Anonymous wrote:Could anyone speak to how it’s evolved for girls? When I was in HS in the late 90s, I knew a wide variety of boys who went there, but the girls who matriculated were a very specific of the Catholic girls I grew up with.

It felt like you had to fit into a specific box as a girl to make ND work or be an athlete. I would love to know if it’s evolved and/or if that’s just a feature of the school, not a bug.

I don't know what you're trying to say.

PP here whose husband went. His female friends are all very bright. One jock, most didn't play sports. They probably skewed a little bookish. I would say they're traditional in that everyone got married and had two or three kids. Some are liberal, some more conservative.

REA is tough. Confers no advantage and takes away a powerful ED choice in the process.

Could anyone speak to how it’s evolved for girls? When I was in HS in the late 90s, I knew a wide variety of boys who went there, but the girls who matriculated were a very specific of the Catholic girls I grew up with.

It felt like you had to fit into a specific box as a girl to make ND work or be an athlete. I would love to know if it’s evolved and/or if that’s just a feature of the school, not a bug.

Notre Dame does not have ED.

The dorm life is great. One thing I loved about ND was dorms have students from all four grades. The first week, they held dorm info sessions related to majors. Dorm seniors spoke to freshman about guidance, classes to definitely take, great profs, scheduling strategies, etc. They immediately feel a part of a group without rush nonsense. Each dorm has a rector and we found the rector to be a great resource.

Religion is what you want it to be. Every dorm has Mass. no one has to go. A lot of kids like going to a Sunday night dorm Mass. it’s casual, quick, and kids felt it set them up for the week ahead. Also, some never went. Totally fine too.

The town concept is kind of irrelevant. Kids hardly ever went to downtown South Bend. Everything they wanted to do was within 5 mins including off-campus senior housing. Some would do a weekend (2 hr) trip to Chicago.

REA is so much better than ED. Allows you to keep other options open. I wish more schools did it.

Notre Dame won’t do anything unless they can do it right. That goes for academic departments, sports teams, etc. They were fully committed to having students on campus in fall 2020 when others didn’t and they worked hard to be able to offer the best campus experience they could. If they start a program, they will recruit top faculty.

Weather will be beautiful some days, cold and damp and gray a lot more.

The alumni network is crazy. You need anything, find the local alumni network and ask. Someone will know someone who will drop what they are doing to help.

Though I am a UChicago grad (and loved it), I frequently recommend Notre Dame on Reddit forums to parents/students especially if they have need based aid requirements. With its huge endowment of $18 billion, ND is need blind for all applicants both freshmen and transfers including internationals. And their financial aid is all grant (i.e. no loans). That is a rarity.

Anonymous wrote:My DS was accepted this last cycle. Did the admitted student days in April. Unfortunately the weather was freezing and gray. He enjoyed it nevertheless and they did a good job with it. He chose to attend Georgia Tech in the fall for Engineering, however. ND's engineering program is not very highly ranked and did not present the same opportunities program wise.

But, definitely a great school for the right student.

Congrats to your DS! Do you mind sharing some general stats or type of engineering? DD may apply to GT or ND.

My DD just graduated. Loved the dorm life, not the dorm. It is as religious as you want it to be. She did not feel like it was competitive but noticed that her premed friend felt it more than her. She loved the sports aspect and the social life tied to it.

ND grad and I just went back for reunion this month. SB has come a long way. There's a lot more available than when I was an undergrad in close proximity to campus. That said, it's not Ann Arbor, there are only a few bars and it tends to be everyone goes to X bar on Y night.

The dorm system is ND's strength. Like the PP's husband, I am still incredibly close to my roommates. We all just went back for reunion. It was also great having multiple years in the dorm. You make friends with upper classmen and as an upperclassman you look out for the newbies.

As for religion, there are required classes but mass is not required. But a lot of people go. Especially to the dorm mass. In my time, it was a community event. We all went in pajamas and sweats on Sunday nights.

Weather sucks most of the year. It's the midwest. But fall is glorious.

Good luck to your DC. It's a special place for the right people.

Yes, it's not ED, but (restricted) early action.

Good news about that: your DC can apply early, see what other options are and decide after the accepted students events.

Bad news about that: there's no advantage for students applying early. Lots get deferred; only a few of those are accepted EA.

My DC, class of 2029, decided on ND after comparing "The Rally", the accepted students' event, with other accepted student visits. DC chose ND over three arguably more prestigious schools, including one T10, one WASP, and one other T20.

DC was accepted to the Glynn Honors Program, which offers honors students very small core classes (10-15 students) with like-minded nerds plus summer travel funding.

After the visiting days, DC reported that the intellectual opportunities seemed as strong as at her other options, the grad school placements were impressive, and that all current students report that the professors are highly motivated/ focused on UG education.

Just as importantly, DC reported a 'no sharp elbows' environment at ND. Was really impressed by the collaborative and welcoming vibe on campus.

All that said, I was surprised by DC's choice. DC is very ambitious and, though Catholic, not a holy roller.

So those are the early impressions -- can't report more solid data until next fall at the earliest!

I feel like you either know that's a school for you or you know it's not. My kid was one of those in between kids - he said, I could be happy enough here.

I think it's better for boys, but that's just me.

My husband went there in the early 2000s, so I can share his perspective on your questions:

e.g. How academically intense is it?
As much as you want it to be. He was a bit of a partier. His grades were not great, but they were good enough. He felt like the education was very rigorous, but not cutthroat or competitive in any way.

How is it to live in the dorms for three years?
Is it three now? He lived in the same place for all four years. He loved it. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED. He's still best friends with his roommates. His group became close with a group of girls in a nearby dorm. They were in each other's weddings, are godparents to each other's children, etc. Still incredibly close. He would tell you that the housing setup encourages these close bonds.

How's the weather?
Fine. I mean, the midwest has some intense snow storms, but no one goes to ND for the weather.

Religious intensity?
Again, as much as you want it to be. It is very, very easy to go to Mass. They hold Mass in the dorms, and they have them on Sunday evenings as well as mornings.

A lot of kids do some religious and/or social justice clubs. But many kids take a little break from religion, which makes sense seeing as many of them have come from Catholic high schools and often lifelong church attendance.

Things to do in the small town? Etc.)
Not a lot, but they don't care. There's a handful of bars where they would go, but their activities are pretty ND-focused.

My DS was accepted this last cycle. Did the admitted student days in April. Unfortunately the weather was freezing and gray. He enjoyed it nevertheless and they did a good job with it. He chose to attend Georgia Tech in the fall for Engineering, however. ND's engineering program is not very highly ranked and did not present the same opportunities program wise.

But, definitely a great school for the right student.

ND is REA so .. leaves some room open.

My DC thinks they want to ED to Notre Dame. Does anyone have a student who's gone there? Looking for any and all feedback.

(e.g. How academically intense is it? How is it to live in the dorms for three years? How's the weather? Religious intensity? Things to do in the small town? Etc.)
Thanks!