Chats » Early Action Admitted Student Chat
Erica - Atascadero, CA
I am really not sure what I will be majoring in. Right now I am interested in Science and maybe Pre-med. When will we be able to contact our academic advisors for our first year? How close will we be able to work with them when picking out our first year classes?
Also, what is the advantage of majoring in Pre-professional studies vs. for ex. getting a specific degree in Biochemistry or some other science? If I do major pre-prof and decide not to be a doctor, would my degree still be able to get me a good job?
Thank you!!!
ND Admissions
Hi, Erica. Your question is one I hear often. Advisors will start reading folders and building schedules this summer, say, by mid June. You can contact your advisor at this time. Your advisor will be very happy to work on your schedule with you. The decision on whether to choose preprofessional or a traditional science like biochemistry is long and complicated. Sometimes it takes a student all of their first year to make this decision.
Brent - Williamsburg, VA
I have taken two courses in macro-economics at The College of William and Mary. Will these credits transfer to ND?
ND Admissions
Brent, maybe. We have a thorough process for evaluating the circumstances under which the course was taken. We can discuss this when you’re at Notre Dame.
Mary - Chicago,
Do students from specific halls eat in certain cafeterias at certain tables?
ND Admissions
We have two dining halls on campus and students are welcome to eat at either one. However typically students end up eating at the dining hall closet to them.
Kelly - Woodinville, WA
I tend to be pretty liberal politically. In all honesty, am I going to be all alone on this?
ND Admissions
Hi Kelly,
You will not be alone! Our student body brings quite a diverse range of political ideologies. Your perspectives and ideas will definitely be welcome in discussions throughout campus.
Caroline - Battle Creek, MI
To clarify on an answer to an earlier question, is there no AP credit awarded for the AP Physics and Chemistry tests? Or is it that no AP credit is awarded for Physics and Chemistry majors?
ND Admissions
Caroline, AP credit is awarded for some chemistry and physics but this does not cover the chemistry and physics courses required for chemistry and physics majors. But the AP rules are confusing. For instance AP credit for our health science physics course will not work for engineering physics. And then there’s the question of how medical schools will regard the credit. Some medical schools accept AP credit for biology and chemistry; others don’t.
Victoria - Clearwater, FL
I don't have another question, but I wanted to thank you all for your time and guidance!
ND Admissions
YOU’RE WELCOME!
Graham - Bellingham, WA
Would you say from personal experience, that if you were offered a full ride by a couple other schools and Notre Dame was still going to cost you alot of money--is the experience worth 35 thousand a year?
ND Admissions
Hi Graham,
It sounds like you have quite a decision to make there. I know that I absolutely loved my Notre Dame experience and would not trade it for anything. There is something special about this place, and you are a part of it forever. Yes, I have some loans to pay back, but the experience was worth it. Ultimately the decision is up to you, depending on which college you think would be the perfect fit for the next four years.
Marie - Carmel, IN
What is the AP score requirement for foreign language? Is foreign language required, even if you have taken it for four years?
ND Admissions
Depending on your major, a foreign language may or may not be required. AP scores of 4 or 5 can grant you credit for those courses. There are also placement exams you can take at the beginning of the semester to test out of the class.
Erica - Atascadero, CA
What do students usually do with their money? Cash? Debit cards? Are there banks on campus? Which ones?
ND Admissions
Many students come to campus with a combination of cash, debit cards, and credit cards. For those that want to have a local bank to safely keep their money, many open an account with the Notre Dame Federal Credit Union which is the only bank located on campus and is located in the LaFortune Student Center. In addition to offering banking services it has several ATMs around campus.
Olivia - San Rafael, CA
Is there a place for non-varsity golfers to store clubs on campus?
ND Admissions
Hi Olivia,
Plenty of students bring their golf clubs to campus, and most would simply keep them in their dorm room. It’s possible that there would be some general storage in your dorm that you could take advantage of.
hannah - Vancouver, BC
is it common to major both political science and business??
is it hard??
what about pre law and business??
ND Admissions
I’ve known a few people to do a double major with business and they didn’t seem too stressed about it. Those are in separate colleges so there are many requirements to fulfill, but they seemed to handle it well. Coming in with AP credit would help too.
Amanda K. - Springfield, IL
To a student, what's it like to be a non-Catholic or agnostic at ND?
ND Admissions
Hi Amanda,
Though I was raised Catholic, I am not practicing. That being said, I have never felt as though I was pressured to participate in any religious services or events. Religion here at Notre Dame is strictly what you make of it. Now don’t get me wrong, this is a Catholic university from the standpoint of the administration, however, how you as a student choose to participate in it is up to you. Though 85% of the student body is Catholic, that does not mean that all of those students are practicing Catholics, and there are many opportunities for other types of religious practices on campus and off. I personally would not be worried about not being a practicing Catholic. I hope this helps.
Nick - Grosse Pointe South, MI
How does Notre Dame's engineering college compare to the University of Michigan's (with which I am more familiar)?
ND Admissions
Size is the biggest difference between the University of Notre Dame and the University of Michigan. At Notre Dame the average student-faculty ratio is 12:1. Furthermore, the University of Notre Dame receives various grants from both the US Air Force and US Navy to conduct research. Undergraduate students are allowed to pursue research either as a class for credit or paid-research. Finally, being an Aerospace Engineer myself I can attest to the fact that our research program is very hands on. Our Senior year capstone design course involved the design, building and flying of a remote controlled aircraft to fulfill a specific mission given to us by our Professor.
Amanda K. - Springfield, IL
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the history, french, political science, and sociology departments?
ND Admissions
All are strong—political science is the biggest department on campus and the french department features a strong abroad program. You will have close to contact with your professors in each. I’m sure there may be some complaints out there, but I do’nt know of any particular weaknesses.
Melissa - Rochester, MN
What kinds of computer design or programming courses are offered?
ND Admissions
Hi Melissa,
If you’re interested in engineering it sounds like the Computer Science or Computer Engineering major would be a good fit. Here’s a list of courses . Those two majors have quite a few overlapping course requirements through first semester sophomore year, and most students select one of those paths at that time.
Nancy - New York, NY
Can you talk a little bit about the First Year of Studies?
ND Admissions
Hi, Nancy. The First Year of Studies is considered a college at Notre Dame with the same status as the colleges of Engineering, Science, Business, and Arts and Letters. Students enter the First Year of Studies regardless of which college they plan to matriculate to when they’re sophomores. The First Year of Studies help students decide if they’re in the right programs and to pick programs if they’re unsure of what they want to study. We believe our success at Notre Dame with high retention rates and four-year graduation rates is significantly influenced by the First Year of Studies.
Kristin - Westlake, OH
Does Notre Dame offer education as a major?
ND Admissions
Not as a major—you can take classes across the street at St. Mary’s to receive a teaching degree or you can minor in our Education, Schooling and Society program at ND. Also, we have a post-graduate program called ACE inwhich students take classes in the summer and teach during the school year for two years, culminating in a Master’s degree in Education.
Mason - Bryan, OH
Does Notre Dame have any type of extra-curricular string orchestra club or an intramural swim team? I am involved with both in high school and hope to persue them in college.
ND Admissions
We do have an orchestra that students can audition for, and many opportunities to play on campus. As far as swimming goes, we have intramural swimming through RecSports, and we have a club water polo team.
Bill - Ocean, NJ
The Science-Business major seems very demanding. Do most students with this major complete their pre-med requirements and continue on to med school?
ND Admissions
Hi Bill,
Quite a few students in the Science-Business major apply to medical school, while others choose to work for medically-based business firms. It’s really up to you!
Ben - Pittsburgh, PA
Is there a way to get into the engineering honors program without an invitation from the acceptance letter?
ND Admissions
Hi Ben,
The College of Engineering will invite a very small number of students to participate in the Honors Program. If you’d like you can contact them at 574-631-5530 and they may be able to take a closer look at your application.
Casey - Bloomington, IL
I just logged on, so I hope you haven't already talked about this, but do Freshmen come early and take placement tests? Is this before the move-in day? Do you know when that is? Thanks!
ND Admissions
Welcome! Freshmen can come early for a number of reasons: to take a placement test in math or foreign languages (this can also be done online earlier in the summer, or by taking AP exams)—which would be the day prior to the official move-in day, or for another activity, like to try out for the band, which would be a couple days earlier. The official move-in day for first-year studies is 9am on August 22.
Erica - Atascadero, CA
If I don't get work study in my financial aid package, how hard is it to find a job on campus?
ND Admissions
Hi Erica -
Great question. We do require students to find their own jobs on campus. But, that said, there are more than enough jobs on campus, performing many different types of tasks. Student Employment has a Job Board that posts many of the available positions. In addition, you’ll notice that several departments will be recruiting student employees at the beginning of the school year. If you have special interests or ablities, I recommend that you approach specific departments to see if they have openings.
Caroline - Battle Creek, MI
Do most engineering classes involve working in teams/groups?
ND Admissions
Yes, our engineering classes are for the most part hands-on and involve group projects. Your first year you will take Introduction to Engineering which is all project based. Sophomore – Junior year most classes are theory based concluding your Senior year with capstone courses that are once again all design and team/group based.
Christy - Gilbertsville, PA
Could you describe the swimming test for PE? I took YMCA lessons for a few years, but I'm no Olympian.
ND Admissions
hey i’m no olympian, either, but the swim test is totally manageable. You just have to do two laps on your stomach and your back (and its on the short side of the pool, so it’s not that bad at all!). You’ll do fine!
Victoria - Clearwater, FL
Any idea how many women there are in that 5% of students involved in ROTC? Specifically NROTC?
ND Admissions
Not specifically but our NROTC program currently has 104 cadets in it: 60% male, 40% female.
Caroline - Battle Creek, MI
What are the ACT scores the will qualify someone to be invited to the Engineering Honors Program?
ND Admissions
The ACT composite typically used by the Honors program is a 34 or better.
Sean - New Hyde Park, NY
Could you give me the number for the Financial Aid office?
ND Admissions
Hi Sean,
The phone number is 574-631-6436
Tomas - Norman, OKlahoma
When and how do I choose my courses?
ND Admissions
Tomas, you’ll receive mailing this summer with instructions on choosing your fall schedule. You’ll mail or fax this into us by early July. Advisors will help you pick your courses if needed.
Trish - Worcester, Ma
We have just about completed the PROFILE and Fafsa forms using our 2006 tax forms because we have not done our 2007 taxes as of yet. Do we need to update the forms when our 2007 taxes are complete or should we send copies of the 2007 taxes to the FA office?
ND Admissions
Hi Trish,
This is a good question.
We ask that you send your 2007 to our office and we will update the information on both the FAFSA and the PROFILE on your behalf using the actual information.
Adam - Naperville, IL
Do most kids bring bikes to school or do they just walk around campus?
ND Admissions
Hi Adam,
Bikes aren’t necessary to get around campus, but many students have them. For the most part students walk :)
Victoria - Clearwater, FL
I heard that ND is building a new rink for the hockey team. Is this true?
ND Admissions
The University is planning on renovating the hockey arena, but there are no definite plans at this time.
Graham - Bellingham, WA
Being a larger school is it difficult for underclassmen to get into the classes that they want?
ND Admissions
I don’t think that you’ll have trouble getting into the courses that you want. If your experience with picking classes will be like mine, I’ve always thought there’s so many interesting classes that I have difficulty choosing which ones I want! The only part that requires a bit of luck is getting the classes that you want at the time that you want them!
Mike - Chicago, IL
A follow up yo Michael from Covington's question, are you saying that taking AP classes for physics or calculus (as examples) is pointless because ND will not accept the AP test results?
ND Admissions
I don’t know if I’d say it’s pointless because there was definitely a point in the semester (about 6 weeks in), when we had covered everything I’d learned in my AP course and we moved onto other topics. That point may have been different for other people, but I can say that you won’t be simply spinning your wheels in one of those intro classes.
Danielle - Floral Park, NY
What is Notre Dame's architecture department like?
ND Admissions
Danielle, the Notre Dame architecture program emphasizes classical archtecture. It’s a five year program. It is very highly regarded.
Will - Chesapeake, VA
Who is invited to apply to the Engineering Honors Program?
ND Admissions
Students who identified Engineering as their intended major, who are in the top 1 to 3% of their graduating class, and who have SAT scores of at least 1520 (only critical reading + math).
Maxx - Frankfort, IL
Being from a south-suburb of Chicago, I love my home city. Are there any trains offered from near Notre Dame to downtown?
ND Admissions
Yes, the SouthShore leaves from the South Bend Airport and then runs down Metra’s Electric Lines to the Randolph Street Station.
Stephanie - Red Bank, NJ
Could you elaborate on the Science/Business Major?
ND Admissions
Stephanie, the Science-Business major is a program in the College of Science. Students in this program must take Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, and Statistics and additional science to complete 64 credits in science. Science-Business program also requires courses in accounting, finance, management, and marketing. The rigor of the program is in the science. I consider this a very strong program.
Christy - Gilbertsville, PA
I was at a program this summer and the squirrels were crazy. Are they always so friendly?
ND Admissions
My goodness, are they ever. They are large, and they are in charge. Sometimes they can be seen hoisting foodstuffs across campus—I’ve seen a band of squirrels carrying the following objects to their (magical) dens: muffin, banana, full ice cream cone. I heard a rumor once that one was caught and made to wear a mini-ND t-shirt during a home football game.
The good news is, they’re friendly and socially well-adjusted, like most everyone at Notre Dame.
Maxx - Frankfort, IL
Would it be possible to complete a communications major in conjunction with a finance major? Also, because this would be a dual-degree program, how many years would this take me to complete?
ND Admissions
Hi Maxx,
While we do not have a specific major in Communications, you have the option to take classes relevant to your interests in the College of Arts and Letters. Your First Year advisor can provide more information about course options when you arrive in the fall.
colin - fort worth, tx
Coming from Texas, just how much of an adjustment will the weather be? When does the snow start and when does it stop?
ND Admissions
The first time you experience a South Bend winter, you will surely get a pretty good shock to the system. The weird thing is you will quickly become acclimated to the cold, so that when the temperature increases by only a few degrees (say, from 15 degrees to 25 degrees) it will feel like a heat wave. The key is to layer your clothing. There is so much going on here, and we are so busy with school work and campus activities, that the weather becomes a non-factor. You will get used to the crazy midwestern weather soon enough. The first snow usually comes in November, and the final snow usually happens in March. The last few years, we really have not had too much snow.
Erica - Atascadero, CA
I am really not sure what I will be majoring in. Right now I am interested in Science and maybe Pre-med. When will we be able to contact our academic advisors for our first year? How close will we be able to work with them when picking out our first year classes? Also, what is the advantage of majoring in Pre-professional studies vs. for ex. getting a specific degree in Biochemistry or some other science? If I do major pre-prof and decide not to be a doctor, would my degree still be able to get me a good job? Thank you!!!
ND Admissions
Hi, Erica. Your question is one I hear often. Advisors will start reading folders and building schedules this summer, say, by mid June. You can contact your advisor at this time. Your advisor will be very happy to work on your schedule with you. The decision on whether to choose preprofessional or a traditional science like biochemistry is long and complicated. Sometimes it takes a student all of their first year to make this decision.
Brent - Williamsburg, VA
I have taken two courses in macro-economics at The College of William and Mary. Will these credits transfer to ND?
ND Admissions
Brent, maybe. We have a thorough process for evaluating the circumstances under which the course was taken. We can discuss this when you’re at Notre Dame.
Mary - Chicago,
Do students from specific halls eat in certain cafeterias at certain tables?
ND Admissions
We have two dining halls on campus and students are welcome to eat at either one. However typically students end up eating at the dining hall closet to them.
Kelly - Woodinville, WA
I tend to be pretty liberal politically. In all honesty, am I going to be all alone on this?
ND Admissions
Hi Kelly,
You will not be alone! Our student body brings quite a diverse range of political ideologies. Your perspectives and ideas will definitely be welcome in discussions throughout campus.
Caroline - Battle Creek, MI
To clarify on an answer to an earlier question, is there no AP credit awarded for the AP Physics and Chemistry tests? Or is it that no AP credit is awarded for Physics and Chemistry majors?
ND Admissions
Caroline, AP credit is awarded for some chemistry and physics but this does not cover the chemistry and physics courses required for chemistry and physics majors. But the AP rules are confusing. For instance AP credit for our health science physics course will not work for engineering physics. And then there’s the question of how medical schools will regard the credit. Some medical schools accept AP credit for biology and chemistry; others don’t.
Victoria - Clearwater, FL
I don't have another question, but I wanted to thank you all for your time and guidance!
ND Admissions
YOU’RE WELCOME!
Graham - Bellingham, WA
Would you say from personal experience, that if you were offered a full ride by a couple other schools and Notre Dame was still going to cost you alot of money--is the experience worth 35 thousand a year?
ND Admissions
Hi Graham,
It sounds like you have quite a decision to make there. I know that I absolutely loved my Notre Dame experience and would not trade it for anything. There is something special about this place, and you are a part of it forever. Yes, I have some loans to pay back, but the experience was worth it. Ultimately the decision is up to you, depending on which college you think would be the perfect fit for the next four years.
Marie - Carmel, IN
What is the AP score requirement for foreign language? Is foreign language required, even if you have taken it for four years?
ND Admissions
Depending on your major, a foreign language may or may not be required. AP scores of 4 or 5 can grant you credit for those courses. There are also placement exams you can take at the beginning of the semester to test out of the class.
Erica - Atascadero, CA
What do students usually do with their money? Cash? Debit cards? Are there banks on campus? Which ones?
ND Admissions
Many students come to campus with a combination of cash, debit cards, and credit cards. For those that want to have a local bank to safely keep their money, many open an account with the Notre Dame Federal Credit Union which is the only bank located on campus and is located in the LaFortune Student Center. In addition to offering banking services it has several ATMs around campus.
Olivia - San Rafael, CA
Is there a place for non-varsity golfers to store clubs on campus?
ND Admissions
Hi Olivia,
Plenty of students bring their golf clubs to campus, and most would simply keep them in their dorm room. It’s possible that there would be some general storage in your dorm that you could take advantage of.
hannah - Vancouver, BC
is it common to major both political science and business?? is it hard?? what about pre law and business??
ND Admissions
I’ve known a few people to do a double major with business and they didn’t seem too stressed about it. Those are in separate colleges so there are many requirements to fulfill, but they seemed to handle it well. Coming in with AP credit would help too.
Amanda K. - Springfield, IL
To a student, what's it like to be a non-Catholic or agnostic at ND?
ND Admissions
Hi Amanda,
Though I was raised Catholic, I am not practicing. That being said, I have never felt as though I was pressured to participate in any religious services or events. Religion here at Notre Dame is strictly what you make of it. Now don’t get me wrong, this is a Catholic university from the standpoint of the administration, however, how you as a student choose to participate in it is up to you. Though 85% of the student body is Catholic, that does not mean that all of those students are practicing Catholics, and there are many opportunities for other types of religious practices on campus and off. I personally would not be worried about not being a practicing Catholic. I hope this helps.
Nick - Grosse Pointe South, MI
How does Notre Dame's engineering college compare to the University of Michigan's (with which I am more familiar)?
ND Admissions
Size is the biggest difference between the University of Notre Dame and the University of Michigan. At Notre Dame the average student-faculty ratio is 12:1. Furthermore, the University of Notre Dame receives various grants from both the US Air Force and US Navy to conduct research. Undergraduate students are allowed to pursue research either as a class for credit or paid-research. Finally, being an Aerospace Engineer myself I can attest to the fact that our research program is very hands on. Our Senior year capstone design course involved the design, building and flying of a remote controlled aircraft to fulfill a specific mission given to us by our Professor.
Amanda K. - Springfield, IL
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the history, french, political science, and sociology departments?
ND Admissions
All are strong—political science is the biggest department on campus and the french department features a strong abroad program. You will have close to contact with your professors in each. I’m sure there may be some complaints out there, but I do’nt know of any particular weaknesses.
Melissa - Rochester, MN
What kinds of computer design or programming courses are offered?
ND Admissions
Hi Melissa,
If you’re interested in engineering it sounds like the Computer Science or Computer Engineering major would be a good fit. Here’s a list of courses . Those two majors have quite a few overlapping course requirements through first semester sophomore year, and most students select one of those paths at that time.
Nancy - New York, NY
Can you talk a little bit about the First Year of Studies?
ND Admissions
Hi, Nancy. The First Year of Studies is considered a college at Notre Dame with the same status as the colleges of Engineering, Science, Business, and Arts and Letters. Students enter the First Year of Studies regardless of which college they plan to matriculate to when they’re sophomores. The First Year of Studies help students decide if they’re in the right programs and to pick programs if they’re unsure of what they want to study. We believe our success at Notre Dame with high retention rates and four-year graduation rates is significantly influenced by the First Year of Studies.
Kristin - Westlake, OH
Does Notre Dame offer education as a major?
ND Admissions
Not as a major—you can take classes across the street at St. Mary’s to receive a teaching degree or you can minor in our Education, Schooling and Society program at ND. Also, we have a post-graduate program called ACE inwhich students take classes in the summer and teach during the school year for two years, culminating in a Master’s degree in Education.
Mason - Bryan, OH
Does Notre Dame have any type of extra-curricular string orchestra club or an intramural swim team? I am involved with both in high school and hope to persue them in college.
ND Admissions
We do have an orchestra that students can audition for, and many opportunities to play on campus. As far as swimming goes, we have intramural swimming through RecSports, and we have a club water polo team.
Bill - Ocean, NJ
The Science-Business major seems very demanding. Do most students with this major complete their pre-med requirements and continue on to med school?
ND Admissions
Hi Bill,
Quite a few students in the Science-Business major apply to medical school, while others choose to work for medically-based business firms. It’s really up to you!
Ben - Pittsburgh, PA
Is there a way to get into the engineering honors program without an invitation from the acceptance letter?
ND Admissions
Hi Ben,
The College of Engineering will invite a very small number of students to participate in the Honors Program. If you’d like you can contact them at 574-631-5530 and they may be able to take a closer look at your application.
Casey - Bloomington, IL
I just logged on, so I hope you haven't already talked about this, but do Freshmen come early and take placement tests? Is this before the move-in day? Do you know when that is? Thanks!
ND Admissions
Welcome! Freshmen can come early for a number of reasons: to take a placement test in math or foreign languages (this can also be done online earlier in the summer, or by taking AP exams)—which would be the day prior to the official move-in day, or for another activity, like to try out for the band, which would be a couple days earlier. The official move-in day for first-year studies is 9am on August 22.
Erica - Atascadero, CA
If I don't get work study in my financial aid package, how hard is it to find a job on campus?
ND Admissions
Hi Erica -
Great question. We do require students to find their own jobs on campus. But, that said, there are more than enough jobs on campus, performing many different types of tasks. Student Employment has a Job Board that posts many of the available positions. In addition, you’ll notice that several departments will be recruiting student employees at the beginning of the school year. If you have special interests or ablities, I recommend that you approach specific departments to see if they have openings.
Caroline - Battle Creek, MI
Do most engineering classes involve working in teams/groups?
ND Admissions
Yes, our engineering classes are for the most part hands-on and involve group projects. Your first year you will take Introduction to Engineering which is all project based. Sophomore – Junior year most classes are theory based concluding your Senior year with capstone courses that are once again all design and team/group based.
Christy - Gilbertsville, PA
Could you describe the swimming test for PE? I took YMCA lessons for a few years, but I'm no Olympian.
ND Admissions
hey i’m no olympian, either, but the swim test is totally manageable. You just have to do two laps on your stomach and your back (and its on the short side of the pool, so it’s not that bad at all!). You’ll do fine!
Victoria - Clearwater, FL
Any idea how many women there are in that 5% of students involved in ROTC? Specifically NROTC?
ND Admissions
Not specifically but our NROTC program currently has 104 cadets in it: 60% male, 40% female.
Caroline - Battle Creek, MI
What are the ACT scores the will qualify someone to be invited to the Engineering Honors Program?
ND Admissions
The ACT composite typically used by the Honors program is a 34 or better.
Sean - New Hyde Park, NY
Could you give me the number for the Financial Aid office?
ND Admissions
Hi Sean,
The phone number is 574-631-6436
Tomas - Norman, OKlahoma
When and how do I choose my courses?
ND Admissions
Tomas, you’ll receive mailing this summer with instructions on choosing your fall schedule. You’ll mail or fax this into us by early July. Advisors will help you pick your courses if needed.
Trish - Worcester, Ma
We have just about completed the PROFILE and Fafsa forms using our 2006 tax forms because we have not done our 2007 taxes as of yet. Do we need to update the forms when our 2007 taxes are complete or should we send copies of the 2007 taxes to the FA office?
ND Admissions
Hi Trish,
This is a good question.
We ask that you send your 2007 to our office and we will update the information on both the FAFSA and the PROFILE on your behalf using the actual information.
Adam - Naperville, IL
Do most kids bring bikes to school or do they just walk around campus?
ND Admissions
Hi Adam,
Bikes aren’t necessary to get around campus, but many students have them. For the most part students walk :)
Victoria - Clearwater, FL
I heard that ND is building a new rink for the hockey team. Is this true?
ND Admissions
The University is planning on renovating the hockey arena, but there are no definite plans at this time.
Graham - Bellingham, WA
Being a larger school is it difficult for underclassmen to get into the classes that they want?
ND Admissions
I don’t think that you’ll have trouble getting into the courses that you want. If your experience with picking classes will be like mine, I’ve always thought there’s so many interesting classes that I have difficulty choosing which ones I want! The only part that requires a bit of luck is getting the classes that you want at the time that you want them!
Mike - Chicago, IL
A follow up yo Michael from Covington's question, are you saying that taking AP classes for physics or calculus (as examples) is pointless because ND will not accept the AP test results?
ND Admissions
I don’t know if I’d say it’s pointless because there was definitely a point in the semester (about 6 weeks in), when we had covered everything I’d learned in my AP course and we moved onto other topics. That point may have been different for other people, but I can say that you won’t be simply spinning your wheels in one of those intro classes.
Danielle - Floral Park, NY
What is Notre Dame's architecture department like?
ND Admissions
Danielle, the Notre Dame architecture program emphasizes classical archtecture. It’s a five year program. It is very highly regarded.
Will - Chesapeake, VA
Who is invited to apply to the Engineering Honors Program?
ND Admissions
Students who identified Engineering as their intended major, who are in the top 1 to 3% of their graduating class, and who have SAT scores of at least 1520 (only critical reading + math).
Maxx - Frankfort, IL
Being from a south-suburb of Chicago, I love my home city. Are there any trains offered from near Notre Dame to downtown?
ND Admissions
Yes, the SouthShore leaves from the South Bend Airport and then runs down Metra’s Electric Lines to the Randolph Street Station.
Stephanie - Red Bank, NJ
Could you elaborate on the Science/Business Major?
ND Admissions
Stephanie, the Science-Business major is a program in the College of Science. Students in this program must take Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, and Statistics and additional science to complete 64 credits in science. Science-Business program also requires courses in accounting, finance, management, and marketing. The rigor of the program is in the science. I consider this a very strong program.
Christy - Gilbertsville, PA
I was at a program this summer and the squirrels were crazy. Are they always so friendly?
ND Admissions
My goodness, are they ever. They are large, and they are in charge. Sometimes they can be seen hoisting foodstuffs across campus—I’ve seen a band of squirrels carrying the following objects to their (magical) dens: muffin, banana, full ice cream cone. I heard a rumor once that one was caught and made to wear a mini-ND t-shirt during a home football game.
The good news is, they’re friendly and socially well-adjusted, like most everyone at Notre Dame.
Maxx - Frankfort, IL
Would it be possible to complete a communications major in conjunction with a finance major? Also, because this would be a dual-degree program, how many years would this take me to complete?
ND Admissions
Hi Maxx,
While we do not have a specific major in Communications, you have the option to take classes relevant to your interests in the College of Arts and Letters. Your First Year advisor can provide more information about course options when you arrive in the fall.
colin - fort worth, tx
Coming from Texas, just how much of an adjustment will the weather be? When does the snow start and when does it stop?
ND Admissions
The first time you experience a South Bend winter, you will surely get a pretty good shock to the system. The weird thing is you will quickly become acclimated to the cold, so that when the temperature increases by only a few degrees (say, from 15 degrees to 25 degrees) it will feel like a heat wave. The key is to layer your clothing. There is so much going on here, and we are so busy with school work and campus activities, that the weather becomes a non-factor. You will get used to the crazy midwestern weather soon enough. The first snow usually comes in November, and the final snow usually happens in March. The last few years, we really have not had too much snow.
