So, How Do I Get Into Notre Dame? Advice from an Admissions Counselor | Stories & News | Apply | Undergraduate Admissions | University of Notre Dame

Published: October 02, 2026 Author: Ava Hyde

The honest answer: There is no single formula that will get you into the University of Notre Dame, but there are many meaningful ways to help us understand who you are. Students and families often travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to visit Notre Dame Admissions in McKenna Hall. During those conversations, I am frequently asked some version of the same question: “What do I need to do to get into Notre Dame?” I always wish I could offer a simple checklist. Take these classes. Join these clubs. Earn this score. Write about this topic. However, the truth is that there are countless ways to become a compelling applicant to Notre Dame—because there are countless ways to be an exceptional human being! Every student brings a different background, set of interests, collection of strengths, and vision for their future. We are not seeking to admit an entire class of students who have followed the same path. We are constructing a community of young people who will learn from one another and contribute to Notre Dame in their own unique ways.

So, while there is no formula for admission, there are several qualities that can help us imagine the kind of student and community member you might become here. Demonstrate That You Are Ready for the ND Classroom Academics are, of course, an important part of your application. Notre Dame’s courses are rigorous, and we need to feel confident that admitted students are prepared to not only meet those academic demands, but thrive within that environment. There is no single GPA or test score that guarantees admission to the University of Notre Dame. We consider your academic record in your individual context, including the courses available at your school, the rigor of the curriculum you selected, your performance over time, your school’s GPA scale, and the other evidence of academic preparation in your application. Numbers do not tell us everything about a student, but your transcript and other academic information like standardized scores help us understand how you have challenged yourself and prepared for college-level coursework. Just as important as performance is academic curiosity. We are interested in students who genuinely enjoy learning: students who ask thoughtful questions, make connections across subjects, and pursue ideas beyond what is required of them.

Show Us How You Lead Notre Dame values leadership qualities in applicants, but keep in mind that leadership can take many forms. You do not need to be student body president or captain of a sports team to show the qualities we are looking for. Leadership might mean mentoring younger students, taking responsibility at a part-time job, caring for family members, organizing a service project, speaking up when something is unjust, or quietly being that person others can depend on. Sometimes leadership is visible, but more often it happens behind the scenes. What matters most is not the title beside an activity, but the initiative, responsibility, and care you bring to it.

Show Us What Matters to You We also look for students who connect with Notre Dame’s mission and its commitment to learning, service, community, and the common good. While you may be feeling pressure to choose the “right” path, you do not need to have your entire life mapped out at 17. We do not expect every applicant to know exactly what they want to major in, which career they will pursue, or where they will be in 10 years. It is meaningful, however, when students have begun to consider who they are fundamentally. Ask yourself, what principles guide you? What questions make you curious? What kind of impact do you hope to have, and where? We want to understand not only what you hope to receive from a Notre Dame education, but also how you might use that education to be a powerful force for good in the world long after graduation.

Help Us Imagine You at Notre Dame Notre Dame offers extraordinary opportunities to conduct research, serve local and global communities, study abroad, pursue internships, create art, explore questions of faith, and become involved in hundreds of student organizations. As an admissions counselor, as I read an application, I like to imagine how a student might engage with those opportunities. Your involvement in your school, family, workplace, or community can help us see that. So can the moments when you took initiative: being proactive not just because someone assigned you a task, but because you wanted to solve a problem, support someone else, explore an interest, or develop a new skill. You do not need to do everything. Depth, purpose, and genuine commitment often tell us far more than the sheer length of an activities list.

Let Your Essays Sound Like You Because Notre Dame does not offer evaluative admissions interviews, your essays are one of your best opportunities to speak directly to the readers of your application. Do not give that opportunity away. Your essay does not need to sound like it was written by a professional novelist. The most refined essay is not necessarily the most memorable one. What matters most is the substance: what the essay reveals about your experiences, perspective, values, or way of seeing the world. I especially look for your ability to self-reflect in your essays, showing an understanding of the events—yes, even the failures and mistakes—that contributed to your formation as a person. Ask others to proofread your work and offer feedback, but make sure the ideas and language remain your own. We want to hear your voice, not the voice you think an admissions counselor wants to hear.

There Is No One Perfect Notre Dame Applicant If you are looking for the one activity, accomplishment, essay topic, or score that will open admission to Notre Dame, it does not exist. Our review is holistic, taking into account all aspects of what makes you, you. Focus on becoming meaningfully involved in the communities you already inhabit. Challenge yourself academically. Follow your curiosity. Take initiative. Reflect on what matters to you. Then use your application to help us understand the person behind the grades and activities. You do not need to present yourself as flawless. You simply need to give us an honest, thoughtful picture of who you are, how you have grown, and what you hope to bring to the Notre Dame community. There may be a million different ways to get into Notre Dame. Your task is not to imitate someone else’s path. It is to show us yours.

Ava Hyde is a Notre Dame alumna and an admissions counselor in the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Read Ava’s profile.

Home Why ND Visit & Connect Aid & Affordability Apply Application Overview Application Considerations Standardized Testing Policy AI Policy Restrictive Early Action & Regular Decision Check Your Status Counselor Portal FAQs Tips from Counselors Resources For International Applicants Transfer Applicants Waiting List and Deferred Applicants Students with Disabilities Applying Through QuestBridge Returning Students Veterans Business Major Policy Contact Application Overview Application Considerations Standardized Testing Policy AI Policy Restrictive Early Action & Regular Decision Check Your Status Counselor Portal FAQs Tips from Counselors Resources For International Applicants Transfer Applicants Waiting List and Deferred Applicants Students with Disabilities Applying Through QuestBridge Returning Students Veterans Business Major Policy

Mckenna Hall University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Phone 574-631-7505 Fax 574-631-8865 admissions@nd.edu Non-Discrimination Policy Annual Clery & Fire Safety Reports Facebook X/Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn.

Read the full policy/details

News is prepared from public university announcements for general guidance. Policies change frequently; confirm current details with each university admissions office.