I’m an eighteen-year-old white Christian girl from Orlando, FL. I come from a small art school with little variety in clubs and AP courses. I applied Early Action to Notre Dame as an English major. I was in my class cabinet my freshman, sophomore and junior years (spirit chairperson, class fundraiser, and prom coordinator). I’ve been a member of the Positiviti club since the beginning of Junior year. My friend and I started a club this year to help raise awareness about hunger and homelessness in our community and I serve as the club’s event coordinator. I’m in the chamber and symphony orchestras and have been since freshman year (which is a rarity; my freshman year, there were only 5 freshmen in the entire orchestra). I volunteer at two elementary schools as mentors to struggling third graders. I’ve been on the yearbook staff the past two years and this year I serve as the copy editor. I am also the chairperson of an arts advocacy teen ambassador program in my county as well. I believe that my chances of getting in are slim because of my test scores. My SAT score is a 1320 superscored (1310 otherwise), and my ACT score is a 29. I’m ranked 7/166 and my weighted GPA is a 4.48. I’ve taken 2 AP courses and 16 dual enrollment courses through a local college. Next semester, I’m taking an additional 4 DE courses. All of my classes have been either AP, honors, or dual enrollment, with the exception of two (Spanish 1 and Spanish 2). I’ve gotten straight A’s every year except my freshman year when I received an 89 B in Spanish 1. Maybe this is a bit too much information, but I would just like to have additional opinions because I don’t have any friends or family that have applied or attended Notre Dame. Feel free to be as critical as needed. I appreciate the feedback, and wish all other ND applicants the best of luck!
Maybe this will make it easier to read…
Unweighted GPA: 3.9672
Weighted GPA: 4.4836
SAT: 1320 (620 M; 700 R)
ACT: 29
State of Residence: FL
Female; White
Fall semester
Class rank: 7/166
APs:
9th: Human Geography
10th: World History
Dual Enrollment:
10th: College Algebra, Stats
11th: Fund. of Speech, Astronomy, Freshman Comp 1, US History pt 2, New Student Experience (life skills class at my college), Freshman Comp 2, US History pt 1, International Politics, US Gov, Intro to Humanities
Senior Schedule:
At my high school: Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Yearbook
At my college: Human Biology, Humanities 20th Century, Gen Psych, Intro to the Teaching Profession, Creative Writing and Advanced Comp, Positive Psych, Intro to Criminal Justice, Intro to Fiction
Extra Curriculars:
-Class cabinet:
9th- spirit chairperson
10th- class fundraiser,
11th- prom coordinator
-Positiviti club Team member (11th-12th)
-Club CoFounder (helps to raise awareness about hunger and homelessness in our community);
Position: event coordinator
-Chamber and symphony orchestras (since 9th grade)
-Bookmark Buddy at 2 elementary schools (11th-12th)
-National Honor Society member
-Student Government Association Chief of Staff (12th)
-Yearbook Copy writer (11th)
-Yearbook Copy Editor (12th)
-Chairperson of Arts Advocacy Teen Ambassador Program (11th-12th)
Quite honestly, your test scores will hold you back. If your essays were on point and really show how you are a fit, you might have a chance. As a point of reference, the middle 50% for enrolled students in this year’s first year class was 1390-1530 on the SAT and 33-35 on the ACT.
I had the same initial reaction as the above poster, that your test scores may present a problem for you. However, the situation with all your DE courses is unique, so hopefully the admissions office will appreciate the level of rigor you pursued and see your potential from that. The leadership elements of your ECs is also a strength. Good luck!
Agree with the others. This weakness with your application is the standardized tests which fall below the 25th percentile for ND. http://admissions.nd.edu/apply/admission-statistics/
@ejcclc @waitingmomla @happy1 I figured that that would be the response I received. I truly did try my hardest on the SAT and the ACT. I do believe that my scores will hold me back, but hopefully, admissions reads my essays and still consider me. I am extremely proud of them and I feel like I included a lot of information regarding my character within them and just how much I want to go to Notre Dame. Thank you for your responses!
You clearly are a hard worker and have excelled in school. Standardized testing is part of a larger puzzle that admissions looks at. I understand that the essays are very important. If they tell your story well that is the goal.
Good luck to you!