Attending Notre Dame

[WinOverAll08]

Hello there fellow Irishmen. I was just wondering if there was any alumni that belonged to this site, and, if so, would they be willing to offer any suggestions into how to get accepted into notre dame?

 

[TexasDomer]

Wow, excellent question, but a broad one.

Here are a few suggestions:

a. Show a consistent pattern of academic achievement through high school. Nail SATs/ACTs--study for them, prepare for them, and do your absolute best.
b. Demonstrate involvement and leadership in a variety of different extracurricular activities, jobs, community service, athletics, etc. Notre Dame wants well-rounded people to attend.
c. In your essays, demonstrate a strong command of the English language, the ability to view an issue from multiple points of view, and the ability to choose a point of view and explain it clearly. In your personal essay, make it truly personal. Let Notre Dame see the person they would be accepting.
d. Be very choiceful about choice of references/letters of recommendation. You want a wide variety of people who know you from different classes or activities. Make sure it is someone who knows you well enough to write a great recommendation for you that would not be relevant to someone else (IOW, not a "form letter" recommendation).
e. It never hurts to set up a phone "informational interview" with an admissions staff member or the director. This gives you a chance to get straight from the source the kinds of things they look at in determining who will go to Notre Dame.
f. Contact the local Notre Dame alumni club to see if they have HS student events, or things like that.

In the end, Notre Dame will accept someone who they believe will give to the ND community as much as he/she will receive in a ND education and degree.

Good luck!

 

[isotopes]

I am a current student but since Im here I guess I have a little admissions background:

I agree in all points mentioned, I personally think that leadership is a key element especially like service oriented.

In the essay it's important to demonstrate you're writing ability, but it is also very important to seperate yourself from all the other kids applying. Up until the paper you are a matter of check marks, numbers, and awards you have received. That's all fine and dandy, but to be honest every kid that applies here has all the same stuff - some a little better, some a little worse. In the essay show creativity and confidence. Don't be afraid to step outside the box.

Personally I wrote my statement in my head while out on a run. When I wrote it I flat out said that all my thoughts were from a run. That enabled me to write in a little bit different of a style. Just trying to come up with what to right gave me an opportunity to see just who I was and what I was made of. Again, I ended my essay by flat out saying that. Thanked them for giving me the opportunity to discover that.

In the end, here I am. I had a friend who was almost identical to me. Wrote his paper on volunteering. Was a very average very plain essay. He's at Dayton...

One last thing, I know it takes a bunch of time to write all the essays for applications, but do make sure you write a seperate one for ND. Just to be safe.... my h.s. teacher had a student who wanted to go to Northwestern or Pepperdine. In the paper she mentioned the environment the school was in, being so close to the pacific ocean..... she forgot to change it the NU application and was rejected specifically for that reason..... Don't do that to yourself.

If there is anything else i could possibly help you with... questions, concerns, etc. send me a pm with your email and I'll try my best.

 

[WinOverAll08]

Thank you both very much for helping me. If you don't mind me asking, isotopes, what was your G.P.A. and other credentials? I totally understand if that is too personal of a question, but I was just wondering how I would stack up. Basically wanted to know your GPA, SAT scores, and the extra-curricular activities, if you wouldn't mind telling me. Also, I know Notre Dame is very expensive. However, I was wondering if it was actually affordable if the payments were worked out? If you could let me know about all these things I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks again.

 

[dth31]

You can get more specific information from the yearly college review issues of US News and World Report, etc, but here is a link from the ND homepage that has some general information.

https://admissions.nd.edu/und/FAQ.cfm#11

One thing that no one else has mentioned: if you can arrange to get adopted by an alumnus, it would help!

Seriously, very best luck to you.

 

[isotopes]

I was a 4.4 on a 4 scale had a 29 act (one time test) i didnt have to take the sat I was captain of the track cross country and scholastic bowl team i did a bunch of service stuff 4 year commitment in all of the above

 

[isotopes]

Im sorry I kind of ignore your financial question. Essentially the school wants to take care of whoever gets in. For some, they end up not being hellped enough, but they do try. ND is one of the few schools that will meet your financial needs fully. What it ends up coming down to is a financial form that determines what your family and commit to you attending ND or any school for that matter. Its based on parent income, your income, brothers and sisters... etc. The thing that kinda throws it for a loop though is it seems only college age siblings really help the cause. From there they calculate what you can contribute, the look at any federal or private cash your bringing with you and determine from there. In my personal situation, I have a single parent who probably makes average money or so, but my family income is atleast half at best of the average family ( or so I would assume). This means that my need was high and flat out if I didn't get the cash I was going to UW-madison for a full ride....with that being said between the University and a couple other scholarships such as the ND club of Chicago, I was able to afford it.

I had two friends, one who's dad was laid off her senior year, and one whose dad got cancer and was unable to work. In each case Notre Dame was able to sit down with them and work it out so that they could come here.

 

[WinOverAll08]

Thank you very much for your reply. However, I don't know how I can compete with a 4.4! I've only got a 3.7 out of a 4.0, so I guess I'll keep working at it.

 

[proudndfan]

Thanks to everyone who gave information. I am a Notre Dame hopeful myself. I have a current 4.0 on a 4.0 scale. (the highest you can get at my high school) My friend just applied for nd and found out the ND does NOT weigh AP classes heavier then other classes.

 

[TexasDomer]

proudfan,

They don't in calculating GPAs, but they do take strength of course into account when seeing your grades. Don't see the numbers as a reason not to take the toughest courses.

 

[TexasDomer]

Thank you very much for your reply. However, I don't know how I can compete with a 4.4! I've only got a 3.7 out of a 4.0, so I guess I'll keep working at it.

You don't have to compete with a 4.4. You're a runner, right? Just run your own race, and let the course come to you. All you can do is your best. You can't do any more, and you shouldn't wish to do any less.

 

[tedwick]

Yeah. Having JUST gone through this whole college admissions thing, I'd have to say that you really shouldn't worry about what one individual part of your application looks like. If your GPA isn't crazy good, it's ok. If your test scores aren't so good, it's ok. Remember, the thing about the averages they post: Half the people admitted are below them.

And so on. Most private schools like to evaluate the application as a whole (I'm sure you've heard this all before). And on top of that, 3.7 is good. Especially if you were taking harder classes. Admissions generally like to see that.

 

[grantland]

An off the wall suggestions for financing. If you are at all inclined to go into the military, an ROTC scholarship would give you a free ride. Most kids who get into ND will qualify for a scholarship.

This was a pretty solid option when I went to school, however, I realize that this day and age, there are some pretty major drawbacks.

Also, no matter where you go to school, beat the bushes for local scholarships. The local Rotary, your church, ND Club, other clubs (e.g., I belong to the Savannah QuarterBack Club - we give out a scholarship each year to a high school student who played high school football but who will not play in college). All those types of organizations and many more give scholarships many of which go unused. Often they may only be $500 to $1,000 but they add up.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

Are you sure about ROTC offering a full-ride? I think they can only cover a certain amount of finances.. and it wouldn't cover ND fully. There'd probably be at least $13,000 left, which definitely cuts down the cost, but it's still not a free ride..

At least, that's what I've heard.

Some schools look at strong GPAs and are impressed, others look at them and say "whoop-de-doo"... GPAs can only hurt you at a lot of places. The new emphasis is on SAT/ACT scores and college curriculum.

So just because ND doesn't weigh AP courses doesn't mean they don't take them very seriously. If you take an AP course and do well on the test, they'll be impressed. AP tests reveal someone's potential as much as the SAT does.

 

[grantland]

Are you sure about ROTC offering a full-ride? I think they can only cover a certain amount of finances.. and it wouldn't cover ND fully. There'd probably be at least $13,000 left, which definitely cuts down the cost, but it's still not a free ride..

At least, that's what I've heard.

You know what, I am not sure. I am going on extremely old information, i.e., when I was a student. In fact, after I graduated the various branches were allowing recent graduates to buy their way out of the military commitment, so it is likley the scholarship is lower than it used to be.

Still can be a big chunk if you are the military type.

Asan aside, ND use to have the largest ROTC progarm in the country - is this still true.

 

[TexasDomer]

When I went to ND on an Army scholarship, it was 80% or capped at a certain level.

Air Force had two different scholarships: partial and full

Navy, I think, had full only.

This was 1989-1993, so it may have changed.

Go to the ROTC websites, and you'll get the story.

Not sure if ND has the largest, but I know that, when I was there, 10% of the student body was in ROTC, and the Navy program was the largest outside Annapolis.

 

[isotopes]

Navy is still full, army is stipend, part, and maybe a full? air force i think offers part and full....

 

[knute]

Some random thoughts from an ND Alum...

Notre Dame more than a lot of schools really buys into the idea of a well rounded person: mind, body & spirit. At a minimum you need to show a high-level of academic achievement, but they also like to know about the other things you're doing. Good GPA at a good school taking college prep courses and good test scores get you through the first cut.

When I was there, each application after the first cut was reviewed by 3 real people. I know because they keep the application and the reviewers notes on file and you can go see what the reviewers wrote about you.

Make sure you write down the stuff thats important to you beyond school. Are you doing service work? Are you an athlete? Do you have goals and dreams beyond college? How does Notre Dame fit in? Any connections to Notre Dame are good to note. For good or bad, they are partial to legacies.

 

[WinOverAll08]

I want to thank all of you for your replies. I will take all of these into account when I apply to Notre Dame. As far as my classes and grades go, this is how I stack up: (I'm a junior by the way) I'm taking Pre-Calculus, International Bacceleureate courses in English and History, Spanish, and Physics. I'm in the National Honor Society, and I belong to leadership groups, such as the one that I will be attending this week at, ironically, Notre Dame. I have over 60 hours of volunteer service for my junior year, and I also work at Finish Line (shoe store.) If you guys wouldn't mind, let me know if I'm on the right track and feel free to suggest things for me to do. Like I said, I really appreciate your replies. God Bless, Reid

 

[isotopes]

sounds good... maybe some athletics? Also apply early.... if you're a 'tweener, they slide you to regular admission. Early is the way to go

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

I want to thank all of you for your replies. I will take all of these into account when I apply to Notre Dame. As far as my classes and grades go, this is how I stack up: (I'm a junior by the way) I'm taking Pre-Calculus, International Bacceleureate courses in English and History, Spanish, and Physics. I'm in the National Honor Society, and I belong to leadership groups, such as the one that I will be attending this week at, ironically, Notre Dame. I have over 60 hours of volunteer service for my junior year, and I also work at Finish Line (shoe store.) If you guys wouldn't mind, let me know if I'm on the right track and feel free to suggest things for me to do. Like I said, I really appreciate your replies. God Bless, Reid

Ha, well, you're on a better track than I am.

Yeah, what you've done is great. If the admissions process at ND is as personal as someone above made it out to be, then you've definitely got a lot of things going for you.

Junior year sucks as you are about to---or have already---found out. Tons of work... especially when you hit April. Good luck and keep up the hard work, you'll get there!

 

[WinOverAll08]

Yea, sorry about the athletics thing. I play Varsity baseball for my school and I also box. I probably should've included these things in my "resume" that I showed to you guys. Anything else I need to work on?