The University of Notre Dame commonly called Notre Dame is a privately owned university located in Notre Dame, Indiana. The university admits all students regardless of their racial background or social upbringing. The university management believes that a student who is desirous to learn provides the necessary admission requirements, such a student will not be overlooked in the admission process. In this article we shall see University of Notre Dame Admission Requirements.
Admission requirements for Notre Dame include high school transcripts, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities. Homeschooled applicants, however, may have special requirements because high school transcripts might not be available.
University of Notre Dame Admission Policy
Notre Dame University, although a Catholic-owned university, prides itself on being one of the best universities in the United States. Every year, more than approximately 20,000 applicants submit their application to study at this prestigious research institute, however, an estimated number of 2000 students are accepted.
This Policy is not based only on the availability of spaces in the university, but also on the university’s strict Admission policy.
The admission policy of the University of Notre Dame is based on two categories of students who apply to study at the university. They are:
- Traditional applicants
- Homeschooled applicants
Admission Requirements for Traditional Applicants
The admission requirements for traditional students include the following:
- Proof of having completed some basic courses and required credit unit in high school
- High school transcript
- Standardized test report
- Letter of recommendation
- Proof of Extracurricular activities
- Letter of Evaluation
- College Essay
- Other supplementary materials
Proof of completed Required High School Courses
The management of the University of Notre Dame expects an applicant to submit his or her proof of completed required high school courses and credit units.
The management expects each candidate who intends to complete a Major in a respective field of study in the university to have taken a certain course and completed at least 16 credit units among the following subjects taken in high school:
- English
- Maths (Algebra and Geometry)
- Foreign Language
- Science
- History/ Social Sciences
English and Maths must have the required completed 4 credit units while other courses completed credit units must not be below 3 if the applicant is to stand a chance of being accepted into the University of Notre Dame.
Despite achieving the required credit unit for important courses, the management of Notre Dame expects each applicant who desires to offer a major in the college of science and Engineering to have completed units in chemistry and physics as well as courses related to each Major.
This also applies to other candidates who intend to pursue different majors at the University of Notre Dame. Proof of these courses taken is very important and it is considered a strong criterion in the admission requirement of Notre Dame University.
High School Transcript
Although the University of Notre Dame does not have a particular GPA requirement, from observations as well as research, it can be deduced that the standard GPA requirement is usually not below 3.95 GPA on a scale of 4.0.
This means that any candidate desirous of getting into the University of Notre Dame, the candidate must be ready to face stiff competition from other applicants. Such an applicant must possess beyond excellent academic records which include a sounding GPA that would make it hard for the management of Notre Dame to drop such an applicant.
Standardized Test Report
The proof of having taken a standardized test is not sufficient to get one into Notre Dame. A candidate must also possess an excellent standardized test score.
The university management does not have a minimum average score for all applicants, as scores are determined based on the academic strength of applicants for different years. However, it is advisable and safer for an applicant to have an SAT score of not below 1500 and an ACT score of not below 34 to stand a chance of being considered.
Nevertheless, based on the report from the Notre Dame University management, Notre Dame has adopted the test-optional scheme for applicants in the 2022-2023 academic circle. This is a result of the global pandemic that has placed restrictions on some affairs of the world.
Letter of Evaluation
The candidate must submit an evaluation letter from a high school teacher. This letter of evaluation must be from a teacher with whom the candidate has had a semi-formal relationship in high school. The teacher must be able to demonstrate, in writing, the candidate’s assessment skills during his or her time in high school.
Submission of the letter of the evaluation will allow the management of Notre Dame to understand the applicant’s skills and what areas such an applicant excels academically or even socially.
Proof of Extracurricular Activities
Proof of Extracurricular Activities is a basic requirement for most universities. Each university management would want the applicant to show proof of extracurricular activities he or she engaged in. This will help the school management properly access the students to know what he or she is like outside the walls of the classroom.
College Essay
College Essays are very fundamental in most colleges’ admission requirements. For the University of Notre Dame, they are essential as they help the admission officer better understand the background of the applicant as well as the applicant’s aspirations.
This requirement is a persuading factor that might sway the position of the admission officers in either accepting the application of a candidate or rejecting such an application.
Other Supplementary Materials
Other Supplementary materials include examples of the talent of the applicants and other materials that might promote the applicant as being remarkable in a certain field. The presentation of supplementary materials will tend to influence the decision of the management of Notre Dame.
This however is optional to students as though it is not a major admission requirement, it can also play a huge role in the acceptance of the application of a candidate.
Admission Requirements for Homeschooled Applicants
University of Notre Dame admission requirements for homeschooled applicants are very similar to those for traditional applicants. However, some requirements for traditional applicants do not apply to homeschooled applicants.
This is because there is no requirement for high school transcripts or credit units for courses. Instead, it is based more on standardized test scores and individual subjects that make up the final score.
To know more about the admission requirements for Homeschooled applicants, visit: https://admissions.nd.edu/apply/evaluation-criteria/ or call the Notre Dame admission office at (574) 631-7505
Conclusion
The University of Notre Dame admission requirement is all-inclusive for all candidates who apply to study at the university. Although it is highly competitive, candidates who can prove that they are academically inclined and have what it takes to withstand the storm of the competition always get in.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it hard to get into Notre Dame?
It is considered highly competitive as the University of Notre Dame is very selective in its admission process.
- What is Notre Dame’s acceptance rate?
19%
