Notre Dame extracurriculars

[Anonymous]

For those that have had kids admitted, what type of extracurricular do you think were helpful?

[Anonymous]

Marching band for one friend, but I also know kids admitted who didn't really have any. Just good smart kids engaged in the usual high school activities: played a sport but not a star, played an instrument but not first chair, active in theatre but not the lead, the required service work, etc.

[Anonymous]

If you’re catholic, involvement in parish life, particularly service-related stuff, looks GREAT. Even if you’re not catholic, volunteering/service is super important. ND cares about it immensely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re catholic, involvement in parish life, particularly service-related stuff, looks GREAT. Even if you’re not catholic, volunteering/service is super important. ND cares about it immensely.

I will second that - altar server, lector, parish/youth group council. Graduating from a Catholic high school probably gets you some boost too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re catholic, involvement in parish life, particularly service-related stuff, looks GREAT. Even if you’re not catholic, volunteering/service is super important. ND cares about it immensely.

I will second that - altar server, lector, parish/youth group council. Graduating from a Catholic high school probably gets you some boost too.

About 38% come from Catholic high schools.

[Anonymous]

DD was accepted this past year. Public high school, no band, no varsity sports, no demonstration of catholic-based activities. She was active in STEM-related clubs in HS because she is pursuing a STEM major, but I don't think that did anything to boost her application. She was, however, very committed to volunteering for a community-based organization (all four years of HS). She was also able to demonstrate some service that she plans to continue in college...I believe these two things did help. I think service is the most important thing to ND ...it's huge! They are very open about it and push the "force for good."

Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re catholic, involvement in parish life, particularly service-related stuff, looks GREAT. Even if you’re not catholic, volunteering/service is super important. ND cares about it immensely.

I will second that - altar server, lector, parish/youth group council. Graduating from a Catholic high school probably gets you some boost too.

About 38% come from Catholic high schools.

However, there are many, many Catholic schools in the D.C. area. Other areas of the country may have fewer. I would love to know the Catholic/private/public school breakdown of acceptances from the Washington, D.C. area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD was accepted this past year. Public high school, no band, no varsity sports, no demonstration of catholic-based activities. She was active in STEM-related clubs in HS because she is pursuing a STEM major, but I don't think that did anything to boost her application. She was, however, very committed to volunteering for a community-based organization (all four years of HS). She was also able to demonstrate some service that she plans to continue in college...I believe these two things did help. I think service is the most important thing to ND ...it's huge! They are very open about it and push the "force for good."

Best of luck!

They shoot for 80-85% of the undergraduates as Catholics, plus 50% of the faculty. Would the former be you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD was accepted this past year. Public high school, no band, no varsity sports, no demonstration of catholic-based activities. She was active in STEM-related clubs in HS because she is pursuing a STEM major, but I don't think that did anything to boost her application. She was, however, very committed to volunteering for a community-based organization (all four years of HS). She was also able to demonstrate some service that she plans to continue in college...I believe these two things did help. I think service is the most important thing to ND ...it's huge! They are very open about it and push the "force for good."

Best of luck!

I'm an ND alum, and this sounds right. There is no magic formula - but they want kids who have demonstrated a commitment to others and to making the world a better place (in an age appropriate way - no need to start a fake charity in Africa or go on a mission trip to another continent to paint walls or whatever.) Your kid should do extracurriculars that they find exciting and they should do something to contribute to their community.

[Anonymous]

MY DC is interested in ND because of the strong school spirit and academics. But we are not Catholic. In fact, we are not even Christian. For people familiar with ND, are the kids there very religious? DC is very social and get along easily with kids but I don't know how that would work socially if the other kids were much more religious. Or maybe its not an issue at all. Would love people's feedback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MY DC is interested in ND because of the strong school spirit and academics. But we are not Catholic. In fact, we are not even Christian. For people familiar with ND, are the kids there very religious? DC is very social and get along easily with kids but I don't know how that would work socially if the other kids were much more religious. Or maybe its not an issue at all. Would love people's feedback.

On one hand, it's very ecumenical -- they are taught about all faiths, encouraged to think critically, and certainly the environment is warm and welcoming.

That said, it's pretty Catholic! There are multiple places to go to Mass and many different Mass times. I think it probably has a much higher percentage of students who attend Mass than most other colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MY DC is interested in ND because of the strong school spirit and academics. But we are not Catholic. In fact, we are not even Christian. For people familiar with ND, are the kids there very religious? DC is very social and get along easily with kids but I don't know how that would work socially if the other kids were much more religious. Or maybe its not an issue at all. Would love people's feedback.

On one hand, it's very ecumenical -- they are taught about all faiths, encouraged to think critically, and certainly the environment is warm and welcoming.

That said, it's pretty Catholic! There are multiple places to go to Mass and many different Mass times. I think it probably has a much higher percentage of students who attend Mass than most other colleges.

This. I went to Notre Dame, and I like to say that you don’t need to be catholic to go there, but you DO need to be OK with Catholicism and being around lots of Catholics.

[Anonymous]

My older one went to BYU (non LDS)? Would it be similar at ND?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My older one went to BYU (non LDS)? Would it be similar at ND?

No, not remotely the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My older one went to BYU (non LDS)? Would it be similar at ND?

You can drink caffeine at ND!