<p>How would a portfolio help me gain admission to ND when they look at the applicant pool as a whole and don't break the pool up by intended majors? I spoke with an admissions person from ND and she downplayed the portfolio's significance in the admission decision, instead she talked about "classes it could get me out of." I know that at schools like CMU &co the optional portfolio plays a significant role in the admission decision (50% of the decision according their admission rep). So I was wondering if anyone here had any insight concerning the importance of a portfolio in the ND admission process.</p>
<p>I also thought about that and I have the same concern. Their arch website says that “Any student admitted as an undergraduate to the University of Notre Dame may declare an architecture major”. Even if we applied for architecture, we would still be competing with every other student regardless of major for an acceptance, right?</p>
<p>Notre Dame admits students to the University, not to any specific college or major. Therefore you don’t apply to any major. Once you are in, you can do any major. D just got admitted into ND and intends to do Architecture. She did not submit a portfolio.</p>
<p>What’s the downside to submitting your portfolio? My philosophy is the more things you can submit to bolster your application, the better. Instead of a couple essays, now they have a couple essays and a portfolio to get to know you.</p>
<p>No downside, if you have the time on your hands.</p>