zweebopp

My son has liked Notre Dame since he was a kindergartener. (Knew an alum)...what do you think are his chances?

from NJ, very competitive HS
gpa: 4.245 (W), probably 3.85 uw
extremely rigorous transcript

AP score/SAT II score shown below
APs: USH 5/730, Bio 5/750, US gov 5, comp gov 4
this fall: APs in calc A/B, Spanish, Eng Lit, Euro (8 altogether)

SAT I: 800 Math, 750 R, 700 W
SAT II: 800 Math II, 730 USH, 750 Bio E

significant EC:
School newspaper (features editor) 11/12
Reinvigorated student newspaper, EIC, 11/12
Environment club 11/12
Safe Rides 9-12
Debate Club 10-12
Scouts since 2nd grade
Band (saxophone) 4th-11
EMS 11/12

Leadership
newspapers, Environment club, scouts

Volunteer/service
Audubon Research Asst, last summer
camp counselor @ Boy Scouts this summer
Safe Rides, Scouts, EMS

Honors/Awards
nat'l merit (probably commended)
NHS
Student of the month
Debate Club (1st place as novice-individual, 1st place team)
We The People: top ten national final (includes 1st place in States)
Science Fairs: 4 awards

What do you think??? PS: your thoughts about EA vs regular? I hate being so stragetic, but I know there's a difference, just not sure what.
Thanks for your input!!!

Irish45221

Very strong candidate. Do you happen to know your son's class rank? If it is within top 3% or so I would say go EA. Is ND his first choice?

zweebopp

No, his rank is far from top 3%. He may not even make top 10%. It's a very competitive school and he has a few B+ grades, (and he doesn't fight it, unlike most of his peers). His transcript is quite rigorous, either APs or honors courses.

next year's coursework:
AP: spanish, cal A/B, Eng lit, Euro
Honors: physics, and honors independent science research

As for top choice, who knows? He's also thinking of WUSL, Rice, and UChicago but we have to visit. Are you familiar with any of them?

Irish45221

Based on the rigor of his program and his good overall performance I do not believe that rank will make a huge difference. With those grades and ECs I would still apply EA.

tjd

I also don't think rank will hurt your son very much. D had a pretty similar profile at a competitive public magnet where her rank was not much inside the top 10%. She applied EA, was accepted and designated a Reilly scholar, which resulted in very generous FA.

notre dame AL

Pay attention to the essay!

hawkswim09

it seems your son has a lot of passion for the newspaper if he helped restart it, but make sure that you really make a difference in a special activity which forms the essay (this could be the restarting of the newspaper). Also, APs and SATs are very good and i doubt he would be denied EA, so go for it.