Chats » Prospective Student Chat 2008/2009

The submission portion of our online chat for Prospective Students is now closed. Answers will continue to be posted by our Admissions Staff until all questions have been addressed. Thank you all for your excitement and participation. We are excited about your interest in Notre Dame! For further clarification on any of these questions, or if new questions should arise, please do not hesitate to reference our website at admissions.nd.edu or contact our office via email (admissions@nd.edu) or telephone (574-631-7505).


Maria - Nashville, TN

If I am required to take the TOEFL, does that mean that the TOEFL replaces the ACT, because I already took it once and I paid for another on on the 25th of October?

ND Admissions

No, the TOEFL does not replace the ACT or SAT-I. The TOEFL is only required by the University of Notre Dame if you score below a 600 on the Critical Reading portion of the SAT-I or a 28 on the English portion of the ACT.

Enzo - La Paz,

Hello, and thank you for this opportunity to learn more about ND. I want to study, and Notre Dame is one of my top university choices; however, I am concerned with just how much financial aid I can get, given that I a citizen of Bolivia and money is a big issue for me.

ND Admissions

We currently offer need-based international financial aid awards ranging from 10% to 90% of the four year cost of attendance for the University of Notre Dame.

Mike - West Hartford, CT

Thanks for your previous response earlier. You mentioned the 5 year program for an engineering degree and an MBA. What would I have to do to register for the program?

ND Admissions

You would apply for the 5 year Engineering & MBA program once you are a Junior at the University of Notre Dame.

Brittany - Leesville, LA

About how many students are involved in the ROTC program?

ND Admissions

We currently have 55 first year students in the ROTC program at Notre Dame.

Mengzhou - Shenzhen, China

Hi ND Admissions: Several days ago,ND Adimissions officer for international student went to our school---Shenzhen Middle School,and held an interview.How did you feel about the student who participated in that interview ?

ND Admissions

We thought the students did an amazing job, were very impressive and definitely look forward to evaluating their applications!

Manuel - Santo Domingo, DR

Are there any Dominicans currently enrolled in Notre Dame

ND Admissions

We currently have 2 students from the Dominican Republic enrolled at the University of Notre Dame.

Miguel - Mexico City, DF

Is it true that Notre Dame awards full scholarships to outstanding Mexican students?

ND Admissions

Our international financial aid awards are all need-based and range from covering 10% to 90% of the four year cost of attendance. There are no specific financial aid awards by country or region, rather you would compete with all of the other international students pursuing an international financial aid award.

Miguel - Mexico City, DF

What kinds of organizations are available for international students?

ND Admissions

There is a department called the International Student Services & Activities office that caters specifically to international students.

Bianca - Ft. Wayne, IN

Considering the proportion of African Americans that attend Notre Dame is only 4.6%, does the university wish to increase this proportion every year?

ND Admissions

Yes! Notre Dame wants to increase ethnic diversity on campus and we are always searching for more academically talented African Americans that would benefit from the Notre Dame experience!

Cip - Kenosha, WI

I attend a charter school. This school is divided into four academies, and I am in the Biotech house, which features many specialized science courses. Does this make any difference - good or bad- in my potential admission?

ND Admissions

Not necessarily. As long as you’ve fulfilled our minimum course requirements (4 units of English, 3 units of Math, etc.), then all we ask is that you excel in the program in which you’ve studied.

David Howe - Roswell, GA

How can I make myself know to the swim coaches at ND?

ND Admissions

Email associate head coach, Matt Tallman at tallman.2@nd.edu

Anthony - Lafayette, IN

I want to apply for regular action, but do I need to wait for the early action deadline before submitting or can I submit it whenver I get it finished?

ND Admissions

Just submit it whenever you feel that you cannot improve it any more. If you’d like to be considered in the Regular Action process, then just check the the “Regular Action” box on the application.

Julian - Dobbs Ferry, NY

Does Notre Dame have its own television station and if so how popular is it with students?

ND Admissions

Yes, we do…and yes it is.

Julian - Dobbs Ferry, NY

Are internships an important part of education at Notre Dame?

ND Admissions

Absolutely. Our career center has a database of 18,000 internships for which our students are encouraged to apply.

Regina - West Springfield, MA

I'm doing very well my senior year, but my guidance counselor told me that I won't be able to send in my latest grades by the application deadline. If I apply Regular Decision, would the Admissions Staff wait to recieve my semester 1 grades (mid-January) before making a decision?

ND Admissions

Absolutely

Whit - Jackson, MS

What is the approximate number of undergraduates who are in the business school at Notre Dame?

ND Admissions

approximately 1,600

Alexandra - Walnut Creek, CA

How difficult is it to schedule courses at Notre Dame? Is there a lot of competition to be accepted into a class?

ND Admissions

That usually depends on a lot of factors: is the class required for your major or an elective course? If it’s an elective course, is it in high demand? And are you a freshman or a senior? You’ll never have a problem getting into a class that’s required for your major. However, if you get stuck in a situation where you’re a freshman, trying to register for the most highly sought-after elective course on campus, then you probably won’t get a spot. Seniors get to register first, then juniors, then sophomores, and finally freshmen. I hope that this is helpful!

Arlene - Minneapolis, MN

Which state do most ND students come from?

ND Admissions

Students from Illinois comprise the highest percentage of our undergraduates from any one state.

Janae - Charlotte, NC

Can you describe the joint education program Notre Dame offers with St. Mary's College? Approximately how many study abroad programs does Notre Dame offer in Spain?

ND Admissions

Hi Janae,

Notre Dame students interested in receiving their teaching license need to overload on their classes each year, and depending on major requirements, may need to take summer classes at St. Mary’s. You can refer to the St. Mary’s website to learn more about the education supplemental major.

We have summer and semester programs inToledo, Spain. For a complete list of majors, please consult our website

Brennan - Bronxville, NY

As a Catholic, I am interested in how active a role faith plays at Notre Dame. Can you elaborate on it for me? Thanks a lot!

ND Admissions

Hi Brennan,

We are proud of our Catholic identity and there definitely is a presence of spirituality throughout campus. Approximately 85% of our student body is Catholic. With that said however, we encourage the practice of “catholic” in the lowercase sense of the word, which means “universal”. We are open and welcoming to students of all faiths, whether it be Catholic, Christian, Non-Christian, etc.

There are many opportunities for students to participate in and practice their faith, whether it be through masses in the dorms or the Basilica, through faith-sharing groups, or through retreats offered by our Office of Campus Ministry. For students of other Christian denominations, the Office of Campus Ministry will provide free transportation to masses or services in parishes and churches off-campus. There are also faith-sharing groups such as Iron Sharpens Iron, Theology on Tap, Emmaus, etc.

The spirituality is one characteristic that makes Notre Dame unique. While we are proud of our faith, we truly encourage our students to follow and grow deeper in their own faith journey, whatever it may be. Additionally, while Catholicism defines who we are and is taught in our classrooms, we ensure that students are gaining a broad knowledge of various faiths so that they are able to learn about different perspectives.

All students are welcome to participate in as many or as few activities as they feel comfortable. Yes, we are primarily a Catholic student body. Even if a student is non-Catholic however, he or she does not feel left out. The opportunity for growth is here, but you are not required to partake in anything. Your spiritual experience is truly what you make of it while here on campus.

Kelly - Las Vegas, NV

Notre Dame is my dream school! I would want nothing more than to attend Notre Dame next fall! If I do not get in as a freshman are there any options to be offered like admission my soph. year if I maintain a certain GPA or is there spring semester acceptance? Im just wondering because I know someone that is going to an Ivy League school as a sophmore if he maintains a certain average at a community college.

ND Admissions

It is possible to transfer to Notre Dame after spending at least 1 full year at another college or university. Look for details on the Transfer Process to learn how to be a competitive applicant.

Carolyn - Lyons, IL

What do the majority of students with a Psychology degree go on to do after graduation? Do you have any opportunities available for Psych. majors during and after graduation? Thank you.

ND Admissions

Psychology Post Graduate Plans cites specific examples of where psychology students go after graduation. Of the 2007 graduating class, 34% had full time jobs in places like the National Institute of Health, Google, and the Youth Leadership Foundation; 43% of graduates went on to graduate school in programs including clinical psychology, nursing, public health, and social work; 19% are in service programs like Teach for America, ACE, and AmeriCorps.

Notre Dame offers Doctoral Programs in Cognitive, Counseling, Developmental, and Quantitative Psychology.

Rachel - Ozark, MO

Can you submit poetry (or other creative writing) for review in your application? I guess it's kind of like music submissions or art portfolios. If so, would serious blogs count as well?

ND Admissions

Hi Rachel-

Thanks for your question. You may submit your poetry samples if you’d like. Choose 2-3 pieces that you think are your best work and send them along.

Gerard - Singapore, Singapore

Hi, I've a few questions: What are the big Catholic feastdays that are celebrated on campus and how? Easter? St. Pat's? What are the highlights of the Lenten season on Campus? Pentecost? Are there Catholic Charismatic Renewal groups and prayer meets on campus? I lead praise and worship for my church at youth events, are there many opportunities to do so at ND? For intramurals, I've never played American Football before, do hall teams conduct training sessions to help beginners learn or is it highly competitive and its done by tryouts? My house in school has the Orca as its mascot, do any halls in ND have the Orca as their mascot. Thanks for your answers in advance Gerard

ND Admissions

Hi Gerard,

One of the best parts of Notre Dame is its openness to spirituality. In fact, all Catholic feast days are celebrated on campus in some way. There is daily mass in the Basilica and in some of the residence halls. We have the opportunity to gather as a community for mass throughout the year – for the opening of the school year, every Sunday, and of course, during major Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Our Office of Campus Ministry provides students with opportunities to attend retreats or to join faith-sharing groups. Spirituality and faith are not forced upon our students, however we hope that they will grow deeper in their faith journeys during their time here at Notre Dame.

To answer your question about interhall sports – all students are encouraged to participate in their dorm activities. Many students played a varsity sport in high school, so the teams can be fairly competitive. Regardless of your background in the sport, all members of the dorm are invited to participate in the interhall sports. While each dorm does have its own mascot, the Orca is not one of them.

Onome - Scottsdale, AZ

You said that For US citizens, the Office of Financial Aid will meet 100%. I am a permanent resident, does that mean that all my need won't be met?

ND Admissions

Hi Onome,

We meet 100% of the need for citizens AND permanent residents!

Gaby - El Salvador, ES

What percentage of the alumni is international?

ND Admissions

Gaby, to be honest with you, I’m not sure how many of our alumni are international. I can tell you that right now, our international undergraduate population is around 4%, though the percent of graduate students who are international is quite higher. We have over 260 alumni clubs, 50 of which are internationally based!

Gaby - El Salvador,

Do you celebrate international holidays?

ND Admissions

Hi Gaby,

There are a number of international and cultural clubs and organizations on campus that put together a wide variety of activities to celebrate different holidays and events. There are also two “international weeks” during each school year, where a number of events will focus specifically on international issues and cultures.

michelle - sudbury, ontario

do international students have to take the SAT? are there different application dates for international students?

ND Admissions

Hi Michelle,

Yes, all students, whether international or not, have to submit either the SAT or ACT as part of their application. In addition, the deadlines are the same for everyone: November 1 for Early Action and December 31 for Regular Action.

Good luck!

Ben - Tyler, TX

If you do not bring a car to Notre Dame, is there a school transportation system? Also, how is the public transportation in South Bend?

ND Admissions

Absolutely. ND students can ride the city bus system (TRANSPO. Look like trolleys and run through campus 10-12 times a day) for free with their student ID. Also, cabs are only $2 per person each way, and you will know PLENTY of other students (including your RA) who have cars that you can borrow or bum a ride.

Jillian - Alton, NH

Because Notre Dame leans towards the conservative side, would a liberal, such as myself, fit in there?

ND Admissions

Absolutely: http://www.nd.edu/~cdems/

Gina - Colorado Springs, CO

Does having an ROTC scholarship increase your chances of getting accepted?

ND Admissions

Nope…sorry!

Louis - Cibolo, TX

Will a Religion teacher's recommendation have the same weight as a Math teacher's and do you look for work ethic or more personal charactaristics in your teacher recs.?

ND Admissions

We require that the teacher recommendation come from a teacher in a core course (math, science, english, history or foreign language)...and we look for both of those qualities to be touched upon.

Meredith - Myrtle Beach, SC

Is archery offered at ND, either as an intermural sport or as a physical education class?

ND Admissions

Unfortunately not :(

Patrick - Center Valley, PA

What kind of facilities are provided in the new engineering building? Are they specifically tailored for one major or do they encompass all engineering majors?

ND Admissions

They will encompass all of our engineering majors in world-class fashion.

Meredith - Myrtle Beach, SC

Does ND have a club/organization for Episcopalian students? (ie- Cantebury Club)

ND Admissions

http://sao.nd.edu/studentgroups/listing/index.shtml

James - Basking Ridge, NJ

On your website is states "... students typically remain in the same dormitory for their entire time on campus..." I was wondering why Notre Dame does this?

ND Admissions

Notre Dame does not do this. The students CHOOSE to do this. Your dorm community will become your brotherhood/sisterhood while on campus. However, if for some reason you are not happy, you are more than welcome to move to a different dorm if space is available.

Meredith - Myrtle Beach, SC

I have very severe allergies. In the application, should I include a letter from my allergist explaining my situation for housing purposes?

ND Admissions

No, you can include that in your housing reservation if admitted

Alexandra - Colts Neck, NJ

I am currently attending a school with an IB program. Does Notre Dame accept IB credits?Is there a place where I can look up the scores I would need to receive on my IB exams in order for Notre Dame to give me credit?

ND Admissions

http://fys.nd.edu/creditbyexam.html

Kathryn - Northport, NY

Where can I get more information about the Notre Dame marching band?

ND Admissions

http://www.nd.edu/~ndband/

Meredith - Myrtle Beach, SC

I know students are not able to change their major to engineering, but are engineering students able to change the specific type of engineer they want to major in, once classes have already started?

ND Admissions

Absolutely. And students ARE allowed to change their major to engineering. They will just have to play catch-up.