<p>Rudy was the Notre Dame football player made famous by the eponymous movie of his college career (circa early 1970's). My query centers on his enrolling in Community College, then transferring to a selective school (University of Notre Dame) despite an apparently mediocre academic record in high school.</p>
<p>Would this path to admission still work today or have standards risen to the point that only high school academic all-stars can earn admission to this type of university?</p>
<p>It works today. Admission standards for star athletes are relaxed; the way the sports depts spin it is admissions “works with” them. A lot of kids still try this route; ineligible academically for college, they spend time at a CC meanwhile hoping that they are good enough to impress a coach at a 4-year. Few end up succeeding, though. You can see a list of some that made it at <a href=“FOX Sports News, Scores, Schedules, Odds, Shows, Streams & Videos | FOX Sports”>FOX Sports News, Scores, Schedules, Odds, Shows, Streams & Videos | FOX Sports; and note these are some big-name schools. Whether Notre Dame specifically still recruits junior xfers is something I don’t know.</p>
<p>Rudy was not a star athlete. In fact, if the movie is to be believed, he was cut during tryouts for the walk-ons and had to beg his way onto the end of the bench.</p>
<p>I realize that there are a separate set of rules for recruited athletes. My question is whether an average student can still get into an elite university after excelling at community college.</p>
<p>Absolutely can happen from a California CC to a flagship UC.</p>
<p>My husband LOVES that movie.</p>
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<p>Selective state universities often explicitly leave the door wide open for high school slackers to shape up in community colleges and then transfer as juniors, leaving their poor high school records ignored as irrelevant when they have good records in community college.</p>
<p>Whether selective private universities like ND do so in any reasonable volume is something that should be checked with each such university.</p>
<p>Apparently Rudy went to ND after being at Holy Cross, not a CC, and he had Navy time in between. [Football</a> on Film: ‘Rudy’](<a href=“http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/content/football-film-rudy/4921/]Football”>http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/content/football-film-rudy/4921/) I can certainly see selective colleges giving veterans a nod after a plebeian HS career.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link, Erin’s Dad. However, I followed it and found that Rudy did attend Holy Cross Junior College which is apparently across the street from ND - not the New England LAC.</p>
<p>Still, I agree that a veteran could certainly offer more than a typical CC grad.</p>
<p>Absolutely! Many states have articulation agreements between their community colleges and public universities. Each university stipulates the necessary courses and GPA needed for auto-admit. It’s a great way for students to save money their first two years and have a shot at more competitive universities no matter your high school record or sat’s. In Virginia for example there are articulation agreements for UVa, William & Mary, and Virginia Tech. It’s a great opportunity for students who may not have been superstars in high school.</p>
<p>Definitely. I met one person this summer who transferred from a LA community college to Berkeley–he hadn’t done anything spectacular, just earned good grades at school. One of my coworkers also transferred from community college to USC, but he definitely earned it.</p>