University of Notre Dame Top Questions

Before I started looking at the school, I didn't realize that it had good academics. Students generally did well in high school, but they know there's more to college than studying. Professors may think we have intellectual conversations outside of class, but it's uncommon. Notre Dame has a lot more requirements than I thought before I came here, including two philosophy and two theology classes for all majors. Students aren't overly competitive - they're more likely to work together that compete against one another, maybe with the exception of the pre-meds. There's a really strong math program for anyone who wants to go to grad school for math. There's a very rigorous proofs-based track, but there's also a more typical track.

Students are competitive but willing to genuinely help each other. in smaller classes professors know your name, conversations/ help is available outside of class. My favorite classes have been philosophy with a certain grad student because he made it non-intimidating and relatable, and 2-D design again with a grad student for the same reason, Theology because it opened so many opposing views. The requirements seem legit. I think the education is geared towards getting a job, especially well-paying so you can donate back. AND cause it costs SO much, if you dont get a great job, what was all that money and work for really? you can make yourself learn anywhere.

challening and thought-provoking. Students are intellectual and competitive but still willing to help out anyone who is struggling. There are plenty of small classes were it is easy to get to know the professor and the professor gets to know you.

most of my classes have been about 30 people in size, the classes for my major are far more interesting than my requirements, participation is very common, tons of studying, but most of that studying pays off

Professors all know my name which I was surprised in many of the larger classes. My favorite class is a discussion group-- a dialogue between Catholics and Protestants. Students study much more here than at any other school I have visited. Academics are taken seriously and it is highly competitive over all. All of the professors I have had have welcomed appointments outside of class. They are very helpful and want to see you learn and do well. I think that many departments at ND are geared toward learning but there are also those majors that are just to get that dream job.

This school is very academically challenging. The professors really want to prepare you for your future, and most students are also very driven to achieve big things in their futures. A lot of freshmen intro classes are quite large, and the professors do not get to know the students individually, but once you start having more upper level classes, you are able to develop closer relationships with faculty. Notre adame is also very big on undergradates participating in research, which allows students to form close faculty connections. Education at Notre Dame is definitely geared towards getting a job or getting into grad school. However, this is more because of what the students want out of their education rather than what the professors may want. A lot of students also pursue double majors or have multiple minors because they are trying to create competitive resumes. Students do not compete against each other academically necessarily, but they do work very hard to create the best resume they can.

Classes are hard, but professors do care. And just cause it's a big school doesn't mean that classes will be big - My biggest class is 40 people and my smallest is 5, and I'm only a freshman! Professors are great - I've already been to a professor's house for dinner. The network of ND alumni is great for getting internships and jobs, and Notre Dame students are completely prepared for the real world no matter what their major is.

I have only been in one class larger than 30 students which make individual attention from professors easy to come by. I feel this has greatly added to my education.

Students study a lot here. Most people are very academically-focused. The students are competitive, but not mean about it.

Students are concerned with their grades but they're not competitive against other students. We do have intellectual conversations outside of class.

Professors here are great... I mean everybody has that one that they don't love, but for the most part all you hear are good things. Class size is usually on the small side, but there are some big first year classes. Students study a lot, but for the most part they keep it in perspective. The students here can be competitive, but it never turns ugly. Students are happy to help out one another, even if they want a better grade in the end. I have never heard of a situation when competition over grades has led to sabotage or something crazy like that. The students who are super competitive usually down-play it to save face. My major is Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies. I love the language, it is amazing, and my professor is the best. She is always eager to help after class, and she puts together tons of cultural events. Education here is geared toward getting a job, but ND definitely pushes its students to look at the bigger picture. Service is really encouraged, and even though there is a focus on landing the great job, a good amount of students come out culturally aware.

I have been impressed with Notre Dame academics. They offer tons of help such as study sessions, office hours, and tutors. Professors want to know the students on a personal and academic level. Most students are serious about their studies and take the time to do their work well. Often the is a great amount of competition among students, especially in departments like the pre-med track. Students often meet with professors outside of class. They offer a variety of choices and encourage students to study what they enjoy. My favorite class is anthropology.

Education is usually geared toward learning for the sake of learning. Professors are hit or miss, the econ dept. sucks. I find the hardest part about ND is getting in, the classes are relatively easy.

The academics at Notre Dame are top notch. Once you complete your university requirements and you begin to take those classes required for your major, you escape from the very large lecture halls that are inevitable for the few classes that everyone has to take. Again, once you start taking the classes for your major, you move into classes of about 25-30 students and you realize that a lot of the people in your classes are also of your same major and you make friends with all of them. In addition, the professors for my major do know my name and i have had conversations with them a number of times outside of class. Often times, professors are given a certain amount of money for their class and they choose to use that money by either taking the class out to dinner or inviting them over for pizza and to watch a football game. All in all, it is a lot of fun and i honestly don't think that you could find that type of student-teacher relationship anywhere else.

Some professors know my name, some don't. I'm a freshman so I'm still in a lot of large classes. The academics are tough, but if you got in here you should be able to handle it.

Professors know their students' names in the College of Arts and Letters. My philosophy class taught by an atheist was amazing. Least favorite: a required class within my major Students study a lot. Class participation is common. Major: needs some improvement; needs more variety I have attended events outside of class with professors and have also been invited to their houses with the rest of the class for dinner. Academic requirements: the two theology requirements can be inconvenient College of Arts and Letters seems to focus on learning for its own sake.

Professors: Know my name and a little bit about me; some have us over for dinner. Favorite Class: The Reformation taught by a Catholic; he did a great job being "neutral"! Least Favorite: Physics II, yuck! Just really boring material & boring prof. Students Study: A lot. I mean, A LOT. Sometimes one weekends; never on football Saturdays. Class Participation: Happens in small classes (<30), never in large (>60) Intellectual Conversations: Happen outside of class often, when we're not talking sports. Students Here: Are fairly competitive, but more helpful for each other than anything nasty. Unique Class: Fiction Writing (as a chemistry major, it was outside my comfort zone); it was really fun! My Major/Department: Profs push the science majors toward Ph.D.s in their field,tons of undergrad research opportunities, not a lot of counseling or career planning help. Profs Outside Class: All have office hours for a few hours per week, sometimes we'll talk outside of class or have a meal together. Our Academic Requirements: Get tougher every year; good luck! I love them, it makes us better. Education @ ND: Is geared toward learning for its own sake in Arts & Letters and the sciences, but geared toward getting a job in Business and Engineering.

All of my professors in the past, except one, have known my name. My favorite class is Spanish, my professor is Hilarious! Students study hard, and study a lot. Class participation is very important here, except in freshman classes, usually. Some Notre Dame students have intellectual convos outside of class, but it isn't th enorm. Students are very competitive, but aren't out to get each other. I ahven't taken an unusually unique class, but i hope to take irish dancing next semester.

If you take the time to introduce yourselves to your professors and ask questions in class, they will appreciate that and take time to reach out to you. Classes can range from moderately tough to nearly impossible, and students' study habits range from obsessive to apathetic. You have some amazingly deep conversations with professors and with your own age group, and those are the conversations that stick in your head long after they finish.

Not only do most of my professors know my name, but they know where I am from, what my major is, what I am interested in and much more. Professors here really like to get personal with their students and talk outside of class and it's really nice because it completely changes the classroom experience and helps you get involved in every class because classes are more of a discussion rather than a lecture. My favorite class was probably IT Management because it was a pretty basic class and the professor made it really fun. Sometimes the projects were a bit tedious or repetitive but the skills applied to almost all of my classes and the projects applied to real-life scenarios which made it interesting and applicable to the job world. My least favorite class is probably Marketing because it is a little boring and repetitive and I have a hard time getting excited about it since there are no projects. Students here are competitive, but not so much that they aren't willing to help each other out. Professors encourage students to collaborate and work together and I think that is what really helps with the sense of community on campus. Students aren't afraid that if they help each other they will suffer, so it is very common for students to help each other out and study or work together. My major is accounting and the accounting department here is amazing. It is one of the top 5 programs nationally and all of the teachers that I have had in the accounting department so far have been extremely helpful and eager to stimulate our learning and get us excited for the business world. The requirements are reasonable but at the same time still challenging and rigorous. There is a lot of flexibility at Notre Dame and students can take classes that they are really interested in and plan their schedules according to their own needs and wants. Professors are constantly applying real life business cases to the curriculum and encouraging students to think about situations they might face in the working world and that makes me feel a lot more comfortable in terms of being ready for a real job.