Chats » Prospective Student Chat 2007/2008
Chris - Pittsburgh, PA
Are most student internships done in Indiana or are some also offered in other states?
ND Admissions
Hi Chris,
While there may be some internships that students do during the school year, most are done during the summer. Since Notre Dame students are from all over the country, internships can really be done anywhere in the country or world. Certainly Chicago, and a student’s hometown or home state are common locations. You can discover more about internships here.
Pat - Mentor, OH
What is the intramural football like?
ND Admissions
Notre Dame happens to be the only school in the country outside of the service academies that has full contact intramural football. It is centered around the halls on campus with each hall having a football team – there are 14 mens halls. Many of the guys dorms have tryouts because of the interest in the program. There are practices held each week, and the games are played on Sundays. There is a regular season consisting of 5 games followed by a playoff. The championship game is played in Notre Dame stadium each year. Notre Dame has the top intramural program in the country, and football is the flagship of the intramural program. It is a great opportunity to become involved in any of the intramural programs.
Eric Tainsh - Barrington, RI
Do undergrads often get the chance to do research with professions and grad students
ND Admissions
Yes, students often get the chance to research with professors and grad students. These opportunities span science, engineering, liberal arts, and even business. In addition, students have the opportunity to apply for funding to do their own unique research as undergraduates—many students do so over the summer, during breaks, etc.
Milena - Rice Lake, WI
Does it matter if I only take the ACT and not the SAT?
ND Admissions
Taking only the ACT is not a problem. Although many students opt for the SAT, we also accept the ACT.
Dennis - McLean, VA
Can you give me an overview of Notre Dame's Theatre program?
ND Admissions
Hi, Dennis! I could, but I would do better to send you to http://www.nd.edu/~ftt. This is the Department of Film, Television, & Theatre’s website, and if you do a little browsing there, you can get a great overview. If you have any additional questions, feel free to post them or e-mail cbeesley@nd.edu. Thanks!
Nathaniel - Sonoma, CA
What can I say to all of the kids in Sonoma who make fun of Notre Dame football?
ND Admissions
-11 National Championships
-7 Heisman Trophy Winners
-More All-Americans than any other school in the country
-More College Football Hall-of-Famers than any other school
-The best football experience in the nation
Let those kids have their fun now, you’ll be having your fun in the years to come!
Sondra - Annandale, NJ
What advice would you give about writing the application essay?
ND Admissions
Sondra,
I would advice you to write about something that is interesting or of particular importance to you. If you write about something you are passionate about, that will certainly come through to who ever is reading your application. Try to write about something different or something that would make the counselor remember you and your essay.
Eduardo - Phoenix, AZ
If I apply under early action, does the admissions committee view Notre Dame as my first choice?
ND Admissions
Hi Eduardo! Thanks for joining us in this evenings’ online chat. Should you decide to apply to Notre Dame early action, the admissions committee will not view Notre Dame as your first choice school. Our early action deadline at Notre Dame is not early decision so it is not binding, meaning you are not committed to Notre Dame. Additionally, you are not indicating that we are your number one school by applying early action either. You are welcome to apply to Notre Dame and any other schools you wish should you decide to submit your application in the early action deadline.
Andrew - New Richland, MN
Hi, I know at some schools the admissions committee looks favorably at a student who had a sibling that attended. Does Notre Dame do this. If so, is it only in Early Action when this occurs. (By the way, my brother graduated summa cum laude)
ND Admissions
Having a sibling attend the University is not a factor in admissions.
Jeffrey - West Hartford, CT
Is Early Action more selective than regular decision?
ND Admissions
Because we only see a small portion of our applications during Early Action, we are more conservative about who we admit at this time. We do not want to fill up all our spots with Early students before we’ve seen who is going to apply Regular Action, so we tend to only admit the most highly qualified applicants at this time. We also defer a good amount of applicants who we believe will compete well later on and review them again in Regular Action.
Stefani - Concord, CA
Hi!
I'm interested in the Architecture program and I was wondering, is there a separate Architecture Department Application, and do I need to submit a portfolio??
Thanks!
ND Admissions
Hey there! There is no seperate application for the architecture program. However, if you want to submit a portfolio, you can, and it will be forwarded to the architecture department so they can take a look at it.
Sarah - Chesapeake, va
What's the difference between the Preprofessional Studies programs in the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Science?
ND Admissions
Hi, Sarah! Good question, the answer is not much. In the College of Arts & Letters, you will be taking the courses required to apply to medical school, such as Biology, Physics, and Organic Chemistry, while completing the requirements for a supplementary major in the humanities, perhaps Psychology, Anthropology, or a foreign language. You can definitely apply to medical school using this option, but our admission rates are slightly higher from our College of Science. This is because the Preprofessional students in the College of Science have electives which give them a very broad base in the life sciences. They go above and beyond the requirements of medical schools. Keep in mind that you do not have to be a Preprofessional major to apply to medical school. It is more than possible to apply from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Physics, or Mathematics. Because these Departments have slightly smaller numbers of applicants, they have even higher acceptance rates into medical schools. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to post them, or check out http://www.nd.edu/~prepro. Thanks!
Brittany - Annandale, NJ
My high school offers dual enrollment for some AP classes with Seton Hall University. Does Notre Dame accept dual enrollment credits?
ND Admissions
Hi Brittany,
Since Notre Dame does not accept dual-enrollment credit, I recommend that you take the AP exams. Over 3/4 of ND freshmen enter with AP credit.
Carl - Chagrin Falls, Ohio
When looking at SAT/ACT scores, do you convert the ACT scores to their SAT equivalent?
ND Admissions
We will use your highest score, regardless if it is on the ACT or the SAT (we will add your highest reading and math scores on the SAT and use your highest composite on the ACT). We do have equivalency charts to determine which of the two scores is highest, but we do not automatically convert ACT scores into SAT scores for our evaluations.
Shauna - Cataumet, MA
I have excellent standardized test scores and GPA, but my class rank is not incredible because I have taken the most difficult classes offered. Which of these factors is most important to admission?
ND Admissions
Hi Shauna,
We consider all these factors in the admissions process; however, it is important for you to take the challenging classes and do well in those classes. We understand that different schools rank differently and will consider the policies of your specific school when reviewing your application.
Nathaniel - Sonoma, CA
Do Notre Dame students frequent Chicago for sports, entertainment, ect.?
ND Admissions
Nathaniel,
Absolutely. People go into the city for concerts, sporting events, speaker series, and other various things. There is a train that runs multiple times a day from the South Bend airport (about a $5 cab ride from campus) to downtown Chicago for about $10 each way.
Stevie - Manhattan Beach, CA
What do students to for fun at Notre Dame?
ND Admissions
There are all sorts of fun things to do at Notre Dame. Dorm activities like hall dances and intramurals, campus activities like plays, fashion shows, concerts; and of course, you can go off campus and gather with your friends.
Meghan - West Homestead, Pa
When are you required to declare a major?
ND Admissions
Hi Meghan,
Students declare which college they would like to be in at the end of their freshman year, and most students declare a major at the end of their sophomore year. Many students in engineering and science must declare a major at the end of the first semester sophomore year. Note that once at Notre Dame, there is no separate application process or minimum GPA requirement to get into a particular major.
Roberta - Dunedin, FL
Could you share some highlights about your music program?
ND Admissions
Certainly! Our music department offers courses and lessons for majors and non-majors alike, as well as choirs, orchestras, ensemble groups, bands, operas and theatre productions for all students to participate in. Music majors or minors can choose to focus on theory or performance and will work closely with faculty that are distinguished throughout the musical community. Our newest fine arts venue, the Debartolo Performing Arts Center, was opened in 2004. It is home to five distinct, cutting-edge performance spaces and hosts both student productions and national-touring acts.
Sarah - Slingerlands, NY
Hello! I am very interested in languages - is there a limit or suggested maximum amount of languages that one can take at a time? I am currently taking both French and Spanish, and I intend on continuing with both. I am interested in learning Italian and Arabic as well. Thanks for your help!!
Sarah
ND Admissions
Hi Sarah,
There isn’t a limit to the language classes that you take during your four years. If you are interested, you can major in the Romance Languages and take additional classes of interest to you. It is important to keep in mind that you will have to take some General University Requirements. Those include 2 science, 2 math, 2 philosophy, 2 theology, a social science, a composition class, and a history or fine arts. You will also have to take a certain number of credits depending on the major you choose. After that, you have some freedom to choose a few language courses available to you.
Laura - Tuckahoe, NY
What should we avoid writing about in our essays?
ND Admissions
Hi Laura-
Good question. You should write about whatever it is you are a passionate about….that is, _don’t_write about what you think we “want to hear.” Obviously, we expect that essays stay within good taste, but beyond that, you should be creative and submit your best work.
Roberta - Dunedin, FL
How active are the bagpipers on campus?
ND Admissions
There are several clubs that include bagpipers, one of which performs every home football weekend on campus, including the pep rallies Friday nights, along with several other performances throughout the year.
Robert - Los Altos, CA
If one has attended the Notre Dame Summer Experience in the past, does this have any benefit in the admissions process?
ND Admissions
Hi Robert,
We will consider the Summer Experience just as we would any other extracurricular activity or academic activity over the summer. Unfortunately, the fact that you specifically attended the ND Experience will not be of any extra benefit in the admissions process.
Laura - Tuckahoe, NY
Will an applicant's inability to visit Notre Dame be held against them during the admissions process?
ND Admissions
Laura,
Absolutely not! We understand that not all students will be able to visit Notre Dame during their application process. If you’d like, feel free to reach out to the counselor that works with your area and speak with him or her on the phone or via e-mail if you have any questions. All the contact information is on the admissions website.
Lauren - Coronado, CA
What are the best, or most well-known majors at Notre Dame?
ND Admissions
Notre Dame is well known for strength across the curriculum. Some of our largest majors include political science, English, psychology, biological sciences, finance, and chemical engineering. We are also world-renowned for our theology and philosophy departments. Our five-year professional degree architecture program includes a year of study in Rome.
Colleen - Chesterfield, VA
How would you rate your science program in comparison to other majors at Notre Dame?
ND Admissions
Hi, Colleen! Our science program is truly on the rise here at Notre Dame. We just spent over $70 million on a brand new building dedicated solely to undergraduate science on campus. These students constitute under 13% of our undergraduates on campus! Our majors in our science program are Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Preprofessional Studies, Science-Business, and Science-Computing. If you have any additional questions, feel free to post them! You might also want to check out http://www.nd.edu/~science. Thanks!
Andrea - Mission, TX
Are there research opportunities available while attending school?
ND Admissions
Hi Andrea,
About 30% of Notre Dame undergraduates do some type of research before graduation with funding from their department. You can learn more about opportunities at http://undergradresearch.nd.edu/ .
Sean - New Hyde Park, NY
How many people apply to the Mendoza School of Business? How many are admitted?
ND Admissions
Hi Sean,
About one third of the undergraduate students (sophomores through seniors) are in Mendoza which equates to around 2200 students. One thing about Notre Dame is when you are applying to the school you don’t apply to a specific school such as business or science. Instead you apply to the first year students department. After your freshman year you pick what college you would like to go to. So there is no application process or ‘gates’ to the business school. But in order to keep the numbers of the business school down, no transfer student can be admitted into Mendoza.
Andrew - Middletown, DE
Does Notre Dame accept AP credits, and if so, what is the minimum grade one needs to score on an AP test for it to count?
ND Admissions
Notre Dame does grant credit and placement for many AP tests. For most subjects, a 4 or a 5 is necessary. See this chart for more details.
Sarah - Slingerlands, NY
Are there many vegetarian/ healthy options for students to chose from in the dining halls?
ND Admissions
Yes! There are tons of healthy options at the dining halls. For vegetarian students, they have all sorts of vegetables, fruits, soups, pastas, breads and tofu.
Meghan - West Homestead, Pa
What role does a student's hihg school course selection play in being admitted to Notre Dame?
ND Admissions
Good question. An applicant’s course choices play a big role in the Admissions process. Students should take the most challenging curriculum their high school offers. In addition, students should take the standard number of credits their their high school requires.
Liz - Kensington, CT
Will SAT II's be considered if they are submitted?
ND Admissions
SAT IIs can be used to enhance your application, but they are not required in the admissions process. Once you get to ND, those test scores may be used for placement in certain subjects.
Brett - Sewell, NJ
My brother is a junior at ND. Is it better for me to apply early decision or regular
ND Admissions
Hi, Brett! That depends on a lot of factors. If your academic and extracurricular records are especially strong against our applicant pool, it would be advisable for you to apply early decision. Otherwise, regular decision would be the best option. There is no downside to applying regular decision on our end; if you would get in early, you would get in during the regular decision as well. However, if you apply early, it is possible we could defer you into regular decision, where we would reconsider your application. If you have any questions, I would recommend e-mailing your Admissions Counselor, Matt O’Rourke (morourk1@nd.edu) about it. Thanks!
Linus - Hilo, HI
As far as getting accepted to Notre Dame- If my sons SAT scores aren't very high, is that offset by the fact that he has a good GPA and is very involved in excurriculum activities.
ND Admissions
SAT scores are one of a number of factors we take into consideration when reviewing an application. The students who are most likely to be successful are those who have high test scores, good grades and well-rounded involvement in extracurricular activities. However, we review all applications regardless of test scores, grades, etc.
I would encourage your son to take as many tests as possible, and try the ACT as well. We will take a student’s best test score regardless of the type of test or when it was taken.
Kate - Ocean City, NJ
If I have not taken Physics at my high school and wish to apply to the College of Science, would Notre Dame accept a Physics course from a local community college?
ND Admissions
Hi Kate- Sure thing, we’ll accept credit for that physics from the community college.
William - Eugene, OR
What is there to lose by applying Early Action?
ND Admissions
Early Action tends to be more competitive and if you get deferred, your application will not be read again. Instead, the counselors will simply look over the notes they intially made.
Amandeep - Plainsboro, NJ
What is the acceptance rate into medical school for recent graduates?
ND Admissions
The acceptance rate into medical school is over 75%, which is one of the highest acceptance rates in the country.
Lauren - Coronado, CA
Is it more competitive when applying early action versus regular decision?
ND Admissions
Hi Lauren
Applying early action is usually meant for students who have very impressive test scores with very good grades. The benefit of early action is that you would find out around Christmas time if you got in. The bad thing is that they will look at all the early action applicants before they look at the regular decision candidates. The counselors can either accept you, defer you until regular decisions are made, or out right deny you. The admissions counselors must sort of make an educated guess as to what the regular applicant pool will look like when making the early applicant decisions.
So it’s hard to say which is more competitive. Applying early is definitely a bigger risk. If you have questions as what you should do, I would encourage you to consult with the admissions counselor that works with your state. All that information is available on the site. Hope this helps!
Kaitlin - Newtown, PA
I'm intersted in pursuing a secondary education certification. How would I go about that at Notre Dame?
ND Admissions
Hi Kaitlin,
Notre Dame does not offer an education degree, but our sister school, Saint Mary’s College, does. You may have a particular major at Notre Dame, then take education classes at SMC, and do your student teaching through them. Another way ND students get involved in education is through a masters program called Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE). Students take classes at ND during the summer for two years, then teach in under-resourced Catholic schools mostly in the south, and receive a Masters in Education at the end of two year.
Robert - Los Altos, CA
If one plans on applying through the Early Action program and also plans on taking the October 6th SAT, should one send previous SAT scores to Notre Dame before this SAT or just have the SATs scores sent directly after the October 6th SAT?
ND Admissions
Either way is fine, just be sure to note on the application the dates of all tests taken.
Chris - Pittsburgh, PA
Are most student internships done in Indiana or are some also offered in other states?
ND Admissions
Hi Chris,
While there may be some internships that students do during the school year, most are done during the summer. Since Notre Dame students are from all over the country, internships can really be done anywhere in the country or world. Certainly Chicago, and a student’s hometown or home state are common locations. You can discover more about internships here.
Pat - Mentor, OH
What is the intramural football like?
ND Admissions
Notre Dame happens to be the only school in the country outside of the service academies that has full contact intramural football. It is centered around the halls on campus with each hall having a football team – there are 14 mens halls. Many of the guys dorms have tryouts because of the interest in the program. There are practices held each week, and the games are played on Sundays. There is a regular season consisting of 5 games followed by a playoff. The championship game is played in Notre Dame stadium each year. Notre Dame has the top intramural program in the country, and football is the flagship of the intramural program. It is a great opportunity to become involved in any of the intramural programs.
Eric Tainsh - Barrington, RI
Do undergrads often get the chance to do research with professions and grad students
ND Admissions
Yes, students often get the chance to research with professors and grad students. These opportunities span science, engineering, liberal arts, and even business. In addition, students have the opportunity to apply for funding to do their own unique research as undergraduates—many students do so over the summer, during breaks, etc.
Milena - Rice Lake, WI
Does it matter if I only take the ACT and not the SAT?
ND Admissions
Taking only the ACT is not a problem. Although many students opt for the SAT, we also accept the ACT.
Dennis - McLean, VA
Can you give me an overview of Notre Dame's Theatre program?
ND Admissions
Hi, Dennis! I could, but I would do better to send you to http://www.nd.edu/~ftt. This is the Department of Film, Television, & Theatre’s website, and if you do a little browsing there, you can get a great overview. If you have any additional questions, feel free to post them or e-mail cbeesley@nd.edu. Thanks!
Nathaniel - Sonoma, CA
What can I say to all of the kids in Sonoma who make fun of Notre Dame football?
ND Admissions
-11 National Championships -7 Heisman Trophy Winners -More All-Americans than any other school in the country -More College Football Hall-of-Famers than any other school -The best football experience in the nation
Let those kids have their fun now, you’ll be having your fun in the years to come!
Sondra - Annandale, NJ
What advice would you give about writing the application essay?
ND Admissions
Sondra, I would advice you to write about something that is interesting or of particular importance to you. If you write about something you are passionate about, that will certainly come through to who ever is reading your application. Try to write about something different or something that would make the counselor remember you and your essay.
Eduardo - Phoenix, AZ
If I apply under early action, does the admissions committee view Notre Dame as my first choice?
ND Admissions
Hi Eduardo! Thanks for joining us in this evenings’ online chat. Should you decide to apply to Notre Dame early action, the admissions committee will not view Notre Dame as your first choice school. Our early action deadline at Notre Dame is not early decision so it is not binding, meaning you are not committed to Notre Dame. Additionally, you are not indicating that we are your number one school by applying early action either. You are welcome to apply to Notre Dame and any other schools you wish should you decide to submit your application in the early action deadline.
Andrew - New Richland, MN
Hi, I know at some schools the admissions committee looks favorably at a student who had a sibling that attended. Does Notre Dame do this. If so, is it only in Early Action when this occurs. (By the way, my brother graduated summa cum laude)
ND Admissions
Having a sibling attend the University is not a factor in admissions.
Jeffrey - West Hartford, CT
Is Early Action more selective than regular decision?
ND Admissions
Because we only see a small portion of our applications during Early Action, we are more conservative about who we admit at this time. We do not want to fill up all our spots with Early students before we’ve seen who is going to apply Regular Action, so we tend to only admit the most highly qualified applicants at this time. We also defer a good amount of applicants who we believe will compete well later on and review them again in Regular Action.
Stefani - Concord, CA
Hi! I'm interested in the Architecture program and I was wondering, is there a separate Architecture Department Application, and do I need to submit a portfolio?? Thanks!
ND Admissions
Hey there! There is no seperate application for the architecture program. However, if you want to submit a portfolio, you can, and it will be forwarded to the architecture department so they can take a look at it.
Sarah - Chesapeake, va
What's the difference between the Preprofessional Studies programs in the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Science?
ND Admissions
Hi, Sarah! Good question, the answer is not much. In the College of Arts & Letters, you will be taking the courses required to apply to medical school, such as Biology, Physics, and Organic Chemistry, while completing the requirements for a supplementary major in the humanities, perhaps Psychology, Anthropology, or a foreign language. You can definitely apply to medical school using this option, but our admission rates are slightly higher from our College of Science. This is because the Preprofessional students in the College of Science have electives which give them a very broad base in the life sciences. They go above and beyond the requirements of medical schools. Keep in mind that you do not have to be a Preprofessional major to apply to medical school. It is more than possible to apply from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Physics, or Mathematics. Because these Departments have slightly smaller numbers of applicants, they have even higher acceptance rates into medical schools. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to post them, or check out http://www.nd.edu/~prepro. Thanks!
Brittany - Annandale, NJ
My high school offers dual enrollment for some AP classes with Seton Hall University. Does Notre Dame accept dual enrollment credits?
ND Admissions
Hi Brittany,
Since Notre Dame does not accept dual-enrollment credit, I recommend that you take the AP exams. Over 3/4 of ND freshmen enter with AP credit.
Carl - Chagrin Falls, Ohio
When looking at SAT/ACT scores, do you convert the ACT scores to their SAT equivalent?
ND Admissions
We will use your highest score, regardless if it is on the ACT or the SAT (we will add your highest reading and math scores on the SAT and use your highest composite on the ACT). We do have equivalency charts to determine which of the two scores is highest, but we do not automatically convert ACT scores into SAT scores for our evaluations.
Shauna - Cataumet, MA
I have excellent standardized test scores and GPA, but my class rank is not incredible because I have taken the most difficult classes offered. Which of these factors is most important to admission?
ND Admissions
Hi Shauna,
We consider all these factors in the admissions process; however, it is important for you to take the challenging classes and do well in those classes. We understand that different schools rank differently and will consider the policies of your specific school when reviewing your application.
Nathaniel - Sonoma, CA
Do Notre Dame students frequent Chicago for sports, entertainment, ect.?
ND Admissions
Nathaniel, Absolutely. People go into the city for concerts, sporting events, speaker series, and other various things. There is a train that runs multiple times a day from the South Bend airport (about a $5 cab ride from campus) to downtown Chicago for about $10 each way.
Stevie - Manhattan Beach, CA
What do students to for fun at Notre Dame?
ND Admissions
There are all sorts of fun things to do at Notre Dame. Dorm activities like hall dances and intramurals, campus activities like plays, fashion shows, concerts; and of course, you can go off campus and gather with your friends.
Meghan - West Homestead, Pa
When are you required to declare a major?
ND Admissions
Hi Meghan,
Students declare which college they would like to be in at the end of their freshman year, and most students declare a major at the end of their sophomore year. Many students in engineering and science must declare a major at the end of the first semester sophomore year. Note that once at Notre Dame, there is no separate application process or minimum GPA requirement to get into a particular major.
Roberta - Dunedin, FL
Could you share some highlights about your music program?
ND Admissions
Certainly! Our music department offers courses and lessons for majors and non-majors alike, as well as choirs, orchestras, ensemble groups, bands, operas and theatre productions for all students to participate in. Music majors or minors can choose to focus on theory or performance and will work closely with faculty that are distinguished throughout the musical community. Our newest fine arts venue, the Debartolo Performing Arts Center, was opened in 2004. It is home to five distinct, cutting-edge performance spaces and hosts both student productions and national-touring acts.
Sarah - Slingerlands, NY
Hello! I am very interested in languages - is there a limit or suggested maximum amount of languages that one can take at a time? I am currently taking both French and Spanish, and I intend on continuing with both. I am interested in learning Italian and Arabic as well. Thanks for your help!! Sarah
ND Admissions
Hi Sarah,
There isn’t a limit to the language classes that you take during your four years. If you are interested, you can major in the Romance Languages and take additional classes of interest to you. It is important to keep in mind that you will have to take some General University Requirements. Those include 2 science, 2 math, 2 philosophy, 2 theology, a social science, a composition class, and a history or fine arts. You will also have to take a certain number of credits depending on the major you choose. After that, you have some freedom to choose a few language courses available to you.
Laura - Tuckahoe, NY
What should we avoid writing about in our essays?
ND Admissions
Hi Laura-
Good question. You should write about whatever it is you are a passionate about….that is, _don’t_write about what you think we “want to hear.” Obviously, we expect that essays stay within good taste, but beyond that, you should be creative and submit your best work.
Roberta - Dunedin, FL
How active are the bagpipers on campus?
ND Admissions
There are several clubs that include bagpipers, one of which performs every home football weekend on campus, including the pep rallies Friday nights, along with several other performances throughout the year.
Robert - Los Altos, CA
If one has attended the Notre Dame Summer Experience in the past, does this have any benefit in the admissions process?
ND Admissions
Hi Robert,
We will consider the Summer Experience just as we would any other extracurricular activity or academic activity over the summer. Unfortunately, the fact that you specifically attended the ND Experience will not be of any extra benefit in the admissions process.
Laura - Tuckahoe, NY
Will an applicant's inability to visit Notre Dame be held against them during the admissions process?
ND Admissions
Laura, Absolutely not! We understand that not all students will be able to visit Notre Dame during their application process. If you’d like, feel free to reach out to the counselor that works with your area and speak with him or her on the phone or via e-mail if you have any questions. All the contact information is on the admissions website.
Lauren - Coronado, CA
What are the best, or most well-known majors at Notre Dame?
ND Admissions
Notre Dame is well known for strength across the curriculum. Some of our largest majors include political science, English, psychology, biological sciences, finance, and chemical engineering. We are also world-renowned for our theology and philosophy departments. Our five-year professional degree architecture program includes a year of study in Rome.
Colleen - Chesterfield, VA
How would you rate your science program in comparison to other majors at Notre Dame?
ND Admissions
Hi, Colleen! Our science program is truly on the rise here at Notre Dame. We just spent over $70 million on a brand new building dedicated solely to undergraduate science on campus. These students constitute under 13% of our undergraduates on campus! Our majors in our science program are Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Preprofessional Studies, Science-Business, and Science-Computing. If you have any additional questions, feel free to post them! You might also want to check out http://www.nd.edu/~science. Thanks!
Andrea - Mission, TX
Are there research opportunities available while attending school?
ND Admissions
Hi Andrea,
About 30% of Notre Dame undergraduates do some type of research before graduation with funding from their department. You can learn more about opportunities at http://undergradresearch.nd.edu/ .
Sean - New Hyde Park, NY
How many people apply to the Mendoza School of Business? How many are admitted?
ND Admissions
Hi Sean, About one third of the undergraduate students (sophomores through seniors) are in Mendoza which equates to around 2200 students. One thing about Notre Dame is when you are applying to the school you don’t apply to a specific school such as business or science. Instead you apply to the first year students department. After your freshman year you pick what college you would like to go to. So there is no application process or ‘gates’ to the business school. But in order to keep the numbers of the business school down, no transfer student can be admitted into Mendoza.
Andrew - Middletown, DE
Does Notre Dame accept AP credits, and if so, what is the minimum grade one needs to score on an AP test for it to count?
ND Admissions
Notre Dame does grant credit and placement for many AP tests. For most subjects, a 4 or a 5 is necessary. See this chart for more details.
Sarah - Slingerlands, NY
Are there many vegetarian/ healthy options for students to chose from in the dining halls?
ND Admissions
Yes! There are tons of healthy options at the dining halls. For vegetarian students, they have all sorts of vegetables, fruits, soups, pastas, breads and tofu.
Meghan - West Homestead, Pa
What role does a student's hihg school course selection play in being admitted to Notre Dame?
ND Admissions
Good question. An applicant’s course choices play a big role in the Admissions process. Students should take the most challenging curriculum their high school offers. In addition, students should take the standard number of credits their their high school requires.
Liz - Kensington, CT
Will SAT II's be considered if they are submitted?
ND Admissions
SAT IIs can be used to enhance your application, but they are not required in the admissions process. Once you get to ND, those test scores may be used for placement in certain subjects.
Brett - Sewell, NJ
My brother is a junior at ND. Is it better for me to apply early decision or regular
ND Admissions
Hi, Brett! That depends on a lot of factors. If your academic and extracurricular records are especially strong against our applicant pool, it would be advisable for you to apply early decision. Otherwise, regular decision would be the best option. There is no downside to applying regular decision on our end; if you would get in early, you would get in during the regular decision as well. However, if you apply early, it is possible we could defer you into regular decision, where we would reconsider your application. If you have any questions, I would recommend e-mailing your Admissions Counselor, Matt O’Rourke (morourk1@nd.edu) about it. Thanks!
Linus - Hilo, HI
As far as getting accepted to Notre Dame- If my sons SAT scores aren't very high, is that offset by the fact that he has a good GPA and is very involved in excurriculum activities.
ND Admissions
SAT scores are one of a number of factors we take into consideration when reviewing an application. The students who are most likely to be successful are those who have high test scores, good grades and well-rounded involvement in extracurricular activities. However, we review all applications regardless of test scores, grades, etc.
I would encourage your son to take as many tests as possible, and try the ACT as well. We will take a student’s best test score regardless of the type of test or when it was taken.
Kate - Ocean City, NJ
If I have not taken Physics at my high school and wish to apply to the College of Science, would Notre Dame accept a Physics course from a local community college?
ND Admissions
Hi Kate- Sure thing, we’ll accept credit for that physics from the community college.
William - Eugene, OR
What is there to lose by applying Early Action?
ND Admissions
Early Action tends to be more competitive and if you get deferred, your application will not be read again. Instead, the counselors will simply look over the notes they intially made.
Amandeep - Plainsboro, NJ
What is the acceptance rate into medical school for recent graduates?
ND Admissions
The acceptance rate into medical school is over 75%, which is one of the highest acceptance rates in the country.
Lauren - Coronado, CA
Is it more competitive when applying early action versus regular decision?
ND Admissions
Hi Lauren Applying early action is usually meant for students who have very impressive test scores with very good grades. The benefit of early action is that you would find out around Christmas time if you got in. The bad thing is that they will look at all the early action applicants before they look at the regular decision candidates. The counselors can either accept you, defer you until regular decisions are made, or out right deny you. The admissions counselors must sort of make an educated guess as to what the regular applicant pool will look like when making the early applicant decisions. So it’s hard to say which is more competitive. Applying early is definitely a bigger risk. If you have questions as what you should do, I would encourage you to consult with the admissions counselor that works with your state. All that information is available on the site. Hope this helps!
Kaitlin - Newtown, PA
I'm intersted in pursuing a secondary education certification. How would I go about that at Notre Dame?
ND Admissions
Hi Kaitlin,
Notre Dame does not offer an education degree, but our sister school, Saint Mary’s College, does. You may have a particular major at Notre Dame, then take education classes at SMC, and do your student teaching through them. Another way ND students get involved in education is through a masters program called Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE). Students take classes at ND during the summer for two years, then teach in under-resourced Catholic schools mostly in the south, and receive a Masters in Education at the end of two year.
Robert - Los Altos, CA
If one plans on applying through the Early Action program and also plans on taking the October 6th SAT, should one send previous SAT scores to Notre Dame before this SAT or just have the SATs scores sent directly after the October 6th SAT?
ND Admissions
Either way is fine, just be sure to note on the application the dates of all tests taken.
