<p>I am an incoming first year at the University of Notre Dame, and I'm totally excited! Picking the right school in the end was so hard, though, since I was offered a full tuition scholarship at Texas Christian University but I didn't want to go to school in-state (Texas). My family's financial situation had become drastically more unsteady in just a matter of about a month in the midst of college applications, and I'd never been more stressed out in picking a college. TCU would have taken all my dual credit, would have been virtually free, and very practical. But after visiting Notre Dame, it was so hard to choose because I loved the school so much. In the end my parents reassured me that paying full ND tuition wasn't going to be a problem and that's the school I will be attending this fall.</p>
<p>I want to ask, why did any of you pick Notre Dame? Did I make the right decision? I also want to know if the school and alumni network will end up making my tuition pay for itself in the future and I'll have a lot more opportunities with an ND education.</p>
<p>My son will be joining you in a few weeks as a freshman at ND. He had a similar decision to yours, as I expect many of you classmates did.</p>
<p>Some of the reasons that I was pleased with his decision include:
-97% retention rate for freshmen; 94% graduation rate
-great school spirit and dorm spirit (everyone says their dorm is best)
-active nationwide alumni network with strong connections
-nationally recognized academic excellence
-diverse student body with solid, unifying character</p>
<p>My son would say he made the decision because he liked the dining hall and football, but I would guess he would also agree with at least some of mine.</p>
<p>I think the beautiful campus and the football, tradition and school spirit is what initially attracted my daughter. But what sealed the deal for her was the incredible sense of family and community at ND; how genuinely friendly everyone is; and how much the students and alumni not only like their school, but LOVE it! She will be a sophomore this fall and, after finishing her first year at Notre Dame, she couldn’t be happier and can’t imagine herself anyplace else.</p>
<p>Hi, I’ll be joining you in the fall as a freshman, and I thought I’d share my view on ND and what makes it so special. </p>
<p>Here are just a few reasons why ND is the best school in the nation:
-Premier academics and top-notch professors
-An emphasis on athletics (not just football, and not just varsity level)
-An incredibly strong community of faith
-A fantastic alumni network, which is especially helpful for landing jobs/internships
-A beautiful green campus</p>
<p>Sure, many schools can lay claims to one or even several of these aspects–the Ivy League in academics, USC in athletics, Michigan’s alumni network-- but what truly sets ND apart is the fact that it is the complete package. College is all about the overall experience. Obviously, academics are important, but there are many other factors that can contribute to a great undergraduate experience and a fulfilling life beyond college.</p>
<p>Well, I was specifically talking about Notre Dame’s community of faith (that is to say, it’s empowering Catholic foundation), but the “Notre Dame family” extends far beyond the Basilica and chapels. For instance, ND has a thriving network of alumni clubs that spans the nation and includes the single largest alumni club (that of Chicago) in America. I’ve heard firsthand accounts of alumni looking out for their fellow Irish, which can be especially helpful when it comes to landing a job/internship. A speaker at my club’s last meeting described this as “paying it forward.”</p>
<p>Seriously, though, Domers love their school, and this pride and loyalty is especially evident at special events like football Saturdays, Basilica Masses, and Commencement. If you ever get a chance to visit campus at one of these times, I highly recommend it.</p>
<p>I recently visited Notre Dame on a tour and loved it. The campus is beautiful and the undergraduate academics seem great. The only problem I have with Notre Dame is the debt at graduation is higher than many other similarly ranked schools. I was a bit disappointed when I noticed it is almost $10,000 more than comparable schools. Still near the top on my list.</p>
<p>Average Debt at Graduation:
University of Notre Dame - $30,225
Northwestern University - $22,130
Cornell University - $20,571
Vanderbilt University - $18,543</p>