applicants applying for financial aid may request a fee waiver
- Complete the admissions interview
- Trinity will contact families to schedule interviews in January and February
- Interviews are virtual and last one hour
- Take the ISEE or SSAT
- Submit two letters of recommendation
- Recommendations should be from English and Math teachers, as well as one from a counselor or principal
- Letters of recommendation can be requested after student is informed of an opening
- Send transcripts/report cards from current and previous year
- Transcripts can be requested after student is informed of an opening
- Submit parents’ statement (optional)
Please refer to Trinity’s admissions website for the most current information on application requirements and deadlines.
Admissions Interview
After applying, families are contacted by the Trinity admissions office to schedule interviews. Trinity has a limited number of interview slots and gives some priority to those who submit their applications earlier in the season. Interviews are conducted virtually and include the student and their parents/guardians. The interview provides a space for Trinity to get to know applicants and their families and for applicants and families to ask questions about the school.
The interview is a great chance for you to make a positive impression and demonstrate why you are a good fit for Trinity. It is an exciting part of the application process, but preparation is important to ensure you put your best foot forward. At Test Innovators, we have created an Interview Prep course to help students and parents build skills to ace the interview. Our course will help you tell your story, prepare for common interview questions, and gain interview confidence.
Along with our Admissions Assist courses, we also recommend researching Trinity and preparing to share why you are applying. Read their mission statement and see what life is like at Trinity’s lower school or upper school. Look at their academics page, and read about the curriculum for your grade level. See their athletics programs or arts programs, and consider what you would like to get involved in as a student. If there are specific offerings that you are excited about, your interview is a great chance to share these with the school.
Admissions Tests
The following tests are required for each grade level:
- Kindergarten: Thinking and Engagement Assessment
- Grades 2-7: ISEE
- Grades 9-11: ISEE or SSAT
Preparing for the ISEE or SSAT will help you understand the test and gain confidence for test day. Test Innovators is an official practice partner for the SSAT and is the only ISEE prep officially endorsed by ERB.
Our platform offers full-length practice tests with detailed scoring and analysis. You can compare your practice test scores to target scores for Trinity and other schools. You will also get feedback on your timing and results by subtype, as well as personalized suggestions for what to work on next. To learn more about how Test Innovators can help you prepare for admissions tests, check out our SSAT Prep Guide and ISEE Prep Guide.
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Financial Aid Application
Trinity is committed to making the school accessible to students regardless of family income, and offers need-based financial aid for tuition and other essential costs. In 2023-2024, 20% of the student body received financial aid with an average of $53,227 awarded.
Families applying for financial aid must submit their application through the Clarity platform by January 9, 2025.
Applicants will receive their financial aid decision with their enrollment contract. For more information, please refer to Trinity’s Tuition and Financial Aid page.
Athletics
Trinity has athletic teams in the following sports:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Golf
- Indoor track
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and field
- Volleyball
- Water polo
- Wrestling
If you would like to join one of these teams, it’s a good idea to express interest in your application or during your interview. For more information about athletics at Trinity, see their athletics page.
Arts
Trinity considers the arts integral to the school and offers many opportunities for students to participate in visual and performing arts. Arts are a key part of the lower and middle school programs, and upper school students are required to take at least three semesters of art.
Trinity offers performing arts classes in theater, band, orchestra, and choir, and visual arts courses in ceramics, photography, woodworking, drawing, painting, printmaking, and art history.
The arts program presents another great opportunity to find possible interests and personalize your application. Please refer to Trinity’s website to see more about their performing arts and visual arts.
Public Service, Clubs and Activities, and Publications
In addition to athletics and arts programs, Trinity has a variety of extracurricular opportunities for students to explore. Their public service program promotes giving back and getting involved locally and globally. The clubs and activities at Trinity allow students explore interests ranging from anime to poetry to robotics. Students can build leadership skills in Model UN and student council, or showcase their diverse talents and passions in one of the student publications.
Explore the array of student groups and extracurricular opportunities at Trinity to find ways you would want to be involved in the Trinity community.
Conclusion
It can be daunting to apply to a prestigious school like Trinity, but Test Innovators is here to support you through the process. With proper preparation, you can earn higher test scores, write a strong application essay, and stand out in your interview.
Preparation Resources:
- Enroll in our Admissions Assist courses for middle school or upper school
- Learn more about preparing for the SSAT
- Learn more about preparing for the ISEE
- Learn more about Trinity
Originally published on July 6, 2022. Updated on August 29, 2024.
