<p>Well, Ill start off by stating that I simply applied to nd in a rash decision. I had trouble adjusting to my freshman year away at college as many freshmen do. I was told by my cross country coach to keep my mind occupied while not running on something that would be productive for me. That is when I thought of applying to nd because, what I missed most was there. I am now slowly realizing that I probably applied for all the wrong reasons. I knew how difficult it would be to get into nd because a person that used to be really close to me during my senior year of hs got in and attends school there and I knew how smart and hard he had to work to get in. Now, things are very different and the person I once missed and was close to is no longer part of my life at all. Do I attend just because it is such a great academic opportunity or do I stay at my current college because it is what is familiar to me and I have spent a year there already? I finally have all the friends and support at my current school that I wanted in the beginning of the year. Someone once said to me right before I left school that even if I went to nd, the grass isnt always greener on the other side. Im terrified of going to nd my sophomore year and having to redo another freshman year socially. The person in the beginning of all this is no longer going to be there at all for me and thinks it would be really weird if I followed him there. I never thought I would really get in and throughout the year it just helped me stay focused on school and not make me miss the person I did. Do I listen to the person who doesnt want me there and just not go? If I go will there also be plenty of transfers there that are like me and do not know anyone there? Will it be worth it? Is nd really all that it is talked up to be? Will I be able to meet enough people in the beginning of the year that Ill forget about the one person that motivated me without even knowing so much? Is it a smart choice to go and leave everything behind me?</p>
<p>Really, it all depends on you if it is worth it. There will be more than 100 transfers in your situation, so you will have friends, and a lot of people are looking to meet other friends as everyone has been in the first year of studies and this is their first chance to meet others in their majors. It will be a bit like a new freshman year though, so you have to decide if it is worth it. For me, I liked my old school, but LOVED ND and always wanted to go there. It was worth the risk for me. I think it is for most people, but only you can decide that. Do a pro-con list and see how you feel at the end of it and follow your heart. Either way, think about what you would regret doing or not doing, that will help lead you. Lastly, pray! Good luck!</p>
<p>have u visited?</p>
<p>Yeah, I visited a couple times throughout the year for some cross country/ track meets and a couple times for friends. I love the campus, it will just be a big change to what I am used to. I live in a suburb of Chicago so, I really like how I can easily get home without a long drive.</p>
<p>South Bend to Chicago isn't a bad drive at all...but then again I was from Denver. If you are from the Chicago area then I wouldn't let distance play a role. It is a change, you just have to decide if the pain of the change is worth it to you as it was for me. Really, I wish I could give you better advice but I would go with the pro-con list...it has gotten me through a lot of difficult decisions and at the end of the day you are the only one who knows if ND is the right school for you as well as if it is worth it.</p>
<p>"I’m terrified of going to nd my sophomore year and having to redo another freshman year socially."</p>
<p>This is your intuition talking, and I strongly urge you not to attend. I know some people who have made smooth transfers to ND and others who had a very difficult time (not to say that the transfer process is difficult by any means but I am supporting your claim about the grass not being greener on the other side).</p>
<p>This one guy from my high school was pretty die hard ND. Unfortunately, he was waitlisted because we were just a very competitive senior class. He went to one of our state schools and was having a blast, but he still applied to ND as a transfer just for kicks, and was shocked when he was accepted. Because he felt like it was, "such a good opportunity" he ended up transferring.</p>
<p>His situation turned out to be unfavorable. He was forced to live off campus due to lack of housing. He discovered how difficult it was to meet people despite living near other transfers. The business school doesn't accept transfer students so he had to major in Economics, which is a tough program at ND. He managed to move back on second semester but was put in an awful dorm on campus. He was reslifed for a fairly unreasonable offense for drinking (that would have definitely been sanctioned in any other guys dorm). </p>
<p>he's staying on, but i think he has realized that he has made a lot of compromises for his college experience; you might not want to make the same mistake</p>
<p>I think it depends on your outlook. I lived off-campus my first semester and had no problem meeting people, and I am not that social of a person. If you make an effort and really want it to work, it will. Also, you just don't drink in Morrissey, which is widely known. It may be true that he wouldn't have been reslifed in other dorms, but I don't think living in a strict dorm is a reason not to go to ND, you just have to be smart about your choices.</p>
<p>I don't know how "tough" the Notre Dame economics program is.</p>
<p>Yeah can someone talk about that? I'm interested in economics, but I don't know much about it or ND's program.</p>
<p>dancingfeeet,</p>
<p>Congrats on getting in!</p>
<p>you deserved it</p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-notre-dame/487744-notre-dame-economics.html?highlight=economics%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-notre-dame/487744-notre-dame-economics.html?highlight=economics</a>
This post has my opinion as well as some others on the Economics program at ND... abridged version: we are not too good, but I feel we are getting better and care about getting kids into grad school if they are interested.</p>
<p>Thanks Tim!</p>