PLEASE HELP!!... my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
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<p>White, Catholic female from NJ looking to be a bio or chem major/ on pre-med track
Rank: 6/275 in very competitve high school
GPA- 4.34
Most rigorous courses (all Honors, AP, or accelerated sequence) and only one B entire HS career
AP's: Bio, Chem, English, Spanish, European History</p>

<p>SATs- 610M, 610V, 710W (took 10/8.. hoping for 2000+)</p>

<p>EC's- Newspaper (9, 12), NHS (11,12), Peer Development Leader (11, 12), Spanish teacher for 3rd and fourth graders at local elementary schools (11, 12), Spanish NHS (10, 11, 12)- President, History Club (11, 12)- Secretary, Assistant CCD teacher (11, 12), Junior Volunteer at local hospital (10,11, 12- 100+ hours; named "star volunteer"), Band (9, 10, 11- participated in competition in Toronto. One of four saxes distinguished), Spanish Tutor (11, 12)- Tutored level 3 HS junior last year and an 8th grade level 1 student this year, and in 11th grade I was chosen to interview war veterans for the library of Congress.</p>

<p>I have won various awards for academic excellence, excellence in Spanish, and have been on the Principal's Scholars Honor Roll (GPA of 4.0+) every marking period of HS career. I recieved advanced proficient (highest level) in all subjects of NJ's HSPA test.</p>

<p>I am also an immigrant from a previously Communist nation in Eastern Europe. I have lived in Albania and Italy before I came to the US at the age of 5. I am fluent in Albanian and English, and can understand and speak a good deal of Italian (planning to study abroad during college to become fluent once more). I also travel frequently, and have spent summers in Italy residing in a Byzantine Catholic Monastic community near Rome (my family is extremely close to the abbott of this order).</p>

<p>I'm working on my essays and should have excellent teacher recs (I'm getting my math teacher to write mine. He knows me very well and is a ND alum)</p>

<p>Do you guys think I have a shot? I'm thinking to apply RD.. is that a good idea? Also, is NJ considered a underrepresented state at ND?</p>

2

<p>wow good thing i'm applying next year, i love ur stats(especially if you raise your SATs) from nj too let me know its population in notre dame i think that you have a very good shot, especially if you raise your SATs, if you could raise your math and verbal over 170 it'd be better</p>

3

<p>I don't know about New Jersey being underrepresented, but I kind of doubt it honestly. That is a complete guess, however.</p>

<p>As for chances, I definately think at this point you should go RA mainly because of the SAT scores. I do think you have a shot, but you really got to get those scores up as they will make a big difference. Be persistent with the test and maybe try the ACT but do everything you can. If you could get them up to around a 1400 (old version, since I don't think ND will look much at the writing part) then I think you would have a good shot. That is just my opinion, however. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Thanks for all the advice... the SATs are the bane of my existence lol.. do you think having around a 1300 vs around a 1400 would totally ruin my chances? I love Notre Dame so much and I'm terrified of RA!</p>

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<p>To quote Rudy "admissions is a funny bunch of squirrels" and you just never know why you get in or why you don't! I do have friends that have gotten in with 1300's obviously, and if you are qualified in the other areas you can pull it. However, a 1400 definately does help quite a bit. Can it happen with a 1300, yes, but it is harder. I know your stats will be competitive but it is so hard to understand what they look at sometimes because I have seen kids I thought were slam dunks get rejected and I have seen certain kids where ND was a huge reach get in. You just never know, so just give it your best shot as that is all you can do. YOU CAN ONLY CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL (if that makes sense). Take the SAT's again if you can, prepare for them, do well in school, pray, and know you gave it your best. That is all you can do.</p>

<p>Everything happends for a reason, no matter what (I think at least). I was rejected by ND the first time around and I am THANKFUL for it because I learned a lot and met a lot of great friends from my year at Creighton before transferring to Notre Dame. It all works out if you want it bad enough! Good luck!</p>

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<p>I'd agree with Irish on every aspect basically. I was waitlisted last year with a 1470 and relatively similar stats (Senior class VP, 7/225, 2 foreign mission trips) but mind you, I was from Chicago. By the way though, my roomate this year is from New Jersey.. I guess from the shore (thought I'd throw that in there). Your chances are solid when not considering that SAT score. Go for regular decision would be my suggestion, because I don't think you'd be getting in EA, you might save yourself the anxiety of waiting. But nonetheless, best of luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks so much for all the advice! I guess all I can do now is make my application excellent and pray for the best... thanks to all!! Also, quick question... how important are your parents' professions? Both my parents are college professors (with PhD's) at Catholic universities. Would that be beneficial, detrimental, or not important whatsoever?</p>

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<p>Hey I have an urgent question and if you guys could help, that'd be great. Come tomorrow morning, if I find out my SAT scores are 1350+ (closer to 1400) would you reccomend that I apply EA? I am in the top 2% of my class and have a very interesting background... THANKS SO MUCH!!</p>

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<p>for starters.....no idea about the parents and....in my opinion (lets see what others say)if you got above 1400 i would apply ea, but its up in there underneath that.</p>

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<p>I agree, I think that a 1400 would give you the go-ahead. It is hard to say below that because EA appears to be big on the SAT score. If you are unsure just email admissions and see what they say (though I know the deadline looms). I don't think that applying EA will hurt you, but do what you think is best for you. If you are anxious and need to know now, then maybe it is the best way to go? I would definately feel better with a 1400, however. Ask admissions, they will not lead you wrong.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much for the advice! I guess I'll just hafta wait and see what I get tomorrow morning.. I'll post more definite scores then and see what you guys think I should do... knowing early would be amazing but I also don't wanna screw up all my chances of getting into Notre Dame by risking it and applying early.. </p>

<p>I just wanna add that you guys have been lifesavers! Notre Dame seems to be really picky about people applying early so I need all the advice I can get! I love this school wayyy to much to do something wrong.. lol :-)</p>

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<p>good luck i'll chek early tomorrow probly b4 u post it so i'll chek as soon as i can after that</p>

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<p>V 670 M 640 W 710 (still highest score.. lol)... Total = 2020... are my chances shot w/ a 1310?</p>

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<p>man your highest score is the one that they generally dont chek......in my opinion it might be better to go rd.....let's see what everyone else has to say</p>

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<p>I agree, my vote is RD and I think that is what admissions will tell you to. Check with them, however, and see what they say. Regardless, good luck!</p>

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<p>you may seem anxious to get the whole application process over, but keep mind what is the best wont seem the easiest way to go about it</p>

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<p>Can I possibly take the SAT one more time for Notre Dame RD in January? I will be out of town in November and will be taking SAT II's in December so January's the only time I could possibly re-take.. do you guys think its worth it?</p>

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<p>I am pretty sure that the January one will be soon enough, almost positive on that, but it is 4 years since I applied so please double check me! If you think you can get a better score then it is almost always worth trying again because 100 points could easily be the difference.</p>

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<p>unless i am mistaken....isnt the rd date january 1st?</p>

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<p>Isnt the application due Dec. 31st for rd? I dont know if you will be able to rush your scores and even if you do it will hold up your app. Maybe you should try to switch the SATIIS to the SAT for the Dec. test since ND doesnt require SATIIs. hope this helps..</p>