<p>Continuing the tradition of the last two years, I decided to create a thread for all those applying to the ND leadership seminars 2015 here. I hope this is a great resource to everyone applying- good luck!</p>
<p>I am applying 
</p>
I’m applying to the American Arts, Popular Culture and Social Change Seminar. What programs are y’all applying for?
I’m applying for the technology one.
I am applying for the Global Issues one. Have you all sent in your apps yet?
Just Submitted my App for Global Issues! Really excited!!!
Finished my app. Gonna go over with my counselor, and then I’m just waiting for LORs.
Hi, everyone!
I went to NDLS this past summer of 2014 as part of the Arts seminar.
When I applied to the program I was a little frustrated by the overall lack of information available about the program, so I thought I’d share a little bit about my experience for those who have applied and those thinking about applying.
To start off, I’d like to say that the website really does not do the program justice. The two weeks I spent at Notre Dame were probably the best two weeks of my life thus far. The bonds you make with people, the amount you learn, and the personal connection you make to Notre Dame during your time are well worth the effort of writing those essays and getting a letter of rec. (Plus it’s freeeeee!)
With that said, there isn’t much out there to tell you how selective this program is. So I’m going to tell you now. IT’S SELECTIVE. They may not say it on the site, but this is essentially an academic recruitment camp that ND does to try to get students they think will get into Ivies to choose ND. At our introductory session, they told us that only around 17% of applicants were admitted to the program to get the roughly 95 participants, which makes it more selective than the university. The university is spending thousands of dollars to get kids from all over the country (and the world!) to choose ND. You also will receive one college credit after completing the seminar.
The first day or two is spent mostly bounding with the other students. It’s a little awk at first, but everyone wants to make friends. Most of my friends were girls on my dorm floor and people in my scavenger hunt group the first day. As time progressed, we got to know some people from Global Issues and Science, and some other Arts kids through classes. Pretty much everyone I met was brilliant, and stunningly different-- I’m talking every state, race, and religion. I still keep in contact with many of the people I met through social media as well as texting and skype. I know some kids have even gotten together that live near one another (I live in the boonies, so I’m not that fortunate).
Classes are on weekdays. They run from 9-4 (if I remember correctly) with an hour break for lunch. There are a lot of guest speakers. In Arts, we spoke with a woman who did some of the artwork in the basillica, a theologian, and an expert on musicals, as well as our fabulous professors. We talked a bit about the book we read before coming (Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao), but also about what art means to different races and ethnic groups, as well as us personally. All seminars take a day trip to Chicago. Arts did a walking tour of street art, went the Art Institute, and saw a play. All seminars do a final project that you do in a group. It takes some research and preparation, but you have a bunch of time to do it, so it’s not a big deal.
During your stay, you are an ND student. You’ll eat in the dining halls, live in the dorms, hang out at LaFun, and work in the library. Campus is beautiful. You’ll love it. Seriously.
If you have any questions about the program, the people, anything, feel free to inbox me. I tried to keep this pretty ambiguous for privacy reasons, but if you want to know about me personally to get a feel for the type of students that got in, that’s cool too in private chat. I don’t know much specifically about the other two seminars, but I’ll do my best to answer those questions too!
Best luck to everyone applying!
I’m also applying to the American Arts, Popular Culture and Social Change seminar!! And can you post your stats for when you applied @lovethekiller? Thanks!!
@blourring At the time of my application, I had a 35 on the ACT (one sitting), and a 3.89 GPA UW (school does not weight) with the hardest courses my school offered. I think this was pretty typical among the other students.
Does anyone applying this year want to post stats?
How much do y’all think it’s gonna hurt me if I haven’t taken the ACT or the SAT? I’m taking my SAT literally the day after the application is due 
@Swinter do you have a psat score to send?
@Swinter I’m pretty sure you can send a screenshot of your SAT scores to ND Precollege programs. I took mine for the second time in January last year and I sent in my improved scores and I got in. But I’d email them to be sure.
@aao1997 yeah I’ve taken the PSAT, I’ll be sending that.
@hwhat318 thanks for taking a huge weight off my shoulders haha, I really appreciate it.
I have been trying to write this essay since October I hate writers block lol f m l
@homealone16 out of curiosity, what are the essay prompts? I can’t remember from last year
@hwhat318
One depends on your topic, so mine for technology was how does technology negatively affect the society (not incuding cell phones, or some other common ones. The other was something about an important activity that represents us. I’ve sent in my app already, so I’m not 100% sure. I saved my essays but not the prompt…
@homealone16
Which essay are you having difficulties with?
hey guys! applying for the science one
For others applying or others who have attended… Would it be in my best interest to omit my SAT score as it is only a 1970 and just submit my ACT (32) and PSAT (202) instead? Or should I include it?
Also, considering that it is very selective and there is a good chance I won’t make it, are there any other universities that have similar programs? I’m white and live in Indiana and don’t have a perfect app so I’m thinking I won’t be accepted on account of diversity and also that everyone else applying would have equivalent if not better grades and scores!