Please chance me

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
1

<p>I am only a sophomore in high school right now, but I have started looking into colleges (isn't really plural, I've only looked into Notre Dame). It's my first choice. I go to a school just outside of Indianapolis that is ranked somewhere in the top 3% of all academically competitive schools in the nation, and I'm taking the most rigorous courses there. Like I said, I am only a sophomore, I am prepping myself for the years to come. I'll give you a brief overview of what I have done so far in high school.</p>

<p>Freshman year cumulative GPA: 3.87 unweighted</p>

<p>Sophomore year so far: 3.8 UW 4.45 W</p>

<p>I haven't taken the SATs or the ACT yet, but I took the PSAT and I have a good feeling about it. I've hear it is easy in comparison, I guess I'll have to wait a couple of months.</p>

<p>AP courses:
AP Chemistry
AP Human Geography
AP U.S. History
AP Psychology
(From this year alone) </p>

<p>Teacher and counselor opinions and recommendations:
As far as recommendations go, teachers love me and say they wish all their students took the initiative that I did, etc. Counselors love me, they say I'm polite, congenial, and an all around good student. (not to toot my own horn, I don't consider myself an outstanding student or anything).</p>

<p>Awards, class ranking, etc.:
My school isn't big on awards, especially for underclassmen. I did receive two class awards last year, that's about all I could get. I was on high honor roll all of last year. My school has 4,400 kids, it's hard to stand out. We don't rank but I am at least in the top 10% of my class. I'm hoping to run for class president, it's a big deal at my school, competition is brutal, foul play seems suspect.</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars:
-TONS of community service at the catholic hospital where my mom works.
-Key club
-House (student government)
-Best Buddies (if you haven't heard of it, we help mentally challenged kids at our school).
-Student Venture (My youth group, only it is at my school).
-S.A.L.T. (student action leadership team).
-NHS (hopefully, I apply next year).
-I read scripture for my church all the time.
-I was a counselor for a church summer program, I taught/led grades 1-8.
-My mom and I are starting an organization to help out lower-middle class families who had children or are currently pregnant that need some help sometimes, and could use basic necessities necessities that other people are willing to donate. Not to be confused with Medicade patients who suck up all the income tax money from the government to sit at home all day. We will hopefully start that in a couple of months, I'm organizing it.
-I have played lacrosse so far in high school, every team is cut at my school which makes it tough to make teams. I almost made team captain last year but suffered a brain-rattling concussion. (I had some troubles with school while in my concussed state, but teachers seemed apathetic).</p>

<p>Other stats, info about me:
I am a white male, as I said, residing in state. I attended an interview at Notre Dame last week to get myself acquainted with their admission staff, to put my name out there. I am an exception to the legacy rules. Neither one of my parents attended, but my great great uncle, who passed away shortly before my birth, was a Holy Cross priest at Notre Dame for 50 years. Along with being a Holy Cross priest, he was a very notable professor in philosophy, he's on Notre Dame's inspirational list. I am applying to go to Notre Dame's summer scholars program, if anyone has any information on how to get in, I would greatly appreciate your input. I received an invite from Yale last year to attend their summer program, I did not go. I am trying to think of any other possible details, if I think of any others I will definitely let you know. Thank you so much for taking the time to evaluate my information, it means a lot to me</p>

2

<p>Well let me first say, take it easy. You are young and you have a lot of time left in high school. Enjoy it! Don't wish some of the best years of your life away by worrying about college. Secondly, don't get your heart set on ND, or any one school fort that matter. There are many great places out there, so don't narrow your horizon. </p>

<p>Aside from that advice, I will be honest with you. You are too young to evaluate any future in the college admissions process. Heck, it's sometimes impossible even to evaluate an applying senior's odds. That being said, if you remain on the track you are on, I think you are putting yourself in a very good position. However, Junior year is far different from Freshman and Sophomore year, and many times can lower the GPA/class rank. Not to mention, being instate is unfortunate. Until you have taken SAT/ACTs, have a GPA with Junior year grades, have a class rank, etc, it is impossible to tell whether or not you would get into a college. And may I remind you, everyone here is just an average person giving an opinion. We aren't the ones reading your application, and we don't know what they are looking for. </p>

<p>My only word of caution, be careful on the extracurriculars. If I know one thing, it is that when an admissions counselor sees a laundry list of extracurriculars, your application loses A LOT of credibility. Try to mention only those activities that are the most important to you and those that you have dedicated the most time to. It's quality, not quantity. Giving 100 hours to one extracurricular is much better than giving 5 hours each to 20 extracurriculars. Your list gives the impression that you are joining every club, charity, or volunteer group that exists, only to fluff up your application. You currently have 11 extracurriculars listed, and I'm sure you intend to add more as you continue through high school. Don't do it! Pick a few, stick with them and dedicate your time, and become a leader within them. Write about these commitments; oftentimes they make great essay topics. </p>

<p>Good luck in your continued high school career. Embrace it, don't push it out the door. You have plenty of time in your life to be stressed out. Don't start early! Be a teenager while you can.</p>

3

<p>I thank you for the reply, I really took it to heart. I realize I'm only a sophomore and should be having fun, but you can't put fun on a transcript. I do have a life, believe it or not, but I'm pushing my friends away a lot because they're not very academically motivated. I want to go to Notre Dame for more than the "it's my dream school" reason. I want to surround myself with religious, intelligent, motivating, positive people.
One of my friends just contacted me tonight saying he wants to start a computer programming business with me. We both have knowledge in the area, I need the money, and I suppose it would look good on a transcript. What are your opinions? Should I do it? Is it too desperate? I'm just really reaching out for guidance and opinions so that I can later have the security blanket, something that can give me the slightest bit of hope.
Just give me your opinion on electives you think I could do without, I'm all ears...or I guess all eyes in this circumstance.</p>

4

<p>Well it's not for me to decide which extracurriculars you could do without. That is your decision. My advice is to put the majority of your effort into the ones that you enjoy the most. They don't have to be the most impressive, prestigious, etc. Just the ones that are important to you, so that you can show your true personality and interests through an application. </p>

<p>As for the computer business, my advice would be the same. If you love it, do it. If it is just to build up the resume, forget it. It is something that you need to ask yourself and decide on your own. </p>

<p>The only thing that worries me is when you say, "I'm pushing my friends away a lot because they're not very academically motivated." Just because your friends aren't aiming at ND, or prestigious academic futures, doesn't mean you should push them away. Sometimes you need them to bring you back down to earth. Just because you have different priorities, doesn't mean you can't be the best of friends with someone else. I understand that you want to attend ND to surround yourself with "religious, intelligent, motivating, positive people," but that is not the real world. After your four years are up, you will be thrusted back into American society, complete with secular, dumb, lazy, and negative people. Don't set yourself up for failure, and don't isolate yourself from your friends. After all, they are your "friends."</p>

<p>Just keep up the good work in high school and your time will come. Just don't wish away some of the best years of your life.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

5

<p>It's too early to give a solid chance, as in most cases, junior is alot more academically difficult than the years prior. (It was at least for me and several of my classmates). I agree with mooseman, don't push yourself away from your friends. I would advise, however, to really focus on your SAT or ACT, the tests can be more difficult than they seem. I'd suggest doing practice tests prior to taking them, they really do help.</p>

<p>You're on the right track, keep it up!</p>

6

<p>Okay, let's try this, forget my SAT's, that will come another time. Say I'm a junior with these credentials, would I have a shot. I just get a lot of negative talk, like the usual,"Oh, you think you're going to Notre dame?" I'm sick of it, so I turn to who I know are positive, intelligent, and caring people.</p>

7

<p>About your SATs, I was able to perfectly predict mine, (seriously, I wrote down my scores before the test and they were exactly what I got), because I'm such a consistent standardized tester. What percentiles do you normally fall in for English and math?
Personally, since I've always been 99th math, 97th English, I knew I'd get a near perfect math score, and English scores in the low 700s. Use this as a frame of reference. </p>

<p>My advice about friends-have a varied group. I have some friends who don't work too hard, but are a lot of fun, and some who are almost as studious as me. Find different people to talk to about different things with or do different things with.</p>

8

<p>As far as standardized tests go, I get nearly perfect every time on the math and english parts. I plan on taking the SATs as many times as possible, regardless of my score. Notre Dame superscores their SATs, and they also said they don't care about the number of times you take it.
I would have to say the same when it comes to friends, some are loads of fun but really unmotivated and a little below par on the grading scale. Like I said, some are prompting me to do things, like start businesses. One of them just appointed me president of student tutor connections. So you can add that to the list of my ECs.
Are there any clear indicators as to whether or not I will stand a chance of getting in, based on my stats?</p>

9

<p>Unfortunately, it's difficult to chance you without the scores, as they are a major part of being admitted. I have heard from several admissions officer though as well as my GC that it looks bad if you take the SAT more than three times (they view it as beating a dead horse), so I'd advise making that your maximum. If after three, you're not satisfied with your SAT results, try your hand at the ACT.</p>

<p>As for EC's it's not necessarily about quantity as it is about quality. If you're honestly interested in starting a business- go for it, if you enjoy tutoring, pursue that interest. Colleges can usually tell what is used as application padding versus actual interests. </p>

<p>GPA-wise keep it up through junior year and take the AP classes, in reguards to grades you're on the right track. That's about all I really can say without test scores unfortunately...</p>

10

<p>But still, continue to have a life. High school only happens once. :)</p>

11

<p>Dude, taking the SATs is really boring-I only did it once and it sounds like if you bring your A game, you only need to, also. Here's my recommendation-if you get a 2200+, don't bother retaking it-that's really solid for ND. (Their average is like a 2080 or so, I think.)</p>

12

<p>Okay, I have a couple of books on how to prepare for SATs. I haven't gathered the courage to crack it open yet, but when it comes down to it, I will. I hope I can score that high on the SAT, I know it's the main thing they look at. What did you do to prepare for the SATs? Books, tutoring, already knew it?</p>

13

<p>I might add that I'm in a strange spot. My mom's side of the family is Methodist, and my dad's side is Catholic (hence my uncle being a ND priest). But my dad was killed in a car accident when I was young, so I've been brought up Catholic and Methodist. I want to say I'm more of a Methodist than a devout Catholic, but I have been attending mass at ND for a couple of weeks now. But I have also been leading in the youth group at my school, which is Methodist. I'm not looking for spiritual guidance, I just want to know what you guys think is the more honest religion to put on my transcript.</p>

14

<p>I'd put whatever you honestly believe in more. Just be honest, they'll care more about grades and SATs than if you put Methodist over Catholic.</p>

15

<p>Well if you are relying/mentioning your late uncle, whom was a Holy Cross priest, then it would look suspicious for you to say that you are Methodist. Just a thought.</p>

16

<p>You're right, it probably would. I imagine I will say I have been raised Methodist, but still attend mass on a regular basis. Does anyone know anything about admittance to their Summer Scholars program? I want to go so bad, but I'm worried about my PSAT. It seemed really easy, but we were on a tight time budget. I would always have to scramble down 5 answers or so (more or less, I don't think more, all less) at the end. How bad is that?</p>

17

<p>Any more suggestions? If I do not get in should I apply to Holy Cross? I am legacy there, too. If I don't get in and don't go to Holy Cross I will be applying to transfer every semester, so does it really matter whether or not I go? I've heard Notre Dame considers it a "junior college" and would rather their applicants attend another well-respected schools. Also, I want to be an architect, I plan on going to their summer program for architecture this summer, and I have loaded my high school schedule with engineering courses and advanced engineering courses. Do you think I would stand a better chance at getting in if I expressed my interest? Because, from what I have heard, not as many people apply to their school of engineering.</p>

18

<p>^Probably-schools want kids for the low-volume programs, despite what they say. For example, it's better to apply to U Chicago for Spanish or something than Economics, or English at MIT rather than Engineering, so long as your passion is backed up. They can spot kids trying to use the system to their advantage.</p>

19

<p>It would definitely be to your advantage to go to the arch. program. Not only would it show interest, but I'm sure it's a great experience. I attended the engineering program this past summer, and it was amazing. : )</p>

20

<p>Herecometheirish: first - you are only a soph and if you keep the grades at their current level you will have no issues getting in. just do your best to diversify yourself focusing primarily on school (and tests) then athletics then volunteer. you keep those key things in mind and you will be set.</p>

<p>second - if you do not get in... DO NOT GO TO HCC. Holy Cross in MA would be fine, but the one in SB is a poor choice if you want to transfer. I went there last year in the hope of transferring... i got a 3.92, only got a B in Physics which i took at ND... well i got denied and i am now at UMich. applying to transfer and should hear next week but still. Go somewhere like Miami ohio or MSU or a god school get a good gpa and transfer.
i turned down a lot of god schools - Lehigh, Tenn, GVSU - to go to HCC b/c i thought i would be a shoe in at nd since i have 3 gen of legacy ... but things can be deceitful with nd decisions....</p>

<p>third - incase you wanted to transfer, you cannot transfer into the architecture or business school. you must spend at least one year in the Liberal arts or Science college and then do an inter college transfer.</p>