Chance at Notre Dame

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am a White male student, who studies at a rigorous school considered to be one of the best in my area (33% admission, 1890 avg SAT for graduating seniors). I am looking to be an engineering major (which doesn't look like a strong suit of ND). A bit more about my school: my school is a liberal arts school that focuses on writing; each year every student (regardless of english class) writes a 15 page research paper over the course of a month not using class time, and the papers are worth a third of the semester grade. Also, my school does not recommend underclassmen taking AP's, or upperclassmen taking more than 3. Frankly, my school does not offer that many non-science AP's. I'm hoping you don't think of me as stuck up, I'm just trying to explain more about my school and about my courseload.</p>

<p>However, I would just like to say that I want you to be completely honest. One of the reasons I'm writing this is because I fear that I might be getting my hopes up for nothing.</p>

<p>my #'s:
2200 highest combined sat 770m/670cr/760w
2180 highest single sat 760m/660cr/760w
National merit commended scholar, 216 PSAT (would've been a semifinalist in 84% of other states... eff me for living in Washington State)
790 Math II subject test score, 640 Physics B subject score (after only a month and a half of pure physics)
91% GPA (courses graded on 100 scale, no class rank)</p>

<p>my courses:
H.S. courses taken in middle school
Japanese I
Japanese II
Algebra I
Geometry
9th grade:
Japanese III
English 9
Algebra II honors
Lab Science I (my school has a crazy combined chem/bio and a small dose of physics science curriculum fresh/soph years)
World History 9
Jazz Band
Studio Art (1 semester)
Advanced Conditioning (1 semester)
10th grade:
English 10
World History 10
Precalculus Honors
Concert Band
Lab Science II (once again, crazy combined program)
Japanese IV
Lifeskills (1 semester)
Advanced P.E. (basically a semester of flag football for the jocks at my school, 1 semester)
11th Grade:
"And Justice for All"/Literature of the American West (both 1 semester English electives)
AP Calculus AB (5 on AP test after an 86 in the class)
Adv. Lab Science Honors (Chem/Bio class)
U.S. History Honors
Intro to Psychology (1 semester)
Team Sports (1 semester)
Jazz Band
12th Grade:
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
AP Physics B
The Meaning of Life (English Elective)
Jazz Band
Middle East (1 semester)</p>

<p>My Grades have mostly been B+ and A-, with exceptions in my history classes (all are A's except one semester of World history), Japanese (all B's) and adv lab topics honors (the hardest class I've ever taken, 84 and 81)</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars
JV Soccer starting keeper freshman year (barely mentioned on college app)
JV basketball freshman year, Varsity most of sophomore year (once again, barely mentioned)
4 year Baseball Letterman, Starting Right Fielder
Section Leader and 1st Chair trombone, junior and senior year for jazz band, also sophomore year in concert band
Part-time youth basketball referree
I was also ridiculously active in my church throughout high school, and here are all of the things that fall into that category
I was selected by my pastor as a search committee member for finding a new youth director at my church (3-4 hours a week, half a year)
Leader for my church's Junior high youth group program junior and senior year
I participate in every mission opportunity my church has to offer (annual service trips as well as local homeless/hunger projects)
Part of my church's youth leadership team, which helped plan the goals for my church's youth program and put on events
Lastly, I was also a member of a small group (2-3 hours/week) that discussed all sorts of issues within Christian faith, like the paradox of free will</p>

<p>Recomendations: My pastor wrote me a killer letter of reccomendation, and I got what I think is a very good one from my Junior year English teacher. Finally, I got what I think is a good (not great, not mediocre) letter from my Calc AB and BC teacher.</p>

<p>Additional info: I'm from Washington State, and I believe that I am the only person applying to Notre Dame from my class of 75 students.</p>

<p>I figure, I may as well include my complete college list. I've kind of put my guesses as to whether or not I get in next to each of them, as well as when I am applying and in what way. If you disagree with any, please say something, although the main focus of this topic is my chances at ND.
University of San Diego (yes)(ea)
University of Gonzaga (yes)(ea)
Northeastern University (yes)(ea)
Santa Clara University (yes)(ea)
Villanova University (yes)(ea)
University of Washington (yes)(rd)
Notre Dame (???)(ea)
Stanford (no)(rd)
Yale (no)(rd)</p>

<p>Finally, I am intending to go into mechanical engineering. Also, I'm curious as to what you guys think of my religious extracurriculars, and how much they will help me get in to ND? I just want to know what all of you think, considering the Notre Dame is one of the best Catholic and most Catholics school in my mind in the country (I am Presbyterian, by the way).</p>

2

<p>So I’m not sure how long you have to wait to bump, but I just did.</p>

3

<p>hahaha mitchwashington, good step :slight_smile: bump</p>

4

<p>I got a 222 on my psat, F*** new jersey. </p>

<p>But I think you will get into nd and above. Yale and stanford are unlikely for everyone but you have a shot</p>

5

<p>mitchwashington, just try to increase you critical reading score a little bit, I mean score above 700… it’s a magic score :)</p>

6

<p>I actually thought about taking the sat again to increase my cr, but I’ve actually already turned my app in so it would be too late to matter :/</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the responses though! Anyone else have any other opinions?</p>

8

<p>why? never is late :slight_smile: cannot you retake your sat in december?</p>

9

<p>the signups for december have closed I think, and by the time January rolls around I’ll already have heard back from ND</p>

10

<p>Here’s a bump.</p>

11

<p>Thanks for chancing me! I think that yours scores are in line to put you into consideration everywhere. Your japanese and heavy courseload, as well as a strong letter of rec will probably work in your favor. I would say Stanford and Yale are reaches, Wash U and Notre Dame are mid-to-high matches. Everywhere else I would be surprised if you didn’t get in. Best of luck!</p>

12

<p>thanks man! I appreciate it.</p>

13

<p>Although your guess is as good as mine, I agree with your conclusion about your schools. As always, Yale and Standford are going to be iffy no matter what; your other choices are probably good to go. Notre Dame might be a mid-ish match for you - your scores are great and your community involvement with its focus in a single area (your church) speaks a lot to your character. Good luck!</p>

14

<p>Thanks spryng! Best of luck to you as well!</p>

15

<p>I think that being an intended engineering major will definitely help you to get into ND. But it seems like you have good enough grades and very solid ECs that ND seems like a good possibility :).</p>