University of Notre Dame

“Everyone has different priorities when considering their higher education options and building their college or university list. Tell us about your 'non-negotiable' factor(s) when searching for your future college home.”

How to approach it. Be honest about what you truly won't compromise on and tie it to who you are, then let it point naturally toward what Notre Dame offers. Specific priorities read as self-aware; a generic wish list reads as filler.

“How does faith influence the decisions you make?”

How to approach it. Interpret faith broadly and answer with sincerity — it can be religious, ethical, or a guiding conviction. Ground it in one decision you actually made so the answer is lived rather than abstract.

“What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development (eg, family support, culture, disability, personal background, community, etc)? Why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the Notre Dame community?”

How to approach it. Pick one distinctive thread and connect it to what you'd bring to campus, not just where you come from. With so few words, choose the detail that only you could write and let it do the work.

“Notre Dame's undergraduate experience is characterized by a collective sense of care for every person. How do you foster service to others in your community?”

How to approach it. Show how you actually care for people, ideally through an ongoing habit rather than a one-time event. Notre Dame reads for sincerity here, so a small consistent act beats an impressive-sounding title.

“What compliment are you most proud of receiving, and why does it mean so much to you?”

How to approach it. Choose a compliment that reveals a value you hold, then explain why it landed so deeply. The best answers pick something quiet and personal over the obvious praise about grades or talent.

“With the Fighting Irish as our mascot, the Notre Dame community is all about 'fighting' for what matters. This is your opportunity to tell us what (or who) you would fight for at Notre Dame, in your career, in your community, through your research, or in whatever other space in which you hope to make an impact.”

How to approach it. Name something specific you'd genuinely fight for and connect it to a real commitment, not a broad cause you've never acted on. Conviction backed by even one concrete action reads stronger than sweeping idealism.