Class of 2015 promises to be one of the best
Published: Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Updated: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 12:09
 "Photo: LAUREN KALINOSKI | The Observer")
LAUREN KALINOSKI | The Observer
Before they even set foot on campus, Notre Dame's Class of 2015 has broken records. With an increase of over 2,000 applications from last year, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions has put together its most accomplished group of students yet.
The mean SAT score of admitted students is 1443, a nine point increase from last year. The median student ranks in the top two percent of their high school class. Two-thirds of those in the top 3 percent of their high school class were not admitted.
Director of Admissions Bob Mundy said the strength of the admitted class's profile is a result of the dramatic increase in applications.
"In terms of overall academic quality, this group is stronger. It is a reflection on that increase in applications," he said. "Generally what happens when you have a big increase, you … get a [stronger] distribution of students."
A total of 16,543 students applied to Notre Dame this year. 3,984 students were admitted and 1,853 were waitlisted. Last year's final rate of admission was 29 percent. Before students move off the waitlist, this year's rate stands at 24 percent.
Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Enrollment Don Bishop said this year's waitlist students are very strong, as their average SAT score is higher than the enrolled Class of 2014.
"The waitlist profile this year is equal to the class that enrolled in the fall," he said. "Last year a significant number of [currently waitlisted students] would have been admitted."
Mundy said what makes the admitted class stand out is what its students have accomplished outside of the classroom, in addition to scholastic achievements.
"I think while maintaining and even advancing a class of students who are good matches for Notre Dame, we've seen the academic profile improve," he said. "All those things that seem to be hallmarks of this place. A high degree of engagement outside of the classroom is still present, while we are able to improve the academic profile."
The array of academic and personal achievements comprises the variety of factors the office looks to in admissions decisions, Bishop said.
"We tried to be as fair as we could for all the groups that are interested in coming to Notre Dame," he said. "You have obviously the most qualified students, the students beyond the numbers with incredible leadership and service [with] special talents like sports or music. We look at academic abilities in specific areas."
Bishop said next year's class is actually intended to be slightly smaller than normal, creating a challenge for admissions.
"This big increase in applications and somewhat smaller class exacerbates that issue of selectivity," he said.
Because of the top-flight academic profile of applicants, Bishop said the admissions office had to look beyond the statistics in making final decisions.
"With the numbers getting so high, the other deliberations that went on were about fit, attitude, personality…it was sobering to see how many kids adore this place and wanted to come," he said. "It is tough to turn down so many kids who are great."
Mundy said the office usually anticipates the early action admissions process being more selective than the regular decision process. However, he said the increase in this year's applicant pool was a game-changer.
"What we had to do in regular action, we had to say to our staff we need to behave in regular action like we behave in early action because we know we are going to be up by 2,000 applications," Mundy said.
A quarter of students enrolling for next year's freshman class are expected to be legacy students, or children of alumni, Mundy said. This is one attribute of admissions that sets Notre Dame apart from other elite schools, he said.
"I would venture to say there aren't any institutions in this selectivity range that would be able to say that," Mundy said. "I think you would see numbers in the low teens at best with our peers."
Mundy said additional factors of tradition at Notre Dame factor into admissions decisions.
"Managing the male-female percentage — for many of our peers that is not an issue.... They can adjust. Obviously here, we need to be a little more sensitive to that," he said. "We have some additional challenges here because of some of the traditional differences Notre Dame offers."
While the increase in applications has presented a challenge for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions this year, Mundy said ultimately the process has been a rewarding one.
"In my 28 years [in admissions,] this year has been unlike any other," he said. "It is pretty exciting to feel as though we are maintaining the very special character of Notre Dame while advancing some other things."
21 comments
Anonymous
Wow, look at these alumni. They want ND to accept their children over higher-achieving students, and also expect the school to give them a tuition break (just because they're alumni?)... and they have the nerve to call the current ND students arrogant??
Martin
I share the concern voiced in one post that the atmosphere on campus has changed for the worse. I am very active in my local high school, and I have disagreed with most of the decisions made by the Admissions people regarding candidates from the local school. It particularly strikes home to me when I think that I would not get accepted by Notre Dame today. Attending ND was perfect for me, but the too many of the students that would contribute most are not being accepted. Raising its reputation is one thing, but I feel it has lost its way to benefit those who really have the ND spirit. On my last visit, it was indistinguishable from the atmosphere of any liberal arts college like Amherst.
Anonymous
Legacy students are too often not smart enough...and I am not talking about some of the excellent legacy students who were rejected. Take a look at who donates the most $$. That's whose kids get it. Sick that a Catholic university sells education this way. Sick. I happen to know there are several kids of a psycho with money at ND right now. Did they deserve admission? No way. They are not even smart, and they certainly lack the "humility" one might expect of a Catholic university student. The lesson here is: pay millions and any kid of yours, no matter how unworthy, will get in.
Anonymous
Interesting article. What about the children of privilege whose parents are big donors, but the kids themselves are even below mediocre students? ND let in plenty of those fools. The University might be better off actually admitting students who deserve the admission, rather than populating the classes with the kids of people who buy their way in everything. Good luck with that decision, Admissions Office! In the meantime, BOYCOTT Notre Dame.
Anonymous
I think the whole tone of this article reeks arrogance. Is it necessary to brag about how hard it is to get into your school? And if, as it states, half of all students in the top 3% of their class were rejected, then Notre Dame most definitely bypassed some stellar candidates. Why publish this? Does it make Notre Dame feel better to toot its horn at the expense of the rejected students? What a shame! Who's running things over there?
Anonymous
Interviews are also a crapshoot
Anonymous
Some parents write the essays for their kids.
Anonymous
Just because Notre Dame didn't take your kid, it doesn't mean that it lost its soul or that the kids it did take are arrogant or morally inferior. I know from experience that the younger crowd at Notre Dame today is full of students who are not only intelligent, but moral and humble as well. Of course there are those who are not, but for the large part they seem to (sadly) be legacies. Not most legacies, but the ones who have a sense of entitlement. The posts of fellow alumni here sadden me, as they seek to demean a wonderful university.I'm sorry that your children weren't accepted, but you really shouldn't have expected them to be. It's far harder to get in now than it was (back when it was still pretty darn hard). Not only do the kids have to be academically strong, but they have to show who they are in the essays. Not getting in doesn't mean the kid wasn't good enough, as they have to fill a class of only 2000.And no, they aren't all about test scores. This year, Notre Dame rejected 50% of applicants with PERFECT scores on the SAT. Man, seems like a perfect score doesn't go as far as it used to. Test scores don't cut it alone, just like legacy doesn't cut it alone, though it seems that the legacy admission rate is HIGHER than the perfect SAT score rate. My kids might benefit (or they might not), but you can be darn sure I won't complain about it. I would rather my kids be denied on their own merits than accepted on mine from long before.
Anonymous
I find it difficult to understand how anyone could say the ND student body considers themselves above others, as I see them live humbly each and every day. Congratulations to all those accepted this year, it's truly an honor to have another addition to the Notre Dame family.
Anonymous
Roughly 25% of all students accepted to Notre Dame are legacies...every year. For those of you who continue to complain about your children not getting in, even though you're legacies, maybe it has purely to do with your child's lack of involvement and academic prowess. The sad truth is that college admissions are getting more and more difficult everywhere, and ND isn't any exception. While being the child of an Alumni heightens the chance of acceptance, it cannot be the only deciding factor. In reality, legacies who hope to be accepted need to be one of two things. Either good enough to get in without their parent's connections, or more qualified than other children of alumni.
I have a hard time understanding how anyone could say the student body at Notre Dame feels "above" others. While it's easy to understand every school has the arrogant students, it's also easy to find numerous ND students who humble themselves through service. Every year students go across the country and overseas to provide assistance to those in need. In the South Bend area, students are mentors for youth and leaders in community service. I find it difficult to understand how anyone could say the ND student body considers themselves above others, as I seem them live humbly each and every day. Congratulations to all those accepted this year, it's truly an hour to have another addition to the Notre Dame family.
I have a hard time understanding how anyone could say the student body at Notre Dame feels "above" others. While it's easy to understand every school has the arrogant students, it's also easy to find numerous ND students who humble themselves through service. Every year students go across the country and overseas to provide assistance to those in need. In the South Bend area, students are mentors for youth and leaders in community service. I find it difficult to understand how anyone could say the ND student body considers themselves above others, as I seem them live humbly each and every day. Congratulations to all those accepted this year, it's truly an hour to have another addition to the Notre Dame family.
BCaesarRI
I am currently one of the 1853 people on the waitlist. I am a very optimistic person and I pray everyday that I can attend such an incredible university next year. After reading this article, I was overwhelmed to see the difficulty in the admissions process this year but I am hopeful that I can be a part of this fantastic group of students next year.
Anonymous
My son is a double legacy, had excellent grades, athlete of the year, fluent in two languages, lived five years in China where he studied and became fluent in the language, and had a 33 a.c.t. Score. (perfect 36 in math and 35in science). He did not get in. Whatmore does NotreDame want. Hopefully not my money!!!!!!!!
Anonymous
I have personally found a degradation in the quality of students' interpersonal skills since I graduated from Notre Dame. There is a heightened level of arrogance that should not be found in a Catholic university setting. Humility is completely absent and the students tend to feel they are above others intetellectually......all because they did well in high school. They will face a big letdown once they get into the real world and find that no one really cares what their SAT score or high school gpa was. Notre Dame was a more beloved university when it courted the more mainstream and legacy students, and has lost its identity by trying to run with the Ivy League crowd. It no longer feels like my university. The feeling of detachment I have from Notre Dame is very sad, indeed, and is pervasive among the Baby Boomer alumni.
Anonymous
I am not impressed by all these statistics....I feel very fortunate to have graduated from ND back in 1985 vs 2015. Having visited the campus with my oldest son two years ago, I was saddened by the visible change in the students we met. ND admissions should get beyond the SAT and ACT scores (a one day exam that children of affluent parents pay thousands of dollars to prepare for) since a candidate's high school transcript and outside activities say way more about a candidate.
My father, brother and husband are also graduates of ND so I am having a hard time believing the "legacy" factor was even considered when my son was denied acceptance last year. Perhaps accepting a few candidates whose SAT's and ACT's fall within a more "normal" range will diversify your student body. Also, once you deny admission of our sons and daughters to ND would you stop hounding us for donations.
My father, brother and husband are also graduates of ND so I am having a hard time believing the "legacy" factor was even considered when my son was denied acceptance last year. Perhaps accepting a few candidates whose SAT's and ACT's fall within a more "normal" range will diversify your student body. Also, once you deny admission of our sons and daughters to ND would you stop hounding us for donations.
Anonymous
The scores of the legacies and athletes must be excluded from these statistics.
class of 06 horse
Need to start interviewing. Not many legends going to ND these days. This is scary news. More brohans needed.
An ND parent
Our child was accepted but we were told we had to pay $55,280, so our child will now attend a state flagship university but will graduate with no debt. Sorry, ND lost out on a good kid.An alumni parent
Anonymous
interviews hardly carry any weight in an admissions decision. just because other schools offer them doesn't mean that they provide any value, and that ND should follow suit. frankly, i think they are a waste of time, and purely exist for none other than political/PR reasons. "Oh, my son/daughter is sooooo amazing, it is simply insufficient for them to be able to express their awesomeness in a candidate statement on paper, you HAVE to meet them in person!!" some parents may argue (particularly children of alumni). You can derive the same benefits of an interview (candidate interacts with school alum) through attending a University-sponsored info session/college fair or campus visitation. ND is smart enough to hold high expectations of their candidates to be capable of taking advantage of those resources, and to be able to demonstrate their value through a written-statement. When I applied to ND over five years ago, I specifically remember the Admissions Counselor visiting my high school saying, "we think we can learn just as much information about you, if not more, from reading your essays than from conducting a 30-minute interview." People underestimate the criticality of submitting a seasoned college essay because it is the one level-playing field you have to really show who you are. Good writing is tough, but it is part of the high standards you are held to when applying to an elite institution. The fact that ND UG admissions stresses this so much says a lot about their integrity. Plus, there are thousands of ND alumni living all over the world. the odds that one of them actually KNOW the person who reads your entire application, and can provide a recommendation to an admissions officer that will make or break an applicant's chances of admission are slim to none. I've heard enough horror stories about people who have had terrible interviews with Ivy League schools and still been granted admission - they don't count for jack.
Anonymous
I few like they recycle the same article everytime admissions season comes around. That being said, I did notice that the ACT average went down slighty.
Anonymous
I wish we did have an interview process to weed out some of the crazies here
is a member of the 
