<p>SAT: 2180 composite (650 M, 750 CR, 780 W) - 1400 M + CR (pretty bad, I know...)
GPA: 3.77 UW --> all classes taken have been Honors or IB SL & HL (I'm an IB Diploma Candidate at one of the most prestigious high schools in the nation, ranked #2 in NJ)
[ACT: 31, SAT IIs: 730 Lit]
EC's: co-founder of school's chapter of Girls Learn International, Co-Pres. of chapter of The Supply, volunteer at home for developmentally disabled adults, SAT tutor for economically-disadvantaged children at the Urban League Center for Bergen County, select chamber choir member, DECA member (4th place @ NJ States), Kumon Learning Center employee, etc.
Awards: one of 37 finalists for admittance into the National Student Poets Program, the nation's highest honor for youth poets / various national & regional awards at the 2013 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards / NHS member / placed 1st in All-State/USA Today's X-THE-TXT marketing campaign
Hooks: URM (Hispanic/White, Legacy [father attended Notre Dame Law School])</p>
<p>Notre Dame isn't my top choice, but I'd love to know whether or not I stand a chance in admissions!</p>
<p>From my son’s top 3 boarding school: Notre Dame has gotten very competitive. Your standardized scores are just average for ND (twenty years ago you would have been a shoo in for RD) but today you would have to apply ED in order to get the legacy boost.</p>
<p>So a student with legacy status applying RD won’t reap the same benefits as one applying ED/EA? Also, is the atmosphere at Notre Dame suffocatingly religious? This is a major concern of mine, and one of the reasons why I may not apply (my father can’t give me a yes or no answer)</p>
<p>“Suffocatingly religious” has a distinctly pejorative and hostile tone.</p>
<p>It is certainly possible to spend four years at ND without ever doing anything remotely Catholic. Everyone must take two Religion classes, but the breadth of offerings ensures that no one will have beliefs forced unwillingly upon them. Mass is held weekly in every dorm, but many students never attend. The Basilica and Grotto are significant landmarks on campus, but you will not be required to visit either.</p>
<p>Having said all that, Notre Dame embraces its Catholic tradition. Many students are attracted to the school by its unique embrace of the church. The school offers opportunities not found elsewhere and has a consistency in its nature.</p>
<p>I wonder if you are concerned about other schools being “suffocatingly liberal” or “suffocatingly intolerant”.</p>
<p>I may be wrong for ND, but generally, legacy status only applies to undergrad, not graduate programs. Law school grad would not be a legacy for undergrad admissions but someone more familiar with ND admissions would need to speak to that. Broadly, a 31 ACT and 3.7 unweighted is on the low end for admissions. The kids we know admitted were 34+ and 3.9+ unweighted. </p>
<p>As for religiosity, that depends on your perspective. As rmldad noted, you can get through your undergrad without being part of the Catholic tradition. Would you want that though? Sidestep a major part of the undergrad culture? You can agree or disagree, but there are distinct experiences at ND stemming from the Catholic tradition: one cannot get birth control on campus, the pro-life movement on campus is strong, only recently was an LGBT student organization recognized by the University. There is also a vibrant focus on service.</p>
<p>3.7 UW is low, I know, but the high school I attend - as well as the program I am in within the school - is immensely difficult. So difficult, in fact, that the school cannot rank us without fear of us cannibalizing each other to be #1. With that being said, I had no intention of sending my 31 ACT, so would my SAT score be more in range? I honestly know very little about ND, save the fact that my father received his JD there. But also, that was in the '70s, and I doubt he’d have been accepted by today’s standards. And no, @rmldad, I’m not concerned about other schools being “suffocatingly liberal” as I am a liberal. And if the ND community would look down on me as a member of the LGBT community, then I have no interest in attending.</p>
<p>Mysteryfan – on the lgbt question, what I hear is that the students are welcoming and open. At the same time, the administration has struggled how to balance Catholic teachings with student life. This year is the first year there has been an administration-recognized student LGBT organization. You should explore further on your own, rather than rely on this board alone for info. </p>
<p>And as for the gpa, your guidance counselor will provide info which will put it all in context. </p>
<p>Good luck, sounds like you have a wonderful high school foundation for success in college, with IB, poetry awards, writing etc.</p>