<p>Hi, I got admitted early, just have a few questions to any current Domers. First, if I want to double major, is it possible to do so in two different schools - for example the college of arts and business? Do you think it is possible to do this is 4 years? If so, does one college's requirements take priority? The other thing I was wondering was, besides athletic events and university sponsored events, what does the typical ND student do on a non-football game weekend. Is there anywhere off campus that is a popular hangout?</p>
<p>To answer your question about the degree options first. It is definitely possible to double major in two different schools. I've got a friend who is a double major in psych and management. It is also possible to go a dual degree route, wherein you get a Bachelors degree from each college - ie friend who is dual degree: one in physics (College of Science), one in Computer Science (college of engineering). Double major is easily done in 4 years, whereas dual degrees often take 5 (this friend is an exception, he is getting out in 4 due to AP credits he had when he entered ND). The best thing to do is to sit down with your academic advisor in FYS and see what input they have for you; you will be meeting with them in the first weeks of school. They may have you talk to undergraduate advisors in the college's in which you are persuing majors. They know lots of nifty tricks such as which courses can be used to fill more than one requirement and things like that. You also need to check the course catalog, if I remember right, business can't be a supplemental major, so you're probably going to end up matriculating into Business college after FYS and your A&L major will be your supplemental one.</p>
<p>Now on to your second question...there are lots of things to do in South Bend, it depends on what kind of student you are. My Freshman year roomate and I tolerated each other but didn't ever become friends. I could come back to my room on any weekend to people drinking in our common room, and my roomates not even there (this was back when the culture was to leave your door unlocked all the time...of course a rash of thefts in dorms over past two years has eroded this culture to some degree). There are plenty of things to do on campus that don't involve alcohol if that is more your style. I won't lie to you, there is at times an attitude of study hard, party hard on campus here, but that is not unique to ND, but can be found on campus's across the country. The fact that kegs or hard alcohol are banned from campus doesn't particularly bother me at all, although it does to some. Sorry tried to encompass some aspects of campus life but don't really know what you are looking for with that rather open ended question. If you want more info on dorm dances, or places to go off campus, post more questions and I'll try to answer them...</p>
<p>Nemo thanks a lot you've been a big help.</p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>I figured I might as well post some additional information for you about South Bend. As a warning, currently there are a lot of tensions between some quarters of the city and the Univeristy students. This stems from an ordinance passed over the summer which the students see as unfairly targeting them. If you really want to follow this controversy, look at google, the South Bend Tribune, the online editions of the Observer (ND's newspaper)...If people want my own personal feelings on this matter feel free to ask. Is this going to impact Freshman, not really. Just understand thet the opinions of some denizens of the city are that ND students are rich, spoiled kids who get wasted on weekends. So you might encounter this if you get off campus....</p>
<p>Now getting off-campus is the fun part. As of this year the student government worked out a deal with Transpo so that ND students, faculty and staff are able to ride the city's bus system for free. So this is one option. The other option is to bum a ride off someone else in your dorm who has a car, or become friends with a townie and hope they have a car. This is because Freshman are not allowed to register a vehicle on campus. Second semester they often let you bring one on though, it will depend on numbers of decals sold (so I've been told). In reality, I think every year since my Freshman year, they have allowed cars to Freshman second semester. It costs 90 dollars to register your car with ND for the year and get the decal. If you don't have one, you could be ticketed....do I know people who've never registered their car? yes. Do I advise following this plan? NO. It can cause a lot of hassles and problems with security, especially when you try to bring a car on-campus to your dorm and they see it hasn't been registered (since there's no decal on the windshield).</p>
<p>Now do you need a car to get out of the ND bubble. Well either that or use the bus or enjoy really long walks on the side of busy roads. SB has a mall, the usual chain restraunts, and way too many starbucks. There's always the late night fun of going to walmart or meijer at absurdly late hours....As to the stores here, you can find everything that is in suburbia USA. There's a lot more to SB than Grape Rd. and Main Rd. though. One can only go to Football hall of fame, the potawanami zoo, studebaker museum so many times. There is the Morris Performing Arts center downtown that has a variety of performances and concerts held within. </p>
<p>One word of warning....if you are expecting the big city atmosphere of Chicago or a major city, it's not here. You can always take the South Shore Train to Chicago though if that's what you crave. Cab ride to airport around 10 dollars, and the train ticket a little over 20 for round trip; and the South Shore comes in to downtown Chicago underground near State St and Michigan Ave. </p>
<p>It's up to you to make the best of the town....you can sit back and moan there's nothing to do in SB, and be the kind of person who takes your significant other on dates to South Dining Hall (these people really annoy me) or sits and cuddles in the Lafortune Student center (ditto on these). Alternatively you can go out and explore the town and find what it has to offer. And yes there are ethnic eateries, other than the chinese take-out restaurant up here.</p>
<p>Let me add that there are plenty of opportunities if you want to stay on campus for things to do. In case anyone takes my previous post as my condmnation of university life on campus. Personally I spend more time on than off. If one stays on than consider taking in such venues as the DPAC shows or concerts, or seeing the SUB movie on weekends on campus (these flicks might have been in the theatre 3-4 months prior to when we get them). But it's really cheap to go and see a movie!</p>
<p>Great job Nemo2001!
Thanks for all the interesting information!</p>