<p>Thank you for taking the time to read/evaluate this...I really appreciate it. Let me just say that ND is my dream school, and I am worried about admission this fall...
ACT: 31 (hopefully raise it in April)
Course difficulty: 4 APs by graduation along with 10 honor classes
Rank: around top 14% at very competitive high school</p>
<p>GPA: 3.6uw/4.0w</p>
<p>ECs:
Volleyball 9-12 (varsity 11-12)
Summer volleyball camps (11-12)
Summer football camp (9 summer)
Weightlifting camp (9 summer)
Volleyball intramural/open gyms 10-12,
football (9-10)
Community service (around 20 hrs only)
youth group (9-12)
basketball league (outside of school 9-12)
baseball league (outside of school 9-12)
active golf member (outside of school 10-12)
Mock Trial competition v. rival school (11, elected lead role by peers)
Part-time job 9-12
Summer internship w/NIU's athletic department (40 hour weeks, all unpaid)</p>
<p>I am hopefully going into business/sports management...
Thank you all in advance for your comments and opinions
(also, do you think i should apply EA if i get my ACT score up?)</p>
<p>ATM I would say ND is a slight reach. Your current GPA and scores may get you in but it will also take a very strong essay and teacher recs. If you can raise your scores a bit you should have a good chance at gaining admission in the fall.</p>
<p>And to answer the second question.. I would apply EA if you can get your scores around 33/1480.</p>
<p>Also I believe the amount of EC time you spend may provide a little bit of leniency towards your GPA.</p>
<p>My son was admitted EA for Fall '06. He shares similar stats with you, though he had a lot of community service. gpa uw: 3.64, w 4.17, school doesn't rank, but in top 15%. Here are some thoughts: </p>
<p>1) You might want to take the SAT and SAT II's in addition to the ACT. ND wants you to take advantage of the ways you can maximize your scoring (per the website), and taking multiple ACT/SAT shows perseverance and tenacity (as well as a possible improved score!) My son took the ACT once (30) and SAT twice (2230 highest combined) and when asked, his regional rep advised him to submit the ACT as well (even though it was much lower compared to the SAT). </p>
<p>2) You've spent a lot of time in sports. Are you interested in finding a couple of hours a week to mentor/coach disadvantaged kids (in a shelter, special olympics, school) to give those kids the benefit of your passion/experience in that area? An overwhelming majority of ND kids are involved in community service at ND...My son volunteers at a shelter and during the summers, ND students come out and spend their summers volunteering as lifeguards there...that made such an impression on him, that college students would actually choose to spend their summer doing that...it was the catalyst that made him look into ND as a college choice...ND places a high value on commitment to social justice...</p>
<p>3) Don't be afraid to communicate with your regional rep with your questions and to meet him/her at your school and open houses in your area...If you email him/her your scores, grades, activities, etc. in Sept., your rep will let you know if you are competitive for EA, or if you should wait for senior mid-year grades to come in and apply RD.</p>
<p>4) If you haven't visited ND, I would suggest doing that...nd vision, precollege summer experience, campus tours, sporting events, etc...lots of opportunities for the caring, family atmosphere of ND to envelop you. </p>
<p>Thank you all for your advice. Last weekend I visited the school and was simply AMAZED! Hopefully I can get my test scores higher, and I will definitely look into taking the SAT along with the ACT.</p>