<p>I would really apreciate you advice, opinioin or coments!
majoring in political science, history or thte likes (you tell me)
white male, central florida JEWISH
4.2 weighted gpa (3.85ish un)
top 7% class (all A's except B's in Algebra and C in Precalc (ouch i know!))
sat 2120 (reading- 730, writing- 740, math 650), take them again?
sat2: USHist- 800 math2c and spanish were very very bad but i am going to </p>
<p>2002 National Geographic Bee state champ, nat qualifier
freshman social studies award, also junior social studies award
most speaker point by a novice for debate- also some other small awards
outstanding delegate at UCF KNIGHTMUN (model UN) conf.
Semis in PF at Blue Key Natl Debate</p>
<p>-founder and prez of model un for 4yrs
-debate for 3yrs
-national hon soc, spanish nat hon soc, eng nat hon soc (i'll will be the -chairman of peer tutoring)
-was in Teengage republicans and volunteered for bush- but ive had a change of heart and im now a democrat (how to address that on the application?)
-numerous leadership postions in my Boy Scot Troop
-Eagle Scout
-Order of the arrow scouyting honer society (ceremonies team)
-junoir class council
jv and varsity tennis- (9, 10,)
rotoary club youth ldrship awards...</p>
<p>part time job at YMCA in the child develptment area- working with kids ages 6 months to 11years old, about 15 hours per week</p>
<p>ALSO- im worried that my grades this last term are not going to be good :( What abut 4 As 1 B and a C? 2 C? AHHH! AP CACL AND PHYSICS ARE VERY HARD__ DONT TAKE THEM? i still have time to bring them up-- what can i do? is there hope?</p>
<p>also- last yr 3 girls were accepted from my school (all in the top 15 ranked) and one guy rejected-- does it hurt me that about 7 of us will being aplying this yr? georgaphy help me or hurt?</p>
<p>I think you have a shot, but I do think I would take the SAT again if I were you just because another 100 points would really help your chances, especially on the math. As it is now, you are a bit under the class rank average and about at the SAT average so you definately have a shot but I don't think you will have any minority advantage (I don't think Jewish counts, but I may be wrong) and I don't think you are a legacy, though maybe you are. Anyways, since you don't have either one of those factors helping, I would retake the tests. </p>
<p>Having several people from your high school apply may hurt a bit but not significantly; if you are good enough to get in then you are good enough to get in usually. Don't worry about that, worry about making yourself the best applicant you can be.</p>
<p>Also, I don't think Florida will help or hurt you.</p>
<p>That is just my view on things. I do think you have a chance, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it would hurt retaking the tests if you think you can do better! Perhaps try the ACT as well (don't think you mentioned it). Good luck!</p>
<p>Also, definately work your butt off to get the grades up; they can make the difference and a letdown now is a really big no no. Good luck and keep working!</p>
<p>I think you will be more attractive as a candidate because you're Jewish. ND wants religious diversity - to an extent - and they probably don't get much Judaism in their ranks.</p>
<p>I'd get the grades up, too. Get a tutor if you have to for the last few weeks here. I don't think one "C" will kill your app, but if you can avoid it, more power to your application.</p>
<p>I don't think you need to address your change of political affiliation at all in your app. Your ECs are excellent, the Eagle Scout thing is huge.</p>
<p>Write a solid essay and you should be fine. You're a senior, right?</p>
<p>Do you really think ND gives preference to Jews? I mean, it would make sense that they would want some religious diversity, especially since they want diversity in everything else, but ND is 85% Catholic. I just am not sure that they do give religious preference just because I don't think we would be 85% Catholic if they did. I suppose it is possible, however, that they do and just have very very few applicants from other faiths. Let's be honest, if they give an advantage I don't think it is a big one, and it really doesn't matter all that much, but I just have a hard time believing that they give an advantage for not being Catholic. I think it is very possible that 15% of the applicant pool just happens not to be Catholic. </p>
<p>Also, maybe it is just my memory, but didn't they address this in Chat Time years back? Not sure. Again, I don't think it is going to affect the OP much and I think they will have a good shot regardless but I am just trying to tease this out so I know the answer for future posters.</p>
<p>My vote would be no, but I am in no way sure. DocMom will probably have a better answer as I think she knows her stuff a bit better than I. If they do give preference to Jews I think they would for Muslims as well. If you are really curious, you can look through the old Chat Times (located somewhere on the admissions page) to see if you can find it.</p>
<p>It probably doesn't matter because I bet you anything the application pool as a whole is over 80% Catholic. That is like shooting for 15% minorities if you have 25% of your application pool being minorities (fill in whatever you want for minorities). Chances are it is going to happen.</p>
<p>ND's 80% Catholic student body is representative of the applicant pool. In other words, 80% of the applicant pool is Catholic.</p>
<p>I do think it helps to be Jewish. How many Jews do you think apply to ND? What a great hook. And besides, this applicant is in range and has great ECs, including Eagle Scout (every school loves Eagle). He would be very competitive even without a hook. I just think his being Jewish helps.</p>
<p>Depends on who you ask apparently. I think this is one that I will have to agree to disagree on with DocMom. I think that at other schools she would be absolutely right but I don't think that Notre Dame is really looking for religious diversity, but that is my feel. I just don't think that is something they strive for but they do welcome you no matter your faith. That is just my feel from being on campus.</p>
<p>Also, I have seen (and now a few people have confirmed that they have read as well) that admissions says that they do not take religion into account, which is good because otherwise you could say you are whatever religion would give you an advantage (not to say you would, but you could). I do not think ND takes religion into account for the reason that I haven't observered anything on campus that would make me believe that they do and admissions says that they don't, which I give a lot of value to. </p>
<p>If it were any other school I think they might, but I think ND likes being 80%+ Catholic and I don't think they are trying to change that. I am sorry, but that is the way I feel.</p>
<p>Now for the op and all of those out there who are not Catholic, I do not believe this will hurt you in any way and I do think the OP has a great shot at getting in. I just don't see your being of a different faith helping you, but that is my opinion. If anyone has any facts to counter what admissions has said on it then I will be open to that, but with my experience and what they have said I just have no reason to believe they give an advantage for it. Sorry.</p>
<p>M, ND says, and I've admitted, that the 80% Catholic number is merely reflective of their applicant pool. ND will say they don't take religion into account, but that is because of the <em>overwhelming</em> number of Catholic applicants who want their Catholicism to mean something extra in admissions. Being Catholic does not help you in admissions, because it doesn't have to - they get 80% Catholic applications right off the top. Do you see what I mean? </p>
<p>Look at it this way: ND can <em>more</em> than maintain their 80% plus Catholicity. Admitting religious diversity does not mess with that number, as you imply. The OP is going against everyone in the applicant pool, true; still we need to remember that off the top he is highly qualified for admission. But if you put a Jew up against a Methodist with equal qualifications, they'll take the Jewish person every time, because they just don't get very many of them. </p>
<p>And since Jews are our older brothers and sisters in the faith, they bring something extremely special to the campus that I just don't think admissions will overlook. It is extremely unique, and let's face it, uniqueness is what the adcom wants. </p>
<p>I agree ND likes being 80% Catholic. They sure don't want to turn into Georgetown, and I'm happy about that. But ND doesn't sacrifice the quality of their student body to maintain that 80% Catholic figure, it's just what they get in apps.</p>
<p>I don't think you should venture that ND admissions operates that much different from any other top 20 school. There is no reason for us to think that they do. They admit they want ethnic diversity, and they form their admissions based on that. To assume they don't care at all about admitting a Jew, or a Muslim, both incredibly unusual on ND's campus, is (and I mean this kindly) a little naive.</p>
<p>"But if you put a Jew up against a Methodist with equal qualifications, they'll take the Jewish person every time, because they just don't get very many of them." -DocMom</p>
<p>While this makes sense for universities, and your argument is sound, it simply hasn't been my experience. In my time here, for instance, I haven't met a Jew yet (hope that doesn't scare the OP but it is true) which is amazing when you think about it. </p>
<p>You present a good argument on why a Jew should be given an advantage, I just disagree for two main reasons. 1. because of what admissions says, but we know that they can be a bit cryptic at times and not give the full truth and 2. because I just haven't seen much religious diversity on campus. I know the faiths of most all my friends and most everyone (with a few exceptions) are Catholic with a few Lutherans sprinkled in there. It just seems to me that if they were going for religious diversity they would have more than this, but I am not sure.</p>
<p>It doesn't matter too much, however, because the OP is going to have a good shot regardless. Even if there is an advantage (devil's advocate) can we agree that it is probably a small one and not one that is going to push many people over the top unless they are already very qualified? The main reason I am arguing the point is I don't want to give false hope just in case ND doesn't give an advantage.</p>
<p>Basically, no matter what, you have to have good grades and test scores to get in here. Yes, things like minority status and legacy help, but those kids get rejected too if they don't have the grades or the test scores. It is hard to know exactly what ND looks for, and you can't control that. All you can control is yourself, so instead of worrying about it put a little more time into homework or SAT/ACT prep and that will help your chances more than anything. If you don't have the stats, regardless of any advantage, you just can't get in, so focus there first.</p>
<p>You are right that he <em>first</em> must be qualified, which he is. M, how many Jewish kids do you think even apply to ND? Assuming your take that religion doesn't matter, don't you think a qualified Jewish kid's app is going to jump out at them a little?</p>
<p>You said, "The main reason I am arguing the point is I don't want to give false hope just in case ND doesn't give an advantage." You are <em>such</em> a perfect psychologist! You are definitely going into the right field for you. But back on topic, I don't think admissions can help themselves - they see the whole applicant, and they can't miss this unique thing about the OP. </p>
<p>To the OP: I hope you attend if you get accepted. As you can tell from Irish, it is a very warm bunch and I bet there is not a school out there that works hard yet has more camraderie and fun. The students and profs couldn't care less what your religion is - they will support you and your individuality whole heartedly. Best of luck.</p>
<p>I agree. While it is nice to have a lot of Catholics, and I certainly like that aspect of it, I do miss having other faiths around (my Catholic high school was under 50% Catholic believe it or not, so I had some exposure at least). It is nice finding out about other's beliefs and how they affect them, especially for someone like me that is going into psychology and has to deal with issues that may arrise from cultures and faiths outside of my own. I simply have to understand all types of diversity, and having it is a great asset to me. Because of that, I do encourage those who are diverse in any way to come to ND. We are not the most diverse school in many ways, we know that, but I do think you will find the student body to be warm and welcoming of all types (we even let USC fans on campus...if we can handle that, trust me, we will love you)! I really believe that while for some people it is harder than others being accepted (for whatever reason) it is important to come for others who may not have been exposed to much diversity and I really do think you will be embrased and possibly get a taste of more diversity than you have encountered as well? It is a great place, a great school, and I can't speak highly enough of my time at ND. Okay, I have no idea where I am going now, so I will end the rant here. GO IRISH!</p>
<p>do they even ask about religion on the application? i cant remember them asking that. I dont believe they take religion into condsideration. Notre Dame wants diversity, but they would be happy if they could be diverse and 100% Catholic. I also think they would be happy if they were diverse and the percentage of Catholics dropped to like 70%. Notre Dame is going to accept you on the basis of your merits and not religion.</p>
<p>as for your chances i would get your grades up, retake that SATs and concentrate on the math and verbal because they are only considering them this year. As for the greater number of applicants.. how do you compare to them? Notre Dame takes into consideration the challenge of your school and if other applicants are doing better than you are at your school and have just as many diverse ECs as you then they are going to choose them over you.</p>