<p>I'm a junior...I live in Texas. ND is really my dream school. But it's too much of a reach. My class rank is 385 out of 753 students. My GPA is a 7.5 on a 12/15 point scale. I am currently in the IB program and my grades are looking pretty good for someone who has overcome a lot of obstacles and is in a very rigourous program. It's the highest offered at my school. Yeah I know that there's also a very good chance I'll be rejected but I'm not going to give up. I'm also an African American Catholic Female. During my freshman/sophomore year, I had a lot of personal family issues going on. No excuse I know. I I just want to prove to ND that I do have what it takes to be apart if their school. I just need help...what can I do? I was a straight a student in elementary and junior high....then things started to go wrong for me.</p>
<p>I don’t want to be that guy…but they don’t care about elementary or junior high grades. </p>
<p>What you need is something that will prove to them that you are at or above the level of students that they accept. You have talked about your SAT/ACT scores or even if you have AP scores. What about those? Do you think you can set yourself apart with those?</p>
<p>@Niquii77 </p>
<p>Yeah, I can hopefully. I’m also in clubs too and I’ve been helping out the Dallas ND Alumni club with volunteer work.</p>
<p>So what that your academics aren’t there? You want to show the admissions counselors you want ND? Write some stellar essays. Prove to them why Notre Dame is for you. Be unique, stand out, and you’ll be surprised what can happen. Best of luck to you! :)</p>
<p>@irishimpact</p>
<p>I’ll try thank you :)</p>
<p>@irishimpact</p>
<p>Thank you! I’ll try my best, my ND friends have really motivated me</p>
<p>IMO, a stellar essay – especially one in which the phrase “dream school” appears – is not going to get you into Notre Dame, unless it sets forth some truly extraordinary personal circumstances that caused your low grades AND is accompanied by decent standardized test scores. If you haven’t already taken the SAT or ACT, you need to register NOW for the December dates (too late for November). And you need to keep taking those tests, with whatever prep course assistance is available, until your scores are high enough to make you a viable candidate for admission. And your junior year grades need to be stellar, so do whatever it takes to get those "A"s. Volunteer work for the ND Alums is not nearly as important as boosting your GPA and getting the highest test scores possible.</p>
<p>@claremarie</p>
<p>Thank you. I’m aware. I’ve taken the SAT once and I made a 1900 on it. I’ve been studying and making a’s and high b’s. I just need to work on my EC’s because I’m always busy doing homework, babysitting, doing chores etc. I’ll especially need them for IB (requires CAS hours [creativity, action and service hours])</p>
<p>You don’t need ECs. You need to overcome the bad grades of the last two years with straight A’s and high test scores, to demonstrate that those low grades were the result of personal difficulties and don’t accurately reflect your academic ability. Focus your efforts on getting those straight A’s and improving your SAT score. Unless you are a national-level athlete, or have founded an orphanage, or created a profitable online business, ECs are not going to be a deal-breaker for you.</p>
<p>Two things: Have you tried the ACT? Take a practice test, and then the real thing. Maybe a big difference in scores for you.</p>
<p>Ask these questions of the ND admissions officer.Call or email their office. In my daughter’s experience, they are extremely helpful. Of course, she’s applying this year, like you, so don’t know how that worked out yet!</p>
<p>@Ruby789</p>
<p>Im actually a junior and I’m going to applying next fall</p>
<p>Oops, sorry, I missed that. Well, then, you have lots of time to raise your test scores. Sounds like you are working to raise your grades too ( I don’t understand your grading system). I still advise talking to an admissions officer! Although ND says they don’t look at demonstrated interest, I’m sure it makes a difference if they recognize the name of someone who has been working hard to be admitted there.</p>
<p>@Ruby789 </p>
<p>It’s okay, I’m so sorry, I sounded rude! Thank you though. My lowest grade right now is an 87, in IB!! Which is amazing for me. I’m going to attempt to apply for Questbridge next fall, I know I won’t get in due to my grades but it doesn’t hurt to try. I’m working my butt off. Even if I don’t get into ND, I won’t be mad. I don’t want people to feel sorry for me, ya know?</p>
<p>You didn’t sound rude! I don’t know that you are right about not getting in. I don’t know what decisions Admissions Officers make, but I would think that someone who works hard to achieve a goal would be impressive. And you don’t sound like someone people feel sorry for, but someone people cheer for. There’s a difference!</p>
<p>@Ruby789</p>
<p>Okay! Thank you so much, you’ve given me alot of confidence now. I’m doing my best so we’ll see :)</p>
<p>Awilo13, definitely try for QuestBridge. They want to include students who are likely to succeed at really good colleges, so showing that you can turn things around starting with junior year is worthwhile. And even if you’re not a finalist, it’s excellent experience with the application process.</p>
<p>@confetti247</p>
<p>I will, thank you! I’m trying my best & it’s going good. I plan on doing both the college prep scholarship & the national match one</p>
<p>I don’t think ND has ever accepted anyone with a low gpa…</p>
<p>Hey Awilo13, I just wanted to briefly stop in and give some words of encouragement. I’m a recent (2012) ND grad (and fellow Texan) that was just glancing around the forum and I’m inspired by your passion for ND and for your willingness to fight for it.</p>
<p>In the very worst case scenario here, you will have at least learned (if you didn’t know it beforehand) about yourself that putting in the time and effort can result in major success in the grades department.</p>
<p>In agreement with what’s been stated above, building up your grades and demonstrating that you’re now capable (or becoming capable) of academic success at a school like ND should probably be your main focus for the time-being, although obtaining high standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) and writing a really compelling essay (which I would be happy to read if you’d like) will be key as well. One story I might be interesting in hearing in an essay is how specifically the far-off idea of ND has transformed you as a student and/or person (if it has).</p>
<p>I’m primarily spending my time down in Honduras these days, without internet (although I’m back briefly), so I likely won’t be around for your decision day, but the best of luck to you, and thank you so much for your passion!</p>
<p>I would just say to keep working hard and doing as well as you can. ND is a long-shot, but if you want to give it a try, that is fine. Make sure your application discusses the personal issues that led to low grades early in your HS career. If you get in that is great, if not you should still be able to get yourself in a position to get into other fine schools. Remember, an admission decision is not a reflection on you as a person nor does it determine how successful you will be in life.</p>