REA Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
1

Hi everyone, I was wondering about my chances of getting into Notre Dame through REA or even to be deferred, anything but denial. Based on my ACT score I realize it is a stretch but I pray that there is still a chance for me. I have proved personally to be an awful test taker, particularly a slow one, so the ACT is not a friend. I prefer to take my time on tests and like to think things through and often end up rushing on the last two columns of every component, leading to my lower score. Up until the last two columns I had answered near perfect. Notre Dame is my dream school and the only school I can imagine attending next year, it would be devastating to be denied.
ACT: 29 Composite
GPA: 6.1/5 Weighted
Class Rank: 15/346 (Top 5%)

AP: AP Human Geography; AP Physics 1; AP Biology: AP American Literature, Language, and Composition, AP Psychology, AP United States Government and Politics; AP Microeconomics; AP Chemistry; AP English Literature and Composition

Class work load: Tough work load all four years, all honors and AP. Straight A’s except for a couple classes sophomore year in which I showed improvement junior year.

Activities: Varsity Softball; Varsity Volleyball; Varsity Basketball; Travel Softball; Club Volleyball; Ecology Club; Mathletes; National Honors Society (Secretary), Pep Club; District 228 Leadership Committee; Rotary Interact Community Service Club; Often volunteer in Kindergarten classrooms and young athletic camps; Organized a supply collection drive for the local animal shelter throughout my neighborhood

Work Experience: Held a job at a recreational basketball league for the past 2 years as well as working a second job last year

Recommendation Letters: Strong, one from my AP Biology teacher. Another from a ND alum

Supplement: Very strong, expressed a strong interest in Notre Dame through unique ideas

Had two admission connections through a family member although I expect them to have no actual weight as many people have connections.

Ethnicity: Hispanic
Religion: Roman Catholic

Any information would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance for taking the time to help me!

2

I think your ACT score is going to be your downfall here, especially if you applied early. Your GPA scale is kinda wonky so it’s hard for me to tell by that. I think you have good ECs, granted that there’s some leadership in there. I think being Hispanic may help and so would taking a tough curriculum. When you say unique ideas in your supplements what did you write about? I’ve already sent in my application so I’m trying to get a sense of what others wrote.

3

ND says a 29-30 ACT score gives you an 8% chance of eventually getting in. At the REA stage, they want to see a 35 ACT.

So you need to assume that ND is going to reject you REA and act accordingly in terms of applying to other schools.

You never know, but you need to be realistic.

4

@northwesty where did you get the statistic of eight percent?

5

@goblue8721 Below is the video from the admissions department where the stat was pulled from. Go to the 32:30 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DQOPx1EGE8

With the admitted rate of 8% for people scoring at a 29-30, I would guess a significant portion of those people are probably recruited athletes.

I’m sure there are opportunities for people to get admitted with a 29, but you better have some EXTREMELY impressive items on your application related to your EC’s and Leadership. Being an URM or a legacy will help some, but it is not a golden ticket.