Notre Dame from non-Catholic/ non-feeder school: TO? other advice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ND is 80-82% Catholic, which makes me think “why would a non-Catholic want to attend there when there are 3,000+ institutions of higher learning in the U.S.?” But, after reading this story in The Observer, I would never send a non-Catholic there. https://www.ndsmcobserver.com/article/2024/04/a-transfer-students-thoughts-on-notre-dame-students

Nice job google...you found an article that helped justify this PPs opinion of ND. Google is amazing.

[Anonymous]

^Holy Cross is easier for admission-good back up for ND:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^Holy Cross is easier for admission-good back up for ND:

ND is a mid-sized T20 university. Holy Cross is small and doesn't have real football (despite what Patriot League enthusiasts say).

If "Catholic" is a really high criteria on your list, than most kids go Notre Dame > Georgetown > Boston College > Villanova/ Holy Cross/ Fordham.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why ND if not Catholic? You'll be an oddity. More than 80% of the student body is Catholic.

Maybe they are having a calling to faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why ND if not Catholic? You'll be an oddity. More than 80% of the student body is Catholic.

2/3 of the US population identifies as Christian. If the OP’s kid is Christian it’s fine. In fact, it wouldn’t even matter if OP’s kid were a practicing Muslim. To “fit in” at Notre Dame, you have to be comfortable being around religion. I wouldn’t recommend it to an atheist but other than that you’re good.

Notre Same is very Catholic.

A non catholic, secular school like Georgetown with small remaining vestiges of their catholic history from the last century might fit better in this case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why ND if not Catholic? You'll be an oddity. More than 80% of the student body is Catholic.

2/3 of the US population identifies as Christian. If the OP’s kid is Christian it’s fine. In fact, it wouldn’t even matter if OP’s kid were a practicing Muslim. To “fit in” at Notre Dame, you have to be comfortable being around religion. I wouldn’t recommend it to an atheist but other than that you’re good.

Notre Dame is very Catholic.

A non catholic, secular school like Georgetown with small remaining vestiges of their catholic history from the last century might fit better in this case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^Holy Cross is easier for admission-good back up for ND:

ND is a mid-sized T20 university. Holy Cross is small and doesn't have real football (despite what Patriot League enthusiasts say).

If "Catholic" is a really high criteria on your list, than most kids go Notre Dame > Georgetown > Boston College > Villanova/ Holy Cross/ Fordham.

Georgetown is not on the high criteria Catholic list.

Georgetown is mostly secular and openly rejects Catholicism in many cases (go on a campus tour, for example, and they will openly tell you they are not really Catholic any more.)

Georgetown is a strong secular school, but it can't really hold a spot for Catholic universities in that list of schools.

For people looking for Catholic schools at this point in time, the list is more like:

Notre Dame > Villanova (pope bonus points) > Boston College > Holy Cross > Loyola???

[Anonymous]

I have some experience with ND through several family members and a chat with a close friend in admissions at a Catholic school. My kid strongly considered it after admit day.

I am not Catholic, my opinion, a non-religious person can be very comfortable there as long as they are not bothered by seeing religious icons all over campus. Many of the students are Catholics in name only and I do believe the school wants to add diversity, but it can only accept those who apply.

I would submit score and I would emphasize service, leadership, using whatever kids "gifts" are in service to others or making world better. They care about educating the whole person. You can absolutely like that sentiment (I do) without putting a religious twist on it...more of a be a good human outlook.

People are free to disagree, but I am not interested in engaging on my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ND is a fantastic school but South Bend has long winters. Might look at Holy Cross in Massachusetts, similar vibe as ND but easier to get into.

More of a “gamble,” but there is a Holy Cross near ND with at least two formal transfer programs.

The first, Gateway, is a deferred admission, of sorts, to ND with one year at Holy Cross. Applicants to ND cannot identify/volunteer for this program.

The second is the Driscoll dual degree: https://www.hcc-nd.edu/driscoll-dual-degree/

If neither one of those two are offered, there appears to be a high frequency of transfers from HC to ND. One thread of note: https://www.reddit.com/r/notredame/comments/17gni09/how_does_transfer_from_holy_cross_work/

[Anonymous]

Test optional at ND is for athletes and FGLI.

It’s a very tough admit. The REA scheme confers no advantage, in fact the odds are worse than RD for non recruited students. Sacrificing ED elsewhere shouldn’t be done lightly. Also, it’s an open secret that even the much touted legacy hook no longer matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why ND if not Catholic? You'll be an oddity. More than 80% of the student body is Catholic.

2/3 of the US population identifies as Christian. If the OP’s kid is Christian it’s fine. In fact, it wouldn’t even matter if OP’s kid were a practicing Muslim. To “fit in” at Notre Dame, you have to be comfortable being around religion. I wouldn’t recommend it to an atheist but other than that you’re good.

Notre Same is very Catholic.

A non catholic, secular school like Georgetown with small remaining vestiges of their catholic history from the last century might fit better in this case.

I went to Notre Dame. As I’ve said before, if you’re not anti-religion you’re fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Test optional at ND is for athletes and FGLI.

It’s a very tough admit. The REA scheme confers no advantage, in fact the odds are worse than RD for non recruited students. Sacrificing ED elsewhere shouldn’t be done lightly. Also, it’s an open secret that even the much touted legacy hook no longer matters.

This is not accurate information. Many top students from feeder schools getting in REA.

[Anonymous]

If your kid is not from a feeder catholic school…then they need to have ivy level stats or some big hook to make it in. It’s a really tough admit.

My legacy kid was rejected with a 35 ACT this past cycle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is not from a feeder catholic school…then they need to have ivy level stats or some big hook to make it in. It’s a really tough admit.

My legacy kid was rejected with a 35 ACT this past cycle.

Really? Coming out of what HS? Public? Catholic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is not from a feeder catholic school…then they need to have ivy level stats or some big hook to make it in. It’s a really tough admit.

My legacy kid was rejected with a 35 ACT this past cycle.

Wow that's tough. Hope he ended up someplace he loves. This process stinks.