Pre-College Program Application Questions

<p>Hi! I'm a current junior and I love Notre Dame. My mom got her masters from there (Does that make me legacy?) and I've gone there every single summer since I was born. So basically, it means a lot to me.</p>

<p>I want to apply to the Pre-College Programs for this summer, but I'm a little unsure about it.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I want to attend either the Summer Scholars Program on Literature or the Global Issues Seminar. They ask for a minimum of a 30 on the ACT to apply for the Global Issues one, which I really like (my parents also like it because it is free), however, I'm taking the ACT for the first time on the 11th and I doubt I'll make a 30. Should I still apply, especially because I feel so passionate about the curriculum of the program, or should I just apply to the literature one?</p></li>
<li><p>The programs sound really inspiring and interesting to me, and I wondering if it would be appropriate to send a personal essay explaining what it means to me? Would that be bad, or harming to my application, since they don't call for one? I want the best chance of getting in, and I feel that if they knew me better then there would be a better chance of this.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>If anyone has any answers let me know! I don't think you really have had to attend these programs to help, since they are general application questions. I'm the oldest child, so my family doesn't have any experience yet with college applications. Thanks so much! :)</p>

<p>1) those seminars sound great! does the global issues seminar <em>require</em> or <em>recommend</em> that applicants have a 30 ACT? try to call/email the person who runs the program to see if there is a possibility of getting into the global issues seminar with a score of 29 or less. i say shoot for the one you REALLY want to do. good luck on your ACT.<br>
2) i think it would be a good idea to submit an essay & share how much you care about ND and global issues! but again, try to contact someone about this to see if that is even allowed.</p>

<p>=)</p>

<p>Ballerinawriter,
ND Dad here with a little insight. Global Issues is highly competitive and Summer Scholars is more forgiving on admissions. Both are great opportunities to experience ND first hand while still in High School. My advice is to do everything possible to try and get in either program. Don’t worry about appearing too “over the edge” at ND trying to get into these programs. Ask the questions…make the calls. Notre Dame loves students who are passionate about wanting to be there. Son attended Summer Scholars in Life Science Trak his summer before senior year in HS. Confirmed his love for ND and drove him to do whatever it took to get him there with hard work his senior year. If you are truly passionate about the ND family - apply. You will not regret it. Son is finishing his first semester (Pre-Professional/Pre Med) on campus and I gotta say Notre Dame has fulfilled his wildest dreams.
GOOD LUCK & GO IRISH</p>

<p>I went to Global Issues and absolutely loved it! For me it was more of an all or nothing sort of thing; if I didn’t get in - oh well, right? Try for Global Issues - from what I heard from some other girls, you get to do way more at GIS. It was definitely one of the best weeks of my life - hands down.</p>

<p>What kind of stats do you need to get into global issues? I applied and am so nervous about!</p>

<p>Me too. You’re supposed to have a 30, but I applied with a 28. I’m not sure if that counts me out for sure or not. I’m so nervous about it! I want to go so bad!</p>

<p>I had a 30 so I’m right at the bottom too! I was going to take it again before I submited but the date was too close. I think I’m going to take it again in June so I’ll have a better shot at getting admited overall. When do you think we’ll know?</p>

<p>It says they are sending them out on April 1st, so I’m thinking a couple days after that. Yeah I’m definitely retaking the ACT as well, I had only taken it once before I had to submit so I had no clue what it expect and it was too late to retake before sending the stuff in.</p>

<p>Uh oh! I’m so scared! I just wonder what makes you a strong candidate. My ACT wasn’t super high but I got my girl scout gold award and have a lot of community service under my belt, along with being hyper involved in fine arts extra curriculars and volleyball…I don’t know if that, along with your essay makes you a good candidate or what exactly they’re looking for. It makes my nerves go crazy!</p>

<p>Yeah I feel the same way. Everything on mine seems pretty solid, but my ACT. I tried my best with my essays- one of the teachers at my school is supposed to be awesome at college essays, so I had her read over mine. I don’t like how we could only put in 5 extracurriculars though, I wish I had room for more.</p>

<p>I agree on that! But I guess it was probably good for them to see the things that really matter to you…I’m sure every kid has two or three things they put on applicaitons for extra curriculars that aren’t a big deal to them or that just look good on paper. That way they get to see who you really are!</p>

<p>lol yeah that’s a better way to think about it. Gosh, I’m still so nervous. Do you want to go to Notre Dame for college too?</p>

<p>That’s the goal! I hope that I get into this so I can get a taste of it and be sure it’s what I really want.</p>

<p>lol same! I’ve been going to ND since I was a baby to visit every summer and I just think it would be amazing to go to school there.</p>

<p>I agree! Let me know if you get in! I’m so nervous about finding out!</p>

<p>Hey I’m applying for ND GIS and also the Latino Seminar for this summer. I know a lot of people who got turned away from GIS even with high ACT scores. What’s important to remember is that accepted applicants usually have academic statistics comparable to the top 25% of the incoming freshman class. So it in no means determines your standing with the university in a bad way. In fact, a large majority of those who got in actually end up being accepted to the school!</p>

<p>Wow! That’s really intense, looks like I shouldn’t get my hopes up. Do you know how many people apply each year for GIS?</p>

<p>I think I read somewhere that 10-15% get in, so that would be somewhere between 270 and 400 kids.</p>

<p>What about for the latino community leadership seminar? Anybody know how many people apply for that? Man, I am hoping I get into that so badly because I love ND and its my first choice for next year! I’m hoping that the fact that I hadn’t taken the ACT yet does not affect my chances of getting in, because I was scheduled to take my first crack at the ACT April 9th. Fortunately, I did take a test called the PLAN at my school which predicts the range you will possibly get on the ACT and I was predicted in the 30-33 range. Hopefully that is suffice information for them. Good Luck to everyone!</p>

<p>Jesuit,</p>

<p>Good thing you tool the PLAN test, I had a PLAN test that predicted a 30 and I ended up getting in to Notre Dame Summer Scholars with that score. But, the PLAN test really isn’t that accurate, as I ended up getting a 33 on my ACT. </p>

<p>As far as GIS goes, test scores don’t matter too much as long as they are in the 30’s, from what I’ve heard. GIS is a really great program and few kids actually get in. I’m not getting my hopes up yet, but who knows? Letters came out today!</p>