Hate to do this, but....

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I know you're all going to hate me for this but feedback would be appreciated:</p>

<p>Catholic, white middle-class male from Massachusetts
Intended Major: Political Science
SAT: 1390
Class Rank: top 12%
GPA: weighted 4.0 (from a very competitve public high school)
AP's to be taken: US Hist, Government, English, Calculus, Economics, Physics</p>

<p>Activities:
Mock Trial-- Officer(11,12)
Political Action Club-- Treas.(11), Pres.(12)
International Relations Club-- VP(11), Pres(12)
Student Council-- Class Rep(10), School Treas(11), School VP(12)
Peer Mediation
French Club-- Officer(11), Pres(12)
Peer Mentor
Golf Team-- Varsity
Youth Ministry
School Cmte.-- Student Rep(11,12)
Toys for Local Children
Ski Club
Ping Pong</p>

<p>Awards:
Political Activist Award (10)
Harvard Model Congress Excellence Award (10)
National Honor Roll (10,11)
Who's Who of High School Students (11)</p>

<p>Conferences:
Harvard Model Congress (10,11,12)
Ivy League Model United Nations Conference (10,11,12)
Student Leadership Training Program (10)
Youth Rotary Leadership Program (10,11)</p>

<p>Employment:
CVS, Cashier (since 8/2004)
Summer Intern, State Senator (since 7/2003)</p>

<p>Volunteer:
Youth Ministry - 75 Hours
Internship - 60 Hours (3 Summers, once a week, 5 hours a day)</p>

<p>Other:
Private Pilot
Task Force - Grading Cmte</p>

<p><strong>Currently a Junior</strong></p>

<p>That's all that comes to mind at the time being. Thanks for the help guys!!</p>

2

<p>well since you are only a junior, try taking the SAT again next fall, and if you do better, apply early action. If the score stays the same (it's a little above ND's average), just apply regular action, and i think you have an above average chance... also, try to kick ass this semester and get your class rank up into the top 10% if possible</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the insight.</p>

<p>Because of competiveness at my school, I doubt I will be able to break through to the top 10% in time. Hopefully this will not be too detrimental, as I could truly see myself at ND. </p>

<p>I would love to hear any other opinions/comments, if you all would deign to write me. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

4

<p>If you want get a hard-nosed feel for how your application will be looked at, follow this path.
1. Your academics will be summarized with an Academic Index. Your 12% class rank will be taken into account with the size and type of your school, and combined with your SAT to give you an Index. It's fair to assume that your AI at this point will put you roughly in the middle of the applicant pool at ND. Your AI at this point is not at the upper ranges of the applicant pool that jumps your probability of acceptance into the higher levels. Your AI at this point does not look like it is high enough to give the admissions team evidence that you are an exceptional student or have a unique passion for learning. You also have not listed evidence that you have a special interest and have worked hard at one specific educational area such as math, science, English, etc.
2. Given this fact of life -- that your AI does not put you in the ranks of applicants who are exceptional students-- your probability of being accepted will then depend on the degree to which the admissions team decides that you will bring additional and exceptional attributes to the student body.
3. You are not a minority and will therefore not bring needed diversity to the campus.
4. You do not indicate that you are a recruited athlete, so that will not be a plus factor for you.
5. You do not indicate that your parents are strong ND alums and/or famous or very rich, so that will not be a plus factor.
6. It's hard to tell from your listing of activities if the admissions team will decide that they represent evidence of an exceptional contribution you might make in other ways -- and of course, we don't know about your recommendations and personal statements. Your probability of admission will be higher to the degree that your statements, recommendations and activities seem to coalesce around a central theme of a significant type of contribution that you might make on the ND campus.</p>

5

<p>anyone else care to weigh in ... PLEASE?!?!</p>

6

<p>You don't think everyone's already covered it? I think the analysis and action items for you have been pretty well stated above. But, since you need to hear it again :) here you go:</p>

<p>Get your SAT and class rank up. Take the ACT. Write a great essay and make sure your recs are solid. Accept whatever happens and then decide on your other options (i.e., if not accepted, possible transfer). At this point your ECs are pretty much set so do what is still in your power to get the best possible outcome.</p>

7

<p>Remember each year Admissions is trying to build a class so lokking at indidvuals without knowing the applicant pool is hard to perdict. What is your passion, or hook? If it is government or leadership ND has good programs to apply to for summer. Global ISSUes is good but need a 1400 SAT. When you apply to select schools you need to think of what sets you apart from all the
others, remember most have the grades and the scores</p>

8

<p>If I were in like the top 11% (because the rank only goes from Junior year before 5 ap classes), would that be very detrimental to getting into Notre Dame?</p>