<p>Well, I was admitted EA and was ecstatic. However, i waited to submit my $500 deposit until my NROTC scholarship came through. Finally, a couple of weeks ago it did. I have just gotten around to filling out the forms and check for enrollment next year. However, I checked online last night and found out I had gotten into Washington University in St. Louis. Now, this shouldn't mean anything to me, but i can't get around the fact that it is ranked higher (doesn't really matter) and i really liked it when i visited there. But i also loved notre dame when i visited. So now i'm in limbo. I know i'll prob. send in the deposit to notre dame, but i'll still have that uneasy feeling in my stomach. My question is: did you current students know that it was the absolute right place for you before you went there and do you have any advice to make me more confident about my decision? and for fellow accepted students: are you sure it is the right place for you? </p>
<p>I think I understand how you feel. I love ND and was admitted EA but I am afraid to make the final decision. I was accepted to WASHU and also to Rice. I am visiting all three schools in the next few weeks and then will make my decision. I know this is a very big decision, and I want to make the best choice. This is a very stressful time.</p>
<p>I will refer you guys to my website <a href="http://www.nd.edu/%7Emnadorff/transfer%5B/url%5D">www.nd.edu/~mnadorff/transfer</a> so you can look at the info on what it is like to be here but I will do my best to respond. ND was always my dream school, so it is hard for me to fully relate, but I can see your point. The main thing I would say is with the schools you are looking at you really can't go wrong; you are going to get a great education either way. The question is what you want the environment to be like and some of the specifics. If you want a caring Catholic atmosphere were there are some restrictions (but sometimes they are very helpful believe it or not) but also there is a lot of support for you to grow in your faith life then I would go for ND. If you really wanted to be in a big city, want a secular university, or are hoping to have a live-in girlfriend in your dorm room then perhaps another school is more fitting. Though it may sound like it, I am not saying one of these is right or wrong but rather that it depends on what you are looking for.</p>
<p>One thing I will tell you is that the rankings towards the top really mean very little, honestly. Look at the breakdown and you will see that there isn't much that separates these schools and I doubt that you could tell the difference between the two if you didn't know. However, if the rankings mean so much to you that you will regret not going to the higher ranked school, then go there. I won't try to talk you out of it. It is all about what is important to you and that is what you have to figure out. What I can tell you is that the name Notre Dame opens at least as many doors for you if not more than WUSTL and you can do very well with a ND degree. Again, you can't go wrong. I would not look at the rankings in this case, but if they mean that much to you, go to the highest ranked school you can.</p>
<p>The best advice I can give you from someone who, while Notre Dame was my dream school, did have to go through and weigh a lot of different schools (including WUSTL believe it or not...I choose Creighton over it) is think about what is important to you for these next four years and choose off of that. Is faith important to you? Do you not want to be restricted by rules? Is the size of the city important? Is diversity important to you and what kinds are important (i.e. religious since ND is 85% Catholic). Think of the kind of place you want to spend the next four years and then pick the closest place to that; that is the best advice I have for you. Do go and read what I wrote about the ND family and life at ND in comparison to other top colleges; granted it is just my opinion but I think it will help.</p>
<p>I suspect that you will be happy and successful at either school. Nonetheless, this is a large decision, so I suggest you take the next couple of weeks to research both schools more in-depthly. If your finances allow it, attend the admitted student weekends or visit during some other time. Think about what you want out of college, and ask (students, faculty, etc.) any questions that you have. There is nothing wrong with taking rank into consideration; however, in this case, the difference in rank seems inconsequential, especially when you take ND's alumni network and prestige in the general population into consideration. The two schools are a lot different, and I think it is worth your time to think about their differences. You may continue to feel as if any decision you make is the wrong one, but have faith that both schools are great ones, and there is no wrong choice. You can have a great education and undergraduate experience at either school, and your time will be what you make of it.</p>
<p>My son, at ND, had a classmate to go WashU. To be frank, he hated it, and left after two years. On the other hand, my cousin went there and really liked it.</p>
<p>I'd be careful. College is SO much more than rankings, which ebb and flow. You need to pick the best experience. I can't help but think you'd be extremely sorry you didn't go to ND, especially if you picked WashU over ND. I've heard only exceedingly rare stories of kids not liking ND.</p>