I’ve always loved ND, but I thought it was an unattainable reach. Turns out, ND accepted me RD. I am now attached to University of Miami, so I do not know what I should do. Can someone give me some insight?
What’s your major? Finances an issue? The U is a really good school with a lot better weather, but for our family, it would be ND hands down. ND is top notch across the board (campus, academics, alum support etc) - It would be hard to turn down.
@lastone03 I don’t get FA, so finances isn’t that much of an issue. Miami is going to be 59K and I’m still waiting to hear back from ND for aid. I’m majoring in finance. I have been told the Notre Dame is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, and since I don’t drive that is concerning.
I personally think ND is a better school academically. You say you’re majoring in finance, did you get into Mendoza? If so, that’s a big deal, it’s one of the top undergrad business schools in the country. But Miami is also a good school and I realize that sometimes there is more to the decision than just that. These would be very different life experiences – one warmer weather closer to a major city (and the beach), the other is colder weather and not in a major metropolitan area. I’m curious why you’ve “always loved ND”? It sounds like you haven’t visited, since you say you’ve “been told” it’s in the middle of no where. Unless I’m misinterpreting what you wrote? To address that, I would say, yes, South Bend is certainly no Miami. No question. But the campus is not in the middle of no where, South Bend is a city with 100,000 people. There are bars and restaurants that students go to in South Bend and the surrounding towns. There are malls and shopping centers within a 5 min drive of campus where students shop. My daughter is off campus all the time. You don’t need a car, many students Uber everywhere. In terms of walking distance, there is Eddy Street Commons right across the street. This isn’t huge, but it’s a couple blocks of apartments with a few bars and restaurants, banks, hair place, etc. ND does also promote a very active campus life to make sure there is always something to do on campus. In terms of commuting back and forth from home, South Bend does have it’s own international airport. Chicago has more flights and is a 2-2.5 hour train or bus ride. The bus picks you up on campus by the book store, @$75 round trip.
In terms of ‘why notre dame’ in general, the below thread says everything you need to know. Read answer #5 by someone called docmom. It’s true, ND is not 4 years at the beach. But it is extraordinary in a different way 
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/university-notre-dame/7427-why-notre-dame-p1.html
“I have been told the Notre Dame (sic) is pretty much in the middle of nowhere” - this is a decision you will need to own and in order to do this, you will need first hand information that relate to your own personal preferences and priorities. The University of Notre Dame and the University of Miami are very different from each other in many respects. Hence, you might want to start gathering first-hand information by visiting and personally experiencing both universities, one of which you might end up spending the next 4 years of your life at. Very best of success!