<p>I am considering attending Notre Dame. My concern is diversity and the atmosphere on campus. I need to be honest: I have attended a predominantly white school for 7 years and am not looking to relive that experience especially if the community is not welcoming. I am Hispanic, and would love to see other people of my color. But most importantly, I would like to know that I am choosing a school that regardless of my ethnicity, people will be accepting and I will feel "at home" so to speak. I am from Southern California and very connected to my family. By going to ND, I leave everything I love and care for in California and just want to know that I will at least be somewhere loving while I am not with my own family. Please PLEASE help, what can I expect?</p>
<p>The student life at Notre Dame is fantastic. I think that the people there are some of the most welcoming and friendly people you will meet in your entire life. There may be less diversity, but I don’t think anyone feels unwelcome on campus. Of all the schools I visited, none of the others even came close to having the family/welcoming/caring atmosphere that I found at ND. But keep in mind that I am white, so the on campus feeling might be a little different for a Latino student. Regardless, I think that you would feel very welcome at ND.</p>
<p>Generally, you’ll find the campus to be very welcoming to you. There are multicultural groups on campus to join if you want something to connect to your cultural background with. However, the problem that I find ND to have is ignorance. A majority of students here, like you, attended predominately white schools. I’ve encountered people that will say things without thinking (not to be hurtful) and it’s just something you’ll learn to take in stride if you decide to come here.</p>
<p>This is my honest answer as a minority student at Notre Dame. I appreciate the administration’s work to make diversity and culture a more transparent issue here. In no way am I trying to turn you away - ND is my home and coming here was the greatest decision I’ve made thus far!</p>
<p>Yay! I’m an African American female that will be applying this fall and I was worried about the same thing. I have friends of my race that have encountered some for of discrimination by white people.</p>
<p>Subscribing to this thread…</p>
<p>Bump!I am concerned too…</p>
<p>At Notre Dame, while the majority of students are Caucasian, I believe there are actually more Hispanic students than at most other comparable academic institutions. You will still be a minority, but due to Notre Dame’s Catholic affiliation, there is a significant Hispanic presence on campus.</p>
<p>And no matter what your race is, Notre Dame is generally a welcoming place. All that stuff you hear about the Notre Dame family is true. :)</p>
<p>Also, this is a bit dated now, but: [Magazine</a> ranks ND among ?Top 25 Colleges for Hispanics? // News // Notre Dame News // University of Notre Dame](<a href=“http://news.nd.edu/news/11264-magazine-ranks-nd-among-top-25-colleges-for-hispanics/]Magazine”>Magazine ranks ND among “Top 25 Colleges for Hispanics” | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame)</p>
At Notre Dame, many people are short and many are tall. They are from all parts of the country and world. Some like sports and some don’t. Many want to be engineers and others want to study liberal arts. Some like a quiet night of reading and others like to go out. Some prefer running while others do yoga. Some were raised by single parents and others have 6 or more siblings.
Why does it always have to be about race? What really matters is what is on the inside.
Notre Dame is very diverse. There are all kinds of nice people there.
You will be fine. You will make great friends at ND and have lots of support around you. You ties to family and friends in California will not be lost.
It’s not as much about race as it is about culture. It’s good to know some people that grew up with the same traditions, customs, religious holidays, etc. Helps you find a link to home.
If you are willing to integrate with the student body irrespective of their ethnic or other physical characteristics, you will enjoy ND. If you are more comfortable associating only with others that share your physical attributes, you should find another school.
I’m a minority (black) female, and catholic (which is apparently rare, but I’m of west african descent). Are you guys applying to Notre Dame EA? I wanted to but then found that since I wanted to apply to Penn ED, I can’t apply to Notre Dame EA.
MODERATOR’S NOTE: Please use old threads for reference only. I am closing this one. It’s from 2010.