<p>If your heart is set on Notre Dame, I’d recommend showing it as much as possible. Do an interview, apply ED/EA, do the optional “Why ND?” essay, etc. With all that, and good essays/recs, I’d say you’re in.</p>
<p>I probably will do that – apply EA to ND (why not apply early action somewhere?) and do the optional essay. I’m gonna try to see if I can get into one or two schools that I like that are ranked even higher than ND, just to see what happens… And b/c my parents would prefer I stay in the Northeast! I’m still gonna visit a few more schools (friends have been insisting I tour schools like Dartmouth and Brown) and see what I like! I’ve always liked ND, but I’m sure there are more schools (perhaps some Ivies) that I’d really like as well.</p>