Community College Students: Notre Dame's Acceptance Policy Explained

The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university in Indiana, USA. It offers a holistic education and seeks to admit students who demonstrate academic excellence and a meaningful capacity to contribute to the world. The university accepts transfer students from community colleges and requires them to have completed at least one full academic year in a degree-seeking program after graduating high school. The application process involves submitting transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a writing supplement. The university also considers factors such as academic performance, extracurricular pursuits, and test scores.

What are the requirements for transfer students?

The University of Notre Dame does accept transfer students from community colleges. However, they aim to admit a limited number of exceptional transfer students each year. To be eligible, students must have completed at least one full academic year in a degree-seeking program at another accredited college or university after graduating from high school.

Application Deadlines

The University of Notre Dame has two application deadlines for transfer students:

• Fall Enrollment: October 1, 2024
• Spring Enrollment: March 15, 2025

Application Materials

The following materials are required for a complete transfer application:

• Application: Submitted through the Common Application, Apply Coalition, or Questbridge Application.
• Transcripts: Official high school transcripts and college transcripts from all institutions attended.
• Letters of Recommendation: At least one letter of recommendation from a college instructor or professor who can speak to your academic abilities.
• Test Scores: SAT or ACT assessment scores are optional for transfer students through the 2025-26 academic year.
• Personal Statement: A well-crafted essay explaining your interest in Notre Dame, your academic and professional goals, and how transferring to Notre Dame will help you achieve those goals.
• Application Fee: A non-refundable application fee of $75 is required.

Academic Requirements

In addition to the application materials, transfer applicants to Notre Dame should have the following academic credentials:

• Coursework: Appropriate coursework for your desired major, with outstanding academic performance and a competitive college GPA. The average GPA for admitted transfer students has been 3.75 or higher.
• Credits: A minimum of 24 transferable credits and at least one year of college enrollment at an accredited institution.
• Required Courses: Completion of required courses for your intended major with a grade of 'B' or higher.
• High School Record: An impressive high school academic record, including strong grades and standardized test scores.

Additional Considerations

When reviewing transfer applications, Notre Dame considers the following factors:

• Academic Performance: Your past academic performance, including grades, test scores, and the rigor of your coursework.
• Space Availability: The number of open spots in specific majors and programs can vary from year to year. Some sought-after majors, such as Neuroscience and Behavior, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Business Analytics, and Finance, have limited availability.
• Core Curriculum: Alignment of your coursework with Notre Dame's Core Curriculum, including writing-intensive courses, quantitative reasoning, and science and technology courses.

International Transfer Students

For international transfer students, additional requirements and instructions may apply. Please refer to the University of Notre Dame's website for more information.

How do you apply to the University of Notre Dame?

The University of Notre Dame offers three secure online applications for first-year applicants: the Common Application, the Apply Coalition on Scoir, and the Questbridge Application. The Common Application and the Coalition Application require a non-refundable application fee of $75. However, Questbridge applicants are not required to submit the Common Application or Coalition Application.

The University of Notre Dame requires applicants to submit the Notre Dame Writing Supplement in addition to the Common Application or Coalition Application. The writing supplement consists of responses to one short essay question and three short-answer responses to questions chosen from a list of options. The essay question has a maximum word count of 150 words, while each short answer should be between 50-100 words.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions must have all of the following items before beginning the application review:

• Your application, submitted via the Common Application or Coalition Application website.
• The Notre Dame Writing Supplement, submitted via the Common Application or Coalition Application.
• Official high school transcripts or a record of academic achievement in secondary school. Restrictive Early Action applicants are encouraged to submit an optional summary or progress report of first-quarter or first-trimester performance via their applicant status portal.
• A letter of evaluation from a high school teacher in a core academic subject area who knows the applicant well.
• Counselor evaluation (recommended but not required).
• Optional results of your ACT or SAT assessment scores - Notre Dame is test-optional through at least the 2025-26 academic year, meaning applicants are not required to submit scores from ACT and/or SAT exams.

The University of Notre Dame has important dates to keep in mind for applicants:

• Applications become available on August 1.
• Restrictive Early Action: November 1.
• REA Supporting Documents: November 15.
• SlideRoom Submissions: November 15.
• REA Priority Deadline to Apply for Financial Aid: November 15.
• Regular Decision: January 3.
• RD Supporting Documents: January 15.
• SlideRoom Submissions: January 15.
• RD Priority Deadline to Apply for Financial Aid: February 1.
• Confirmation Deadline: May 1.

What are the application deadlines?

The University of Notre Dame offers three secure online applications for first-year applicants: the Common Application, Apply Coalition on Scoir, and Questbridge Application. For transfer applicants, the application deadline is October 1, 2024, with a decision notification between December 1, 2024, and January 5, 2025. There is also a spring application deadline of March 15, 2025, with a decision notification between May 20 and June 14, 2025.

For first-year applicants, the restrictive early action deadline is November 1, and the regular decision deadline is January 3. The priority deadline to apply for financial aid for restrictive early action applicants is November 15, while the priority deadline for regular decision applicants is February 1. The confirmation deadline for all applicants is May 1.

It is important to note that the University of Notre Dame treats each application with great care and dignity. The application process is a significant step in a student's life, and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions is committed to providing the necessary help and information.

What are the academic interests of the enrolled class?

The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university in Indiana, US, with a focus on holistic education. The university seeks to enrol students who demonstrate academic excellence and a desire to contribute meaningfully to the world.

The academic interests of the enrolled class of 2028 are varied, with 25.5% of students pursuing studies in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The university is divided into eight schools and colleges, with the largest being the College of Arts and Letters.

The College of Arts and Letters, established in 1842, is the oldest and largest college at Notre Dame. It includes 20 departments covering fine arts, humanities, and social sciences, and offers nearly 70 majors and minors. The college enrols around 2,000 undergraduates and graduates, who are taught by 500 faculty members.

The other colleges and schools at the university include the College of Science, the Law School, the School of Architecture, the College of Engineering, the Mendoza College of Business, and the Keough School of Global Affairs.

The College of Science, established in 1865, offers several departments and awards Bachelor of Science degrees. The college has one of the highest acceptance rates to medical school in the US.

The Law School, established in 1869, is the oldest law program at a Catholic university in the US. It offers professional Juris Doctor degrees, as well as graduate Master of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science degrees.

The School of Architecture, established in 1899, offers a five-year undergraduate program with a year abroad in Rome. The school teaches traditional and classical architecture and urban planning.

The College of Engineering was established in 1920 and includes five departments offering eight Bachelor of Science degrees. The college also offers five-year dual-degree programs with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Business.

The Mendoza College of Business was established in 1921 and offers degrees in accountancy, finance, management, and marketing.

The Keough School of Global Affairs, established in 2014, is the newest school at Notre Dame. It offers doctoral programs, a Master of Global Affairs, and undergraduate majors in global governance, human rights, and other areas of global social and political policy.

In addition to these colleges and schools, Notre Dame offers a First Year of Studies program for freshmen to explore different majors before declaring their major. The university also has a strong focus on research, with several interdisciplinary research facilities and specialized research centers.

What are the demographics of the enrolled class?

The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university in Indiana, US. It was founded in 1842 and has a suburban setting. The university is organised into seven schools and colleges, including the College of Arts and Letters, College of Science, School of Architecture, and Mendoza College of Business.

As of Fall 2022, the Notre Dame student body consisted of 8,958 undergraduates and 4,134 graduate and professional students. The student body represents all 50 states and 88 countries. Thirty-seven percent of students come from the Midwestern United States, and 40 percent of students are US students of colour, with eight percent being international citizens.

The university aims to admit a limited number of exceptional transfer students each year. To be eligible for transfer, students must have completed at least one full academic year in a degree-seeking program at another college or university after graduating from high school. The average GPA for admitted students has been 3.75 or higher.

The 2028 Enrolled Class Profile includes 30% domestic students from historically underrepresented groups, 21% first-generation or Pell grant recipients, and 9% international students. The academic interests of the enrolled class are distributed across various fields, with 25.5% in arts, humanities, and social sciences.

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