For those of you who are planning on applying to ND [Essay Tips]

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
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<p>I have some things to tell you about the University Of Notre Dame. I know this information because my best friend is a triple legacy, and his grandfather has been working in admissions for the last eleven years.</p>

<p>If you really read this out, it will greatly enhance your chances...</p>

<p>-At ND, grades mean so much less than people think they do. There was a snobby girl who recently graduated from my HS (I will be a junior next year). She received a 35 on her ACT, had a 4.732 GPA (4.5 Scale), had all AP classes (received 5's on five AP exams), had good recommendations, and even had a legacy with her father. And she didn't get accepted. Most of you reading this are probably wondering OH MY GOD, HOW? HOW COULD SOMEONE WITH THAT GREAT OF GRADES NOT GET ACCEPTED!?. Well the answer is simple, after I learned it from my friend's grandfather. He clearly stated over a dinner to me one night that unlike most other schools, the biggest factor to getting in to ND is THE ESSAY.</p>

<p>THE ESSAY IS EVERYTHING TIMES TWENTY. How do I know this? Because a boy who works at the same retail store that I do, currently attends ND. He received a 24 on his ACT, had a 3.871 GPA (4.5 Scale), Decent Recommendations, BUT AN AMAZING, REAL, DOWN TO EARTH, LIKEABLE ESSAY. He swears that his essay got him in.</p>

<p>What was the snobby girl's essay about? How her twenty nine extracurricular (she named all 29 in a three page essay), have influenced herself by giving her 29 positive traits that Notre Dame needs more of.</p>

<p>Where did she go wrong? The admissions officer probably had no idea where she was going. They probably could not connect with her, she used words in her essay that even she had trouble understanding, and most importantly, is was VERY HARD TO LIKE HER.</p>

<p>What was the boy's essay about that got him in? It was quirky piece about blood and watching people give it over the years as his mother works for the Red Cross. He talked about his fear of one day giving blood, the process, and how his life changed afterwards. It was different, but it was easy to understand, easy to connect, and overall, it just worked.</p>

<p>Admissions counselors like to see that you have focused on one or two traits when writing your essay. It just makes it that much easier to like you. My friend's grandfather also stated that he hates when applicants attempt to use really big words, when smaller, more realistic words would sound more at place. He also said that he wishes that applicants realized that the people, who view the applications, sometimes are not extremely smart. A lot of priests (who are not AP Scholars) decide on who gets in, and who doesn't at ND.</p>

<p>In the end, just be yourself. Applicants can tell. If you have more questions PM me. I will get back to you.</p>

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<p>An insightful post indeed! There are some helpful tips in the aforesaid post and it would be wise for any prospective students to use them. Remember that you cannot hide the person that you are from the admissions officers and it helps to be as honest and open as possible.</p>

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<p>I agree that the essay is extremely important and this is a very insightful post. The only thing I would add is that it is still extremely important to focus on your test scores and averages. While the story of your friend says a lot, I am sure there are a lot of kids who had great essays but weren't quite good enough on the test scores or the GPA. I think that a great essay can get a marginal applicant in, no doubt, but I don't think that that alone can get you in. </p>

<p>ND is getting extremely selective (I think too selective honestly) and the stats that are required are insane. Please continue to focus on your EC's, rank and test scores as they are a huge factor (I think all of us can agree on that). However, I am glad that the OP stressed the essays, because they do separate ND from a lot of other schools. The essay can make you or break you, so definitely focus on it. </p>

<p>Nathan, thanks again for your great post and I hope I don't seem to critical. I just wanted to stress that while ND does really look at the essay, I just think you have to be pretty darn good across the board to get in even with a great essay. Your post was very enlightening, however, so thank you!</p>

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<p>There are no priests on the ND Admissions staff, at least as listed on the nd.edu web site. Perhaps the priests in Administration have input in the decision-making process, but I doubt they get too involved.</p>

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<p>There are priests, my rector vounteers down there. Pretty much everying the OP said is right on from what I can tell, I just wanted to emphasize the other parts of the application.</p>

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<p>From personal experience, I had a good (but not amazing) gpa, an excellent sat score (2220) and a great essay (which focused on my experiences volunteering in mexico). Im not quite sure what tipped the scale in my favor but take from it what you will. I think my essay played a fairly large part but my grades and sat score also played a large part.</p>

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<p>Priests are part of the admissions staff.</p>

<p>Trust me, I know someone who is.</p>

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<p>I did a volunteer work in summer of my sophomore year.</p>

<p>I painted wood foundations that surround this bell at a Buddhist temple. (My aunts take care of it.)</p>

<p>I'm not a Buddhist. I lean toward Christianity. (I don't tell that to my aunts though. They're hardcore Buddhists.)</p>

<p>I plan to submit this fact through my art teacher's recommendation, but I'm a bit worried.</p>

<p>Would they look down on this fact? (One of many reasons I like Notre Dame is because it has a solid Catholic foundation.)</p>

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<p>No, quite the contrary, I think it will help. It is something that is unique and will make you stand out and it will not be viewed with any prejudice. Don't worry, it is a good thing :). Good luck with ND and the faith search!</p>

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<p>So does that mean that Notre Dame will think I'm a Buddhist?</p>

<p>And that is going to help?</p>

<p>Or the fact that I desire to be a Christian?</p>

<p>I don't think I'll ask my teacher to specifically mention my religion. I'll just ask her to write that I love art and use it to improve my community, not for financial profit.</p>

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<p>Religion will not help or hurt you, but it may show that you are willing to volunteer and are open minded. How many of your peers have painted a Buddhist temple?</p>

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<p>So Notre Dame gives unbiased look on religion.</p>

<p>Thank God.</p>

<p>And thank you for the answer lol.</p>

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<p>Sorry, not true about the religion part. ND wants to retain its Catholic university identity, aiming for an 85% Catholic enrollment. This isn't hard and fast; a notably superior non-Catholic will get in ahead of a lesser qualified Catholic. While racial diversity is definitely among the university's goals, religious diversity is not.</p>

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<p>I actually disagree, I don't think they aim for 85% but I think that happens because of the nature of the applicant pool. I can find it if you view it differently, but I am pretty sure that ND says that they will not use religion in their admissions decisions, so ND would be unbiased on religion.</p>

<p>Yes, we want to keep our Catholic identity, but I really think that that is done more through the professors and curriculum than it is by keeping 85% of the students Catholic.</p>

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<p>You could well be right, Irish. Based on what I see them say officially, admissions are irrespective of religion. It could be that 85% of the applicant pool is Catholic due to the nature of the university. That being said, though, I still think Catholicism is a plus in admissions; it's just that non-Catholicism is not a minus. Having gone there myself, and having a son there right now, I can say that diversity--racially, religiously, and ideologically--is not ND's biggest asset. The university would like to have more racial diversity, but so would every other school in the country. They really don't seem to be all that concerned with religious or ideological diversity. As a Catholic university very interested in retaining its Catholic identity, I think that's a completely understandable thing. </p>

<p>Bottom line is that being of a different religion is not something that will proactively help in an essay, I don't think. Having done great charitable works and had mind-expanding experiences through the practice or organization of any given religion, though, could be helpful. </p>

<p>Selecting a college is all about fit. People applying should know that, while not being Catholic certainly doesn't disqualify them, the mindset of Notre Dame is more akin to that of the Catholic high schools so many of the students attended than it is like an Ivy league university striving for all forms of diversity. Some love this, some don't. But I think those going in should be aware of it. It's just the way it is.</p>

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<p>i have a question on a admissions essay if ne1 has an opinion...</p>

<p>freshman and soph year i used to drink and party a lot then i got caught and suspended from fball and bball games and i really let my coach down and it totally changed me and i spent rest of h.s. trying to change my image that was once perfect and instantly destroyed and i did and became football and basketball captain and i havent drank since and im basically responsible for getting the fball team to go from a bunch of partiers to kids who dont drink at all...</p>

<p>would this be a good idea for my admissions essay? it totally explains who i am but its seems risky and my #s are pretty good so a normal decent essay could get me in but i really want to write about that... would they just reject me from the beginning when they hear me say i used to drink and got suspended from fball games freshman and soph year (thats pretty young lol)???? ill have a really good recommendation letter from my coach who helped change me and got me to use my leadership skills in a positive way and he'll mention that in there im sure...</p>

<p>thanks for anyones opinion...</p>

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<p>Ok, I have a bit of the same problem, but mine is a little different...I want to major in engineering and I've had some pretty cool NASA experiences, but I came to realize that music was both indirectly and directly involved in my decision to apply to ND. Which would make a better essay? How seeing a picture of Challenger in the hallway in elementary school made me want to go for the space program? Or how my brother's piano teacher suggested I look into ND and how I wasn't too hip on the idea, but now I see nowhere else I would rather be?</p>

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<p>In response to Jevon, I guess it would really depend on what your numbers are like now, and how formative an experience it was for you to straighten up your act. Notre Dame is no stranger to partying, and giving students a second chance even when they're really blown things. In that sense, I don't think if it was a matter of them having found out that you'd gotten in trouble way back when that it would necessarily hurt you, if things straightened out later.</p>

<p>If, however, you are looking for them to look at you favorably in reading your essay about your fall from grace and return to glory, I think you are taking somewhat of a risk there. To me, the crux of the matter would be what broader lessons you learned about yourself and learned about life in detoxing. If it is a simple matter of self-discipline involved in stopping alcohol abuse, while that is admirable, I wouldn't think it worthy of an essay. If you managed to gain some true insight into yourself and what makes you tick, some true spiritual insight, that you can convey--then I think you may be more in the ballpark.</p>

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<p>ddjones-- yeah i definitely did learn a lot about myself through the experience and that is why I wish to write about it... i learned how to use my leadership skills in a more positive waym i mean i was a leader already in school and on the athletic field but every1 seemed to be partying so i was too until i got caught and it was an eye-awakening experience, but anyways my numbers look like this...</p>

<p>act: 31
4.7/4 (weighted-- 3 in class)
3.99/4 (unweighted-- 18 in class but only gotten one B in all of h.s. all else A's)
class of over 650
captain for varsity football and basketball team
some volunteer hours (somewhere between 50-100)</p>

<p>do you think it's worth the risky essay??? should i just talk about the passion i have for football and how that drives me or should i intertwine the whole alcohol experience... hmmm hmmm hmmm difficult decisions... HELP</p>

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<p>dd jones-- i also forgot to add that i will have taken 10 ap classes upon finishing my senior year and the hardest courses possible... what should i do? thanks a lot for your help...</p>