火爆社区

The University of Notre Dame focuses on both educating students and helping them achieve their goals. This commitment is reflected in the administration, which 鈥渢ries its best to stay on top of the students鈥� wants and needs.鈥� One student says, 鈥淥ur president (a priest), as well as both of our presidents emeritus, make it a point to interact with the students in a variety of ways鈥攖eaching a class, saying mass in the dorms, etc.鈥� Notre Dame has many strong academic programs, with theology and philosophy as particular standouts. Notre Dame also focuses heavily on research as part of its 鈥渄evotion to undergraduate education,鈥� and students have opportunities to work alongside experts in the school鈥檚 research facilities. 鈥淲hile classes are difficult,鈥� the 鈥渨onderful鈥� faculty are extremely supportive and 鈥渁lways willing to meet outside of class to give extra help.鈥� As one student says, 鈥淣ot only are they invested in their students,鈥� professors are 鈥済enuinely passionate about their fields of study,鈥� as well as being 鈥渆nthusiastic and animated in lectures.鈥� Professors even go the extra mile and make sure that 鈥渓arge lectures are broken down into smaller discussion groups once a week to help with class material and...give the class a personal touch.鈥� Academics at Notre Dame are demanding, but while 鈥渋t鈥檚 necessary to study hard and often, there鈥檚 also time to do other things.鈥�

The typical Notre Dame student is 鈥渧ery smart鈥� and exemplifies what one student describes as 鈥渁 type-A personality that studies a lot, yet is athletic and involved in the community. They are usually the outstanding seniors in their high schools.鈥� Also, given the athletic environment, it follows that something like 鈥�85 percent of Notre Dame students earned a varsity letter in high school.鈥� While many, but not all, students are Catholic, most seem to 鈥渉ave some sort of spirituality present in their daily lives.鈥� Although some students note that there are many 鈥渨hite kids from upper- to middle-class backgrounds from all over the country, especially the Midwest and Northeast,鈥� others point out that the school is making efforts to improve diversity when it comes to 鈥渆conomic backgrounds, with the university鈥檚 policy to meet all demonstrated financial need.鈥� No matter their background, Notre Dame students are always interesting. As one student says, they are the 鈥渟ort of people who can talk about the BCS rankings and Derrida in the same breath.鈥�

At Notre Dame, students 鈥渟tudy a lot, but on the weekends, everyone seems to make up for the lack of partying during the week.鈥� With over 500 student clubs and organizations, there鈥檚 something for everyone. Sports 鈥渁re huge鈥� on campus, and 鈥渆verybody goes to the football games, and it鈥檚 common to see 1,000 students at a home soccer game.鈥� One student playfully warns, 鈥淚f someone is not interested in sports upon arrival, he or she will be by the time he or she leaves.鈥� That鈥檚 partly due to the Interhall Sport System; 鈥渧irtually every student plays some kind of sport [in] his/her residence hall鈥濃�攕tudents can still compete for a former residence even if they live off campus. 鈥淒orms on campus provide the social structure,鈥� which many students appreciate. The dorms also act as an alternative to bars and house parties, as the administration reportedly tries 鈥渢o keep the parties on campus due to the fact that campus is such a safe place, and they truly do care about our safety.鈥� One student explains that Notre Dame 鈥渄oes not have any fraternities or sororities, but campus is not dry, and drinking/partying is permitted within the residence halls.鈥� Beyond sports and dorm life, students say 鈥渞eligious activities,鈥� volunteering, 鈥渃ampus publications, student government, and academic clubs round out the rest of ND life.鈥�

At Notre Dame, the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development鈥檚 mantra to students is 鈥淵OU must take ownership of your future.鈥� But, of course, career counselors and staff are there to support and assist students every step of the way. To that end, experiential career opportunities abound for freshmen and seniors alike: students can complete a Wall Street externship, shadow an alum at work, or be matched to a mentor in the industry of their choice. The Career Center funding program will even support students who need financial assistance to participate in a full-time summer internship. The university hosts several career and internship fairs each semester, along with networking programs like a Civil Engineering Luncheon or Consulting Night. Finally, Students visit Go IRISH, the center鈥檚 primary recruiting database, for information about interviewing opportunities, employer information sessions, or opportunities that specifically seek a ND student or alum.