Curious on chances of getting into University of Notre Dame - dream school.
Demographics
*US citizen
Spanish
State/Location of residency: CA
Type of high school: Private Catholic HS
Strong Catholic - Altar Server since I was 8 yrs
**Intended Major(s) Finance / Acctg/ Real Estate minor
Unweighted HS GPA: 4.0
Weighted HS GPA: 4.53
Class Rank: top 10%
Not submitted SAT/ACT
English: AP English, AP Expository Comp
Math: AP Precalculus, AP Calculus
Science: honors
History and social studies: AP Macroeconomics
Language other than English: 4 yrs of Spanish Honors
Visual or performing arts: FFA program 4 years
Awards
LLS Student Visionary of the Year
Co-Chair LLS Team
Leader of LLS Junior Leadership Board
Opening & Closing championship
FFA Greenhand Outstanding Star Award
Franchised team legacy called GlovesUp2Cancer
Extracurriculars
NHS, CFS, Honor Roll, Varsity Football, Varsity Tennis, Varsity Lacrosse, FFA Turkey Showmanship for 4 years, Ambassador for Charity, School Link Crew Leader, Altar Server Leader, Mock Trial, Numerous school related clubs,
Clubs
Founder and President of Welding Club
ASB 4 years
Essays/LORs/Other
Essay - strong. Wrote about my Turkeys and the work it requires, and the business aspects of it and my profit with it (business/finance major).
LOR: Strong, from LLS recognizing my continued support to their charity for the last 3 years including being winner of the Student Visionary to co-chair the board.
You might consider looking at the Common Data Set for Notre Dame, and specifically Sections C7 and C9-C11. Section C7 lists how the university weighs different academic and non-academic admissions factors; and Notre Dame is a bit different than many other schools in how it weighs various non-academic factors, so it would be worth your while to take a look.
Sections C9-C11 provide objective information for recently matriculated students at the school; so looking at this might give you an idea how you compare to those recently matriculated students.
You definitely have a competitive application. How many kids typically get in to ND from your school? How many are applying from your class? Those are probably your biggest competition? At the top Catholic schools in our area they typically take about 3 per school, sometimes 4 or 5.
I’ll add in the current CDS they did not note who did not submit a test.
Last year, however, they show 67% did so if there’s a hurdle, it might be that. I’d hypothesize but don’t know for sure, that non athletes submit at a higher rate. Btw the 67% was 36% SAT and 31% ACT. It could be a handful submitted both.
I’d say it like this - you’re worthy of applying and I don’t know if you’ll get in. But if you don’t apply, I know you won’t get in and the profile is strong.
As for the other schools, UGA is not TO so you won’t get in without a test.
UCLA - others can answer that better know the UC system.
Stanford has 69% submitters and requires a test in a year from now. So I’d assume TO is a no. But I’m not the AO.
USC has a two year old CDS. They say test is very important but have a 50% rate.
Vandy over 60%.
Your ECs are great. You have a chance. Can you afford all ? You can pay $400k over four years or have need ?
I assume you chose UGA for real estate ?
If so, Va Tech has a lot of similarities to UGA and is TO and is known for real estate. Another public school leader in real estate is UConn, also TO.
Do you have likelies identified ?
Fine profile but tough schools and TO might impact you today at top schools. At UGA it’s an eliminator.
As long as you are happy with your sure things, then go for it. These colleges have very low acceptance rates. It’s hard to predict whether you will be accepted…or not.
It seems like you would have a good shot at ND. You are Catholic, and attend a Catholic high school. Your GPA is very good.
You are a competitive applicant but nobody can say if you will get into ND. As I’m guessing you know the university’s acceptance rate is well under 15% and there will be more worthy applicants than spots available.
The best idea about your chances of acceptance would likely come from your guidance counselor since it sounds like your HS regularly sends a few students to ND each year. Also ask for the guidance counselor’s opinion on applying test optional.
As others have said, apply to mix of reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable and that you would be excited to attend.
I would also strongly suggest that you get the idea of a “dream school” out if your head. The people I have seen most hurt by this process are ones who pin their hopes and dreams on one hyper-competitive college and don’t get in. There are many many amazing colleges and universities out there. (If you want a Catholic university, you will still have tons of great options.)
Wishing you success as you go through the process.
I agree. If you have a 1450, or close to that, I advise you to submit that score. Your profile is terrific. You are a contender. I would rather them see that you got a 1440 than to wonder if you didn’t submit because you got a 1220.
My daughter is at a CA Catholic school. Her school sends a good number of students to ND.
The numbers are small and I don’t want to discourage you but…of our many acceptances, only 1 got in test optional from our school. And that one may have been an athlete.
Could just be that our numbers are off. But that has been our experience.
Your GPA is there. Get your preferred test score to an acceptable level and you are a good candidate.
You do need some safeties and target schools, however. Your list is way too top heavy.
You never know. Our kids are also at a west coast Catholic school. My daughter has a good friend who was accepted to ND test optional in 2023. Just a regular smart kid who didn’t test as well as he hoped. But I do think it’s a check against you overall though. I know ND says they don’t do this but they seem to take the top 1-2 applicants from our high school every year, so maybe fingers crossed that the applicant pool is small this year?
ND is my son’s big reach school and he’s going to be TO too
You are a strong applicant. As others pointed out, ND relies heavily on guidance counselors’ recommendations for “feeder” Catholic schools. Two things not in your favor are (1) no test score, and (2) you’re applying to Mendoza, which is more competitive.
Look at each school’s requirements or guidelines for letters of recommendation. A letter from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society does not meet Notre Dame’s criteria:
“We require one letter of evaluation from every applicant. You may choose any high school teacher to write your letter, as long as he or she has taught you in a core academic subject area (math, science, English, social science, or foreign language) and knows you well. Your school counselor may also complete a counselor evaluation. The counselor evaluation is recommended but not required.“
At a Catholic High school in Midwest. Have talked to many , many parents in the area and ND grads in last year. 2 family legacy , oldest had 4.0+ GPA , on state team for model UN, etc ,etc. didn’t get in. Went to Boston College and loved it. 2nd child got into ND. About 23,000 apply and 2,100 get it. So who knows who really gets chosen.
What’s the update, did you get in?
Also can you tell me a little more about the real estate minor since I am a rising junior and want to know about an internship opportunity in real estate myself.
