Choosing to attend ND without having visited?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
1

<p>I was just recently accepted to the University of Notre Dame from its waitlist, and I have been given until Wednesday, June 4 to decide whether I will be attending. Because I am graduating on Sunday, and will probably not hear from their financial services department regarding aid until Monday or Tuesday, I do not think I will be able to visit in time to make a decision. I didn't visit ND during my college search because I did not think I would get in, but obviously that was a mistake and there's nothing I can do about it now. </p>

<p>To meet the May 1st deadline, I enrolled at Villanova University and was invited into its honors program. Though I wasn't really thrilled with my prospects and with where I was going, I had accepted it and moved on, and was anticipating attending there in the fall. I received a little over $17k in merit+need-based grants from Villanova, with also the option for a loan and work-study which was satisfactory. If Notre Dame gives me aid in the same ballpark, which I think it will, then finances will not be a factor in my decision. If I get less than ~$15k from ND, I would probably be able to safely choose Villanova without any big regrets. However, if I do get equal or more aid from ND, this might prove to be a very difficult decision.</p>

<p>On my college list, ND was near the top and Villanova was near the bottom. I think on paper, both schools are a very good match for me. I am Catholic, conservative, and white. I play the alto sax and have been very active in my high school band. Both have great athletics which are essential to a good band experience, though I think Notre Dame would definitely have the edge in both the athletic and band departments. Even with the honors program at Villanova, I think that Notre Dame's academics would also have the edge, especially because I will be studying liberal arts (political science, theology, English, Spanish language, etc.) and Villanova is really brought up by its business and engineering schools but is not so much known for its liberal arts. </p>

<p>Visiting Notre Dame would probably "seal the deal" and allow me to make a decision without any "what-ifs" left, but are there any reservations I should have about enrolling without a visit? I obviously can't get a real "feel" for the school without first going there. I have heard that the South Bend area is not a very nice place, but the proximity to Chicago is fine for me. From the pictures I've seen, the campus is really nice, though. </p>

<p>If any of you chose ND without visiting, or have any thoughts or advice, I'd greatly appreciate it!</p>

2

<p>I highly recommend visiting the campus. At one point during my Junior year I was dead set on attending Georgetown University. It seemed like the perfect fit, great academics, D.C. and I was being recruited to swim. However, after visiting the campus and feeling very underwhelmed, I decided that it wasn't the place for me. I couldn't see myself on the campus. Visitng really does seal the deal, you get that "gut feeling" and you either know or you don't that this would be the place for you. Visiting reassured my decision and I felt like I had covered all my options and fully evaluated my choices.</p>

3

<p>Yoshukiu,
Can you call the admissions office and explain your situation...maybe get a little extension so that you can get out there and get their financial info from them? I think that you should be honest about how much you would like to attend ND, but tell them that Villanova gave you a good financial package that you hesitate to turn down. </p>

<p>If not, how about getting the name of an alum in your area from the admissions office that you might be able to talk to. You could take the money you will get as graduation gifts and buy a tix to go see ND...ask for Divine Guidance at this point! ;-) And congratulations!</p>

4

<p>Keep in mind that visiting a campus during the summer, when few students are present, is very different than visiting during the academic year.</p>

5

<p>If you sent a letter to the admissions office expressing your interest without even having visited the school, I'd say you are pretty much guaranteed to like it once you actually visit.</p>

<p>I visited the school thinking there was no way I would ever choose it over 2 of my other choices, which seemed more prestigious to me. But when I walked around campus, I realized how flawless the architecture and facilities seemed in addition to the warm, comfortable feeling I got from the students and admissions staff. Sure, the surrounding area isn't the best, but the school is only 90 minutes from Chicago. Also, the purpose of going to college is to GO TO COLLEGE, not to be hanging out in a city constantly (I doubt there will be much time to waste, either, given the workload expected from a Top 20 school). Overall, I felt like ND was a really special place where I could excel and grow. I didn't get that feeling at the other two supposedly more prestigious schools I visited.</p>

<p>I can't really imagine how choosing ND would be a bad choice, given that you already have a strong interest in it. I doubt many people are disappointed after visiting, but then again, this is just my opinion and not based on anything concrete.</p>

6

<p>i'm going to have to completely agree with jimmy...visiting the school would completely seal the deal...nowhere else but notre dame--the most true sentence ever spoken. my story is that ive been to both schools, visiting, and i have one cousin at villanova and a few at nd... i found that nd being the first school i visited really spoiled me...i found that every other school i visited i would just compare it to notre dame's campus... "yeah it's nice, but at notre dame........" congrats on getting in and good luck choosing...theyre both great schools and you cant go wrong...but i'd go with ole notre dame</p>

7

<p>Having been to both places,ND wins hands down.Superior athletics,academics,campus,student body,networking after graduation,international renown,the list is endless.Granted South Bend is not the Main Line,so what! My impression is the ND campus is self contained with a dizzying cornucopia of activities of all sorts.Chicago,one of the world's great cities,is only 90 miles away.</p>

8

<p>Congrats! My opinion~go to ND. I know it's hard to choose a school without seeing it, but hands down there is no campus like ND...it is beautiful, the spirit is ever present and you will be part of an instant family. Guaranteed~you will love it!</p>

9

<p>I chose ND without visiting, and it was definitely the right decision. I got in as a transfer and I just didnt have the time to visit before decision time, but I just knew it was the place I was supposed to go, so I decided. Of course I would recommend visiting...it wouldve made my decision a lot easier.</p>

10

<p>Awesome, I love all of the positive feedback!
I am going to try to visit as soon as I get the financial aid results, but if I am unable to, I don't think I will hesitate in choosing ND.</p>

11

<p>"I highly recommend visiting the campus. At one point during my Junior year I was dead set on attending Georgetown University. It seemed like the perfect fit, great academics, D.C. and I was being recruited to swim. However, after visiting the campus and feeling very underwhelmed, I decided that it wasn't the place for me. I couldn't see myself on the campus. Visitng really does seal the deal, you get that "gut feeling" and you either know or you don't that this would be the place for you. Visiting reassured my decision and I felt like I had covered all my options and fully evaluated my choices."</p>

<p>This is EXACTLY what happened to me. I thought I was going to Georgetown, then I visited it and hated it. However, ND isn't quite as polarizing...you just need to know that it's in a mediocre midwestern town, more conservative than most universities, and very Catholic. But the campus is by far the most beautiful I've ever seen and the sense of community I have continued to see is wonderful. If they give you a lot of aid, I'd say go for it, and I wouldn't say that about many schools.</p>

12

<p>Yoshukiu, my daughter is in same boat with you, she even receives a scholarship from Villanova, but she will definitely go to ND without visiting. She will send deposit first, and then visit ND later.</p>