<p>Thank you so much. It's just the two of us in our little family so having a support system helps a lot!
Wow, your 5th time. If all 5 of your kids went/are going to college, you must have done something right!</p>
<p>We can all get through this, sunshadow! This is my second time through; my oldest got in EA to ND on a Navy ROTC scholarship two years ago about this time, meaning we didn't have to worry so much about money, just the geopolilitical scene :( That's when I first discovered this board off a Google search. People were great then, and they are now, too.</p>
<p>This time around my daughter wants it just as much, if not more, than my son did. Her resume is just as impressive, moreso if you include recommendations, but the ACT, while still in the range, is at the lowest end of it. Kr123 is right--it will all work out the way it is intended to be, even if it isn't what we think we want. We just want our wishes to be God's intentions!</p>
<p>One thing to be wary of on these boards are Tokyo Rose's, who seem to relish throwing in tidbits to raise the panic level. You will, soon enough, figure out who these people are. If it ever seems I'm a bit terse in any postings, it is usually in dealing with these--particularly when they are coming from high school kids who think they know a lot more about admissions, and about life, than they do. Granted, all high school seniors have a little of that in them, but some do it, whether consciously or subconsciously, in a way that incites a lot of needless anxiety. I don't have a lot of patience for it.</p>
<p>This is actually the third time I've been through ND admissions. First was in 1979-80, when I applied there myself. Kids in those days didn't give near as much thought to the whole process as they do now, but there were plenty of adult authority figures who tried to discourage me. I would never get in. No one ever got in. Typos and strikeovers in my essay would be my deathnell. I hadn't taken a few of the honors courses I didn't want to, but didn't feel like it. I wasn't a legacy, and had never set foot on campus. ND was looking for more pious types (i.e. those who had a better relationship with the hs principal). I got in early action, and was designated a Notre Dame Scholar. So much for the panic stuff, every bit of it wrong.</p>
<p>21 years later, when my son told one of the GC's he was going to apply to ND, she was quick to point out the valedictorian of his hs school that ND rejected (the logic being that if they rejected <em>her</em>, they'd reject everyone.) He didn't take AP Spanish senior year because he didn't like the teacher; he had a 34 on his ACT, but wasn't one to bear down too hard on the books if a good ultimate frisbee game or round of Madden Sports was going on nearby, thus barely finishing in the top 10%--something like 11 out of 127--and his is not a "feeder" school. Some on these boards were certain that the fact he wasn't in the top 3-5% range the admissions office cited for EA meant it would be a mistake to apply then--this revealed, by the way, after the app was already in. He got in EA and is thriving; I have never seen him so intellectually engaged, so genuinely happy and content, for such a long, uninterrupted stretch of his live. I can tell you wonderful stories about the supportive faith community there, particularly relating to when his grandfather died just a week after freshman and navy rotc orientation and we couldn't get him home.</p>
<p>As an alumna, I do have friends who are closer to the admissions process than I am. What comes up time and time again is that all the stats form the basis for the entrance pool, but the real deciding factor is the university's assessment of the kind of people that they are. Character is huge. I don't know anyone on admissions committee directly, although I've communicated a bit by e-mail with Dan Saracino, and he seems a genuine guy. From what I understand, the whole elbow-rubbing insider's game doesn't apply, even to alumni, unless they have just obscene--and I mean really obscene--amounts of money. There are so few of them, they are statistically insignificant to the process.</p>
<p>Bottom line, sunshadow, is don't let certain people on this board freak you out--particularly when they are high school kids! ND is a class act with class people. And the ND admissions process is one of the most transparent, well-intentioned ones around for a school of its caliber.</p>
<p>Your daughter will do fine... What's her sport, by the way? Golf?</p>
<p>Well put, ddjones, Again~! Have to agree with her, sunshadow, as I am a ND parent of a son who was admitted EA last fall. And while stats were similar, we did not have the Legacy factor, nor was son even Catholic. Something we heard a LOT about!!! Out of all the schools son applied to, (about 7 or 8) from very top tier to rolling admissions schools, I would have to say and I think son would agree, that ND was the only school that seemed to be well organized and on top of things. And speaking as that parent of a current freshman, I honestly do believe that his app as well as I am sure all others was GENUINELY reviewed for Stats, ecs, etc. I really do wonder about some of the other institutions and just what process they
DO use to evaluate its applicants. We know of a double legacy who applied RD last spring that was rejected--and we now know that ND probably did the right thing in rejecting him. He just didn't have the grades, scores etc. to match up to ND's academic rigor. (And, by the way, he is at a lower tier school, and doing just fine--a better match!) Trust in the fact that ND is truly looking for the best and brightest that can handle its academic rigor as well as contribute to the community. It is INDEED a class act, to quote ddones!!!!! Best of Luck to you!</p>
<p>I can't thank you guys enough. Fortunately, my faith is strong enough to conquer any possible rejections as is my daughter's, but understanding the "process" will help to put any rejections or acceptances into proper perspective when the time comes. Much like the Catholic church, I now believe that Notre Dame takes plenty of time and deliberation in order to ensure they do the right thing, rather than rushing into decisions that they will end up regretting. Thanks again, for the education both of you!
Yes, my daughter is a golfer. Too late to be recruited, but would try to be a walk on. I miss her so much! She is spending the semester in Florida at an athletic academy to really improve her game (on scholarship), and we are from Massachusetts, so I am going through the whole "cutting of the apron strings" sooner than I expected! My dog is pretty much my only source of support around here! So once again, many thanks...</p>