<p>i never called myself an admissions counselor.. and i hope you get in peter! but 1536, maybe it makes little sense, but they can choose whoever they feel like choosing. I promise you that they use a subjective rather than objective approach at admissions. Facts speak for themselves, 33% of the applicant pool is accepted, the average SAT of all 11000 applicants (including rejectees) was around 1310. It is inevitbale that smart, qualified people are being rejected, and it's not because ND doesnt want them there, it's because there's not enough room for everyone. Tough decisions have to be made, and some people are going to be left out, and it sucks.</p>
<p>"Qualifications" aren't always numbers. Take the essay for example. If 1536 had a 1600, top 2% in his class, and typed his essay like his posts here, the admissions officers would take note of that and reject him without hesitating. If you sat in your room all day studying to get your perfect grades and never went outside, a school like ND would take note of that. Notre Dame is a school seeking for good overall people, not just good students.</p>
<p>Andrew is correct, there are plenty of spaces for white males like you and me. With all these spots, whose fault is it that a rejectee did not stand out among the pool of overqualified applicants, ND's or the applicant's?</p>
<p>i know probly no offense was intended, but i can't feel but a little irked.</p>
<p>coming from a school largely "bubble-ish": 95% white, mormon and conservative...i've endured my share fair of class discussions regarding "affirmative action". but just for the record, it was on this site that i actually saw statistics regarding reverse discrimination against asians at some top schools (and now stanford's attempting to do something about that). </p>
<p>true, i'm indian and got into ndame. that said, i also got rejected from some great schools where my hispanic friends w/ notably lower stats etc got into. for all you know that's how it works, the "urm" title is subjective (ie claremont may have wanted hispanics, and nd more asians)
my point is, if you have a strong record, not amazing or spectacular, but just solid, you are goign to get in somwhere. if not your first or second choice, a strong school nonetheless.</p>
<p>and your off-hand remarks may just in fact offend someone who has worked hard to get into x school, and just happens to be a minority. just try and tone it down a bit.</p>
<p>I have been able to experience both sides of affirmative action with it hurting me when I applied to undergrad (white male) and now it helping me greatly get into classes and eventually most likely helping me get into graduate school since my major is dominated by women (psychology). </p>
<p>I don't think that anyone here is trying to offend or means any harm. I can see how it can be viewed that way but please remember that Notre Dame was the dream school for some of these individuals (I know, I was in their shoes). It was very hard for me to see a friend with slightly lower stats get into Notre Dame when I was rejected. That isn't to say my friend didn't work hard, I don't doubt that, but it is just really hard to swallow when you worked just as hard and then they get what you always wanted. </p>
<p>I promise you that no one means any harm, it is just aggravating. I can relate a bit to you because I know that there are some girls here that are mad that they have to sit on a waitlist for a year and a half to get into counseling methods whereas all I had to do is sign up because they want equal numbers of men and women. It isn't fair, and it is hard for them to swallow (especially since most of them have seniority on me and have been waiting over a year) and frankly I think they have a right to complain, I don't like it either. It benefits me this time around but it still isn't fair.</p>
<p>So, in short, I know you have been rejected from some schools (you have said as much) so you know how a rejection can sting. Put yourself in the shoes of some of these other students, where Notre Dame was their dream, and try to understand that their complaining isn't against you, it isn't saying you didn't work hard, but rather it is against the system that is keeping them out even though they worked possibly just as hard.</p>
<p>I hope my comments won't come off as insensitive, I don't want that to happen. I just am trying to bridge between the two views and hopefully create some understanding on both sides.</p>
<p>I hope you come and enjoy Notre Dame, it is an amazing place! I also hope that those who were rejected think of transferring, as I did. If it is the right decision for you it truly is an amazing ride!</p>