University of Notre Dame User Reviews and Ratings
Delighted Parent
By Parent of 2019 grad, From NJ
My daughter just graduated from ND. She absolutely loved it. She went to Mendoza and majored in finance. Most importantly, she met a wonderful group of kids that will be life long friends. She landed a great internship last summer (2018) and was subsequently offered a full time position upon graduation. The networking for ND is unprecedented (my alma mater pales in comparison). Bottom line - I can't imagine feeling more comfortable dropping my kid off at any other school.
What best describes you? Parent
Activities & Social Life
Score：4
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Notre Dame is a Special Place
By Sam, Class of 2015, From Palo Alto, CA
Notre Dame students are some of the friendliest and nicest people that you will meet. The education is top-tier as well. You will be academically, professionally, spiritually, and emotionally prepared for life after Notre Dame. Be prepared to fall in love with Notre Dame.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：3
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Amazing Place
By Kman90, From Chicago
An amazing university that has had a dramatic impact on my life. The connections and the network that you can develop will help you throughout your career, and will continue to develop throughout your life. The comradery and school spirit that are fostered at ND is unique.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Best choice of my life!
By NDAlum, From Boston
I loved my time at ND and would do it all again! I'm happily in a prestigious medical school too having done well there too, so I would definitely recommend going :)
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Excellent Undergrad Experience
By Meghan, Class of 2019, From Springfield, IL
Choosing to come to Notre Dame for undergrad was the best decision of my life! Excellent academics, community/dorm life, sports, food, professors, very safe and beautiful environment, and great alumni network. ND has a very welcoming & friendly environment; many students help each other out with homework, class notes, and exam preparation. Also, many students smile and say hi when you walk around campus. I'm not a super religious person & I think many people who are not Catholic worry about coming to a Catholic institution like ND. You don't need to worry about that! Your religious affiliation doesn't really matter when at ND. While at ND, I did not feel any pressure to go to mass or to be more religious. Please do not let ND's catholic affiliation prevent you from coming to ND! Also, all of the students I met while at ND are very accepting and don't care what religious affiliation or sexual orientation you are. There are several organizations at ND for LGBTQ+ students, like PrismND and the GRC. Regarding academics, I was on the pre-med track while at ND & the science professors really prepare ND students for the MCAT. ND has an excellent alumni network, which helps you find jobs/internships to help boost your resume. The dorm life helps you make friends and find a group of people to hang out with. Also, there is a lot of school spirit at ND, which you can see at the sporting events, especially at football, hockey, and basketball games. Lastly, ND has a stunning campus; it is the most beautiful campus I have seen in the U.S. I have absolutely loved my time at Notre Dame and wish I could go back in the fall! Go Irish!
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Notre Dame was an unforgettable experience
By Aaron 2019, From Houston, TX
I loved getting my MBA from Notre Dame. It was a special place. Those involved strived for excellence and everything was first class.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Overrated
By Jeff, From IN
As a senior, I wish I had done more homework in high school before I enrolled. If I could do it over, I would not attend Notre Dame. In academic, social and career points of view, this university miserably falls short. I am currently attending the university's business school, and it should be nowhere near where it is ranked. Classes are mediocre, professors are a hit or miss and Mendoza over-enrolls. There is very little guidance throughout the four years and the counselors have been generally unhelpful. Socially, there is absolutely no diversity--and I mean this in more than racial sense. 95% of students here are either loaded foreign students, upper class white or athletes. If you don't fit into any of those categories, you WILL feel out of place. Surrounding areas suck (bad bars and clubs) and it's bitterly cold in the winter. Overall, very overrated school--academically and in football.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：2
City & Setting
Score：3
Classes & Teachers
Score：4
Dining & Food
Score：3
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：4
Great school
By Yan, From Maryland
My son had the best experience in Univ of Notre Dame
What best describes you? Parent
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Special place.
By J, From New York, NY
Those who know Notre Dame, no explanation's necessary. Those who don't, no explanation will suffice.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Best decision of my life
By Love thee Notre Dame, From New England
I'm from the Northeast so Notre Dame wasn't on my radar until a high school counselor recommended it to me because I wanted a top-tier school where students weren't cutthroat. What ultimately drew me to Notre Dame over the other prestigious schools in New England and the Midwest that I had gotten into was its friendly student atmosphere and its amazing premedical program, which ultimately helped me get into multiple top medical schools. I was an introvert before college, but going to ND helped me break out of my shell which was another unexpected positive. The student body is very active overall with literally hundreds of student sports teams/clubs available and school spirit is HUGE, especially during football season, which really adds to the college experience. I only have positives for everything Notre Dame, and also the campus is one of and if not the most beautiful in the country to top it all off. You'd be silly not to go there or at the very least give it a serious consideration! GO IRISH!
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Excellent undergraduate experience
By Kevin W, Class of 2017, From California
Truly a unique environment, given by the amazing academics, the tight night residential community, and the welcoming environment.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Special place
By PJ, 2022, From East
5/5
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Excellence in all things.
By Andrew, Class of 2000, From Rome, Italy
It's the sort of place where everyone in high school had been valedictorian, All-State varsity athlete, study body president, and spent weekends caring for homeless orphans. Excellence in all things. This was the hallmark of Notre Dame. We had a P.E. class freshman year when i went there. My first one was taught by a former Olympian. Theology was taught by the most well-known theologian in the English-language world at the time. The physics prof had collaborated with Hawking and the biology prof had earned a doctorate at 27. The philosophy department was the top-ranked in the country. It is also the most Catholic place I have ever been (and I am writing from the Rome, where i teach theology. So trust me on this one.) But it was a catholic Catholicism, not a rigid or oppressive kind. Open and universal. Not forced on anyone, but unmistakably ubiquitous. Seriously, everything excelled. The student plays outclassed professional productions, the liturgical choir made cardinals mutter "this is better than Rome", and the intramural football teams could hold their own against local colleges. And everyone was kind, sincere, and honest. And collaborative. All the erudition and of the Ivy League with none of the cut-throat competitiveness (or the grade inflation). The only drawback? It's in Indiana. Flat. Lots and lots of flatness. I always thought it was in New England until I applied.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：3
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
A mixed, non-catholic's view of Notre Dame
By JP Class of 2021, From Notre Dame, Indiana
I'm not religious and I was scared I wouldn't fit in here at ND because of that but I couldn't have been more wrong. This place is home to the nicest and most welcoming people on earth. I've never been happier. Background doesn't matter: once you're here, you're part of the ND family. Some people may think the fact that the school is Catholic is a negative– terrible way of thinking. All it really means is that the school places extra emphasis on service and volunteering. They give students lots of opportunity to travel the world and improve communities. Super awesome for building résumés (especially as a pre-med) and as a person. quick thoughts on the school overall: PROS -amazing dorm system makes it easy to make friends and get comfortable. good food too -teachers are great and super accessible (ND is very undergrad focused compared to other schools). -GPA game is not extremely challenging (great for Pre-meds or if you feel like having free-time in undergrad, lol) and its a super collaborative environment (not cut throat like Ivies, and a big reason I chose the school over others. I work together with my friends all the time on HW) -strongest alumni network in the nation makes it easy to find internships. Personally, I did research at the Mayo Clinic this summer -big foot-ball school (if you don't like sports that's ok but its another huge part of the school's identity) -good party culture -the most gorgeous campus I've ever been on (maybe i'm biased but once you come, you'll see. No other campus I've visited comes close) CONS -South bend (the town next to Notre Dame) isn't a great college town, not too safe, but I rarely leave campus anyways. Eddies street is nice though -dorms are gender segregated. You can invite girls or guys over but only before 2 a.m. I like it sometimes though because it keeps wild parties controlled so I can sleep. I'm super happy here and I'm set up to get into my Med School of choice. Couldn't ask for anything more. Go Irish!
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：3
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：3
simply amazing
By PJ class of 2020, From Los Angeles, CA
There is no other school that even comes close to this university. Amazing in every way.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Good School in an Unfortunate Location
By PK, From Dallas, TX
Strengths: dorm system/environment that fosters community building, highly regarded academics, strong endowment performance (generous financial aid), cheap cost of living in the area Weaknesses: lack of diversity, long/cold winters, horrid surrounding community, weaker recruiting than at comparable schools... if you are not into dorm life (3 years required), this isn't the place for you, gender segregated dorms
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：4
City & Setting
Score：2
Classes & Teachers
Score：4
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Top university
By Trindade, From Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
The university lacks diversity but am aware they are trying to close the gap.
What best describes you? Parent
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
I Made the Right Choice
By Patrick, Class of 2022, From South Bend, Indiana
After the first few weeks on campus, I can definitively say that I made the right choice in attending Notre Dame. The dorm system that they have on campus is incredible, the classes are incredible, the food is incredible, and the school spirit is, again, incredible. I'm super excited for the next four years here, and if you're debating about applying Notre Dame, you should apply, tour, and see what happens! Go Irish!
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
