University of Notre Dame Reviews

Drinking is very common on campus,...

Drinking is very common on campus, but there is definitely no peer pressure to drink. People are totally okay with a sober person at a party. Students party only on Friday and Saturday nights and on St. Patrick's day. A select few party Thursday nights. Girl's dorms are VERY strict about drinking. RAs will not come looking in rooms for alcohol, but if you are stupid and leave a door open as an RA walks by, you WILL get in trouble. On the other hand, boy's dorms are very lenient. Some are so lenient that RAs drink with the other students. In general, the school embraces its title as the school of the fighting Irish. Teachers and students alike are comfortable conversing about and boasting about their drinking extravaganzas. (If you want the experience of a lifetime, visit on St. Patrick's Day. Any student who drinks alcohol will most definitely be drunk from the moment he/she wakes up, probably through class the next day!) As for drugs, they are not widely used at all. and many students look down upon drug use. On the other hand, I have known boys to smoke weed in their rooms or right outside their dorm. Not to say this is smart, but it makes a tiny presence on campus. The other issue is sex on campus. I must say that sex is probably no where near as casual or as widespread as it is on a typical college campus. Because of the Catholic morals of so many of the students, sex can be judged harshly by some. Of course people have sex here, but it isn't something girls brag about, and guys not as much either. Getting caught breaking parietals is a big deal—you don't want this to happen. Despite the sever consequences, people do it all the time. You just have to be very sneaky (especially in girls' dorms).

Freshmen can a bring cars second...

Freshmen can a bring cars second semester, and parking is fairly easy and convenient. It is awful with the snow in the winter, but it is balanced by the fact that you will be on campus 95 percent of the time if you live in the dorms.

There are always cabs and taxis at...

There are always cabs and taxis at main circle during weekends and at night. If you need to get to an off campus house you can use the cabs that will charge $3 a person. It is extremely convenient to know you can always get transportation whenever you need it. Other than that there isn't much but it's all you need.

It is relatively easy to find...

It is relatively easy to find off-campus housing. However many students actually choose to stay on campus all four years. It is definitely cheaper to live off campus than on campus.

Public transportation is not very...

Public transportation is not very convenient. I never use it to get around.

Most people stay in the dorms...

Most people stay in the dorms until senior year. Off-campus housing is pretty widespread, but there aren't really a lot of student neighborhoods. South Bend can be pretty sketchy, but a lot of people still move off.

Varsity sports at Notre Dame are a...

Varsity sports at Notre Dame are a pretty big deal, clearly. Students, parents, and alumni live and die for football weekends and all that comes with it (dressing up, touring campus, tailgating, etc.), and there is still a fair turnout for other athletic events. Intramural sports are huge too, and Notre Dame is one of few universities to provide full-on tackle football as an intramural sport.

Staying in dorms often is the...

Staying in dorms often is the easiest and makes the most sense, especially due to how dangerous South Bend is.

I'll say Legends Hip Hop is nice,...

I'll say Legends Hip Hop is nice, just make sure you pre and post party. Dorm parties are great freshman year, but after that... I'll say that off-campus parties would have been the way to go if South Bend police would stop overchasing after college students.

Now, I don't know where these...

Now, I don't know where these girls found these good-looking guys. Not on campus for sure. For the brain they got it, but for the face, that is zero. If that wasn't enough, they are mostly scared of girls. As for dressing code, they shouldn't be complaining as they do just like most of the girls: sweatpants and $5 T-shirts, I have even seen some guys with light purple, orange, dirty green, or other similar odd color jeans. Coming from NYC, this is just a disaster.

The food on campus is not bad at...

The food on campus is not bad at all; it’s much better than many other schools I’ve visited. The dining halls offer a wide variety of foods. In each dining hall, there is a Mexican section, a cook-out section, a vegetarian section, a deli, a stir-fry section, a home-cooking section and a panini section. There’s also a salad bar with fresh bread and soups! This may sound a little crazy, but some parents want to eat in the dining hall when they visit instead of going out to a restaurant.

The parties on campus can be fun,...

The parties on campus can be fun, but the excitement wears off after a year or so. It’s a great way to meet people as a freshman. If I can give one piece of advice it would be to go to parties as a freshman, even if you don’t drink. You will find that you are definitely not the only one. Don’t think that if you don’t drink people won’t hang out with you. Off campus, I really like CJ’s and Corby’s.

The bars are okay. In South Bend,...

The bars are okay. In South Bend, you have to be 21 to get into bars so, technically, you won’t be frequenting those that often. That said, fake IDs are very prevalent on campus. As a freshman, if you have a fake or if you borrow one, you will undoubtedly go to CJ’s—the place is disgusting! There are a lot of places to go, but you have to be prepared. I know some people who have gotten busted for fake IDs, and that’s not good because it can affect your ability to study abroad.

We don’t have Greek life, which is...

We don’t have Greek life, which is really nice. There aren’t any stereotypes like on many other campuses. There are times when I wish I did have Greek life, but they’re mostly when I’m talking to my friends at home who are in sororities. The way I look at it is, I don’t miss what I’ve never had, but I have had a great time with my friends without Greek life.

Getting caught with drugs means...

Getting caught with drugs means immediate expulsion. Drinking isn’t taken as seriously as drugs, unless you’re stupidly drunk and falling all over. The only advice I have is to not get that drunk and campus police won’t bother you. Being the most famous of Catholic institutions, and therefore the strictest, getting caught having sex on campus will get you kicked off campus. Be smart and cautious if you’re ever going to fool around.

You will be disappointed with...

You will be disappointed with Notre Dame if you’re going to college for a great or liberal social scene. There are lots of very old-school Catholic people, and many do not care about their looks.

As a guy, I can say that most guys...

As a guy, I can say that most guys are pretty good looking. A survey from somewhere ranked Notre Dame as the third best school for guys. As far as girls, I think they were at 163 or something. There are some very nice girls and a couple of attractive girls, but if you are looking for cute girls, go somewhere else.

Notre Dame is not very diverse....

Notre Dame is not very diverse. White and Catholic is the majority.

I think the dining hall food is a...

I think the dining hall food is a lot better than other schools. I got lucky; my dorm is right by South Dining Hall, which is a lot better than North, in my opinion.

I really like all the teachers...

I really like all the teachers I’ve had. They are very personable, and you can talk to them. They’re also very accessible, which is great if you have last-minute questions or problems. For the most part, the professors love what they’re doing, and they make classes interesting.

Mostly, I’ve seen weed, but I know...

Mostly, I’ve seen weed, but I know there is other stuff. You can get kicked out if you are caught with drugs.

While there is an occasional...

While there is an occasional isolated flare-up of drug use on campus, there is absolutely no tolerance of this by the administration. Being caught means expulsion.

The drinking policy on campus is...

The drinking policy on campus is pretty lenient. In a way, it teaches you to be responsible in a safe environment. However, the drug policy is very strict. There’s really no reason to worry.

Notre Dame really is a unique...

Notre Dame really is a unique school. The people, the campus life, the education, and the atmosphere are all things that are really special to Notre Dame. Since I have attended a different school, I can sincerely tell you that I appreciate the unity at Notre Dame a lot more than most students. It really is like you are a part of a family. The amount of school spirit and love for Notre Dame is just amazing.

I considered it a blessing when I...

I considered it a blessing when I was accepted into the University of Notre Dame; and as a junior, I still think it’s an amazing place where so much learning occurs both in and out of class. Notre Dame is definitely a top-notch collection of some of the smartest minds in the country. It’s an intellectual paradise. The University helps every one of its students succeed; the only way you fail is if you try. At Notre Dame, I have learned so much about who I am, what I want out of life, and where I belong. Notre Dame is where I started to prepare myself for life, and I will always call it home.