<p>Hi there.
I was deferred back in December. I am submitting my first semester grades, and also a list of awards and activities for senior year.
I know that ND doesn't seem to want excess stuff to read, but I have a short very good essay that everyone (family, friends) seems to like a whole lot. It is about playing a musical instrument, but I take an unsuspected twist in the kind of music I like to play, and it is a little bit humorous (but not too much). I have won awards for this unique style of music.
I didn't include this essay for ND, because I had something else that I thought was more important for the long essay, and for the optional short one--I had a serious health issue that I dealt with during junior year, that I thought was worth explaining.
Any advice out there. I really don't want to irritate them, but this music essay is short, it really does describe an interesting part of my life. Would it be a drastic mistake to send in? I'm in the top 3.7% of my class. SAT's are good, not great. I'm from the southeast, if that matters.</p>
<p>Call your regional admission officer(the one that came to your school to talk about ND, if he/she didnt come to your school, look up at ND website to find the regional admission officer), no one in CC can point u the right way, we can only suggest.</p>
<p>I have a feeling that she'll still have a great chance with updated information without an essay...</p>
<p>I think they ar willing to look at whatever you send as long as it is not in excess</p>
<p>I would send it honestly, I think it can only help. As others have said, just don't be over the top, but you are completely entitled to send something if you are deferred IMO.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the advice, I think I'm leaning towards sending it in. I'm sensible, and it won't swallow them up. That's how I'm leaning. You all are so kind!</p>
<p>bump, 10char.</p>
<p>Well I sent in a senior year update and attached a brief new essay. Thanks for everyone's input. I didn't think that the essay could hurt me, as long as I kept it brief. We'll see what happens now! Thanks.</p>
<p>make sure to keep in contact with your admissions counselor through email. that would be the best thing to do. essays can help, but to show real interest ask questions and send emails every once in a while.</p>
<p>red06
Thank you for that advice. You speak like you know what you are talking about. I sent my update in electronically to the admissions counselor that covers my state. I thought that I would probably receive some sort of brief acknowledgement that it was received, but I didn't. So I printed out my message (nice letter form) and essay and mailed the hard copies to them just to be sure they got them. I will follow your advice too. It makes sense.
Thanks so much.</p>
<p>My daughter was deferred by ND at the EA stage. Her stats are as follows:</p>
<p>1470 SAT (Superscored 760 M 710 CR) - at EA stage had a 1420 SAT
32 ACT
GPA 3.8 out of 4.0 (4.2 weighted)
Class Rank estimated at top 10%
Rigorous course load (5 AP classes this semester)
Private Catholic Prep School
Editor-In-Chief of School Newspaper
National Merit Commended Scholar
National Honor Society
Reasonable ECs with leadership
Very active in church and Catholicism
Have not read essay but she can write
Likely outstanding recommendation from high school campus minister</p>
<p>Based only on the above, I would expect that she would get into ND. But, her problems are two-fold - her class rank is a little low (but this is a prep school and she is competing against some very good students) - and, she has no hooks (although her grandfather and 2 uncles went to ND, they do not count under ND's definition of legacy). I guess I worry that while she is a solid student, there is nothing in the above that makes her truly stand out. She retook the SAT and improved her score a little. Her first semester grades have also been submitted. Is there anything else we can focus on to improve her chances at this late date? For example, would it help to send in copies of her work at her school newspaper?</p>
<p>hktk:
I think your daughter was deferred because of the very tough EA applicant pool = her ACT score. There were several threads suggesting there was cutoff at under a 34. Who knows.</p>
<p>In the regular admissions cycle, I think she looks solid. I disagree with the rank issue you mention. Top 10% is the highest rank in a school that ranks in decile. My son got in early with a "top 10%" rank. When I look over her ECs, she is appears weak, but hopefully she played up the Editor postion. </p>
<p>I would take the advice bqwe04 gave to the original poster and have your daughter contact her admissions rep and ask about submitting the articles. I'm thinking no, but let the rep talk to her. This will also show interest. If this is the way she wants to go, she should do this immediately.</p>
<p>She is a solid applicant and has a decent shot. Good luck.</p>