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University of Notre Dame


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University of Notre Dame

CITY:

Notre Dame, IN

TUITION:


$36,850.00

SELECTIVITY:

Top Majors:

Accountancy

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS:

8360

GRADUATE STUDENTS:

3250

TOTAL STUDENTS:

11600

FOUNDED:

1842

Similar Colleges:

Boston College , Georgetown University , Princeton University , Washington University in St. Louis , Yale University

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99 Student Votes

University of Notre Dame Unigo Summary

University of Notre Dame’s students are immersed in a number of rich traditions. Between its Catholic roots, fanatic Fighting Irish football fans, and its superior academic reputation, students can’t help but get caught up in one of the most storied universities in the country.

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As a very selective school with just over 8,000 undergraduates, Notre Dame is able to boast top-notch academic programs for its students. Most classes consist of less than 20 students, allowing students to interact with their professors more than they would at a big state university.

Aside from academics, Notre Dame students love their sports – especially football. Incoming freshmen can expect wild tailgates and standing room only at every home game. South Bend, Indiana isn’t the cultural capital of the world, and students partake in their share of dorm parties. Since most students stay on campus and in the same dorm all four years, an undergrad’s dorm mates often become their closest friends for the duration of their time in South Bend, and beyond.


University of Notre Dame Unigo Review

It should come as no surprise that at one of the nation’s most prominent Catholic universities, religion plays a vital role in many students’ day-to-day lives. “Notre Dame has a chapel in every dorm,” writes an engineering student. “My dorm's chapel has seats for 150 people. For Sunday mass it is standing room only. People will stand in the back and sit on the floor in the front for mass.” Despite its deeply religious roots, students say that the university is inclusive and that the administration does a good job of incorporating students from a variety of backgrounds. “If you're not Catholic, don't worry about it too much,” writes a freshman. “I'm not and I get along fine...I'm not even Christian and I still feel like I fit in and my friends don't judge me or anything.”

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Although many undergrads agree that the student body is accepting, most will not deny that Notre Dame can be lacking in diversity. A junior economics major argues that the undergrad population is “[v]ery homogenous. The student body is overly Catholic, white, and upper-middle class. Fitting all of those categories, I can't say what it would be like for other students, but I imagine it would be a little disconcerting.” He does add that “[g]eographically, the student body is very diverse as there are students from all over the country.”

Aside from the university’s Catholic orientation, Notre Dame Football is most students’ second religion.“For many student[s], whether you grew up with it or not, Notre Dame = Football,” writes a junior business major. “In fall, football is what you do on the weekends. Win or lose, there will be a party to celebrate or drown your sorrows Saturday night.” Along with cheering on the Irish at football games, popular activities for students usually revolve around their housing units. “There are a myriad of traditions every year, many of them events organized and sponsored by the dorms, which function almost like fraternities or sororities in terms of the community and intimacy aspect,” writes a junior studying political science.

Indeed, when it comes to socializing at Notre Dame, most students agree that dorm life is of the utmost importance. While undergrads can be fiercely loyal to their dorms, on-campus housing does have its drawbacks. “The thing that sucks about it is the anal rules about girls and guys visiting each other late at night - it can't happen,” complains a freshman from Minnesota. “There are a lot of rules, which honestly don't keep anybody from doing anything; it just means they have to do it quietly or behind closed doors.”

In terms of academics, undergrads say that most of their professors engage actively with students. “All classes are taught by professors - it's really fantastic! Most of them have a desire to know their students, though some are better at remembering names than others. Most of them love teaching and will join their students for lunch at the dining hall or even invite students to their houses for dinner,” writes a senior. While students tend to be dedicated to their academics, many point out that they cooperate on school work. “Students here are competitive, but not so much that they aren't willing to help each other out. Professors encourage students to collaborate and work together and I think that is what really helps with the sense of community on campus,”  writes an accounting major from California. Students also point to Notre Dame’s vast and loyal base of alumni as an advantage of being a member of the Irish community.

With its abundance of tradition and pride, it’s no wonder so many applicants want to be a part of the Notre Dame community. One junior from Michigan writes, “I love the feeling of belonging to the University, of feeling that you´re really at someplace special. It´s the ‘Notre Dame family’, as cheesy as that sounds.”


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See all 99 University of Notre Dame reviews Notre Dame Student Reviews

he main emphasis of a Notre Dame education may be placed on academics, but Notre Dame educates the entire person: "Mind, Body, and Soul." Students are encouraged to balance their academic, athletic, social, and spiritual lives. READ MORE
Kaitlyn
Freshman, Business Major
Most of my classes are small, which I love, but you do have to attend class, do the assignments, and be ready to answer questions/discuss the readings/voice your opinion. The intellectual conversations often carry on outside of the classroom too, either with your peers or with your professors. READ MORE
Amy
Freshman, English Major
As a general rule, if you are worried about not blending in with the crowd, save yourself some time later and buy a pair of Uggs or Birkenstocks, comfy men's sweats from the Bookstore, and a black Northface now. READ MORE
Elise
Sophomore, Biology Major
See all 99 University of Notre Dame reviews

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More about Notre Dame

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Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

History

The University of Notre Dame was founded by Rev. Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C. in 1842. The original curriculum, known as ratio studiorum, was inspired by the Jesuits at St. Louis University. Notre Dame’s Main Building, which in essence housed the entire university, burned down in 1879, after which point the school was rebuilt and expanded. Notre Dame came to national prominence in the early part of the 20th century and now maintains its reputation for competitive athletics and challenging academics.

Father Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C. served as president from 1987 to 2005. During his tenure, Malloy continued the expansion of the university while boosting the student minority population more than twofold. Notre Dame is now led by Father John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., an ND alum and former member of the faculty.

Location

Notre Dame is located in South Bend, Indiana, a mid-size city covering approximately 40 square miles around the St. Joseph River. Located about 100 miles from Chicago, South Bend tends to rely on the university and its students to power the local economy. The city contains a regional airport, museums, and performance spaces. Lindsay Sena ’10 reports that “while ND’s campus is exceptionally beautiful and safe, the city of South Bend doesn’t have a ton to offer college students. While some students live off-campus as upperclassmen, the neighborhoods surrounding campus are not considered to be as safe as the campus.”

Campus

Notre Dame’s campus is known for its Gothic buildings, the golden dome that sits atop the administration building, and “Touchdown Jesus,” a giant mural overlooking the football stadium depicting Christ with his arms raised like those of a football referee. Since Notre Dame is located around the small town of South Bend, many students stay on campus, as reported by Lindsay Sena ’10:

“Most students rarely venture off campus during the school week, so they can often be found in one of ND’s on-campus hangouts. LaFortune is the most popular spot: in addition to its study areas, LaFortune has a Subway, Burger King, Sbarro, Starbucks, and a small convenience store called Huddle Mart. During the school day, there are several other cafés where students meet to grab a quick coffee, such as Waddicks, located in O’Shaughnessy Hall.

Reckers is another popular hangout best known for being open and serving food 24/7. After a night out or on the way back from a party, many students head to Reckers for a smoothie or pizza.

Legends is another popular hangout, even though it is a farther walk for most students. Legends has a restaurant and bar (for those 21 and over, of course), and on the weekends frequently hosts stand-up comedians, concerts, and even events like speed dating and a dance club.”

Issues

As a Catholic university, Notre Dame has some very strict rules when it comes to student social life and sexuality. Recently, stagings of the play The Vagina Monologues have become a source of controversy on campus, underscoring the potential for conflict between the values of the Catholic Church and notions of academic freedom, as reported by Lindsay Sena ’10:

“The most recent controversy at ND has been the administration’s decision to allow students to perform and attend The Vagina Monologues, a play that raises issues relating to female sexuality and gender relations. Every year, the play sparks intense campus-wide debate. Because it deals with sexuality and the Catholic Church has very strict guidelines on sexual practices, including a prohibition on premarital sex, many students and alumni believe that the play does not belong on campus and that it should not be attended by unmarried adults.

John D’Arcy, the Bishop of South Bend, has publicly stated that he disapproves of the university’s decision to allow The Vagina Monologues to be performed on campus. The president of Notre Dame, Fr. John Jenkins, has expressed his belief that it is necessary for a premiere national university like Notre Dame to allow expression that may challenge traditional Catholic values and encourage debate among students and faculty. While he has said that he and the university in no way endorse the content of the play, he also feels that it is important to allow students to make their own informed decisions.”

Dorms

Social life at Notre Dame revolves around dorm life even moreso than most other universities, as reported by Lindsay Sena ’10:

“The dorms at Notre Dame are much more than simply where students sleep. There are 28 single-sex dorms on campus, 15 for men and 13 for women. Unlike at many other universities, the majority of students prefer to live in the dorms throughout their Notre Dame careers; at any given time, approximately 80% of students can be found living on campus.

Each dorm has its own unique structure and personality, including a dorm mascot and annual campus-wide ‘signature events.’ The oldest dorm, St. Edward’s Hall, was built in 1882, while the newest, Duncan Hall, opened for the 2008-2009 academic year. There is no shortage of opportunities to become involved in one’s dorm. Within each dorm there are various commissions and a ‘hall staff’ that includes Rectors, student Residence Assistants (RA), graduate-student Assistant Rectors (AR), and a dorm president and vice president. The dorm also elects one senator to serve in Student Government.

Because ND enforces ‘parietals,’ rules stating that no member of the opposite sex may be in a dorm’s bedroom area past midnight on weekdays or 2:00 a.m. on Friday or Saturday, many students choose to hang out in the dorm’s common lounges when parietals strike. Each dorm has these lounges available, which include couches, chairs, tables and televisions and are perfect for holding meetings, studying, or just talking.

There is no Greek life at Notre Dame, so most students find that their dorm forms the basis for their community of friends. In addition to hall events, each dorm has several intramural sports teams. Every dorm also has its own chapel and laundry facilities.”

President

Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. took office as the university's 17th president on July 1, 2005. As president, Jenkins has taken a stance in favor freedom of speech while seeking to maintain the school’s Catholic values, as reported by Lindsay Sena ’10:

“Jenkins recently made news for his decision to allow performances of The Vagina Monologues on campus. Some have argued that his belief in the importance of academic freedom has at times clashed with the values of the Roman Catholic Church; others believe that it would be inappropriate for an institution of higher learning to stifle free speech.”

Although Jenkins is an advocate of free speech, he is well aware of the school’s religious roots. As Jenkins states on ND’s official website: “We have a much more challenging mission than most universities. Most universities strive simply to be excellent educational institutions by the accepted standards of the profession. We do this at Notre Dame, and we have had great success. But we also foster and celebrate a distinctive mission to be a Catholic university, inspired and guided by a great spiritual tradition."

Jenkins was involved with the university even before being named president, as reported by Lindsay Sena ’10:

“A professor of philosophy at the university, Jenkins was religious superior of the Holy Cross priests and brothers at Notre Dame from 1997 to 2000. Recently, Jenkins spent ten days in Uganda working on a Notre Dame-backed initiative called ‘The Millennium Villages Project.’ While there, he kept a daily blog and photo diary online.”

Famous Alumni

Jerome Bettis (1993) is a former NFL running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Phil Donahue (1957) hosted television’s The Phil Donahue Show.

Mike Golic (1985) is a former NFL defensive lineman and current ESPN television and radio personality.

Earl “Curly” Lambeau (1919) was the founder and coach of the Green Bay Packers and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Joe Montana (1979) is a former NFL quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Regis Philbin (1953) is a television personality best known for the programs Live With Regis and Kelly and Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Brady Quinn (2007) is an NFL quarterback with the Cleveland Browns.

Condoleezza Rice (M.A. 1975) is the United States Secretary of State under President George W. Bush.

Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger (1976) is a motivational speaker and former walk-on for the Notre Dame football team who inspired the film Rudy.

Nicholas Sparks (1988) is the noted author of A Walk to Remember and The Notebook.

Joe Theismann (1971) is a former NFL quarterback for the Washington Redskins and current television commentator.

George Wendt (attended) is an actor known for his portrayal of Norm on NBC’s hit show Cheers.

Carl Yastrzemski (attended) is a former outfielder for the Boston Red Sox and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Students
Total Undergraduates: 8,360
Total Graduate Students: 3,250
Total Enrollment: 11,600
Out-of-state: 89%
In-state: 11%
% Women: 48%
% Men: 52%
% American Indian/Alaskan Native: 1%
% Asian/Pacific Islander: 8%
% Black/Non-Hispanic: 5%
% Hispanic: 11.00 %
% White/Non-Hispanic: 76.00 %
Guaranteed On-Campus Housing? No
% of Students Living on Campus: 80.00 %
Number of Registered Student Organizations: 260
Number of Fraternities: 0
Number of Sororities: 0
The College
Founded: 1842
City: Notre Dame, IN
Location: College Town
Academic Calendar: Semester
Public / Private: Private
Single Sex: No
CEEB Code: 1841
ACT Code: 1252
Getting In
% Applicants Admitted: 25%
% Applicants Admitted Early Decision / Action: 41%
% Admitted Who Enroll: 56%
% Transfer Accepted: 33%
% in Top 10% of Graduating HS Class: 87%
% in Top Quarter of Graduating HS Class: 97%
% in Top Half of Graduating HS Class: 100%
Middle 50% of SAT Composite Scores: 1930-2230
Middle 50% of ACT Composite Scores: 31-34
Middle 50% SAT Critical Reading: 640-750
Middle 50% SAT Mathematics: 660-760
Middle 50% SAT Writing Section: 630-720
To Apply
Application Fee: $65
Admissions Types: Early Action, Regular Decision
Early Application Deadline: 11/1/2009
Regular Application Deadline: 12/31/2009
Regular Application Notification: 4/10/2010
Financial Aid Deadline: 2/15/2010
Transfer Application Deadline: 11/1/2009
Transfer Application Notification Date: 1/1/2010
* Please verify dates with University of Notre Dame before applying
Traditions

ND students enjoy some unofficial traditions that run concurrently with official traditions, as reported by Lindsay Sena ’10:

“PigTostal is an unofficial ND tradition in which the swim team throws an enormous outdoor pig roast on the Saturday before AnTostal, an official week of campus games and events. At PigTostal, hundreds of students gather around kegs to socialize. It is an all-day event at an off-campus location that takes place rain or shine. Students can purchase tickets for $10 from any member of the swim team, which sells them in each dorm.

An unofficial campus tradition is the Bun Run, in which men from Zahm House, a notoriously ‘colorful’ men’s dorm, streak fully nude through LaFortune on the night before winter exams begin, making several laps around students who are eating, studying, or getting coffee. Although the University frowns on this tradition for obvious reasons, it continues and helps to lighten the mood for a lot of students - especially unsuspecting freshmen - during a very stressful week.

Every freshman is required to come to school a few days early for freshman orientation, or Frosh-O, when new students mingle with other freshmen in their dorm and participate in awkward events with other dorms. However, during the first couple weeks of school, upperclassmen have been known to throw disorientation, or Dis-O, events. Dis-O takes place at off-campus locations hosted by upperclassmen from each dorm. Freshmen aren’t hazed, but they are encouraged to drink heavily. During students’ first few weeks on campus, they may often be asked, ‘Are you going to the (insert dorm) Dis-O tonight?’”

Facts

The movie Rudy was filmed on location at Notre Dame.

There are a number of references to Notre Dame in the film Shrek, as some of its producers are Domers, or ND graduates. For example, the shape of the castle in the film is similar to that of Hesburgh Library, and the name “Lord Farquad” is presumably a nod to one of ND’s dorms that is set apart from the others on a “far quad.” The name of the town of Duloc is a reference to ND’s full name: the University of Notre Dame du Lac. It is also said that ND’s golden dome is visible on the back of Shrek’s vest.

Notre Dame’s fight song is extremely well-known, and many high schools adapt it for their own purposes.

The Corrs, a popular Irish band, wrote a song called “Here Come the Irish” about Notre Dame football.

In the television show The West Wing, Jed Bartlet, the fictional president, attended Notre Dame. The fictional Full Metal Jacket character Lt. Walter J. “Touchdown” Schinoski played football for Notre Dame.

-With special reporting by Lindsay Sena ’10

News

Sports
Without question, the biggest sport on Notre Dame’s campus is football. ND’s football team and even its fight song are arguably the most well-known in the country. The Fighting Irish have a long history of producing competitive teams and future pro talent, and the team is welcomed by fans wherever it travels. Students, alumni, faculty, and other Irish fans fill the stadium for every home game, as reported by Lindsay Sena ’10:

“For many students, Notre Dame football is second only to God. Home football game weekends provide a whole new aspect to campus life and are truly a remarkable experience. While no team is as revered as the football squad, other popular teams include ND’s basketball and women’s soccer teams.”

Also of note is Notre Dame’s men’s ice hockey team, which in 2008 made it to the NCAA Championship for the first time in its history, losing to rival Boston College.

Undergrads who don’t take part in NCAA sports are afforded plenty of opportunities to represent their dorms in intramural leagues.

More on Unigo:

(A little) More Than Just Football: Ten things freshmen should know about Notre Dame’s sports scene
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Sound off in the Unigo
Forums about:Notre Dame
 
The BEST things...
about Notre Dame
From the outside, you can't understand it, from the inside, you can't explain it. It. Is. Amazing.
F
Sociology Major
the feeling of being part of a family full of tradition. you go to college for 4 years, you go to ND for a lifetime!
Elizabeth
Accounting Major
The crazy people who go here and those who teach us.
Tom
Engineering Major
The amount of respect that students, faculty, and staff have for eachother. It's a great community, and it becomes a part of you that will never leave
Amanda
Pre-Medical Major
the community aspect and central teachings of love
Jules
Architecture Major
The WORST things...
about Notre Dame
There are lots of university requirements, so you have less time for classes in your major that you actually care about.
Jess
Mathematics Major
Gender relations...sometimes the interactions between genders are just AWKWARD!
Jill
English Major
Parietals (girls have to be out of guys dorms by 12am on weekdays and 2am weekends)
Pat
Pre-Medical Major
intolerance for views that conflict with Catholic teaching (such as being pro-choice)
Annie
Other Major
It is like a Catholic Disneyland Bubble, not the real world
Elzie
Other Major
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