<p>Are there a lot more under-qualified applicants that apply to notre dame than at say a Vanderbilt or Rice? It would seem like there would be considering Notre Dame is "America's Football Team". If I am right in assuming this, does this make a huge dip in the acceptance rate, or am I overestimating?</p>
<p>It is hard to say, but I don't think so. I think people know the academic reputation of Notre Dame and are not likely to apply unless they are competitive. At the same time, I am sure there are some. It is just hard to say, but I personally haven't known that many marginal applicants. In fact, many of the transfers who I entered with did not apply out of HS because they knew they were not competitive at the time.</p>
<p>Just look at the student body's stats (top 10%/top 5%/SAT/ACT or w.e else), even though it isn't a perfect gauge it should give you something good to compare to the student body at other places, and then use it to compare with the acceptance rate. For instance, the ivies have really low acceptance rates and most of the rejects are also top notch, so their acceptance rate may be overstated. Another odd example is look at Gonzaga's acceptance rate and student body...</p>
<p>All valid points...but honestly, our acceptance rate is incredibly legitimate. Notre Dame doesn't attract just "any" student who hopes he/she will get in. Notre Dame is probably the most esoteric university in the country. You either love it or you hate...so ND is not like the Ivies because people don't apply just for kicks. ND isn't usually a safety school either...it attracts the best of the best. </p>
<p>With regard to Vandy and Rice, I think it is a different story. Vandy is known as being a wonderful school (the gem of the south, other than Duke and Emory) with beautiful women and a great college scene. ND is the exact opposite...it takes a real die hard to come to a place with unreal winters and no city infrastructure. </p>
<p>All in all, students know what they are signing up for in coming to ND so I think that is what makes our applicant class incredibly strong.</p>
<p>One thing that I really liked that Notre Dame would say when they didn't use the common app (i believe they are making the switch now?) is that students who really want to go to ND will take the time to fill out the unique ND app. Everybody knows that the CA makes it "easier" to apply to more schools...and some schools (like Penn, Columbia, and Northwestern) made the switch thinking it whole help increase the number of minority applications submitted. </p>
<p>Rankings have listed ND as #4 in terms of an applicants Dream Schools next to places like Yale, MIT, and Princeton...that is to say, you'll find a lot more students at ND who came there because it was there first choice as opposed to going there "as the next best place" because they didn't get into an Ivy or to Duke, etc.</p>