<p>Hi all, </p>
<p>This is my first post on CC, so I want to see how this all works and how valuable opinions are. </p>
<p>Let me begin my saying that I am Jewish. Now, you may be asking what a Jewish student is doing applying to ND- however, I grew up obsessed with ND’s marching band, and it has always been my dream to march at Notre Dame Stadium. Academic wise, I have a 3.92 unweighted gpa and a 4.45 weighted gpa. I have always had over a 4.0 weighted gpa for all my years of high school (I’m a junior) and am currently taking 3 AP classes. This is my first year taking AP’s, but in the past two years I have been in all honors courses except for math. My ACT is a 28 (I know it’s low- I will be retaking it in months to come before I apply). I am in the top 20% of my graduating class. This will be my third year playing high school varsity baseball, I’m an editor of the school newspaper, vice president of Israeli culture club, principal trumpet of the marching band, concert band, and jazz band, and plan to write my essay about the struggles I face having to live life without a maternal figure in my life (my mother passed away from breast cancer in 2009). I additionally want to stress in the ND supplement the potential impact I could have as a Jewish student at ND, and how I can benefit and thrive by being exposed to a university in which the primary religion is not my own. </p>
<p>Do you think my chances are high? If not, what can I do to improve my application?</p>
<p>Thanks to all those who answer, and happy new year!</p>