<p>I've read more than once that this event invites the top 50-60 applicants from the EA pool, and obviously being in that group is beyond extraordinary. Still, I am curious about one post which indicated the poster was invited to a Reilly weekend in April, after applying RD. Is the event only for EA applicants, or is there indeed a second weekend for RD? This is almost trivial, but it is just curiosity.</p>
<p>I believe that Reilly Scholars are chosen from ND Scholars who were EA applicants. You can google Reilly Weekend, University of Notre Dame and scroll down to an admissions site that shows a transcript from a live chat of Jan, 2007. In the list of questions, someone inquires about Reilly Scholars and the admissions counselor indicates that Reilly Scholars are from EA pool of students that were named ND Scholars first=eg, they are the very top ND Scholars. I don't think that there is another weekend for RD applicants. Son was a Reilly Scholar in Spring, 2006 and I do not think there were RD applicants at the weekend event. There may have been an alternate weekend for Reilly Scholars to attend, but I don't think so. I remember that he attended on the second weekend of his HS spring break, so he did not really miss any school. Requirements may have changed since he originally applied EA in Fall, 2005 so my post many not be entirely accurate. Hope it helps!</p>
<p>They actually just changed the structure of the Reilly Weekend this past year by having a second weekend in early April and inviting some exceptional students that applied RD to attend. However, when I attended the Reilly Weekend in 2006, the event was only for students that had applied EA. I hosted students for both weekends last year so if you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer to the best of my ability.</p>
<p>That's interesting; this is the first I've heard of this change. How exceptional does one have to be? Considering the overall quality of ND applicants, it must be quite a group!</p>
<p>I also posted a question for you on the ND 2011 board about transportation between Atlanta and South Bend. What has worked best for you? How has it limited visits home or from the folks?</p>
<p>Well, happygirl, I've seen your posts from last year with your stats, so I have a better idea of what it takes to be invited. Whoa. I especially admire your work ethic with the jobs you held in HS, and how you saved so much money when many might spend it on indulging themselves. Well done.</p>
<p>Thanks for the compliments merkur! That's so kind of you! I have not seen an official record of Reilly Scholars' statistics or anything, but I know that the group as a whole is very impressive. In the last couple of years, about 50% of invited students ultimately choose to attend ND.....the weekend is used as a recruiting tool of sorts. No way to really know what the Reilly committee is looking for, but they'll send out letters in the spring if you are invited. It is also nice because the Reilly program doesn't end after you visit for the weekend; there is an annual formal dinner for all Reilly scholars each year and Reilly scholars are encouraged to host the high school seniors that attend the Reilly weekend. Many participants also ultimately decide to join the Honors Program, though I did not for various reasons.</p>
<p>About transportation, I drive to and from Atlanta for move-in and move-out, but I fly home for breaks. I fly out of the South Bend airport, as they have direct flights to Atlanta. However, it's quite expensive; the only reason I do is because my dad pays for my flights with frequent flier miles; otherwise I would fly out of Chicago. Last year, I went home for fall, Christmas, and spring breaks; I went to Wisconsin with my roommate for Thanksgiving and stayed at school for Easter. This year, I went to Iowa with three of my best friends at ND for fall break, and will either be going home with a friend or staying on campus for Thanksgiving, so I will not make it home once this semester until Christmas, but I don't really mind. Let me know if you have any more questions!</p>
<p>Here's a question: I read in another of your posts that you turned down merit aid at Vanderbilt in favor of ND, and that money was not really a factor in your decision, due to family circumstances and your own great diligence in working and saving. My question is, what if money was a factor, an important one? Would you have made the same choice? I imagine an answer would also benefit from your having now spent 1 1/2 years at ND...</p>