<p>This morning Brandon & I discussed his applying EA vs Regular Admission. He told me he cannot possibly apply EA because he's ranked 16th in a class of 165, and he's read that if he is not in the top 6% rank, it's not advisable. He does not want to screw up his chances of getting admitted.</p>
<p>His stats are really great otherwise, except for his unweighted GPA (3.7).</p>
<p>He's written a wonderful essay about his passion for football. I've read that the essay means everything in a Notre Dame application. </p>
<p>I think he'd have a fantastic chance if he would apply EA. </p>
<p>What are his test scores? If his ACT &/or SAT scores are very good, it might help for EA and cancel out his rank. After all, I believe that we have all seen that even #1s in class rank can be rejected. Think of the whole package before making a decision.</p>
<p>With those SATs (esp. since ND doesn't really pay much attention to the wirting score), I think he'd have a great chance EA. At the very least, I doubt anything worse than deferral could happen.</p>
<p>SATIIs:
Chemistry - 790/Math2 - 760/US History - 690 (toe stub!)
AP:
Euro – 5, Bio - 4 (taken in 10th grade)
Chem - 5, USH- 4 (taken in 11th grade)
These APs are the only ones the school allowed him to take in those grades. He is taking 4 AP classes this year and will take 7 AP Exams in May</p>
<p>And his other stats:</p>
<p>Key Club 11-12
National Honor Society 11-12
Academic Team 10-12
Chess Club 9-11
Peer Tutor 9-12
Team Leader, Weekend Freshman Retreat 12</p>
<p>Freshman Football, Captain 9
JV Football 9-10
Varsity Football 10-12, Captain 12
Football is a year-round commitment, off-season and summer at least 10 hours a week - after all, he is a Floridian!
Lacrosse 12</p>
<p>Founder and chair of NHS AFCAAM (African Caribbean American) Tutoring Program (no, he's not a minority!)
Habitat for Humanity
Harry Chapin Food Bank</p>
<p>Principals’ List – GPA 4.24 and above
First Honor Roll – GPA 4.00 – 4.23
AP Scholar with Honors
Varsity Letterman
Academic Letterman (4 straight quarters on principal's list)</p>
<p>Employed at Target 20-30 hours per week in summer, 6 hours per week during football season (on Sundays).</p>
<p>Brandon's very gracious and complementary about his friends who are also applying to Notre Dame - who incidently are #1 and #2 in his class. He feels like they have a much better shot than he does. But they don't have the test scores he has, nor have they played sports for 4 years like he has, nor are they National Merit Semi-Finalists. </p>
<p>His friends are great kids and have a terrific shot at EA - but then so does he. </p>
<p>He says I only think that way because I'm his mom.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all of the input everyone!</p>
<p>Just thought you might want to know--son applied EA last year. He did NOT play any sports at all through HS. He was admitted EA with very similar scores, etc. Again, Look at the whole package that is submitted to ND. Good Luck!!</p>
<p>notre dame AL & shellzie2006, I will show your posts to Brandon. At the very least, they'll be something for him to think about. </p>
<p>Yes, it's definitely NOT a necessity to play sports for 4 years to be accepted at ND. I was pointing out to Brandon that he's got lots of different things going for him, and his friends have lots of different things going for him. </p>
<p>As you said, notre dame AL, it's the entire package. </p>
<p>Congratulations on your son getting in. Does he really like it there?</p>
<p>So far he loves it. We shall see after midterms and fall break. He is coming home for the break. As a Mom, I feel that Notre Dame is exactly the right place for him. I have been very impressed with the nurturing environment that exists. Somehow, we just didn't see that at any of the other colleges we visited. Again, Good Luck to your son and if it is meant to be, it will happen!!!</p>
<p>Yeah, I will reassure you that playing sports is not a necessity as long as you have other ECs to make up for it, which your son clearly does. I only had one year of swimming in high school, but I participated in theater, stage tech, newspaper, quiz bowl, and math league, and was accepted EA last year. (2320 SAT, 3.9 UW GPA)</p>
<p>I think the rest of his stats are outstanding and he can apply anytime he wants. Is his rank likely to change? If not it wouldn't matter if he applied early he will have the same chance either way</p>
<p>My son is a soph at ND. He was something like 11 or 12 in a class of 127 when he applied, we were worried about the same thing, as he was barely in the top ten percent, much less the top 6%. He did have good EC's and a 34 ACT--which looks comparable to Brandon's. He got in EA. He did have the legacy factor, but we've been told he'd have most likely gotten in EA anyway.</p>
<p>Thing is, you can drive yourself nuts with statistics. I don't think admissions people are looking to nitpick, I think they are looking at the big picture. You just have to put your best foot forward, take the chance, apply, and hope and pray for the best. </p>
<p>Hi Brandon's Mom, my son applied EA- accepted as ND scholar,
your son's stats are higher, my s had 800 m , 700 v, 690 Writing...
He graduated 4th in his class out of 115.
He is an engineering major, had 5 on Chem AP when he applied.
He was a Bloustein Scholar, a designation in NJ, and not as meaningful as National Merit Finalist. He captained the Chess team :), and played Varsity Volleyball for two years. Hardly an athlete, but real sports lover, and has played on the interhall football team and a co-ed volleyball team already this year at ND! HE LOVES IT!</p>
<p>So, I was wondering when you visited ND and what your son thinks of the "fit" for him there?
What is your son's intended major? Engineering? Science? </p>
<p>Might it be wiser to write about being a science major and the newly opened Jordan Science center, than writing about Football, because your S is not a recruited athlete and won't be playing for ND. ND has greater visibility due to the football team, and I am not certain that playing that up would help an applicant, since ND is really about SO MUCH MORE THAN that. I Hope this helps. </p>
<p>I see you posted on Yale, Harvard and several other sites asking for advice about EA.
I saw this:</p>
<p>SouthJerseyChessMom, Brandon is going pre-med,</p>
<p>His first love is football; he is extraordinarily passionate about it and what it has done for him. He's already written the essay (the one he used for his National Merit Semi-Finalist essay, and I think it is very well done. If you like, I can pm you with it and see what you think.e</p>
<p>Tommorrow I am calling Notre Dame's admissions to ask their advice also.</p>
<p>Hi Brandon's mom,
I would be very happy to read your son's essay, but I feel completely unqualified.</p>
<p>Have you read Harry Bauld's little paperback book, about writing the college essay? This is considered the "best" essay book, but the gurus on the CC, and I have suggested this to every applicant I know! </p>
<p>Asking the Admisssions dept is probably a very good idea. My S and Husband visited ND during the summer before senior year, and they did just that. The admissions officer said that anyone with questions could ask him after the tour, so they sat down with him and asked if S should apply EA.
Lucky for S the advice was that he should. </p>
<p>Has Brandon visited the campus?? I ask this because any premed, applicant at ND, should be quite excited about the NEWLY opened 70 million dollar Jordan science building. </p>
<p>I am sure your son is a talented writer, with his stellar SAT scores, and am sure the football essay is well written. </p>
<p>I just wonder if the admissions staff might be a bit OVERWHELMED with the "football" craze going on now. It is ironic that he really wrote it for his Natl Merit Essay, and not specifically for ND!</p>
<p>Also, ND's essay is quite unique in that they ask specifically how you will contribute to their campus.....as I recall. Giving back, is woven into the fabric of ND</p>
<p>The National Merit Essay prompt was, "In your own words, describe your personal characteristics, accomplishments, primary interests, plans, goals. What sets you apart?"</p>
<p>m,m,m,m, I know my one of my Son's dormmate was his high school's football captain, not playing at ND, except he played quarterback for the intrahall team, and they won :)</p>
<p>by the way , that student is also accepted into the honors program,which is quite an accomplishment!</p>
<p>Have you read the essay question for ND?? As I recall has a bit different focus...tell us how you will contribute to ND??? AM not certain, though</p>