<p>I'm a freshman here at ND and I figured that I would see if anyone has any questions (not any chances), but any general questions. I know some of you are getting accepted, so I figured now was a good time to see if anyone had any questions. Shot away!</p>
<p>If accepted, the thing that might bug me the most is being out in the “middle of nowhere”. Does this bug you?</p>
<p>Is South Bend a nice/safe area?</p>
<p>Great first question: </p>
<p>I don’t mind being “out in the middle of no where” - to be honest, it is not like you are in the middle of a large farm. There are all the customary restaurants and stores around. Most people stick around on campus just cuz you can always find something to do. Going into South Bend isn’t the best idea, but most people never consider this. There are off campus parties and such, but for the most part these are safe - just gotta watch out for Indiana cops (lol). But in general there is so much to do on campus, that I really don’t mind. South Bend itself is like any small city. However, Notre Dame itself is its own campus - there are minimal roads going through campus and there are Notre Dame security officers around. All dorms are locked and you have a pass to get in, and to be honest I sometimes walk around very, very late at night and feel completely safe - not to say that something won’t happen, but I feel ND is a very safe campus. </p>
<p>Does this work for an answer? Please feel free to ask my to clarify.</p>
<p>^ also, ND is working with the surrounding areas and just was involved with the construction of Eddy Street Commons which is good size apartment and shopping center across from campus. Plus we have a bar on campus (it is a little out of the way, but it is nice for gatherings).</p>
<p>hawkswim-as the parent of a Senior, (and I remember it like it was yesterday-that fall semester of freshman year-time flies!!), it sounds like you have settled in nicely! What type of courseload have you taken–many might be curious as to the academic difficulty, esp freshman year, when students are adjusting to many things–?</p>
<p>Thanks very much for your great response. I’m also curious as to your courseload, and specifically how much you’d say you devote to work and what time you can take to do leisure stuff. Are you generally in class all day, every day?</p>
<p>Right now I am planning on being a Civil Engineer, though I started in Architecture. However, I do know people in Science, Business, and Arts and Letters, so I should be able to give an idea of a lot of different topics. Right now I am taking five classes plus gym - the five courses and gym are required your freshman year. Everyone is placed in First Year of Studies. This is basically just a starting off point. Right now I am taking International Relations, First Year Composition, Calculus 3, Architectural Drawing, and Philosohpy. Most are just requirements, but they all broaden you understanding of the world - which is what they are meant for. Trust me, Notre Dame is not an easy school by any means. It is an adjustment getting settled, by Orientation helps (this is a crazy process by the way). Also, having Fall Break to return to home after 6 weeks of school helps too for those feeling homesick (though I never did). Work tends to get done late at night here, but I imagine that is like any college. It is going to be difficult - a lot more reading than I have done in high school. The biggest thing that I would say is that you need study habits that are not reliant on parents or anyone else. There are cases (and I have seen it) where salutatorians from great high schools have Cs and even dropped a class because of poor standing - this is not to scare anyone though. It is very possible to get good grades and enjoy yourself, especially on Saturdays! In addition, there are a lot of support help around. Good study habits will help you adjust, but make sure you are the one enforcing them. </p>
<p>I know this is long, but if anyone wants me to further answers, just ask!</p>
<p>A little bit of a different question - i know - but, with it being a catholic school, how does it go with opposite sexes in the dorms? and like, if people come to visit you at school, namely friends of the opposite sex and boyfriend/girlfriends, is there difficulites with them staying in your dorm? Haha, i don’t know an easier way to word this. haha.</p>
<p>Ok, so basically, you have five classes and PE. There are Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes that meet for 50 minutes and Tuesday and Thursday classes that meet for 1 hr. 15 minutes. There are also labs and discussion groups/tutorials depending on the class (usually math/sciences have these). So, basically what happens is you go to class whether starting at 8:30 or 10:40, have class anywhere until 12:35-4:00. Then you pretty much relax, have dinner, relax until about 8:30 - 9:00 and then start work until midnight or even later. This is my typical schedule. Many people do not relax as much and get more sleep, some relax more and get less sleep or less school work done. </p>
<p>I hope this helps, I actually have to got back to study…lol - I have a final tomorrow, but I will respond in more depth tomorrow or Saturday. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the questions!</p>
<p>^sorry for the bad grammar above - long week with finals lol</p>
<p>I will answer all the questions tomorrow night!</p>
<p>So, I’m a Catholic. I go to mass on Sundays, not just holidays, and am actually pretty interested in my own religion. HOWEVER, I have lived and worked in an extremely multicultural environment the last 3 years (whites are a minority at my school), and am really apprehensive that I will be surrounded by cultural and political… er, boring-ness? I want to be challenged by different views and opinions. I don’t want to be faced with everyone agreeing with me. Only when people contradict my beliefs do I really learn. Will there be an opportunity for this at Notre Dame, or should I look elsewhere?</p>
<p>ok, so first let me summarize my schedule. </p>
<p>Basically, it varies for everyone, but my last schedule was classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 - 12:35 and classes on Tues/Thurs from 9:30 - 3:30. There was a break in each day of about 50 minutes. I chose to the majority of my work after dinner at night, but again that varies. Now, you may not have classes til later, but you are in class later. Hopefully this answers the question! If it doesn’t email me back.</p>
<p>*sorry, i meant reply…haha…and please realize this is just my view, hopefully other people can give comments too!</p>
<p>For boyfriends/girlfriends - there are what we call parietals. The dorms are all guys and all girls. Parietals state that girls cannot be in guys dorms after 12:00 PM on Sunday-Thursday and 2:00 AM on Friday and Saturday. This works out for parties and such as it is enough time. There are also numerous rumors about breaking parietals - though if caught, there are harsh penalties. I would be hesitant about having a boyfriend or girlfriend visit, because they can’t stay in your room, though a friend of the same sex can. There are some people who go to other colleges (like Miami of Ohio) on some weekends to visit their boyfriend or girlfriend. While parietals are bad for the above situation, it is because of the Catholic nature of the school. Also, it also allows everyone to have their privacy and sleep on at night. It was meant so that girl/boyfriends weren’t in your room and preventing your roommate from getting sleep. </p>
<p>Hopes this answers the question.</p>
<p>Now onto the religion topic. Notre Dame is a catholic institution. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t look at the views of others. Look at the decision to bring Pres. Obama who is against their views into speak with them. I believe the number is about 70-80% of students are Catholic. However, in the dorms and such if there are people who are willing to discuss, it is not unnatural. I know someone who is willing to debate topics like religion with me, while there is another person who is not because he feels it would ruin the friendship. So, you are going to see this both ways. You can always take a Theology class and try to expose you even more, though I believe the intro theo courses are primarily based upon Catholicism. However, some seminar class (which are just smaller classes) do offer some more classes that challenge your views. It all depends on what class and who you find, though I would be shocked if you were not able to find some people to debate with. I would also think there would be a club that you could join that relates to the topic of challenging your beliefs. I do not know for sure if there is, but I imagine there might be. If you are as devoted as you are, I don’t think there is a better Catholic university in the US than Notre Dame. Each dorm has a chapel and most have daily masses. The Basilica is absolutely beautiful. If you visit - which I highly suggest (and maybe sleep over) … you need to see it. </p>
<p>Hope this answered your question - hopefully we can get some more people to help out. - ask again if you want more info and I will find out for you.</p>
<p>Are you required to go to Mass or any other devotional on a regular basis?</p>
<p>Explain ND’s take on the residential college system? Is it a problem living on campus all four years? Do most people do that?</p>
<p>Thanks for your answer, that’s what I was hoping for!</p>
<p>No, you are not required to go to Mass, I would say about 30-50% of the dorm go to mass. Basically, there are 29 dorms, 15 male, 14 female. Basically you are placed randomly in a dorm. There is no greek life. The randomness is to build diversity. There are off campus houses, but it is not uncommon at all to live all four years in the same dorm. Most people live in the same dorm for the amount of time they stay in the dorms, though it is allowed to change dorms and some people do change their dorms. I do plan on living in my dorm for all 4 years, and there are a good amount of seniors that do stay on campus - housing is guaranteed for all four years I believe - haven’t heard a story of not being able to get housing.</p>
<p>As a black student who gotinto Notre Dame, I hear that socio-ethnic DIVERSITY is one of Notre Dame greatness weakness. Would do make of this? </p>
<p>******I beg of you that you are honest what you say WILLhave an impact on wheter I chose to attend or not!!!</p>
<p>*I meant what do you make of this…</p>