Once a Notre Dame student, always a Notre Dame alumni. This school has a huge following and very active alumni. If you are accepted into ND and decide to attend, welcome to the community and family!
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Almost everyone loves it here, and I know way more people that transfer in than transfer out. Odds are great that you'll like it, the only problems are getting in and paying for it, which can be pretty tough. Don't write off ND for either reason, though. I didn't think I would get in, and I did, and Notre Dame gives plenty of financial aid.
Also, buy football tickets. The games are so much fun and totally worth it.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Notre Dame students are best described as having a work hard, play hard mentality. The work load is heavy here, but definitely not impossible. Just make sure you're ready to go hard.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Dorm life is pretty amazing for a lot of people. The dorms are all single-sex, which may sound strange, but actually works out quite well. The dorms become communities, almost like greek life, but without the hazing and other not-so-nice attributes. They compete against each other to be the best hall of the year and some people can even get a little extreme about it. The single-sex concept is also cute and fun because each dorm has a brother or sister dorm with which they do activities.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
ND's food has been rated as some of the best in the nation repeatedly in recent years, and it deserves its rating. There are so many options, and a lot of quality breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods, both prepared and untouched for use by the students. There are all different kinds of cuisines offered each day, and several others are on rotation throughout the month (i.e. Indian, Mediterranean, fajita night). The meal plan includes 14 meals a week and $350 in flex points each semester. Flex points can be used at the convenience store on campus, at all the different cafes and on-campus restaurants (including starbucks), and at the 24-hour university-owned pizza place. It's great.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
South Bend isn't the best college town, in fact, the most glamorous part of it is almost definitely the university, but there are still definitely things to do. We have two great students boards the bring fun and free things to campus every weekend, including concerts, comedians, improv groups, magicians, and food, of course. The student organizations and dorm committees are very active as well in providing events and other fun things to do throughout the week. There is also a mall that is within 15 minutes of campus, and a free bus that rides through campus all day every day can take you there.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Notre Dame is crazy expensive, but if you can pay for it without going in to too much debt, you won't regret it. The education you will receive is excellent, the alumni network will be an advocate for you on the job market for the rest of your life, and the people you will meet at ND are simply amazing. Not to mention the spirituality boost you may or may not receive. It simply cannot be beat.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The most fun traditions at ND revolve around football. For example: After a big win at home, it is custom to run through the Stonehenge fountain at midnight. Other strange traditions include girls kissing the moose in the basement of Zahm House (a guys dorm) upon entering for the first time.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Greek Life does not exist at ND, but the dorms are such tight knit communities, it almost feels like it does sometimes.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Notre Dame is a bubble. A student's biggest safety concern is taking care of oneself at parties.
Once a Notre Dame student, always a Notre Dame alumni. This school has a huge following and very active alumni. If you are accepted into ND and decide to attend, welcome to the community and family!
Almost everyone loves it here, and I know way more people that transfer in than transfer out. Odds are great that you'll like it, the only problems are getting in and paying for it, which can be pretty tough. Don't write off ND for either reason, though. I didn't think I would get in, and I did, and Notre Dame gives plenty of financial aid. Also, buy football tickets. The games are so much fun and totally worth it.
Notre Dame students are best described as having a work hard, play hard mentality. The work load is heavy here, but definitely not impossible. Just make sure you're ready to go hard.
Dorm life is pretty amazing for a lot of people. The dorms are all single-sex, which may sound strange, but actually works out quite well. The dorms become communities, almost like greek life, but without the hazing and other not-so-nice attributes. They compete against each other to be the best hall of the year and some people can even get a little extreme about it. The single-sex concept is also cute and fun because each dorm has a brother or sister dorm with which they do activities.
ND's food has been rated as some of the best in the nation repeatedly in recent years, and it deserves its rating. There are so many options, and a lot of quality breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods, both prepared and untouched for use by the students. There are all different kinds of cuisines offered each day, and several others are on rotation throughout the month (i.e. Indian, Mediterranean, fajita night). The meal plan includes 14 meals a week and $350 in flex points each semester. Flex points can be used at the convenience store on campus, at all the different cafes and on-campus restaurants (including starbucks), and at the 24-hour university-owned pizza place. It's great.
South Bend isn't the best college town, in fact, the most glamorous part of it is almost definitely the university, but there are still definitely things to do. We have two great students boards the bring fun and free things to campus every weekend, including concerts, comedians, improv groups, magicians, and food, of course. The student organizations and dorm committees are very active as well in providing events and other fun things to do throughout the week. There is also a mall that is within 15 minutes of campus, and a free bus that rides through campus all day every day can take you there.
Notre Dame is crazy expensive, but if you can pay for it without going in to too much debt, you won't regret it. The education you will receive is excellent, the alumni network will be an advocate for you on the job market for the rest of your life, and the people you will meet at ND are simply amazing. Not to mention the spirituality boost you may or may not receive. It simply cannot be beat.
The most fun traditions at ND revolve around football. For example: After a big win at home, it is custom to run through the Stonehenge fountain at midnight. Other strange traditions include girls kissing the moose in the basement of Zahm House (a guys dorm) upon entering for the first time.
Greek Life does not exist at ND, but the dorms are such tight knit communities, it almost feels like it does sometimes.
Notre Dame is a bubble. A student's biggest safety concern is taking care of oneself at parties.