<p>Anyone have any real insight in what ND is looking for to pull someone off of this list? With a GPA of 3.8, and 4.4 Weighted, plus an ACT of 33, 5 AP Classes, and everything else ND appears to be looking for - I am stumped.</p>
<p>Could be a logistic/statistic thing against me, but I hope not.</p>
<p>This is general waitlist advice, but should be helpful.</p>
<p>You have to write them. Not an email or a phone call, but write a letter. Make it personal, tell them why you want to be at Notre Dame and why you should be accepted. There are many others who want to get off the waitlist, so you need to distinguish yourself. There are a few key points.</p>
<p>1.) Why you are academically qualified. This is always the first step, as you won’t be let in without it. However, they have already placed you on the waitlist, which means they do feel that you are academically qualified. You can touch on this, but a lot of people (pretty much everyone on the waitlist) will fall into this, so focus more on the next two.</p>
<p>2.) What can Notre Dame do for you? Basically, it means “Why Notre Dame?” Why do you want to go to Notre Dame? What does it offer you that you could have nowhere else? Mention specifics (programs you like, campus, things about the school, Catholic nature, all of that). Convince them that Notre Dame is the school for you. Still, this applies for a significant number of people. This next one is where you make your mark.</p>
<p>3.) What can you do for Notre Dame? Why should they accept you over everyone else? What will you bring to campus, how will you affect their student body? Tell them about yourself, about your acheivements, about your dreams. Tell them why Notre Dame would be better off with you as a student. And mean it.</p>
<p>But no matter what you do, it isn’t likely you will be accepted off the waitlist. A lot of times, there are no waitlist acceptances at all, so don’t take it personally. Submit a deposit elsewhere and prepare for college. It’s not where you go for your education that matters most, it’s what you do with it. Good luck. </p>
<p>If it’s any consolation, you are very well-qualified.</p>
<p>
[Class</a> of 2015](<a href=“http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/news/class-of-2015-promises-to-be-one-of-the-best-1.2130707]Class”>http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/news/class-of-2015-promises-to-be-one-of-the-best-1.2130707)</p>
<p>Terrific advice from BillyMc. Definitely do all of that, and more (if anything else comes for you). In addition to the above, I had more teachers/ND alumni/etc send letters of recommendation (no limit as to how many) when I was on the waitlist. Keep in touch with your admissions representative throughout the whole thing, as he will also be one of the main people fighting for your cause; for example, I sent him plenty of updates on the math competitions I was competing in, a few of which I won, as well as my 2nd semester report card, which was the best of my high school career (keep working!) Above all, stay confident. Like BillyMc said, it’s very tough to get off the waitlist. Doing all of these will give you the best chance of doing so, but whether or not you do, you’re going to have a great college experience and you’re ultimately going to love it regardless.</p>
<p>Cheers!</p>
<p>I met with the Principal of my son’s H.S. today - Catholic HS with a Priest as the Principal. The Priest was a bit surpirsed, as was I - that ND has only admitted one student from our HS (we had 5 go last year). We currently have four on the waitlist including my son. The Priest is going to personally call the admissions counselor and fight for/sell my son’s cause, as well as follow up with a Personal Letter of Recommendation. </p>
<p>I realize someone may think this is to strong of a tactic to actually have the Priest/Principal pick up the phone himself - but I believe it will help as he is very articulate, well respected in his community, and really knows my son and our family very well.</p>
<p>Additionally, the Priest told me he has never written a letter of recommendation to ND, and not had his student accepted. We shall see…</p>
<p>It sounds like a personal recommendation from the Principal/Priest would be quite helpful.</p>
<p>Since he’s willing, a call would certainly be the right way to go. With 1850 students waitlisted this year (my year had 900), you need to find any and every way to stick out, which a recommendation over the phone would certainly do. I’m sure Notre Dame would appreciate that, as forward as it may be.</p>
<p>My daughter is also waitlisted at ND. I don’t have high hopes of her getting off the waitlist, as I was told by someone connected with admissions that 1,000 valedictorians applied to ND, with only 300 being admitted. Also, half of all those who had applied who had perfect SATs were denied. It is a very depressing statistic! Not a good year for our seniors.</p>
<p>To everyone of the waitlist: Don’t count yourselves out already 
Making the waitlist means you’re good enough… there’s just not enough room for you. And if you really want to go to Notre Dame, transfer there later. Good luck!</p>
<p>For those of you in my position - on the current waitlist, we have all heard that there are almost 1900 on the waitlist - ugh!!</p>
<p>Does anyone know anyone/anything, etc…that says ND may allow 10% in, 20% in, or even ZERO?</p>
<p>Looking for a ray of light here…lol</p>
<p>They will let in however many openings they get. Some years quite a few, some years none. It all depends on the plans of the admitted students.</p>
<p>Two years ago they had about 700 or so on the waitlist, and they did two batches (they admitted one group of 50 around May 7th, and then I got in when they admitted a second batch of 50 around May 22nd). I feel like a similar result may happen this year; 100 or so seems to be the norm, if not a large number (we later heard that our second batch of 50 was only admitted because of the tough economy at the time).</p>
<p>We still haven’t received a financial aid package from ND (and unfortunately we can’t even come close to paying full tuition). We probably aren’t the only families in this predicament, so that should open up a lot of spots for students who are on the waiting list. Good luck everyone. I certainly wish it were financial viable for us to send our student, but we just can’t afford it.</p>
<p>
My package will also likely come in shortly before May 1st. <em>gulp</em></p>
<p>so anyone else on the waitlist… about how often do you email or talk to your admissions counselor at nd and what do you say?</p>
<p>i want to make myself known but i dont want to be too forward</p>