<p>You're still a senior then, I take it? </p>
<p>First, Notre Dame is usually harder to get into. You can't make generalizations about college admissions based on only your own experiences. I know someone rejected at BC who was accepted at, and now attends, Dartmouth--which is certainly more difficult to get into.</p>
<p>Since you were deferred from BC and it is your first choice school, you should make every effort to get accepted regular decision. Send BC your new grades and any new news about awards or changes in your application. You can also ask your GC to talk to a BC rep about your file. I would also suggest sending a letter to BC expressing your continued interest and the fact that it is your first choice school (colleges like high yields). </p>
<p>Apply to another college or two, if you'd like and if you have the time to apply. Take a look at St. Joseph's in Pennsylvania as a Catholic school that you will probably get into. They offer a lot of scholarship money, as well. </p>
<p>Don't think about transferring, yet--you haven't even graduated high school! If you end up at Notre Dame, keep an open mind and a positive outlook. If you go in expecting to not like it, you probably won't. If you go there and try to take advantage of all of the opportunities you have, you will have a much better experience. If you do end up at Notre Dame and after a full year you are positive you want to transfer, then go through the process. You haven't even begun college, yet. I know a lot of kids who end up loving schools they were initially unhappy to attend. I also know kids who have ended up transferring and are very happy at their new schools.</p>
<p>You are correct in that Notre Dame is generally a more conservative school than BC. However, there are a good number of more liberal Catholics at Notre Dame, especially among the faculty. There are definitely some vocal liberals out there. Notre Dame is in the small city of South Bend, but it is only about an hour and a half from Chicago, so you are not completely stuck in the middle of nowhere. </p>
<p>Don't make any decisions yet. Apply to a couple more schools, and don't set yourself for or against any of them. Try to get into all of them. In April, re-examine your options and your opinions about the schools--it is likely they will have changed. Then, pick the school that you feel is best for you. While there, do your very best to get the most out of it. Only think about transferring if, after being there, you feel it is necessary. And this is true about any school.</p>
<p>...from a lesbian applying to ND</p>