For Notre Dame, I had the opportunity to interview Caitlyn, who was so sweet and reached out to me to help other students interested in Notre Dame! I recommend checking out her amazing responses if Notre Dame is on your college list! Thank you so much for your kindness Caitlyn!
How would you describe the weather at Notre Dame? Does it frequently snow? What would advise students to bring when coming to Notre Dame?
"The weather was kind of a shock to me at first since I’m from Texas, but honestly I love it! The winter is pretty brutal, but it’s a nice excuse to wear sweaters and buy hot chocolate. The clothes I wish I’d brought sooner were earmuffs (but that’s because I’m dumb hahah) and waterproof boots (since it rains/snows a lot)!"
What makes Notre Dame? So special to you? Was it your first choice and your dream school?
"Notre Dame was tied with another elite school right until decision day, but ultimately, I realized the community at Notre Dame is like nowhere else. No matter what your interests are, you have a built in community of people who love and support you. The random dorm/roommate system was terrifying to me at first, but it brought me some of my best friends and I’m forever grateful to ND for putting us together!"
Were you awarded financial aid? If yes, did it lift off some pressure?
"I did not receive financial aid, which was a bummer but luckily my parents and work-study have supported me in covering the cost. Honestly, the alumni connections and campus experience feel so worth the price."
What do you think makes Notre Dame unique?
"I think Notre Dame’s most unique quality is dorm life for sure! It’s single-sex, relatively small (<260 people) dorms with random rooming assignments. It feels like Greek life without the pressure to prove yourself/earn your place! It encourages you to meet a variety of people and engage in growth together. And all the dorms have their own special culture— from throwing a formal in a penthouse to the annual Zoo where one dorm dresses up as animals for a school day! ND gives you a special way to find family."
What’s your favorite class?
"My favorite class (despite my Computer Science major) was God and the Good Life. It’s a unique Intro to Philosophy class that introduced students to basic philosophical perspectives on life in class, then called us to develop our own philosophies through discussion groups and reflection assignments. We spent all semester crafting our own version of the Good Life as a chunky thesis paper. It gave me a method to define myself in my new college environment and put my goals for my future into perspective! (And the prof is amazing, I have so much love for Paul Blaschko)."
Are your professors good teachers?
"In general, yes! I’m not gonna lie, sometimes the professors in my big lecture classes are a little intimidating and distant, so I have trouble making connections with them, but there are so many other resources to connect with professors through clubs and honor societies. I’ve loved the majority of my professors— and with the few I didn’t, I found other ways to make my learning more successful!"