Subjective
•Essays: Pretty Good
•Teacher Recs: No idea
•Counselor Rec: See above
•Supplementary Material:One was sincere, one was novel, one was very very specific
•Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Not Catholic?
Personal
•Location:International
•High School Typeublic
•Ethnicity:Asian
•Gender:Female
Other
•Extracurriculars:Ballet(12 years), attended the Fourth Asia-Pacific Forum on Economics and Finance, published a paper, and some other academic research works(I am very commited to economics and finance), volleyball, tennis, some school clubs(leader of 2 of clubs) and some volunteer works. Upenn Summer School.
•Awards: National Second Prize in Olympiad in Informatics, National Second Prize in Olympiad in Mathematics...
•Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: Got in with low sat scores...so happy!! Reflect your passion and commitment in essays, and be honest and sincere.
Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): Chemistry 3 US History 5 Language 5
Subjective
Essays: Freaking amazing IMO
Teacher Recs: Average
Counselor Rec: Fantastic
Supplementary Material: None
Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Nope
Personal
Location: New Jersey
High School Type: Large Public, Competitive
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Other
Extracurriculars: Very music and science based.
Awards: Many stemming from those music and science ECs
Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?:
I tried to withdraw my ND app as soon as I got in Penn, but I guess they didn't do that in time. ND was my next choice if I wasn't going to be a Quaker, and I'll be a Fighting Irish fan forever <3
[ b]Stats:[ /b][ list]
[ *]SAT: 730 (writing) 690 (reading) 720(writing)
[ *]SAT II:n/a
[ *]ACT:n/a
[ *]GPA:4.0 unweighted, 4.2 weighted
[ *]Rank: 1 out of 13
[ *]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB):small private school - no ap courses
[ /list][ b]Subjective[ /b][ list]
[ *]Essays: Really good I think
[ *]Teacher Recs: didnt see, but my teacher used to be a teachers assistant at ND
[ *]Counselor Rec: good
[ *]Supplementary Material: good
[ *]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): grandpa alumnus
[ /list][ b]Personal[ /b][ list]
[ *]Location: SW Florida
[ *]High School Type: small classical catholic school
[ *]Ethnicity:white
[ *]Gender:male
[ /list][ b]Other[ /b][ list]
[ *]Extracurriculars: President of NHS, VP of Student government, Captain Varsity Football, Starter Varsity Basketball, Florida Boys State, Founder of charity group, drama, play pipe organ, altar server, quiz bowl captain
[ *]Awards: school academic award, national merit semifinalist
[ *]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?:[/list]My SAT was 20-40 points too low to be considered. My guess is that they only take people with 1450's+ or 33 on ACT. Everyone else they defer no matter how good.
I even wrote my "Take a risk" essay in Latin, and included a recommendation from a university Latin professor.
I'm bummed I got deferred b/c I spent hours on the Hesburgh Yusko application, and now I'm ineligible b/c I didnt get into EA. Oh well. I hope they give me enough financial aid, b/c national merit can get me full tuition elsewhere.
Rank: School doesn’t rank. I would guess top 10-20% in a class of 177.
Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): 5 AP Biology, 5 AP Chemistry, 5 AP Calculus BC, 5 AP US Government, 4 AP US History
Subjective
Essays: Average
Teacher Recs: Don’t know
Counselor Rec: Don’t know
Supplementary Material: Average
Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): None
Personal
Location: Virginia
High School Type: Selective Public Magnet
Ethnicity: Asian (Vietnamese)
Gender: Male
Other
Extracurriculars: 185 hours community service; spent summers working on family poultry farm; treasurer then president of a political discussion club; Vietnamese language classes; math tutor
Awards: NMSF, several honor societies, silver and gold on National Spanish Exam
Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?:
I’m glad I got in with pretty mediocre stats, but Notre Dame is not my top choice (though I’m sure I would be happy there). Hopefully I can afford to go there as a backup, though.
Too lazy to provide the rest (think this came across in the app? )
suffice it to say, ND wasn't D's first choice, but it was a contender. And that's what the EA process is designed to do; make sure we get clear signals early, and can move on.
Thanks ND! for not making this process SCEA or binding ED! And I look forward to kicking your butt as a parent of a Wolverine!
Rank: N/A (My class has only 54 people in it, so we don't rank)
Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): 5 AP US History, 5 AP Chemistry, 5 AP English Language & Composition
Subjective
Essays: It was so-so, was about my experience on my school's swim team, vivid details, but didn't tell enough about myself.
Teacher Recs: Can't say for sure, but both teachers are known for writing great recs in general, both teachers love me because I participate the most in class, and I'm the favorite student of one of these teachers, so they were probably outstanding.
Counselor Rec: Can't really say, nobody knows her that well so I can't say it was a great rec, but I've always had pleasant interactions with her, so it was definitely favorable.
Supplementary Material: I thought my supplements were far better than my common app essay, so that probably worked into my favor.
Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): My brother attended Notre Dame.
Personal
Location: Northern NJ
High School Type: Catholic All-Girls
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Other
Extracurriculars: I was on JV tennis for 3 years, and JV captain my junior year, I've been on the swim team for 3 years starting my sophomore year, I volunteer a lot at historical sites in my area, I've played the flute for 8 years, and am first chair in a nearby school's band, second chair in their orchestra, and I accompany and play solos in my own schools liturgies and masses (we don't have our own instrument program, so I thats why the band and orchestra are at a different school)
Awards: High Honor Roll every semester, AP Scholar, National Merit Semi-Finalist, University of Pennsylvania Book Award, National Spanish Honor Society Member, National Spanish Exam Bronze and Silver Awards.
Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE I GOT IN!!
Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AP Chem 4 AP Physics 3 AP Calc AB 4 =/
Subjective
Essays: Why ND essay was pretty good. Take a risk was a funny essay about swallowing a pill. I thought they were good.
Teacher Recs: Math + science teachers, had them for 2-3 years each, they like me so I assume they were good
Counselor Rec:Very good. She chose me and one other student for a leadership conference.
Supplementary Material: Extra letter of rec. from the doctor I worked under
Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Brother graduated cum laude (as if that matters) and performed research at Columbia University
Personal
Location: Central Pennsylvania
High School Type: Large Competitive Public School
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Male
Other
Extracurriculars:
Latin Club – 9, 10, 11, 12 (Scriba 12)
Key Club – 10, 11, 12
NHS – 11, 12
NLHS – 11, 12
Rugby Club – 9
School Soccer – 9
THON - 9,10,11,12 (Committee member 11, Technology Chair 12)
Junior Class Vice President
Senior Class Treasurer
Attended Rotary Youth Leadership Conference
Wegmans Food Company – 11 (15 hours per weekend stocking shelves)
Universal Protective Packaging – 11, 12 (10 hours per week unloading trucks)
Bethany Village Retirement Home: 250+ Volunteer Hours by graduation
Senior summer - Research at Columbia University for 8 weeks on Kidney cells.
Sophomore summer - worked in the office of the speaker of the house for my state for 9 weeks
Awards: AP Scholar, Latin Scholarship for top 5 in grades all 4 years
Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?:
Pretty disappointed but I really didn't expect to get in EA. My parents pushed it on me and I insisted its all about #'s/thresholds EA but they wouldn't listen. Congrats to those that got in! Hopefully I'll receive good news in April!
Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): 5 on APUSH, 5 on AP Lang & Comp, 4 on AP Bio
Subjective
Essays: Pretty fantastic
Teacher Recs: Glowing!
Counselor Rec: Didn't see, but it was probably mediocre
Supplementary Material: Good
Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): None
Personal
Location: NW Ohio
High School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Other
Extracurriculars: NHS (11, Secretary 12), Tennis (4-year letterwinner, Captain 12), Foreign Language Club (9, 10-VP, 11, 12) Crew for School plays/musicals (10, 11, 12, Head of three different crews), Interact (11, 12), Humane society volunteer (10, 11, 12), youth philanthropy/leadership group (9, 10, 11+12 chair of Grant Making Committee) and a few others
Awards: National Merit Commended, Honor Roll, Scholar Athlete, Kiwanis Student of the Month, etc.
Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: I'm just so ecstatic to have been accepted! I have wanted to go to ND since kindergarten. Congratulations to all who have been accepted!
On your application, just be honest and good luck!
Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AP US History 4, AP Euro 4, AP Lit 5
AP Stat, AP Language, AP Gov, AP Human Geography
Subjective
Essays: Very Good, Worked hard and they were thoughtful and one was clever
Teacher Recs: Didn't see, from a Catholic Sister who went to graduate school at Notre Dame
Counselor Rec: Didn't see
Supplementary Material: A very good resume
Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): I have one leg
Personal
Location: Virginia
High School Type: Catholic and Private
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Other
Extracurriculars: Varsity Soccer Captain, Varsity Basketball, Swimming, Visits Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed, TopSoccer for handicapped youth, National Honor Society
[ b]Stats:[ /b][ list]
[ *]SAT: 2130 (Critical Reading: 680, Math: 720, Writing: 730)
[ *]SAT II: N/A
[ *]ACT: 33
[ *]GPA: 3.94 UW/4.86 W
[ *]Rank: 31/586
[ *]Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): AP CS-5, AP English-5, AP USH-5, AP World-4
[ /list][ b]Subjective[ /b][ list]
[ *]Essays: pretty generic, but my take a risk one was about my multifaceted interests
[ *]Teacher Recs: GREAT!
[ *]Counselor Rec: good?
[ *]Supplementary Material: good.
[ *]Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): none really
[ /list][ b]Personal[ /b][ list]
[ *]Location: Texas
[ *]High School Type: Large public, attend magnet school
[ *]Ethnicity: White
[ *]Gender: Male
[ /list][ b]Other[ /b][ list]
[ *]Extracurriculars: TONS. Volunteering, research, leadership, and musical theater
[ *]Awards: some stuff, globals in DI
[ *]Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?:HAPPY![/list]
Rank: (no ranking/percentages at school, but probably in top 5-10% of 200)
Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): Biology (5), Calculus BC (will take in May)
Subjective
Essays: Good, I focused on being honest. My CommonApp essay was on the service I did this summer as a counselor at a muscular dystrophy camp
Teacher Recs: Didn't see, but both were good (and one told me his would be awesome)
Counselor Rec: Didn't see, but probably very good
Supplementary Material: Genuine and honest.
Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): (none unlesss NMSF counts?)
Personal
Location: Texas (southeast)
High School Type: Private, Catholic
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Other
Extracurriculars: Band, symphonic orchestra, religious clubs, retreat leading, piano lessons
Awards: NMSF, "Most Outstanding" in a couple classes, All-State Band 4 yrs
Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?:
I was really scared that I wouldn't get in because of all the college admissions talk that says you can't blatantly say things about yourself. "Show, don't tell" isn't as strong of a rule as you'd think. Both my essay and my short answers contained some straightforward self-description and I think it just shows that you have a strong sense of who you really are. Show that you know that and you care about something bigger than yourself (service to others, etc.); they will respect & appreciate that.
SAT II: 790 Math II, 640 Physics B (took after first month of AP physics, explained that in application)
GPA: 91% UW
Rank: No Rank
Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): 5 on AP Calc AB
Subjective
Essays: I spent a ton of time on them, had three different teachers and my guidance counselor look at them. I thought they were good, but nothing too emotional or moving.
Teacher Recs: Good, but not awesome
Counselor Rec: Probably a bit better than my teacher rec.
Supplementary Material: My pastor wrote me an astoundingly well-written and glowing recommendation.
Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): None.
Personal
Location: Suburb of Seattle, WA
High School Type: Small, Highly Competitive (1900 avg. SAT)
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Other
Extracurriculars: Varsity Baseball all four years, part time job as a referee, 1st chair and section leader trombone all four years in my school's jazz band, and then a huge amount of religious ec's. This includes mission work, leadership team, and various committees.
Awards: Commended National Merit Scholar, Baseball team won back-to-back academic state championships
Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?:
I'm just a bit shell-schocked and heartbroken right now. I honestly expected to get deferred, but I guess I didn't make the cut.
SAT: 2080 Superscore (630 CR 780 Math 670 Writing)
SAT II: 790 Math2 760 Chem
ACT: 29 (didnt send)
GPA: 3.78
Rank: 3/348
Other Tests (AMC, AP, IB): Calc AB 5; Chem 5; Stat 4; English 3;
Subjective
Essays: Common App was great, worked long and hard on it, Supplements were good and I nailed the "take a risk" essay wrote a series of "Tweets" pertaining to each of my HS classes.
Teacher Recs: Written by a Notre Dame Alum with reputation of writing great letters
Counselor Rec: Didnt see Probably good
Supplementary Material: Resume
Hook(recruited athlete, legacy, Nobel Prize): Definitely my extracurriculars
Personal
Location: Jersey Shore
High School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Other
Extracurriculars: Varsity Soccer and Tennis, captain when I was on JV, a bunch of clubs and a few leadership positions. The big one was our HS business academy where we do a bunch of business stuff and get internships and I coordinated Internships for the members.
Awards: National Merit Commended Scholar, AP scholar with honor
Advice? Commiserations? Feel like bragging?: I'm glad the admissions office was able to see past my mediocre reading score. I really thought that would bring me down but I'm just glad to be in! Go Irish!
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