<p>In regards to your post, tjd, you have very valid points that I’m sure is discussed with the admissions board at Notre Dame. This is what separates it from other nonsectarian universities that simply choose the most promising students while Notre Dame must also balance this with its Catholicism or else it would lose this and become like other nonsectarian universities. Whether good or bad, this is what happens and probably will continue to happen as long as the school remains open.</p>
<p>Compared with an average high school however, I can say that Notre Dame probably has at least some students from any given perspective, but number-wise, there is an overwhelming majority of students hailing from only one viewpoint. The stereotype of the rich white kid with alums as parents comes to mind when thinking about Notre Dame. I believe this is one of the reasons Notre Dame tries to increase diversity in order to shatter this stereotype of their students. They are giving an honest effort to do so and really want to diversify the campus in order to better the school, and not merely to make it “look good” stat-wise.</p>
<p>As mentioned before, Notre Dame is more homogeneous relative to other comparable institutions and this is a simple fact. Out of all the top universities, I would argue that Notre Dame is the least diverse ethnically, religiously and politically. So the true questions to be asked is why is this?</p>
<p>Is this the result of the school’s effort to establish a homogeneous mix of students they believe further the mission of the school? Or is it the other way around, and despite the school’s effort to diversify, Notre Dame’s deeply rooted traditions may simply cause top students who would bring diversity to shy away from it?</p>
<p>Of these two, I’m sure it is not purely one or the other, but still, one must be a dominating factor. Only when this is determined can the problem be solved if there is even a problem.</p>
<p>It all comes down to the roots of the school’s missions and plans for itself.</p>