Just visited ND and fell in love. I think I’ve got a shot but would love suggestions for similar campuses in the Midwest and northeast with good engineering programs.
Bucknell and Lehigh have nice campuses but not on that level. Both good back ups. There aren’t many campuses in the country like ND.
Cornell has an amazing campus but its not a back up.
I think Purdue would be a great back up for you. Similar location, great engineering program, but it’s not pirvate. Not sure how much the last point affects your decision, but give it a shot.
Villanova
Saint Louis University
Thanks for the responses! I appreciate all the suggestions. BatesParents2019, when you say “not on that level”, are you referring to the academics or the beauty/feel of the campus?
For a few pictures of other beautiful schools:
“The 25 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America” / Thrillist
Notre Dame is included, so you should agree with their aesthetic judgment. There is at least one other university on their list which seems to meet your criteria: The University of Michigan.
Tell us what you loved about ND.
What are your stats?
How much will your family pay each year? Have your parents run the ND NPC to see if it’s affordable?
Although I don’t know it myself, others often suggest Miami of Ohio as a school with a similar vibe, though of course, not Catholic. University of Dayton (Catholic) also gets good reviews as a school with a strong community, similar to ND.
Oops, I just saw the interest in engineering. Don’t know anything about Miami of Ohio or Dayton in that regard. Lehigh and Bucknell both strong schools, and again, although I haven’t visited them personally, I hear that they are nice campuses, with strong communities. Both are smaller than ND and have with greek life – and while ND does not have greek life, its residential halls are often described as fraternity-sorority like, with philanthropy, parties, rivalries, intense identification with your own hall etc.
The campus. That campus, the quality of facilities, even the food, overall experience, has very few if any peers. The alumni are amazingly supportive. I am an alum and the thoughts of the pep rallies and electricity of the campus on Saturdays still gives me goose bumps.
Bucknell, Lehigh have beautiful campuses too and are strong in engineering but the campuses are not like ND’s. $12 billion in the bank buys a lot.
Boston College is similar but no engineering.
@Midwestmomofboys Yes the residence life is very much like the “house system” in England. They even play full pad football against each other.
Lehigh has a Gothic feel like ND while Bucknell is colonial style.
U Dayton has an excellent engineering program with access to the Air Force Research Laboratories for internships.
The ND campus is gorgeous, but a campus is only a small part of the college experience. I suggest thinking about the other important attributes you liked at ND (perhaps student body, religious affiliation, program, size, sports programs etc.) and make those an important part of your college-hunting criteria.
You can look into WashU (probably pretty similar in selectivity), Villanova, Lehigh, URochester.
ditto. Also U.Dayton is sort of a miniature Notre Dame; pervasive Catholic vibe and strong community feel. Campus is not as lovely (but is still nice).