Hi all, I want to apply to Notre Dame University and was wondering what the average ACT scores are for incoming students. Could someone help me out? Thanks!
Hi! The University of Notre Dame is known for its selectivity, and it's a great idea to make sure you're in the ballpark with your ACT score. For the University of Notre Dame, the middle 50% ACT scores for accepted students typically ranges from about 33 to 35. This statistic means that 25% of admitted students score above a 35, while another 25% score below a 33, and the remaining 50% fall within this range.
Although strong test scores are important, don't forget the admissions process also considers other factors within your application, such as your GPA, course rigor, letters of recommendation, extracurricular involvement, and essays. So, while a competitive ACT score does matter, you'll also want to ensure that the other parts of your application are strong too - at a school as selective as Notre Dame, no single credential will guarantee acceptance.
For guidance on how to strengthen your overall application to Notre Dame, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle their school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-notre-dame-essays/. At selective institutions like Notre Dame, most applicants have excellent academic credentials, and the essays are a great way to distinguish yourself even within a competitive applicant pool.
Finally, it is worth noting that Notre Dame is officially test-optional, so submitting an ACT (or SAT) score is actually not required. You're smart to still be thinking about a target score, however, as at selective schools, you generally want to showcase your strengths in as many ways as possible. For detailed guidance on how to navigate test-optional policies, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional/
Good luck with your application to Notre Dame!
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