University of Notre Dame Essay Guide

Cutting through the winter chill of northern Indiana, the iconic golden dome atop the main building at the University of Notre Dame marks one of America’s most picturesque college campuses at the private, Catholic research university founded in 1842.

 From the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, a candle-lit reconstruction of the grotto in Lourdes, France, to Notre Dame Stadium, students and visitors alike are never tired of the grandeur of the numerous landmarks and historic buildings across campus. As the nation’s premier Catholic university, Notre Dame fosters a strong commitment to service and spiritual growth while providing a top-tier education. Students do not need to be Catholic or even religious to attend Notre Dame, as the University welcomes individuals from all walks of life into a dynamic and close-knit student body. 

The history and tradition of the University is something every student becomes familiar with quite early on in their time at Notre Dame. Applicants even receive their admissions decisions at 6:42 PM, which is 18:42 on the 24-hour clock, a nod to the year of the founding of Notre Dame.  Accepted students then look forward to their residence hall assignments, as the community and traditions formed in each of the 32 halls are at the center of the Notre Dame experience. 

 The Class of 2024 had an acceptance rate of 16.48%. It is important to keep in mind that the acceptance rate is not constant across the two applicant rounds offered by the University, restrictive early action (Wondering what makes it restrictive? More on that coming soon!) and regular decision. 44% of the Class of 2024 was admitted through the restrictive early action cycle, leaving just another 56% of the class to be filled in the regular decision applicant round. The class’ middle 50% of test scores was 1430 to 1540 for the SAT and 33 to 35 for the ACT. Notre Dame will remain test-optional for 2022 and 2023, but you may still choose to self-report ACT, SAT, or SAT Subject Test scores to support your application, in addition to any AP or IB test scores you may include. Taking a holistic approach to evaluating applicants, the admissions team will look at your whole application (essays, recommendations, classes, oh my!) to make well-informed decisions. 

Wondering where Notre Dame students are coming from? Here is the regional breakdown for the Class of 2024. 

 The class is 49% female and 51% male. 36.4% of the admitted students were U.S. students of color, and 6.6% were international students. Committed to creating a more diverse student body, Notre Dame has already seen an increase in U.S. students of color making up 40% of the admitted students for the Class of 2025! 

The University of Notre Dame’s 75 majors are housed across the School of Architecture, the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Engineering, Mendoza College of Business, the Keough School of Global Affairs, and the College of Science. When applying, you will be asked which college or school in which you intend to pursue your studies, but this is not a binding commitment to that specific program. 

When preparing your application, there are several puzzle pieces that come together to create an image of who you are for the admissions team to consider. The classes you took in high school and your performance in them will play an important role in the evaluation. Class rigor and strong grades are of the utmost importance. You will need to have taken 4 units of English, 3 units of mathematics, 2 units of a foreign language, 2 units of science, and 2 units of history or social sciences. Notre Dame prefers to see a few additional units in certain areas, especially depending on your intended major. For example, students interested in the College of Science or College of Engineering should have taken chemistry in high school. 

The admissions team will also consider applicants’ community involvement, athletics, and other extracurriculars. They are looking to learn about how applicants spend their time and what they are most passionate about. They will also need to see a letter of evaluation, which should be written by a high school teacher who taught you math, science, English, social sciences, or a foreign language. Applicants may also decide to submit a portfolio to showcase creative talents, but this is an optional piece of the application. Finally, essays are used to paint a picture of an applicants’ background, passions, interests, hopes, and dreams. 

Ready to apply? Great! You will have to decide which application round is right for you. If you are ready to apply by November 1 of your senior year, you might consider applying through restrictive early action. Make sure you are really ready to apply if you choose this path. You’ll want to be able to showcase a stellar academic performance in your application, specifically throughout your junior year. If you would prefer to apply with the first semester of senior year under your belt, you will need to submit your application by January 1 for regular decision. There are just a few details of the restrictive early action to keep in mind when applying. An applicant may not apply to another university’s early decision program if they choose to apply to Notre Dame through the restrictive early action program. However, such applicants will still be able to submit other non-binding early action applications. When decisions are released for restrictive early action, students may be admitted, denied admission, or deferred to the regular decision round. Admitted students have until May 1 to decide, along with the rest of the students admitted through regular decision. Regular decision students may be admitted, denied admission, or placed on the waiting list.  

Now, let’s take a look at those essays… 

Notre Dame requires two supplemental essays, each no longer than 200 words. There is one required prompt, and three additional prompts from which applicants may choose their second essay.

Some colleges may ask you, “Why (insert college name here)?” Think of this prompt just like that! When approaching this essay, you may want to consider what your goals are now, and how specific resources, organizations, or people will help you develop as a person while reaching for these goals. This essay is where you can prove that you have done your research, gotten to know the school, and are genuinely interested in Notre Dame. Consider the reasons you decided to apply and what you see yourself doing as a student. It’s important for the admissions team to know that you really envision yourself at their school, taking advantage of all that it has to offer!

Essay Example

My dream is to be a human rights lawyer. Whenever I talk about this dream of mine, I am asked why I want to study economics for my undergraduate degree. While I have a whole list of reasons as for why I find economics to be utterly fascinating, there is more to an undergraduate education that develops a person that I believe is just as important for one’s career path as their major. I believe we must all consider the greater implications of our studies and careers of choice and how they impact other lives. At Notre Dame, I know there is more to every degree than the major because students are not only encouraged but required to branch out into interdisciplinary studies of philosophy and theology, courses through which I hope to challenge my beliefs, open my eyes to new perspectives, and learn to think carefully and critically about the role I play in the issues that the world faces. Most importantly, I hope that experiencing all of this alongside a close-knit student body will strengthen my heart to empower me in pursuit of my dream. 

These three prompts allow you, the applicant, to show the admissions team who you are in a creative, unique manner. What are your most obscure passions? What do people call you, and how does that reflect who you are? How are you going to contribute not just to the campus community, but to the world as a whole? Get excited to write because these essay prompts give you the chance to showcase what it is that makes you you. Since you only select one of the following prompts, it is best to choose one that highlights something about you that has not yet come up in your application. If there is a prompt that excites you more than the others, let your enthusiasm shine through in your writing. 

 Notre Dame faculty had 3 minutes to give their talks, but they could go on for hours about all the amazing developments and ideas within their work. We all have that one thing we could discuss for hours given the chance, and this prompt gives you the chance to share your one thing! Whether it is an interesting historic event, a scientific phenomenon, or a social movement, this essay is where you can dive into your passions and show what makes you tick. If a topic came to mind immediately while reading this prompt, don’t shy away from it! This is also a great place to display your in-depth knowledge on a topic that you may not have been able to include elsewhere in your application. 

Essay Example

I am a coffee enthusiast. Many of my friends blame me for getting them hooked on coffee by using “coffee dates” as an excuse to both spend time with them and grab a cup of my favorite drink. Who can blame me? I love coffee beyond its eye-opening qualities in the early hours of the morning. It is an art form, a way to center oneself, and a cornerstone of socialization. How beautiful is it that this one little mug of dark liquid can bring together new friends, old friends, families, and strangers alike to share a conversation in a cozy cafe? If I were to give a Lightning Talk, I would certainly delve into the idea of coffee as a social art. Every unique roast and brewing method releases new flavors and unlocks a personal experience for the individual enjoying the cup of joe, yet when you meet up with someone to grab a cup of coffee, it matters not that one person sips on a latte while the other enjoys a cold brew. Both of those people are bound together by the cups in their hand, sharing in a moment brought to you by none other than coffee.

Names can reflect some of the most integral parts of our identities. What can your name highlight about you? Maybe it’s the name you were given, or maybe it’s a nickname that caught on in high school. To get started, think about any name or nickname you respond to, who uses it to address you, and its origin. Whatever is “meaningful” about your name may be a translation of your name (what it literally means) or the reason it was given to you. Perhaps your name was handed down from generation to generation. This essay provides a great space for the storyteller to show off their skills, but keep in mind, with just 200 words to write, you’ll need to get your point across quickly.  

Essay Example

My name is unfamiliar to many people, appearing to be some oddly jumbled letters that can only make the strangest of sounds when strung together. For example, when a new teacher does attendance on the first day of classes, and they give a long pause with a puzzled expression peering down at their class list, I know they are deciphering my name. I am lucky that I have never had anyone refuse to learn my name and its proper pronunciation, so these moments of confusion result in a chuckle or quick conversation on the sounds that letters make in a Gaelic name like mine. My parents picked my name from a baby name book, and I sure am grateful they chose this one. It has brought me so many brief, delightful interactions with new people, simply sharing a laugh over the newest mispronunciation of my name. A particularly funny slip-up involving my name resulted in a three-minute fit of hysterical laughter between two baristas, and in moments like those, I am just so happy that my name can put a smile on someone’s face. 

 The University of Notre Dame is the home of the Fighting Irish, but off the court or field, Notre Dame students all have passions that they would fight for. Is there an issue in the world that you would spend your life working to end? Maybe you have an exceptionally strong opinion that you would stand by no matter what. Serious or silly, this prompt allows you to introduce yourself via one of the boldest facets of your identity! Brainstorm some of your strongest beliefs, opinions, or goals, and find something that you truly care about. This prompt can be used to dive into your values, as Notre Dame places a heavy emphasis on education and growth of the whole person (mind and heart), as you read in the required prompt. 

Essay Example

I would fight for the right to family. Family is dynamic and has a meaning far broader than parents and siblings, and even broader than aunts, uncles, and cousins. It is anyone with whom we can unabashedly share all of our love, hope, sadness, and joy. I would fight to bring this deeply human experience to anyone who has ever been left behind or isolated from those whom we traditionally refer to as family. Some people are lucky enough to be born into their family, but my mission is to fight for every person to find a home within our community, a new family, as we open a new chapter of our lives. We all have the right to know love, and I know I would fight to make every new environment I enter a more inclusive space for bringing out the family among us. 

The most important thing to remember when writing your essays is that the essays’ purpose is to reveal the real you. Being as authentic as possible will allow you and the admissions team to see what you will bring to the student body! Think of your application as not just a summary of all of your achievements, but a full-on display of your hard work, ambitions, and unique worldview, all of which would be part of what you contribute to Notre Dame. 

 Written by PathIvy Content Team