Accepted to Wash U, Notre Dame, and UCLA. I’m a little torn. I have not visited any of the schools so I do not know the culture/vibe of any of them. All are great schools, but any insight, wisdom, personal experience would be much appreciated. Thanks.
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Same boat. Haven’t been able to do any visits and it’s a tough decision to make to commit for 4 years when you don’t know the vibe on campus. A virtual tour is just not the same. Good luck with the decision making
Welcome Home! Congrats!
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Yes, most admissions are not school/major specific. Mendoza admits and architecture are the two that come to mind.
@BB2002 and @gilbertclan - my DS is now a junior at ND. His final choice came down to UCLA and ND. We are not catholic, but active evangelicals. I have a nephew who graduated from WashU, but have no info on it.
He visited UCLA (and UCI) first and felt pretty strong that he would go there. Then, we toured ND and it was all over for him.
My thoughts - UCLA and the quarter system make finishing in 4 years tough. Also, housing will be a challenge through your time there. My son is a Business major and UCLA really only has an economics degree as undergrad.
ND is semester system with a great business school. They are encouraging students to live in the dorms all four years. The community aspect of the Hall system has been a huge bonus. You have an immediate family to help you through the challenging transition to college. My DS is also a band geek. He has been in the marching band for three years.
We have no regrets with the decision to go to ND. For us, it was also cheaper to attend ND than UCLA.
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I like that ND does not have greek life. We are also not catholic but my son has been in catholic schools his entire life. He had his ND Scholars finalist interview this morning. Cost will be a big factor in our decision making, so it’s still a bit of a waiting game. He knows others from his school who are currently at ND and very happy. What is the weather like though?
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Thank you for your past advice! My son did not go on to the finals for the Merit Scholarship but he did get in and is super excited! ND is his top choice. I saw your son is in band. Mine plans to join as well. I am still nervous about the adjustment to the culture and cold weather, and of course the cost, but we are committed to supporting him.
For those that did not get in, my older son was not accepted to ND and it stung at the time, but I truly believe God puts us where we are meant to be. His own college experience has been amazing and he is able to rejoice with our younger son with no regrets regarding his own path.
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Weather can be cold and windy from late fall (just before Thanksgiving) until early spring (around mid March) but with Thanksgiving and Christmas break you are really only talking about 6 weeks where the weather can be pretty cold and winter(y). The rest of the time it is great. Way, way easier than dealing with Covid for a full year.
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Thank you!
Obviously cost will depend on your financial situation. In my case, UCs would provide little. ND has been very generous to us. They met our EFC and then some with aid, one of the advantages of a private institution. I hope it works out for you.
@gilbertclan and @ElPasoMom , the weather has not been too bad for my California DS. He has adjusted to the humidity of fall and the cold of winter. It can all be managed. I have just been so impressed by ND every step of the way. They have dealt with COVID in a confident, “we will do this” way that I appreciate. As you might tell from my screen name I went to USMA. Based on my son’s experience, I would go to ND if given the chance. The level of support and commitment to doing the right thing is unsurpassed in my opinion.
Best of luck to you both in your decision. Welcome Home if you choose ND.
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Does anyone know if you can visit and self-tour? I know they aren’t offering guided tours and that admitted students events are virtual, but will they turn us away if we just try to visit? Certainly don’t want to fly up there and waste the time, money, and energy for naught.
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We met up with a student we know and self toured last month. Book store is open!
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Waitlisted after deferral in December as well. Gonna still try and follow up, but probably going to accept an offer to play basketball at a Division III school. If ND comes a-calling, so be it.
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I’m sure this might be in old threads but does anyone know if non-catholics (we are protestant) feel excluded at Notre Dame?
I think Greek life would be a huge plus. Giving the kids some identity would be nice. Dorm life is hit or miss and not easy to change/relocate.
My opinion is that there is no “stigma” as a non-catholic or a non-christian. My DS is a junior and we are Evangelical Christian. My sense is that the everyone is very welcoming. There is also no pressure to attend weekly mass. My son attends because it feels like home and there is some social aspect to the service.
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Thank you - very helpful. Yes- I was worried if there was a stigma like girls wouldn’t date you or if you were looked down upon if you weren’t catholic. Good to know.
You might check in with the Gateway 2025 CC strand. It is just picking up. My daughter got Gateway and a Gateway 8.0 student reached out to her the day after acceptance to let her know there is a Gateway 9.0 Group Me. There are about 70 people in the 9.0 Group Me so far & those kids are now Snap Chatting, too. I hear that the Gateway and Driscoll kids really bond. You might check with the points of contact in your acceptance letter to see if Driscoll has its own Group Me or if they are joining the one my daughter’s student point of contact told her about. Congrats! Link: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/t/notre-dame-gateway-2025/
Yes. You sort of can visit. YOu can go on campus, go to the bookstore, the Morris Inn and the Basilica. But the classrooms, dorms etc. are not available for touring.