Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ND is a great school. If it weren't so Catholic (80%!) it would be a top choice for my ds. (Dh was raised Catholic but we did not raise the kids religious at all.) Are there other schools you all would suggest for a kid who loves Notre Dame - the strong academics, the sports, the amazing alumni, the dorm culture, the lack of (as someone above put it) sharp elbows, the emphasis on service?

Some might say Vanderbilt, the nearest to ND in rank. But Greek life is important there, so I think the overall vibe is really different.

Usually, when you get very strong academics, you get sharp elbows. I think ND is a real outlier in having one but not the other. Maybe Brown? I hear that's a friendly place, but it's a (somewhat) harder admit, esp. for girls, and it doesn't have big sports.

You're gonna kill me for this, but . . . UVA.

Sorry, but UVA in state is a much easier admit. It's also much bigger, less friendly, and Greek (though not predominantly). Plus, the business school culling in sophomore year doesn't help.

Yeah yeah, we get it -- you're one of the many on here who for some bizarre reason hate UVA. That doesn't change the fact that there are many similarities between the schools. Oh, and "less friendly?" Ok . . .

UVA is a great school, but I don't see a lot in common with ND. ND is Catholic -- VERY Catholic. UVA is public. ND is mid-sized. UVA is a large state school, with mostly VA students. ND has no Greek life. At UVA, Greek institutions are important to the social lives even of non-Greeks.

You could be right that UVA is less known for sharp elbows than many of its peers, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ND is a great school. If it weren't so Catholic (80%!) it would be a top choice for my ds. (Dh was raised Catholic but we did not raise the kids religious at all.) Are there other schools you all would suggest for a kid who loves Notre Dame - the strong academics, the sports, the amazing alumni, the dorm culture, the lack of (as someone above put it) sharp elbows, the emphasis on service?

Some might say Vanderbilt, the nearest to ND in rank. But Greek life is important there, so I think the overall vibe is really different.

Usually, when you get very strong academics, you get sharp elbows. I think ND is a real outlier in having one but not the other. Maybe Brown? I hear that's a friendly place, but it's a (somewhat) harder admit, esp. for girls, and it doesn't have big sports.

You're gonna kill me for this, but . . . UVA.

I've heard premed at ND can be pretty darn competitive.

Have you heard of a selective school with good med school placement that ISN'T super-competitive? Is that a holy grail?

It seemed to be suggested in a few posts. But just as competitive as anywhere else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ND is a great school. If it weren't so Catholic (80%!) it would be a top choice for my ds. (Dh was raised Catholic but we did not raise the kids religious at all.) Are there other schools you all would suggest for a kid who loves Notre Dame - the strong academics, the sports, the amazing alumni, the dorm culture, the lack of (as someone above put it) sharp elbows, the emphasis on service?

Some might say Vanderbilt, the nearest to ND in rank. But Greek life is important there, so I think the overall vibe is really different.

Usually, when you get very strong academics, you get sharp elbows. I think ND is a real outlier in having one but not the other. Maybe Brown? I hear that's a friendly place, but it's a (somewhat) harder admit, esp. for girls, and it doesn't have big sports.

You're gonna kill me for this, but . . . UVA.

Sorry, but UVA in state is a much easier admit. It's also much bigger, less friendly, and Greek (though not predominantly). Plus, the business school culling in sophomore year doesn't help.

Yeah yeah, we get it -- you're one of the many on here who for some bizarre reason hate UVA. That doesn't change the fact that there are many similarities between the schools. Oh, and "less friendly?" Ok . . .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ND is a great school. If it weren't so Catholic (80%!) it would be a top choice for my ds. (Dh was raised Catholic but we did not raise the kids religious at all.) Are there other schools you all would suggest for a kid who loves Notre Dame - the strong academics, the sports, the amazing alumni, the dorm culture, the lack of (as someone above put it) sharp elbows, the emphasis on service?

Some might say Vanderbilt, the nearest to ND in rank. But Greek life is important there, so I think the overall vibe is really different.

Usually, when you get very strong academics, you get sharp elbows. I think ND is a real outlier in having one but not the other. Maybe Brown? I hear that's a friendly place, but it's a (somewhat) harder admit, esp. for girls, and it doesn't have big sports.

You're gonna kill me for this, but . . . UVA.

I've heard premed at ND can be pretty darn competitive.

Have you heard of a selective school with good med school placement that ISN'T super-competitive? Is that a holy grail?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ND is a great school. If it weren't so Catholic (80%!) it would be a top choice for my ds. (Dh was raised Catholic but we did not raise the kids religious at all.) Are there other schools you all would suggest for a kid who loves Notre Dame - the strong academics, the sports, the amazing alumni, the dorm culture, the lack of (as someone above put it) sharp elbows, the emphasis on service?

Some might say Vanderbilt, the nearest to ND in rank. But Greek life is important there, so I think the overall vibe is really different.

Usually, when you get very strong academics, you get sharp elbows. I think ND is a real outlier in having one but not the other. Maybe Brown? I hear that's a friendly place, but it's a (somewhat) harder admit, esp. for girls, and it doesn't have big sports.

You're gonna kill me for this, but . . . UVA.

Sorry, but UVA in state is a much easier admit. It's also much bigger, less friendly, and Greek (though not predominantly). Plus, the business school culling in sophomore year doesn't help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ND is a great school. If it weren't so Catholic (80%!) it would be a top choice for my ds. (Dh was raised Catholic but we did not raise the kids religious at all.) Are there other schools you all would suggest for a kid who loves Notre Dame - the strong academics, the sports, the amazing alumni, the dorm culture, the lack of (as someone above put it) sharp elbows, the emphasis on service?

Some might say Vanderbilt, the nearest to ND in rank. But Greek life is important there, so I think the overall vibe is really different.

Usually, when you get very strong academics, you get sharp elbows. I think ND is a real outlier in having one but not the other. Maybe Brown? I hear that's a friendly place, but it's a (somewhat) harder admit, esp. for girls, and it doesn't have big sports.

You're gonna kill me for this, but . . . UVA.

I've heard premed at ND can be pretty darn competitive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ND is a great school. If it weren't so Catholic (80%!) it would be a top choice for my ds. (Dh was raised Catholic but we did not raise the kids religious at all.) Are there other schools you all would suggest for a kid who loves Notre Dame - the strong academics, the sports, the amazing alumni, the dorm culture, the lack of (as someone above put it) sharp elbows, the emphasis on service?

Some might say Vanderbilt, the nearest to ND in rank. But Greek life is important there, so I think the overall vibe is really different.

Usually, when you get very strong academics, you get sharp elbows. I think ND is a real outlier in having one but not the other. Maybe Brown? I hear that's a friendly place, but it's a (somewhat) harder admit, esp. for girls, and it doesn't have big sports.

You're gonna kill me for this, but . . . UVA.

Anonymous wrote:ND is a great school. If it weren't so Catholic (80%!) it would be a top choice for my ds. (Dh was raised Catholic but we did not raise the kids religious at all.) Are there other schools you all would suggest for a kid who loves Notre Dame - the strong academics, the sports, the amazing alumni, the dorm culture, the lack of (as someone above put it) sharp elbows, the emphasis on service?

Some might say Vanderbilt, the nearest to ND in rank. But Greek life is important there, so I think the overall vibe is really different.

Usually, when you get very strong academics, you get sharp elbows. I think ND is a real outlier in having one but not the other. Maybe Brown? I hear that's a friendly place, but it's a (somewhat) harder admit, esp. for girls, and it doesn't have big sports.

ND is a great school. If it weren't so Catholic (80%!) it would be a top choice for my ds. (Dh was raised Catholic but we did not raise the kids religious at all.) Are there other schools you all would suggest for a kid who loves Notre Dame - the strong academics, the sports, the amazing alumni, the dorm culture, the lack of (as someone above put it) sharp elbows, the emphasis on service?

Anonymous wrote:

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 get what you're saying. Look at the school's instagram. I think it's got a similar vibe as you remember

I understand PPs question also. I went to an all girls Catholic HS, and either you fit in or you didn’t. I did to an extent, but it was a financial sacrifice for me to attend, so I felt a bit like an outsider. But that was back in the 80s and I know schools are more economically diverse now. I would have loved to go to ND!

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.

My son graduated in 23 and although most of his friends were guys, he had many girls in his friend group.

Two of his close guy friends were more serious and very religious...one was in pre-med and another ROTC. They attracted girls who were similar in terms of their approach to their Catholic faith. Very nice conservative wholesome girls and very smart.

On the other hand, DS, who is not as serious about his faith, only attended masses in his dorm and it was more of a social thing for him. He dated a couple of girls who were very pretty and smart...one for a good amount of time. They were more liberal and enjoyed going to parties more. He had many other friends who approached campus with a similar mindset as him.

There were a variety of girls in his overall friend group. Two were business majors who were not really that religious but raised Catholic. Both highly successful now with one working on Wall Street. Both originally from the midwest.

All of these girls were very social and loved participating in game day festivities. This is how we met them and got to know them. We loved going to games because we felt connected to our son and his social life at school. It gave us stuff to talk about when we talked. Game days really brought the whole group together, which my son loved.

He is still connected with his ND friends and two of them moved to the DC area. Overall, his experience was what he had hoped it would be.

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

This is why REA gives top students the advantage. They are demonstrating that ND is a strong choice by eliminating any ED opportunities. Honestly, I wish they offered ED, but they clearly know what they are doing in admissions. Their yield is quite healthy.

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 get what you're saying. Look at the school's instagram. I think it's got a similar vibe as you remember

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

Same admitted rate for rea and rd? Good point about ed. Thanks

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.

By "specific box" do you mean that young women at Notre Dame are smart, creative, kind, fun and and successful?