Chances and advice? Please...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
1

<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>I'm applying RD to Notre Dame this year, and I really really really want to get in, more than anywhere else. When I visited ND last spring, I fell in love with the campus environment (both physical environment and the people) there and could totally see myself at ND. I'm not sure about my chance, especially in terms of standing out among thousands of other applicants, so I could definitely do with some precious advice from you fellow ND'ers/ applicants/ parents/ anyone else. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>I've graduated already (Class of 2013) and I'm currently taking a gap year.
I'm Chinese, but went to high school in the US.</p>

<p>ACT: 35 (35 English, 36 Math, 36 Reading, 34 Science, 10 Writing)
SAT: 2270 (but probably not submitting)
TOEFL: 119 (out of 120) - I'm international
GPA: 3.995/4.0 unweighted
Class Rank: 14/52 = 28% :( ---- THIS IS WHAT I'M MOST WORRIED ABOUT. (As you can see above, I have pretty solid GPA, but because of my tiny graduating class and a few people getting 4.0's with the easiest classes, I have a horrible rank... any advice on that?)
School: Small, private Christian school in Michigan; almost everyone in my class went to mediocre state universities and small/local Christian colleges</p>

<p>AP: 10th grade- World History (5- Self studied), Calc AB (5)
11th grade- US History (5), Stats (4), Chem (3), Euro History (3- self)
12th grade- English Lit (5), English Lang (5- self), Calc BC (5), US Gov (5- self)
(Our school doesn't offer many AP's, so I make a habit of self-studying history exams.)</p>

<p>EC: Small school, no clubs, most of my EC's are outside of school and founded by myself, so bear with me as I explain everything ;)</p>

<p>Music-
- Piano for 13 years, various regional/state awards but nothing too major, accompanied for school choirs, orchestras, and for soloists and played at retirement homes etc. So I'd say pretty professional/ good, will be submitting music suppl.
- Violinist. Section leader at state youth orchestra. Accompanied school choir with violin too.
- Voice. Soprano at a renowned local choir.</p>

<p>ESL Teaching (I do a lot of ESL teaching, being an ESL student once myself - now I speak English like a first language - I devote lots of time to helping intl students who don't speak English)
- Founder/Organizer and Teacher of a non-profit community ESL class for intl children (K-12). Taught English grammar, helped kids on homework, and helped them adjust to American culture. Organized the location, advertisements, and everything else all by myself.
- Teacher and technician at a large (100 people +) ESL program at Church. Managed all videos and media and made all ppt lessons, taught kids English and led activities.
- Founder/Counselor of a kids' English Day Camp in China. During the day camp I taught kids English, played games w/ them in English, and etc. Arranged the camp location, advertisements/posters, and planned the activities and lessons myself.
- Taught English (as a volunteer teacher) to 60+ kids in rural (poor) China for 2 wks. Also planned all the lessons + activities myself.</p>

<p>School activities-
- Taught French for 2 years at school (11, 12) as an assistant to my French teacher. Not a TA that copies papers- I actually taught French I and II classes in front of the classroom alone, around 2-3 times a week.
- NHS Secretary
- Student Ambassador (arrange affairs for new/prospective students at school, lead campus tours, make sure they're fitting in, etc.)</p>

<p>Misc-
- Published a book/ poetry-collection of 75 poems in Chinese (by a pretty-renowned press in China). Been writing Chinese classical (Tang-dynasty format) poems since I was 6.
- Served as a Chinese culture consultant for a local HS's Chinese-themed prom (not my high school, another high school). Designed prom decors/sets, arranged purchases of props and decorations, foods, programs... worked my tails off every week.</p>

<p>I'm also a Christian from China if that means anything for ND (either positive or negative). I take my faith pretty seriously so I'm gonna write about it in one of my ND essays. (Good idea? Bad idea?)</p>

<hr>

<p>So I guess my stats are probably okayyyy, but I don't know how to make myself "shine" through my apps and essays. Especially considering the word limit of the Common App Activities List. I have no space to expand on some of my activities, although they are really important/life-changing for me.
I already wrote my common app essay and I'm half way through my ND essays, but I could do with any advice from anyone at all... Thank you so much :) :) :)</p>

2

<p>You appear to be a strong candidate. Your class rigor appears solid and your ECs are impressive for anyone, even more so for an international at a small high school. However, two items do jump out to me: your class rank and your gap year activities.</p>

<p>At many private schools, especially smaller ones, rank is not reported. If yours does report, I would suggest a long discussion with your GC about trying to exclude it from your transcript. If this does not work, ask if he will write in his LOR about the less rigor of your classmates’ schedules. In any event, rampant grade inflation will be obvious to adcoms when an UW GPA of 3.995 drops you out of the top quartile.</p>

<p>You don’t mention why you are taking a gap year. Nor do you mention what you are doing during your gap year. Did you apply to schools last year? Is there anything you can include about what you have done since June?</p>

3

<p>Hi rmldad! Thank you so much for replying and for the advice. Unfortunately my counselor already sent out the report, so there’s nothing much I could do about it. Plus, in our school we don’t technically have a ‘counselor’… So they don’t actually care much/ know much about college admissions (nor did anyone ever sat down and talked to me or other students about college apps ever).
As for my gap year, I forgot to mention it here but did in my common app additional info section that: I took the gap year because I’ve always been the youngest student in my class (I was 16 when I graduated HS) and for college I want to close the age gap and take a year off to mature myself for college. (I don’t know if colleges will like this reason, but it’s true, so yeah.)
During my gap year, so far, I’ve (singlehandedly) founded an English kids summer camp, taught poor children English in a Chinese village, joined the Youth debate league of China and was Semi-Finalist in one of their tournaments. In my app, I also wrote out some detailed plans for the rest of my gap year, including more volunteer teaching (to poor Chinese schools), piano, and etc. I also made the point that I would be pursuing my other interests/passions during the year - such as reading about Jewish History, comparative government, French, cooking, and hairstyling - , although they might not be award-winning/public all the time
Again, thank you!</p>

4

<p>Bump?? Please…</p>

5

<p>Your chances look really good. I was accepted EA to ND with just a little above average stats but I had a compelling story to tell–just as you do. Good luck!</p>

6

<p>You will be fine. I’d be shocked if you were rejected.</p>

7

<p>I was accepted EA so I think I can be some help.</p>

<p>Don’t worry about your class rank. The academics in your application are great and rank shouldn’t be too much of an issue as long as you are excelling in challenging classes (or the most challenging offered at your school). You’re unweighted GPA is near perfect, so I don’t think they can ask for much more. </p>

<p>Your APs are solid. Remember how I said I got in? Well I have gotten four 4’s and a 3 on AP exams and am taking 4 AP classes this year. The fact that you self studied and succeeded with look good on your app.</p>

<p>They will also understand that you come from a small school with limited opportunities and the fact that you created opportunities for yourself shows you are motivated and would do well at a place like ND. </p>

<p>The music stuff is awesome. Dedication is good. (ND also has some great music facilities)</p>

<p>Your other out of school activities are great and I sense that you are dedicated and care abut everything you do, which is awesome.</p>

<p>Your in school activities seem limited, but given the limited opportunities that your school offers I would say they are solid.</p>

<p>The fact that you’re published ROCKS. So go you. </p>

<p>For the ND essays: writing about faith and it’s impact on your life is a great idea, even if it is not a Catholic faith. They will love that considering it is the Catholic institution to go to. </p>

<p>You are a great applicant (stronger than I was) and I really think you will get in (I also don’t say this on most chance threads)! Like I said, I was admitted EA and I would be happy to help you with the application if you PM me. As for dealing with the common app word limit, I would be happy to help with that too (I had a similar issue). </p>

<p>You are great and I honestly really really really want you to get in because you deserve it! If you have any questions feel free to send me a PM. </p>

<p>Sorry for redundancies and for having so many paragraphs…</p>

8

<p>Sorry, trying to figure this website out. </p>

<p>“Your chances look really good. I was accepted EA to ND with just a little above average stats but I had a compelling story to tell–just as you do. Good luck!”</p>

<p>Wiggin42, If you don’t mind me asking, what was your story?</p>