Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Catholic with degrees from 2 Catholic universities (neither of which I attended BECAUSE they were Catholic), it seems like non-Catholics often overestimate the cohesion & exclusivity among Catholics. Yes, there are few extremist factions within Catholicism, but at ND, BC, Villanova, etc there are no secret handshakes or special privileges. In fact, anybody who would try to establish something like that would be scorned.

Also I Catholic with a degree from a Catholic college, and kids in Catholic schools, and while I don't disagree with what pp says, I don't think it can go with out saying that ND and Villanova are much more traditional Catholic than Georgetown and BC. My own kid has toured and will apply to several Jesuit colleges and zero non-Jesuit colleges.
But if OP's kid feels a connection with ND, then good for both of them.

Wow, you seem very close minded. You need to get over the Jesuit thing. There isn't much difference between the vibe at ND and BC. You eliminate a top 20 Catholic university because it isn't Jesuit? Your poor kid.

Save your faux pity. DS eliminated ND & Villanova because he felt they were too traditionally Catholic, too close-minded, and not aligned with his personal values. He felt very comfortable at BC and felt he could fit right in. It's his decision making process. Kids have eliminated schools for all sorts of reasons. Notre Dame will do just fine. As I said, if op's kid feels that connection with ND, then that's a win for both the kid and ND.

Did your kid even visit ND? The campus is much more vast/beautiful than BC and the football much better. My son liked BC though...it was his backup school.

OMG you bet the football's better. Last year ND blew them away 44-0. I watched that game on TV. It was a major white out snowstorm!

OMG indeed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Catholic with degrees from 2 Catholic universities (neither of which I attended BECAUSE they were Catholic), it seems like non-Catholics often overestimate the cohesion & exclusivity among Catholics. Yes, there are few extremist factions within Catholicism, but at ND, BC, Villanova, etc there are no secret handshakes or special privileges. In fact, anybody who would try to establish something like that would be scorned.

Also I Catholic with a degree from a Catholic college, and kids in Catholic schools, and while I don't disagree with what pp says, I don't think it can go with out saying that ND and Villanova are much more traditional Catholic than Georgetown and BC. My own kid has toured and will apply to several Jesuit colleges and zero non-Jesuit colleges.
But if OP's kid feels a connection with ND, then good for both of them.

Wow, you seem very close minded. You need to get over the Jesuit thing. There isn't much difference between the vibe at ND and BC. You eliminate a top 20 Catholic university because it isn't Jesuit? Your poor kid.

Save your faux pity. DS eliminated ND & Villanova because he felt they were too traditionally Catholic, too close-minded, and not aligned with his personal values. He felt very comfortable at BC and felt he could fit right in. It's his decision making process. Kids have eliminated schools for all sorts of reasons. Notre Dame will do just fine. As I said, if op's kid feels that connection with ND, then that's a win for both the kid and ND.

Did your kid even visit ND? The campus is much more vast/beautiful than BC and the football much better. My son liked BC though...it was his backup school.

OMG you bet the football's better. Last year ND blew them away 44-0. I watched that game on TV. It was a major white out snowstorm!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Catholic with degrees from 2 Catholic universities (neither of which I attended BECAUSE they were Catholic), it seems like non-Catholics often overestimate the cohesion & exclusivity among Catholics. Yes, there are few extremist factions within Catholicism, but at ND, BC, Villanova, etc there are no secret handshakes or special privileges. In fact, anybody who would try to establish something like that would be scorned.

Also I Catholic with a degree from a Catholic college, and kids in Catholic schools, and while I don't disagree with what pp says, I don't think it can go with out saying that ND and Villanova are much more traditional Catholic than Georgetown and BC. My own kid has toured and will apply to several Jesuit colleges and zero non-Jesuit colleges.
But if OP's kid feels a connection with ND, then good for both of them.

Wow, you seem very close minded. You need to get over the Jesuit thing. There isn't much difference between the vibe at ND and BC. You eliminate a top 20 Catholic university because it isn't Jesuit? Your poor kid.

Save your faux pity. DS eliminated ND & Villanova because he felt they were too traditionally Catholic, too close-minded, and not aligned with his personal values. He felt very comfortable at BC and felt he could fit right in. It's his decision making process. Kids have eliminated schools for all sorts of reasons. Notre Dame will do just fine. As I said, if op's kid feels that connection with ND, then that's a win for both the kid and ND.

Did your kid even visit ND? The campus is much more vast/beautiful than BC and the football much better. My son liked BC though...it was his backup school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Catholic with degrees from 2 Catholic universities (neither of which I attended BECAUSE they were Catholic), it seems like non-Catholics often overestimate the cohesion & exclusivity among Catholics. Yes, there are few extremist factions within Catholicism, but at ND, BC, Villanova, etc there are no secret handshakes or special privileges. In fact, anybody who would try to establish something like that would be scorned.

Also I Catholic with a degree from a Catholic college, and kids in Catholic schools, and while I don't disagree with what pp says, I don't think it can go with out saying that ND and Villanova are much more traditional Catholic than Georgetown and BC. My own kid has toured and will apply to several Jesuit colleges and zero non-Jesuit colleges.
But if OP's kid feels a connection with ND, then good for both of them.

Wow, you seem very close minded. You need to get over the Jesuit thing. There isn't much difference between the vibe at ND and BC. You eliminate a top 20 Catholic university because it isn't Jesuit? Your poor kid.

Save your faux pity. DS eliminated ND & Villanova because he felt they were too traditionally Catholic, too close-minded, and not aligned with his personal values. He felt very comfortable at BC and felt he could fit right in. It's his decision making process. Kids have eliminated schools for all sorts of reasons. Notre Dame will do just fine. As I said, if op's kid feels that connection with ND, then that's a win for both the kid and ND.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a Catholic with degrees from 2 Catholic universities (neither of which I attended BECAUSE they were Catholic), it seems like non-Catholics often overestimate the cohesion & exclusivity among Catholics. Yes, there are few extremist factions within Catholicism, but at ND, BC, Villanova, etc there are no secret handshakes or special privileges. In fact, anybody who would try to establish something like that would be scorned.

Also I Catholic with a degree from a Catholic college, and kids in Catholic schools, and while I don't disagree with what pp says, I don't think it can go with out saying that ND and Villanova are much more traditional Catholic than Georgetown and BC. My own kid has toured and will apply to several Jesuit colleges and zero non-Jesuit colleges.
But if OP's kid feels a connection with ND, then good for both of them.

Wow, you seem very close minded. You need to get over the Jesuit thing. There isn't much difference between the vibe at ND and BC. You eliminate a top 20 Catholic university because it isn't Jesuit? Your poor kid.

No disagreement that some Catholic colleges are more traditional than others. I just don’t think that translates into the more-traditional schools being less-accepting of non-Catholics.

Anonymous wrote:As a Catholic with degrees from 2 Catholic universities (neither of which I attended BECAUSE they were Catholic), it seems like non-Catholics often overestimate the cohesion & exclusivity among Catholics. Yes, there are few extremist factions within Catholicism, but at ND, BC, Villanova, etc there are no secret handshakes or special privileges. In fact, anybody who would try to establish something like that would be scorned.

Also I Catholic with a degree from a Catholic college, and kids in Catholic schools, and while I don't disagree with what pp says, I don't think it can go with out saying that ND and Villanova are much more traditional Catholic than Georgetown and BC. My own kid has toured and will apply to several Jesuit colleges and zero non-Jesuit colleges.
But if OP's kid feels a connection with ND, then good for both of them.

As a Catholic with degrees from 2 Catholic universities (neither of which I attended BECAUSE they were Catholic), it seems like non-Catholics often overestimate the cohesion & exclusivity among Catholics. Yes, there are few extremist factions within Catholicism, but at ND, BC, Villanova, etc there are no secret handshakes or special privileges. In fact, anybody who would try to establish something like that would be scorned.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the above comments very helpful. Yeah I know it’s tough to get in, just wanted to make sure it would be a welcoming environment in the event he does. He actually is service oriented and is interested to explore faith (we are atheists but see value in exploring faith and no issue with the path he takes so long as he is happy and productive). Never considered ND before, but we stopped on way back from seeing schools in the west coast and it just clicked for him.

I think if he emphasizes this willingness to explore in his essays, that will help.

My non-Catholic Asian kid (rising sophomore) is doing great.
The school definitely has Catholic culture, but if you are open minded and not an avid anti-Catholic, anti-religion, or an atheist, you'll be fine.
As any other school, there are Asian student organizations.
My kid felt little out of place at first, but then soon begin to love the school.
Great education and opportunities, that's what mattered the most at the end of the day.

Thanks for the above comments very helpful. Yeah I know it’s tough to get in, just wanted to make sure it would be a welcoming environment in the event he does. He actually is service oriented and is interested to explore faith (we are atheists but see value in exploring faith and no issue with the path he takes so long as he is happy and productive). Never considered ND before, but we stopped on way back from seeing schools in the west coast and it just clicked for him.

Asians are definitely less prevalent at ND than at many of the other competitive schools, but I believe it would be a very welcoming environment from that perspective. When I was there (ages ago) there was a very active AAPI club. My roommate was heavily involved in it, so I had more exposure to it than most students, but it seemed like a really supportive, tight knit group that was also very well integrated into the rest of campus. (They had a luau each year thrown by several Hawaiian students that was **amazing!**)

As for non-Catholic, that's really a personal decision. ND is a very outwardly Catholic school. Opening ceremonies, Junior parents weekend, graduation are all in the context of masses.
No one will bat an eye or care at all if your family doesn't receive communion, but there will certainly be an expectation that you sit respectfully through mass probably at least a few times per year.
And she'll certainly be invited to Sunday night dorm mass, etc. No one will care at all if you say "no thanks!" but you shouldn't be upset at being asked.
So if you're OK with all of that, I think it can be a fantastic place! And I think you'll find that whatever your family's beliefs are will be respected and encouraged as well.

Anonymous wrote:My rising senior, a non-Catholic Asian, loves the school. He has the profile to have a ok chance of admission (yes we know how difficult it is to get accepted). Any experience of non-religious and/or Asians at the school that can be shared?

It's not easy for anyone to get in, but honestly, being outside the box might give him an edge.

DCUM loves to bash Notre Dame. But honestly, they cultivate diversity of thought. Mass is available multiple times per weekend and always encouraged, but plenty of kids don't go to church at all.

Private or public? Do kids from his high school have a record of being accepted there? My kids high school never sends kids to Notre Dame so it’s virtually impossible for us. Check Naviance.

My rising senior, a non-Catholic Asian, loves the school. He has the profile to have a ok chance of admission (yes we know how difficult it is to get accepted). Any experience of non-religious and/or Asians at the school that can be shared?