<p>how does the intellectual atmosphere of ND compare with other top schools? i have the impression that students are overly obsessed with football and beer pong, and im wondering if the high number of athletes at the school dilutes the general intelligence/intellectualness of the student body at all.</p>
<p>well i disagree. i am actually on the other side of the argument: I think ND is almost becoming too intellectual at times and not fostering the other parts of the college experience. I do not think ND has gone that far yet, but I definitely do not think it is lacking intellectual conversation and thought in any way</p>
<p>I frequently find myself discussing philosophical views and political problems one second and then immediately switch to talking about boobs and beer with the same guys. ND is the perfect middle ground between Harvard and big state schools.</p>
<p>I think it depends on who you hang around with and what you study. At any college you have students who are “only here for the beer”–even at Harvard. D has grown tremendously as an intellectual in her first year. Having to take philosophy and theology challenges students to think logically and critically. I am sure many sleepwalk through those classes, but they were intensely engaging to D. and she is considerably more sophisticated in her thinking than she was a year ago. Sometimes it makes my head hurt when she talks when I’m frazzed after a day at work and she’s all fired up about something they discussed in class.</p>
<p>I second both danbrenn and Mombot.</p>
<p>One other data point: Fr. Jenkins wants more undergraduate students who want to pursue graduate education in academic subjects. ND does not send as many students into academic graduate schools as similarly ranked schools with its resources. Both D. and her friend, who show some promise in those areas, have been invited by their professors to talk about their plans and have been encouraged to look at Arts & Letters. ND has a reputation for attracting students who are interested in the professions, and they want to balance that with those who want to excel in research and academia. If you ARE interested in an academic discipline and reseach it might be a place where you get a lot of attention–they have a lot of very talented faculty there and the ones in Arts & Letters may be somewhat underutilized in terms of leading students into the fields they specialize in. </p>
<p>Just a thought picked up from some invitations D. has received this year.</p>
<p>Mombot, they are particularly pushing for that in the Honors program that the professors that run the program call a “Williams College” within ND. My sense is the same as yours, ND would like to send more of their students into academia.</p>
<p>D. declared an A&L major and no interest in med/law and got a ton of attention from the department head, who meets personally with all declared majors and helps select an advisor based on the student’s interests and goals. She was offered a job in the department as well–they offer all declared majors something I guess–and was even told that when she goes abroad for a semester they can often arrange a bit of research money. </p>
<p>From what I have observed there are people just aching for students to mentor into graduate school. D. said they googled their professors and got kind of intimidated–these people are really stars–and all of them are just there, available, to interested students. It is an amazing opportunity for her and I’m just thankful she’s smart and observant enough to be taking advantage of all of these people available to teach her.</p>
<p>It’s not a very intellectual atmosphere… Mostly centered around partying, beer, and football…</p>
<p>Milkmagn, you’re, for lack of a better word, wrong. Considering the academic caliber needed to be accepted here, as well as the broad spectrum of other interests held be the students, I feel that saying it “center[s] around partying, beer, and football,” is a dangerous statement to make.</p>
<p>I’ll be honest, we’re not straight academic, like some tech schools or such. But I feel we have a better balance.</p>
<p>Milkmagn -</p>
<p>You are trying to “start” something here aren’t you??? Hopefully, no one will bite!! :)</p>
<p>Milkmagn–not biting, but wonder just what major you are in? Only somewhat familiar with engineering; it certainly does not sound like you are an engineer major!</p>
<p>Seriously dude, how could you forget about Halo? In men’s dorms that is major.</p>
<p>In all honesty though, I am never at a loss for some deeply intellectual conversation when I want it. The key is getting to know people who aren’t your roommates.</p>
<p>Yeah, I like beer, and yeah, I’d like to kick your ass, where do you live? probably not at ND, because you probably didn’t get int.</p>
<p>^didn’t apply to ND, didn’t want to</p>
<p>I did get into Georgetown EA though, that’s much better</p>
<p>^ Credibility out the window, now. ^</p>
<p>so how come you asked?</p>
<p>Refresh me on the difference in rank between G-town and ND, milk?</p>
<p>i see the point you’re making joker, but just leave milk alone. obviously he isn’t too secure about his own school so he’s hating on ND just like many others do.</p>
<p>i actually heard something very interesting on one of these boards. if you were to get rid of the peer assessment score for ND (which is like what other schools say about ND), we would move up to #12. And then if you added matriculation rate in we would move into the top 10.</p>
<p>people just have trouble admitting that ND does achieve a lot and is a very special place.</p>
<p>ya but the peer assessment, according to many, is the most critical part of the ranking, which is why its 25%. Anyways, you will enjoy ND in every aspect more than G-Town.</p>