Last Updated on October 1, 2026
Quick answer: Here is how to get into Notre Dame: earn top grades in a rigorous course load, show sustained leadership outside the classroom, secure thoughtful recommendations, and write specific supplemental essays that show how you fit its mission. Notre Dame admitted 9% of applicants to the Class of 2030 and offers Restrictive Early Action with a November 1 deadline.
How to Get Into Notre Dame
If you’re looking for a prestigious college located in the Midwest, you should have your eyes on the University of Notre Dame. Your interest might stem from the possibility of attending a solid undergraduate business school in the form of The Mendoza College. Or you could be drawn in by the fact that 84% of pre-med graduates at Notre Dame get into medical school. [1] That’s almost twice the national average! You’re not the only one wondering how to get into Notre Dame, though: 36,104 students applied for a place in the Class of 2030.
Notre Dame has grown increasingly selective over the years, admitting 9% of applicants to the Class of 2030. [2] So how do you prove to the admissions officers that your goals, interests, and background make you a unique candidate? To help you answer the question of how to get into Notre Dame, I’ve outlined more on the undergraduate schools within Notre Dame, the academic requirements and expectations, the best ways to pursue your extracurriculars, how to take advantage of the essay components, and finally, the deadlines and protocols you must follow to ensure your application is complete.
The Different Notre Dame Undergraduate Colleges
If you’re considering how to get into Notre Dame, you might already know which among Notre Dame’s undergraduate colleges offers your choice of major:
- School of Architecture
- College of Arts and Letters
- College of Engineering
- Mendoza College of Business
- College of Science
Notre Dame also offers the Keough School of Global Affairs, for six undergraduate colleges and schools in all. You select one of them when you apply to Notre Dame through the Common App.
Once you’ve picked a college, you’ll get a new drop-down menu that contains all of the majors that you can apply for at the college of your choice:
One thing to note is that if you’re a contender for the Mendoza College of Business, you can indicate a second interest area because there are very few spots:
Although you don’t have to officially declare your major until your sophomore year, you should carefully think about the competitiveness of the pool you’re applying to, and whether your choice of discipline fits in with the rest of your profile. This way, you can convey to admissions officers that you have focused your time on building your candidacy around your interests and goals. Plus, you do have to apply to one of the colleges, so it’s best to know where your aspirations lie.
Academic and Testing Requirements
While Notre Dame doesn’t publicize its median GPA, you should bring your A-game, even though Notre Dame sets no minimum GPA or class rank to apply. [3] The university expects applicants to challenge themselves, so you should take available AP or IB courses to demonstrate your ability of managing a difficult course load.
Notre Dame recommends a rigorous four-year curriculum in the core academic subjects. Even though every candidate’s electives are likely to differ based on their interests and abilities, Notre Dame recommends the following:
- 4 units of English
- 3-4 units of mathematics
- 3-4 units of a world language
- 3-4 units of science
- 3-4 units of history or social science
If you intend to study a STEM field, architecture, or business, Notre Dame expects 4 units of math, which should include calculus. [3] STEM and architecture applicants should also take biology, chemistry, and physics.
Standardized Testing
Students interested in how to get into Notre Dame should know that the university is test-optional through 2026-27, so you are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores. Notre Dame will reinstate a testing requirement for students entering in fall 2028. [4] If you choose to submit scores, make sure they reflect the same level of preparation as your transcript. AP and IB exam results can also show your mastery of a subject. The middle 50% of scores for the Class of 2030 were: [2]
- SAT: 1460-1540
- ACT: 33-35
If your scores are below the median, you must make sure that you maintain a high GPA, as that number has been built over four years. If your scores align with the median, you should step away from the SAT and instead spend time striving for leadership positions in your extracurriculars as well as thinking about the perfect topic for your personal statement.
Notre Dame also requires two letters of evaluation: one from a teacher in a core academic subject who knows you well, and a second, ideally from your school counselor. [4] Choose recommenders who can describe how you think, contribute, and grow in class.
Extracurriculars
If you’re interested in how to get into Notre Dame, you must shine outside the classroom as well. Notre Dame asks applicants to share the ways they are leading and making an impact, so when building your profile, you need to think about how you can make an impact in your community. [3] In order to get noticed among the competition (remember, you’re up against thousands of candidates), you have to go beyond just joining common clubs with your friends.
Instead, you should consider your biggest interest, where you thrive the most, and take initiatives to get noticed as a leader. Notre Dame admissions officers expect top applicants to take charge and have sustained involvement in their areas of interest. If you’re talented in art, for example, don’t just join the pre-existing art club at your school. Find ways to diversify: start a bigger art project involving others, begin an initiative to promote the use of art towards social change, or arrange an exhibition showcasing pieces by yourself and other artists in the area. You need to think out of the box when demonstrating your abilities in any field. Notre Dame wants to know that you don’t just hope to pursue a certain major on paper. You need to show that you’ve actively done work surrounding your interest.
Personal Statement and Supplemental Essays
While the Common App Activities List gives you a little bit of space to elaborate on 10 of your most meaningful activities, if you’ve got an extracurricular that you believe can help distinguish you from the other applicants, take advantage of the Common Application personal statement. Use this 650-word component to convey who you are and what matters to you. Brainstorm your topic carefully – what can you bring that others can’t? Your response could also focus on a part of your background that has shaped your perspective or it could highlight a quirky hobby that isn’t common among teenagers. You should expect to go through at least ten drafts in order to submit a polished version that will boost your profile.
Notre Dame Supplemental Essays
While your personal statement expands on your personality and background, the Notre Dame supplemental essays allow you to elaborate on your specific interest in the university and help admissions officers determine whether you would be a good fit for the school. [4] The prompts are:
The University of Notre Dame Writing Supplement consists of one (1) essay response to a required question and two (2) short-answer responses to questions you select from the options provided. In total, you will write three (3) responses.
Required Question
Please provide a response to the following question. The word count is a maximum of 150 words.
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.
Additional Questions
Please provide responses to TWO (2) of the following questions. Your response to each short-answer question should be between 50-100 words.
Prompt 1:
How does faith influence the decisions you make?
Prompt 2:
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?
Prompt 3:
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?
Prompt 4:
What would you fight for?
Planning Your Notre Dame Responses
Notre Dame asks for three written responses in all: the required essay and two short answers.
In order to successfully complete your quest of how to get into Notre Dame, you need to make each of your three responses count. For prompt-by-prompt ideas, see our guide on how to write the Notre Dame supplemental essays. Since you only have 150 words to write the first and only required question, you really have to pinpoint one specific component of Notre Dame that makes it matter to you. Don’t go for opportunities you can find at other colleges such as a Biology department or a love for football. Dig deeper into the website and think about unique Notre Dame offerings such as the Digital Visualization Theater or the 25,000 square-foot Turbomachinery Laboratory. Of course, the reason shouldn’t just be random. Don’t just choose a part of the school that sounds impressive – you must also connect it to your specific interests and goals.
Given that you have four options to choose from for your next two answers, make sure that you pick the prompts that inspire the best responses out of you. You could begin by eliminating questions that might be too risky or don’t apply to you. For example, choose the faith prompt if faith genuinely shapes the choices you make. If you’re worried that your unpopular opinion would raise a red flag with admissions officers, that’s definitely not a prompt you want to tackle. With these essays, it’s all about showing the school how you would meaningfully contribute to campus.
Notre Dame Deadlines and Requirements
When thinking about how to get into Notre Dame, you must also consider the logistics so that you know the instructions and deadlines to follow.
The Restrictive Early Action deadline for Notre Dame is November 1, while the Regular Decision deadline is January 4. [4]
Knowing these dates can help you start working on filling out the Common App, writing all of the required essays, and giving your recommender enough time to write their letter. The material you need to submit for your Notre Dame undergraduate application is outlined in the table below:
| Requirement | Details (2026-27 application) |
|---|---|
| Common App personal statement | Up to 650 words. |
| Notre Dame Writing Supplement | One required essay (up to 150 words) plus two short-answer responses (50 to 100 words each) chosen from four prompts. |
| Official high school transcript | Required. Restrictive Early Action applicants may also send a first-quarter or first-trimester progress report. |
| Teacher letter of evaluation | One letter from a teacher in a core academic subject. |
| Counselor letter of evaluation | Highly recommended as the second letter of evaluation. If your counselor is unavailable, another member of your community may write it. |
| SAT or ACT | Optional for students applying through 2026-27. Required for students applying in 2027-28 (entering fall 2028). |
| Art, music, or architecture materials | Optional, only for students interested in these fields. Submit through SlideRoom in the Common App or Coalition Application. |
Next Steps
- Apply Restrictive Early Action – If the University of Notre Dame is your top choice, applying Restrictive Early Action (REA) can be a strategic advantage. While REA limits you from applying early to other private institutions, it allows you to show solid interest, without committing if admitted. Because REA is nonbinding, you can still compare your options before you commit. Applying early also gives you an earlier answer from Notre Dame. If Notre Dame is your top-choice school, REA is worth serious consideration.
- Conduct Thorough Research – Through the supplemental essays, the University of Notre Dame gauges not only your interest, but your knowledge of the school. Whenever talking about Notre Dame, you must be as specific as possible, both in discussing what appeals to you as well as what Notre Dame has to offer that you cannot find at other colleges. So, dig deep into the website and know what you’re talking about as you tackle the different prompts.
As you continue Googling how to get into Notre Dame, you should know that there isn’t a single answer to your query. If the current pattern continues, more and more candidates will keep applying to the University of Notre Dame. But instead of fixating on the low acceptance rate, spend your time perfecting your grades, stepping up in your activities, and planning excellent essays that can wow admissions officers. If they believe that you’re a good fit, you might just see that acceptance letter slide into your inbox.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
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