ND Acceptance Letters

[tko]

My letter back in the day had BASEBALL stamped at the top, so I was set, LOL.

 

[Jason Pham]

Really am aiming for a large law firm in Chicago so looking to go to the best school possible that places well in Chicago. Northwestern, ND and Michigan are my top 3.

If I get into Northwestern, it'll be tough to say no to that opportunity.

Just for the sake of stirring some thought, if you already have ties to Chicago and can convincingly demonstrate those ties during an interview, you might be better off going to Penn or Cornell or, to a lesser extent, one of the other T14 schools, over ND depending on how much scholarship you are receiving from ND. The logic behind this would be that you would probably be giving yourself a similar shot at Chicago big law from one of the T14 as from ND while also hedging against this economy by going to a school that feeds into New York big law (which is by far the largest and easiest big law market to break into).

By way of anecdote, I just wrapped up interview season at Penn this fall with my only substantive tie to Chicago being that I had gone to Notre Dame for undergrad. However, I saw myself settling down in Chicago and was able to speak to that convincingly during interviews. Even though Penn is considered a NY-feeder, I received a couple of offers from fantastic firms in Chicago and I know this wasn't unique among my classmates.

This of course assumes that your priorities go from Chicago big law to any big law; and the advice wouldn't be of much use if your priorities go from Chicago big law to anything in Chicago or the Midwest. If your aim is to stay in that area, whether in big law or something else, then Notre Dame is probably the right choice. I say probably in part because the rule of thumb is that you don't go to a school where you wouldn't be happy or couldn't pay your debt off (which is where the scholarship amount comes into play) with a job that median students are getting.

Finally, if you get Northwestern, that seems like the easy and obvious choice.

In any case, good luck!

 

[nsideirish]

Just for the sake of stirring some thought, if you already have ties to Chicago and can convincingly demonstrate those ties during an interview, you might be better off going to Penn or Cornell or, to a lesser extent, one of the other T14 schools, over ND depending on how much scholarship you are receiving from ND. The logic behind this would be that you would probably be giving yourself a similar shot at Chicago big law from one of the T14 as from ND while also hedging against this economy by going to a school that feeds into New York big law (which is by far the largest and easiest big law market to break into).

By way of anecdote, I just wrapped up interview season at Penn this fall with my only substantive tie to Chicago being that I had gone to Notre Dame for undergrad. However, I saw myself settling down in Chicago and was able to speak to that convincingly during interviews. Even though Penn is considered a NY-feeder, I received a couple of offers from fantastic firms in Chicago and I know this wasn't unique among my classmates.

This of course assumes that your priorities go from Chicago big law to any big law; and the advice wouldn't be of much use if your priorities go from Chicago big law to anything in Chicago or the Midwest. If your aim is to stay in that area, whether in big law or something else, then Notre Dame is probably the right choice. I say probably in part because the rule of thumb is that you don't go to a school where you wouldn't be happy or couldn't pay your debt off (which is where the scholarship amount comes into play) with a job that median students are getting.

Finally, if you get Northwestern, that seems like the easy and obvious choice.

In any case, good luck!

Great advice...I am going to send you a PM

 

[BurningRiver]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread for a second because the regular action admission letters were sent out a few days ago..

..and I got in! Did anyone else on here receive a letter today? I don't know how many other high school seniors there are on here.. I assume there aren't many.

Notre Dame class of '17!

 

[BGIF]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread for a second because the regular action admission letters were sent out a few days ago..

..and I got in! Did anyone else on here receive a letter today? I don't know how many other high school seniors there are on here.. I assume there aren't many.

Notre Dame class of '17!

Congrats '17!

 

[Redbar]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread for a second because the regular action admission letters were sent out a few days ago..

..and I got in! Did anyone else on here receive a letter today? I don't know how many other high school seniors there are on here.. I assume there aren't many.

Notre Dame class of '17!

Congrats young man! Great years ahead.

 

[NOLAIrish]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread for a second because the regular action admission letters were sent out a few days ago..

..and I got in! Did anyone else on here receive a letter today? I don't know how many other high school seniors there are on here.. I assume there aren't many.

Notre Dame class of '17!

Congrats, man! Just remember: stay off those steps in front of the Main Building.

 

[dshans]

Congrats, man! Just remember: stay off those steps in front of the Main Building.

Why? That's where I met Ted (The Head) Hesburgh at the end of a long day of classes. He gave me a ride to my dorm – Holy Cross Hall. I'd have gotten there faster on foot but it was a gas. Hell, it was the only time I hitched a ride without even sticking out my thumb.

Congratulations, BurningRiver, and enjoy!

 

[NOLAIrish]

Why? That's where I met Ted (The Head) Hesburgh at the end of a long day of classes. He gave me a ride to my dorm – Holy Cross Hall. I'd have gotten there faster on foot but it was a gas. Hell, it was the only time I hitched a ride without even sticking out my thumb.

Congratulations, BurningRiver, and enjoy!

Porch etiquette (the explanation can be found under the "Academically Speaking" heading in the link)

 

[dshans]

Porch etiquette (the explanation can be found under the "Academically Speaking" heading in the link)

I'll be damned – I don't remember that from my years there. Much of the Main Building was off limits at the time. It was deemed unsafe. I did have one class there my final semester that met Wednesdays for three hours. It was a snoozer.

 

[Emcee77]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread for a second because the regular action admission letters were sent out a few days ago..

..and I got in! Did anyone else on here receive a letter today? I don't know how many other high school seniors there are on here.. I assume there aren't many.

Notre Dame class of '17!

Congrats! Had a feeling it would work out.

 

[Rack Em]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread for a second because the regular action admission letters were sent out a few days ago..

..and I got in! Did anyone else on here receive a letter today? I don't know how many other high school seniors there are on here.. I assume there aren't many.

Notre Dame class of '17!

Rock on dude. That's awesome!

Welcome to the family.

 

[IrishinTN]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread for a second because the regular action admission letters were sent out a few days ago..

..and I got in! Did anyone else on here receive a letter today? I don't know how many other high school seniors there are on here.. I assume there aren't many.

Notre Dame class of '17!

Awesome, man. Congrats! The only way I'd have ever gotten an ND acceptance letter is if I won the dang thing on eBay.

 

[DillonHall]

Congratulations!! Just pray you don't get placed in Zahm!

 

[GowerND11]

Congratulations!! Just pray you don't get placed in Zahm!

Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole.......

 

[Emcee77]

Congratulations!! Just pray you don't get placed in Zahm!

Lol ... yeah, Zahm is definitely the dorm that does the most weird **** ... but don't worry too much about where you get placed. There's no bad dorm.

 

[notredomer23]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread for a second because the regular action admission letters were sent out a few days ago..

..and I got in! Did anyone else on here receive a letter today? I don't know how many other high school seniors there are on here.. I assume there aren't many.

Notre Dame class of '17!

Hopefully you get O'Neil

 

[BurningRiver]

Thanks guys. This has literally been my dream since 6th grade, and I haven't stopped smiling since I got the letter in the mail. I'm mostly glad because over half of my clothes say Notre Dame on them and I don't know what I would've done with them if I hadn't gotten in.

 

[LoveThee]

Hope I can bump this thread with good news of my own next year.

Congrats to those in the Notre Dame class of 2017.

Is there a thread for ND specific admissions questions? I know there are a lot of ND alumni on the board with knowledge of the university.

I have a few questions...

How big of an impact does being a minority (Hispanic in my case) make for admission Notre Dame?

Are the supplement questions weighted as heavily as some may have you believe?

Is it possible to get in with average academics (GPA in a 3.3-3.6 range) if an applicant has a "hook," such as founding a charity, being a published author, etc?

My great uncle is an alumni of ND, my grandfather went to Notre Dame for three years before he had to leave to support his family. Neither of my parents graduated college, and while my grandfather spent time in college I don't believe he got his degree. Does this qualify me as a first generation college student?

If anyone feels they can lend some insight either reply here or PM me, I have many more questions but I will try not to fill up this thread.

Love Thee, Notre Dame

 

[DillonHall]

I think this is the perfect place to ask all your questions. No need for PMs

 

[jimmymac]

How big of an impact does being a minority (Hispanic in my case) make for admission Notre Dame?

It helps. It doesnt help as much as it would at other schools as Notre Dame attracts a lot of Hispanic students, but it still certainly helps.

Are the supplement questions weighted as heavily as some may have you believe?

I think so. I think Notre Dame puts a large emphasis on essays, but still won't matter if you don't have the numbers they are looking for.

Is it possible to get in with average academics (GPA in a 3.3-3.6 range) if an applicant has a "hook," such as founding a charity, being a published author, etc?

3.3 might be pushing it. 3.6 could get in with tough classes, but still might be pushing it a little if the class load isnt strong. Im sure there are students with 3.6s that got into Notre Dame, but it definitely makes it a lot more difficult, you better have good hooks and good SAT scores.

My great uncle is an alumni of ND, my grandfather went to Notre Dame for three years before he had to leave to support his family. Neither of my parents graduated college, and while my grandfather spent time in college I don't believe he got his degree. Does this qualify me as a first generation college student?

Probably a question to ask an admissions director. But I think it does.

If anyone feels they can lend some insight either reply here or PM me, I have many more questions but I will try not to fill up this thread.

Love Thee, Notre Dame

Questions answered in the quote

 

[NDinL.A.]

Hope I can bump this thread with good news of my own next year.

Congrats to those in the Notre Dame class of 2017.

Is there a thread for ND specific admissions questions? I know there are a lot of ND alumni on the board with knowledge of the university.

I have a few questions...

How big of an impact does being a minority (Hispanic in my case) make for admission Notre Dame?

Are the supplement questions weighted as heavily as some may have you believe?

Is it possible to get in with average academics (GPA in a 3.3-3.6 range) if an applicant has a "hook," such as founding a charity, being a published author, etc?

My great uncle is an alumni of ND, my grandfather went to Notre Dame for three years before he had to leave to support his family. Neither of my parents graduated college, and while my grandfather spent time in college I don't believe he got his degree. Does this qualify me as a first generation college student?

If anyone feels they can lend some insight either reply here or PM me, I have many more questions but I will try not to fill up this thread.

Love Thee, Notre Dame

Honestly, 3.3 - 3.6 probably just isn't going to cut it nowadays, sadly. I had a 3.6, and am Hispanic, with sports and charity work, and I didn't get in in 1993 (got into USC but **** them). My wife got in in 2002 with a 3.75 and high-level soccer, but her dad worked at ND and her siblings went there, and they tell her now she wouldn't make it. My wife knows someone in admissions and they tell her that they are turning away kids now with Gpa's 4.0 and up.

Obviously, more goes into it than GPA, so try to get a super-high test score and hopefully everything you are doing outside of academics will get you an honest look from admissions...

 

[STLDomer]

I got in this year with a 3.5 but I had a good ACT and I took 6 AP classes in total during my high school career and I go to one of the best schools in the Midwest.

Good luck bro

 

[LoveThee]

Thanks for the insight guys. Thinking my best route is to show an upward trend in GPA, hopefully rock standardized tests. I take a challenging course load... Just gonna have to hope I can emphasize my extracurriculars. Either way, its not the end of the world

 

[DillonHall]

You just never know. Get good test scores (retake them if necessary), work hard on your application, and hope for the best

 

[BurningRiver]

Hope I can bump this thread with good news of my own next year.

Congrats to those in the Notre Dame class of 2017.

Is there a thread for ND specific admissions questions? I know there are a lot of ND alumni on the board with knowledge of the university.

I have a few questions...

How big of an impact does being a minority (Hispanic in my case) make for admission Notre Dame?

Are the supplement questions weighted as heavily as some may have you believe?

Is it possible to get in with average academics (GPA in a 3.3-3.6 range) if an applicant has a "hook," such as founding a charity, being a published author, etc?

My great uncle is an alumni of ND, my grandfather went to Notre Dame for three years before he had to leave to support his family. Neither of my parents graduated college, and while my grandfather spent time in college I don't believe he got his degree. Does this qualify me as a first generation college student?

If anyone feels they can lend some insight either reply here or PM me, I have many more questions but I will try not to fill up this thread.

Love Thee, Notre Dame

I was just accepted into the class of 2017, and I'll try to answer your questions, although I don't know how accurately I'll be able to.

In terms of minority, the admissions people gave the politically correct, "we don't even look at race, the diversity at this school just kind of fills itself out," but I firmly believe being a minority helps you, at least a little. It won't be a major part of your application at all, but it could be something of a tiebreaker.

I honestly have no idea about the supplement questions. To be honest I didn't feel I hit my supplement essays out of the park, but I nailed my personal statement essay. It's your best opportunity to show who you are beyond the numbers. An admissions counselor will typically only give your application 15 min before he or she moves on to the next one, and if you have a fantastic essay you'll be more likely to have a memorable application.

Honestly, and this is the hard part, I don't know if a 3.3-3.6 would cut it. Of course I don't know who you are nor do I know your specific schedule and work load, but in most cases even a 3.6 would probably be too low. My cumulative GPA was a 4.17 and my ACT was a 32. 4.17 is below average for admitted GPA's (the website says the avg. is 4.20) and the 32 is exactly average. I can tell you horror story after horror story about my friends with 4.1+ GPA's who were denied, but you probably don't want to hear that.

From what I understand, the only legacy that helps you is if your parents went to Notre Dame. According to the ND admissions counselor who visited my school, your entire family tree could've gone to Notre Dame, but if your immediate parents didn't none of it matters. I don't know how much of that I believe, but it's worth a thought I guess.

Other than that, please feel free to PM me if you have any questions about applying. I'd be happy to answer them. Good luck!

 

[LoveThee]

I was just accepted into the class of 2017, and I'll try to answer your questions, although I don't know how accurately I'll be able to.

In terms of minority, the admissions people gave the politically correct, "we don't even look at race, the diversity at this school just kind of fills itself out," but I firmly believe being a minority helps you, at least a little. It won't be a major part of your application at all, but it could be something of a tiebreaker.

I honestly have no idea about the supplement questions. To be honest I didn't feel I hit my supplement essays out of the park, but I nailed my personal statement essay. It's your best opportunity to show who you are beyond the numbers. An admissions counselor will typically only give your application 15 min before he or she moves on to the next one, and if you have a fantastic essay you'll be more likely to have a memorable application.

Honestly, and this is the hard part, I don't know if a 3.3-3.6 would cut it. Of course I don't know who you are nor do I know your specific schedule and work load, but in most cases even a 3.6 would probably be too low. My cumulative GPA was a 4.17 and my ACT was a 32. 4.17 is below average for admitted GPA's (the website says the avg. is 4.20) and the 32 is exactly average. I can tell you horror story after horror story about my friends with 4.1+ GPA's who were denied, but you probably don't want to hear that.

From what I understand, the only legacy that helps you is if your parents went to Notre Dame. According to the ND admissions counselor who visited my school, your entire family tree could've gone to Notre Dame, but if your immediate parents didn't none of it matters. I don't know how much of that I believe, but it's worth a thought I guess.

Other than that, please feel free to PM me if you have any questions about applying. I'd be happy to answer them. Good luck!

Just pointing out that 3.3-3.6 range is on an unweighted 4.0 scale. My weighted GPA is roughly a 3.9 I believe. I take a bunch of APs/honors classes, thanks for your opinion though I really appreciate all the input guys.

 

[notredomer23]

I wish I didn't have to wait until June to know if my application to transfer was accepted or not

 

[LoveThee]

I wish I didn't have to wait until June to know if my application to transfer was accepted or not

Best of luck! Keep us posted. What school are you at right now?

 

[notredomer23]

Best of luck! Keep us posted. What school are you at right now?

Holy Cross College across the street. It is nice being around ND, but it is not the same. Definitely a good alternative for a year or two though if you are trying to get into Notre Dame. It provides the structure needed to succeed, there are some amazing professors, small class sizes, and a pretty tight knit community. Plus, its nice that we get to go to all the ND games for about $30,000 less a year