<p>Basically people in my school have been saying that.
Why?
Because I got in, and the valedictorian didn't. He is the school president as well as a talented athlete...sibling legacy too at ND too. He got rejected outright (but he got into Georgetown EA, which is more selective).
I, on the other hand, have no major leadership roles, no connections, am non-athletic, and I'm NOT EVEN IN THE TOP 10% OF MY CLASS. I have good scores, emphasized my extracurriculars though not as impressive as his, wrote great essays, etc., so I'm not totally shocked that I got in.
I AM shocked that he didn't. He has the edge over me in every way. His leadership, sports, grades, recs, EVERYTHING are amazing. Before someone suggests that maybe he came across as an arrogant prick in his app, there is NO way. He is humble to the core and one of the nicest people I know.
I can't help but wonder if ND has Tufts Syndrome for not accepting him. People have been saying that ND "isn't THAT good" and that "he's too good for them".
Thoughts?</p>
<p>I don’t think so. Based on Naviance at our high school they only take the highest GPA’s and test scores. Based on what you described this almost seems like a bad admissions mistake. He seems like an ideal candidate for ND. I am happy to hear that he is in at Georgetown.</p>
<p>ND looks A LOT at test scores. From seeing the results from the last few years, I think they place more emphasis on that than academic. My own opinion here.</p>
<p>You don’t happen to know what your Val’s scores were? Compared to yours?</p>
<p>@kayakct, I can’t wrap my head around what admissions was thinking. Everyone is saying ND must have assumed he would never choose them since based on his qualifications they must have known he got into/will get into super competitive schools. Yet ND was one of his top choices. His brother goes there, and he is a HUGE ND fan. He is by far the most talented and hard-working student in our grade and I have no idea how this happened…</p>
<p>@jcold9, I have no idea what his scores were. I’m guessing very good because he is super intelligent, got into Georgetown EA, and is considered highly competitive for the Ivies to which he is applying.</p>
<p>massgirl92 - If everything is as good as you say it is, then I would have to say that ND admissions made a huge mistake here (if I were him I would actually contact ND and see if there is any way to review it if everything is that good)…the only thing I can think of is if something was really wrong with his application…maybe his essays transfered wrong or a recommendation was not what he had thought…or (and I would hate if this happened), maybe something happened with his parents that attended ND that rubbed ND the wrong way?? - all i know is that if everything is as you say, this is an utter tragedy by ND…</p>
<p>Well, I’m sorry for your val. Something sorta similar happened at my school, but the kid who got the short end is going to get in somewhere great(or atleast I hope so, I like him, no homo). </p>
<p>But if ND has Tufts syndrome…well then that would help me haha. Technically I am qualified for ND, top 10%, 3.8UW/4.2W, 2110 SAT, Eagle Scout, Student Govt, etc… but I’m not a slam dunk by any means and I am barely above the 2100+ “threshold”.</p>
<p>We shall see. Congrats on getting in.</p>
<p>No, I know plenty of kids ND has stolen away from Ivies etc. ND and Georgetown look for different things explaining why 1 school will reject kids the other will take very often. From what I understand ND is borderline obsessive with test scores, which makes sense since it’s the only way you can really compare kids going to diff. schools academically. Georgetown has a different selection criteria than we do and are ranked lower so it’s not super surprising.</p>
<p>It could also have something to do with the subjective parts of his application i.e. essays, recommendations, short answers.</p>
<p>Notre dame is harder to get into then Georgetown. Congrats on your acceptance, you obviously had something that Notre dame wanted that why you got in. People with perfect gpa and sat scores and lots of ec still get rejected from top schools since the majority of the applicants all high scores and grades</p>
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<p>That’s certainly true for schools like HYP, but for slightly less selective schools, like Notre Dame, admissions are much more predictable</p>
<p>Additionally, I would argue that Georgetown is harder to get into with an acceptance rate last year of 19.3% compared to Notre Dame’s acceptance rate of 28.8%</p>
<p>jgraider…i agree with you on the point that ND is slightly less selective, but to be honest, I don’t think that any of the top tier schools are really that predictable to be honest with you…</p>
<p>Georgetown’s applicant pool is also very self-selecting as well and I think it is harder to get into than Notre Dame. 3 SAT IIs. Not Common Application. GU’s application and essays were kind of a pain too. ND required 3 supplements, but they weren’t that bad (150 words each). Plus you have to interview. A lot of kids at my school said screw it, not taking a third SAT II, were daunted by the application, etc… </p>
<p>Not leaps and bounds harder to get into though.</p>
<p>But with that being said, I am a current applicant and I would be happy to get into either GU or ND, but I lean more towards GU right now.</p>
<p>^hold up, we need 3 SAT IIs and an interview? I was not aware of this. Haha please tell me I didn’t just waste my $65</p>
<p>Notre Dame definitely does not have Tufts syndrome. That being said, is he Catholic? Notre Dame cares about that. </p>
<p>Anyway, at least at my school, everybody with over a 34 got into Notre Dame, but as you get under that, you start seeing rejections.</p>
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<p>You don’t need 3 SAT IIs, but they “strongly recommend” taking 3. Someone said on CC they got in with only two, but he had mind blowing stats and equally impressive ECs. So technically, you don’t NEED 3, but the odds are stacked higher against you if you don’t. </p>
<p>And they usually contact you about setting up the interview. I have not been e-mailed yet, so IDK what I’m just gonna do, just wait I guess haha.</p>
<p>Yes, he is Catholic, and his brother is attending now. I don’t know what my val’s test scores are…this is what i know:</p>
<p>Grades and Course Rigor-best grades, great course rigor
Recs-I know you guys will say, “How do you know?” when it comes to his recs…but I attend a small private school where he is the Senior Prefect (class president equivalent). He is the most well-liked person I’ve ever met in my life, and having had classes with him there’s no way his recs aren’t amazing. One is from the Head of School. Btw I’m not even friends with my val so I’m not biased in saying all this.
Essays-I didn’t read them (obv), but I’ve read his writing in English classes before, and it is top-notch.
ECs-in addition to being a Senior Prefect he is a standout athlete. Varsity Hockey and Varsity Baseball…he captains both. I, on the other hand, don’t even play sports…
Test Scores-I have NO clue.
Other acceptances: Georgetown EA</p>
<p>Getting rejected with all of that going for him doesn’t make sense to me or my classmates. I’ve literally heard people in the same room as me say, “If she got in (referring to me) and he didn’t (referring to my val), then he was just way too good for them and they just rejected him because they know he’d end up at a much better school.” With his rejection, in conjunction with comments like those, I can’t help but wonder if ND has Tufts Syndrome.</p>
<p>It HAS, HAS to be test scores then. I would be willing to bet he got under a 1400 or a 32. No other explanation.</p>
<p>^Seriously. Notre Dame has one of the highest yield rates in the country, and with a sibling going to Notre Dame, there’s no reason to believe he wouldn’t definitely choose some other school.</p>
<p>It has to be some combination of test scores and essays. Considering he’s a “great writer,” it was probably scores.</p>
<p>10charrrrrr</p>
<p>I know 15+ kids at my high school that have gotten in without ANY SAT IIs. Then again, my HS is like NDs #2 feeder in the country.</p>
<p>I am happy that your friend got in at Georgetown; it sounds like he definitely deserves it. I am a little shocked that ND declined him, but it’s their loss. I’m not the biggest ND fan. I enjoy the atmosphere and the professors I have met, but the admissions people (that I have met) have come across as pompous and arrogant. It kind of ruined the school for me.</p>