<p>My ACT score is a 28. I am definitely retaking, but I was just wondering what I need to have to have a good shot of getting in with my other credentials. My GPA is a 3.85, my rank is 25/184. I am in NHS, I have 3 Varsity sports, I am Roman Catholic and have been a member of Youth Group at my church for 3 years and have done service hours for it. What should I need to get on my ACT? Anything else I an do? Thanks.</p>
<p>id say at least 32-33 to be safe. i got a 32 but im not sending it because my sat was better</p>
<p>The ND common data set lists the 25%/75% for last year’s admitted class as 32/34. You can view the CDS here:</p>
<p><a href=“https://www3.nd.edu/~instres/CDS/CDS_2011-2012.pdf[/url]”>https://www3.nd.edu/~instres/CDS/CDS_2011-2012.pdf</a></p>
<p>This means that if you have a 32, then you will be in the bottom quarter of admitted students. Remember that this bottom quarter includes all the recruited athletes and other hooked applicants.</p>
<p>Your GPA appears competitive, although you do not describe how rigorous your classes have been. I spoke with an ND adcom who told me that most admitted students have 5-7 AP classes.</p>
<p>Your class rank is low (top 20%) for ND. Again the CDS states that 89% of last year’s class ranked in the top 10% for class rank. </p>
<p>Your ECs sound ordinary.</p>
<p>Based on what you describe, I would suggest that you need at least a 34 to be competitive for admission.</p>
<p>I agree a 32 is too low. Have you tried the SAT? Many times students prefer and do better on one vs. the other. As far as the comment on AP classes, if your school offers them, take them. Competitive schools want to see that you have challenged yourself academically during high school to the degree that your school enables you to. That having been said, if your school only offers a few, and you take them, it will not be counted against you that you haven’t taken 5-7. I agree about the ECs. Most ND applicants have both breadth and depth to their ECs and most have compiled a number of service hours. Are you applying this year? If so, really prep for the standardized tests to the degree you can from a time constraint perspective. If you aren’t applying this year, look over your resume and think critically about what you can do to improve it in a meaningful way, and by that I don’t mean joining a bunch of clubs just to list them on an app. Find something you are really passionate about. It will help your application stand out. Good luck!</p>
<p>I had a 29 and I was waitlisted and eventually admitted. My roommate had a 28 and was accepted RD. I feel like we were both exceptions, as most people had higher scores. I would definitely try to raise it, but know that if you don’t, you aren’t totally out of the running! If you are meant to be at ND, God will find a way :)</p>
<p>32 is not too low for Notre Dame. First of all, the 32-34 is the middle 50% of students admitted last year. So, 25% of people admitted were below that score. It is also equivalent to about a 1450 on the SAT, which is very good. Raise your ACT to a 32 or 33 and you will be a competitive applicant. Being a legacy would help a lot too. haha</p>