Yet another "What are my chances?" thread...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Notre Dame
1

<p>Hello, hello.</p>

<p>I'm currently a Junior in the middle of the epic college search. Ever since my visit there last summer, Notre Dame has been at the top of my list, pretty much tied with the U.S. Naval Academy. I've been reading through the topics on both boards, and I wonder how I might stack up against the other applicants for the fall of 2007.</p>

<p>-4.0ish GPA; probably in the top 10-15% of my class (My school doesn't rank.)
-31 on ACT
-2220 on SAT
----710 on Reading
----740 on Math
----770 on Writing
-Five AP classes by the time I graduate
----4 on U.S. History
----Just took European History (probably 5)
----Will take Calc AB, Government, and Literature next year
-All the rest Honors classes
-Will "undoubtedly" be a National Merit Finalist (according to counselor)
-Extracurriculars
----4 years on Student Senate (recently elected President for next year)
----4 years on Varsity Track (pole vault)
----2 years on National Honor Society (elected officer for next year)
----4 years in Latin Club (will likely be appointed officer for next year)
----4 years in Pro-Life Club (VP this year, some officer position next year)
----1 year on Community "Youth Commission" (leadership organization for city's teens)
----4 years as lector at Church
----Employed as soccer referee during fall and spring, and as a grocery store cashier during summer
----Countless service hours, including 10-day mission trip to Ecuador this summer, 3 years as a counselor at a week-long camp for middle school students, various events to usher/tour at as NHS officer, ministering to Cleveland's homeless on Sunday nights (bringing food and conversation to their living areas), tutoring both at my own school and at an inner-city elementary school, cleaning up a nearby cemetery in the same neighborhood as the school (poor area of Ohio City in Cleveland), tutoring Sudanese refugees in reading and working computers, and helping children to have a good time at the various holiday events my school puts on for them</p>

<p>I'm going to begin the process of applying for the NROTC Marine option scholarship. I've been dreaming of going into the Marines since grade school, and I know ND has a strong ROTC program. </p>

<p>I think that's all...</p>

2

<p>I think you have a good shot; your guestimated rank worries me a bit but I think you are in pretty good shape. I bump for more opinions, however. Definately focus on grades!</p>

3

<p>If your school doesn't rank, then it doesn't matter. I don't think I'm in the top 10% because my school doesn't weight and we only have about 70 seniors, but since we don't rank, I got in as a Notre Dame Scholar. I wouldn't worry about the GPA, especially if it is unweighted. Everybody I know with stats similar to yours was admitted, but there are no guarantees. Write a really good essay, and show passion for the school. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>I wouldn't say it doesn't matter but it doesn't matter as much. Schools almost always have other ways to show where you stand. My high school didn't rank but they showed the grade breakdowns for all the classes so really the scools could kind of see where you were compared to everyone else. Also, if you have anyone else applying from your high school to ND you may be judged against them. Therefore, I definately would still work on it and wouldn't say it doesn't matter but I agree that it isn't as big as if your school did rank.</p>

5

<p>You have a great high school record, Marine! You should be proud of what you've accomplished so far.</p>

<p>Have you visited ND yet? If you haven't, you should plan to. That shows that you really made the effort to go to South Bend and check the school out. At the end of the application when they ask if there is any more information they should know about you, mention that ND is your first choice school.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

6

<p>marine2011: Daughter had an Appointment to USNA -- She was one of their top candidates and althletic recruits...she struggled with her decision, and could not decide between ND and USNA until the absolute last moment. She LOVED both...It was the most difficult decision for her to make...and in the end, she chose ND. </p>

<p>To choose Navy means a 100% committment to being a US Naval Officer FIRST...EVERYTHING ELSE IS SECONDARY. Unless you are prepared to make that committment, don't even start the process.</p>

<p>There are many young people out there who are faced with deciding between ND and USNA...both schools are top-notch. Admiral Rempt (Superintendent of the USNA) told our daughter that both schools are great...but, USNA offers one thing that ND doesn't...and that is LEADERSHIP.</p>

<p>I am confident that our daughter made the right decision for herself...but if you would like to talk with me privately about any of this, please PM me. </p>

<p>Good luck with your search and decision. Neither is an easy route...but be certain that you make your choices and decisions for the right reasons.</p>

<p>PS -- ND has one of the best, if not THE best, NROTC programs in the country!</p>

7

<p>Thank you, everyone, for the responses.</p>

<p>jpp23, thank you for the advice. I have been to ND twice: once during the summer for an information session and tour, and once over spring break when classes were actually in session. I absolutely loved it, and I can definitely see myself going there. The problem is, I can also see myself going to USNA.</p>

<p>MamaSparrow, thank you. I'm well-aware that both NROTC and USNA require a full commitment to serve as an officer in the Navy or Marine Corps. I have had no doubts, since grade school, about my decision to serve as a Marine. I've changed my opinions and views on a number of issues in my life, but my intent to be in the military has never faltered. This is one thing that I am absolutely sure about. The tough choice is choosing between USNA and ND...</p>

8

<p>If the high school doesn't rank, Notre Dame won't care about the "projected rank" because it wouldn't hurt ND's statstics. Most top schools, including all the magnet schools like Stuvy and Boston Latin, and private schools like Exter and Phillips do not rank because ranking students would hurt their chances in college admissions. My high school does not rank, and if it did, I would probably be in the 30-40th percentile and probably would not have gotten into the several top-20 schools that I got into.</p>

<p>Marine2011, I think you will undoubtably get into both schools! (Assuming that your essays and recommendations are as good as the rest of your application) A friend of mine recently had to choose between Harvard and the Naval Academy. She ended up choosing Harvard because she believed that it would give her a more balanced education and that she has more to gain at Harvard than what she's missing out at the Naval Academy. Good luck on your decision!</p>

9

<p>Thank you for that bit of knowledge, McDonalds. It makes me feel a little better about my rank.</p>

10

<p>My son just completed his first year as a Navy ROTC student at Notre Dame. At first, I will admit, that this mom was not exactly thrilled with the military option, but I was impressed with the Navy, which was very straightforward about everything from day one. Since my son was still 17 at the time he sat down for the final interview, I had to be present, and I was impressed at how the Navy CO, like the other officers before him, did not try to overhype the military, nor did they downplay its risks.</p>

<p>We actually found out about the NROTC option the fall of my son's senior year, through a fellow ND alum from the class of 1984. One thing he turned us on to was the Immediate Selection Decision option. The CO of each district (there are 35-ish of them nationwide) has the authority to make up to 10 immediate decisions, bypassing the regular route. Because of this, my son made initial application to the Navy in mid-October; by the end of November, he already had an NROTC scholarship in hand. We immediately contacted the ND admissions office to let them know this--I know they have needs-blind admission, but to know that money will not be an issue surely didn't hurt our son's cause.</p>

<p>FYI, my son's stats were a 34 composite ACT, a weighted GPA of about 4.2 (3.9 unweighed), class rank 12th of 127, lots of honors and college credit courses, 4 years track, 2 yrs soccer, 2 yrs cross country, MO Boys' State, newspaper editor, video productions. He's also a legacy (says he's the only one he knows of, or anyone else knows of, who is the legacy of a Domer mom...kind of surprising.) He got in as an Early Action admittee.</p>

<p>In any case, with your stats, I'd try to get in on the Immediate Selection Decision. It saves you lots of time and waiting, and is something you can supplement your application file with as soon as you get it--which I don't think hurts your chances a bit for early action.</p>

<p>My son has loved his first year at ND, and loved his experience with the NROTC every bit as much. The ND ROTC's hosted the Naval Academy students for the Navy game weekend, and the academy people thought ND's ROTC program was the way they should have gone.</p>

<p>Good luck...and semper fi, of course.</p>

11

<p>Nice ACT score, GPA, extr. curr., you fall above average and have a good chance of being accepted. However, your rigor of secondary school record isn't strong, which ND values importantly. I seem to have the opposite dilema. I'll have 14 AP's(4-5s) done by graduation, but my ACT score is 26 (VERY BAD).</p>

12

<p>Just curious, RHSstudent, why you think the rigor of his secondary school was a weakness, based on what he's posted? Seems like he's taking a tough courseload. In my estimation, Marine is nearly a lock to get into ND, which particularly values the community service, pro-life activities, missions, etc. The resume is strong academically, but particularly strong in light of the kind of values Notre Dame espouses.</p>

13

<p>One other thing, Marine. Make sure to play up the officiating! My son did that, too...and emphasized it. Both the Navy/Marines and Notre Dame--really, anybody--values what it takes to be a ref. You have to be assertive, yet courteous. You have to diffuse the kinds of conflicts that arise with adult coaches and parents, in particular. You have to be able not only to make good judgments on the fly, but have the backbone it takes to stick with them. I'd suspect there aren't many admissions officers who haven't sat in the bleachers or along the sidelines of a youth sporting event to see what referees, especially referees, face. It's a good idea to remind them!</p>

14

<p>He does have a heavy coursload, however, I would reommend him to enroll into more or (if not offered at his school) take some colleges courses at a university. Marine, you don't have to worry about getting in (apply EA) becuase your statistics are excellent, however, we all have room for improvement.</p>