What do you.....?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
1

<p>My son has liked Notre Dame since he was a kindergartener. (Knew an alum)...what do you think are his chances?</p>

<p>from NJ, very competitive HS
gpa: 4.245 (W), probably 3.85 uw
extremely rigorous transcript</p>

<p>AP score/SAT II score shown below
APs: USH 5/730, Bio 5/750, US gov 5, comp gov 4
this fall: APs in calc A/B, Spanish, Eng Lit, Euro (8 altogether)</p>

<p>SAT I: 800 Math, 750 R, 700 W
SAT II: 800 Math II, 730 USH, 750 Bio E</p>

<p>significant EC:
School newspaper (features editor) 11/12
Reinvigorated student newspaper, EIC, 11/12
Environment club 11/12
Safe Rides 9-12
Debate Club 10-12
Scouts since 2nd grade
Band (saxophone) 4th-11
EMS 11/12</p>

<p>Leadership
newspapers, Environment club, scouts</p>

<p>Volunteer/service
Audubon Research Asst, last summer
camp counselor @ Boy Scouts this summer
Safe Rides, Scouts, EMS</p>

<p>Honors/Awards
nat'l merit (probably commended)
NHS
Student of the month
Debate Club (1st place as novice-individual, 1st place team)
We The People: top ten national final (includes 1st place in States)
Science Fairs: 4 awards</p>

<p>What do you think??? PS: your thoughts about EA vs regular? I hate being so stragetic, but I know there's a difference, just not sure what.
Thanks for your input!!!</p>

2

<p>Very strong candidate. Do you happen to know your son’s class rank? If it is within top 3% or so I would say go EA. Is ND his first choice?</p>

3

<p>No, his rank is far from top 3%. He may not even make top 10%. It’s a very competitive school and he has a few B+ grades, (and he doesn’t fight it, unlike most of his peers). His transcript is quite rigorous, either APs or honors courses.</p>

<p>next year’s coursework:
AP: spanish, cal A/B, Eng lit, Euro<br>
Honors: physics, and honors independent science research</p>

<p>As for top choice, who knows? He’s also thinking of WUSL, Rice, and UChicago but we have to visit. Are you familiar with any of them?</p>

4

<p>Based on the rigor of his program and his good overall performance I do not believe that rank will make a huge difference. With those grades and ECs I would still apply EA.</p>

5

<p>I also don’t think rank will hurt your son very much. D had a pretty similar profile at a competitive public magnet where her rank was not much inside the top 10%. She applied EA, was accepted and designated a Reilly scholar, which resulted in very generous FA.</p>

6

<p>Pay attention to the essay!</p>

7

<p>it seems your son has a lot of passion for the newspaper if he helped restart it, but make sure that you really make a difference in a special activity which forms the essay (this could be the restarting of the newspaper). Also, APs and SATs are very good and i doubt he would be denied EA, so go for it.</p>