Notre Dame / How to get in
How to Get Into Notre Dame
Around 12% in recent cycles, from roughly 30,000 applicants. Restrictive Early Action is non-binding but limits other early applications. Notre Dame is test-optional. Here is the academic profile that keeps you in the running, what Notre Dame weighs most, and where to put your energy.
- 3.9-4.0
- GPA (middle 50%)
- 1440-1560
- SAT (middle 50%)
Every college publishes how heavily it weighs each part of your application in its Common Data Set. Here is how Notre Dame reads applicants, most important first.
- Course rigor
- Grades (GPA)
- The application essay
- Character and personal qualities
- Test scores
- Recommendation letters
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Class rank
- First-generation status
- Legacy relation
- Geographic origin
Notre Dame is test-optional, so you can apply without SAT or ACT scores, though a strong score can still help.
Restrictive Early Action Nov 1 · Regular Decision Jan 1. Applying early (Early Action or Early Decision, where offered) can modestly improve your odds and signals commitment.
Your grades and course rigor are mostly set by now. The highest-leverage things left are your essays and how you frame your activities. Notre Dame reads holistically, so a specific, well-told essay is where you separate yourself from other qualified applicants.
How to get into Notre Dame: FAQ
Is Notre Dame hard to get into?
Around 12% in recent cycles, from roughly 30,000 applicants. Restrictive Early Action is non-binding but limits other early applications. Notre Dame is test-optional. At Notre Dame, applicants clear a high academic bar first, then stand out through essays, activities, and character.
What GPA do you need to get into Notre Dame?
Admitted students at Notre Dame typically have a GPA around 3.9-4.0 (middle 50 percent). A strong GPA in demanding courses is the foundation, though it never guarantees admission.
What SAT score do you need for Notre Dame?
The middle 50 percent of admitted students at Notre Dame score about 1440-1560 on the SAT. Scores in or above that range keep you competitive.
What does Notre Dame look for in applicants?
Notre Dame weighs course rigor, grades (gpa), the application essay, and character and personal qualities most heavily, alongside a strong academic record. The parts you most control late in the process are your essays and how you present your activities.
See your real chances at Notre Dame and every school.
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