Clothesline Project

In the words of our very own Marianna Milkowski '13:


"BALTIMORE– Notre Dame of Maryland University is raising awareness about violence against women and girls with the Clothesline Project, a visual display of shirts with written messages and illustrations that graphically demonstrate the impact of abuse. The clothesline will be displayed tomorrow (24th) on the Doyle lawn from 10 am to 4 pm, and on April 25th from 10 am to 2 pm. The Clothesline Project shirts are designed by women survivors of violence, their families or friends. This year’s Clothesline includes shirts made by incarcerated women at the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women (MCIW).
The purpose of the project is to educate the public, to mourn those who have died as a result of violence and to bear witness to a woman’s courage to survive and heal. “Simply viewing the shirts is often enough to encourage a survivor to make a shirt and thereby break the silence that has held her prisoner for so long,” says Susan Barber, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the women’s studies program at Notre Dame. “It is an important step to ending the vicious cycle of abuse. By hanging their shirt out in the open, women can leave behind some of the pain from their past and continue their healing.” All are welcome to attend and participate in making a shirt to add to the Clothesline. ♥ "

This project is done annually at Notre Dame through the Intro to Women's Studies course, which many student choose to take.  It is one of the great eye-opening traditions we have here.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Here are some of the most popular questions we come across:


Can I live on campus for all 4 years?
At Notre Dame, you have guaranteed housing for all four years!  All freshman must live in Doyle Hall where it is 2 to a room with communal bathrooms.  Trust us when we say it is nothing like the movies; there is always an open shower, sink, etc.  They are cleaned daily and are not scary, we promise!  Upper upperclassmen can live in Meletia Hall, where the upper floors are suites.  Two rooms (4 people) share a small hallway with a vanity and a private bathroom.  A few Meletia rooms even have balconies! 
Extra tidbit: laundry is free!

How much does parking cost & can I have a car all 4 years?
We offer free parking!!  All you need to do is stop by the Security Office to get a little sticker for the back window that marks you as Resident or Commuter.  You can even have a car all four years!

When do I have to make a decision by?
The National Decision day for Seniors is May 1st.  You must let your choice of college know by May 1st that you would like to attend there in the Fall.  If you have a legitimate reason for needing an extension, you must contact your Admissions Counselor to request an extension.

What is the social life like?
Not only does Notre Dame have its own Student Life office and great activities and events, but we are a part of the Baltimore Collegetown.  There are 120,000+ college students right in this area from John Hopkins, Loyola, Towson, Goucher, MICA, Morgan, etc.  There is a bus service for students to use in order to get to another campus, to the Inner Harbor, to the Mall, and more.  Other than Baltimore colleges' activities, some of Notre Dame's most popular events include Winterfest, 100 Nights, New Release Movie Nights, and even bingo with amazing prizes.

What is the typical class size?
Our student to teacher ratio is 12:1.  An average class size will be 12-15 students in a more discussion based class compared to a huge lecture hall.  Depending on the class, they can range from 5-25 students.  Some upper level classes for seniors within a certain major will be smaller than entry level courses.

What if I don't know what I want to major in when I start college?
That is not a problem! Students cannot even officially declare a major until Sophomore year!  You start out with a Freshman academic advisor and once you declare a major, you will work one on one with an advisor in your field.  Since Notre Dame is a Liberal Arts college, you start off your college career by taking classes in various departments that interest you.  These classes will guide you toward a career you are most interested in or even open your eyes to other options you hadn't thought of.

Can I pick my roommate?
If you and another accepted student both request each other on the residence form, which will be in your new student packet, you can live together.  You must request each other!  If you do not find a roomie, Residence Life does a great job at pairing people up based on interests and schedules.

When do I pick classes?
You will receive information in the mail about your designated registration day in June.  You will come on one of the two registration days to pick out your classes with help from an academic advisor.

When is move-in day?
August 25th is move-in day for students.  If you plan on being a Fall athlete, you will receive information from your coach over the summer about your move-in day.

What size are the beds?
You do not need Twin long sheets!  Regular twin sheets work excellently for our mattresses.


What can I/ can I not bring?
Yes to: Fish, Mini fridge, posters, PC or Mac computer, printer
No to: pets other than fish, microwave, toaster, George Foreman grills, candles, candle warmers, coffeemaker, a live gator


If there are other questions that cross your mind, feel free to comment and ask or call 410-532-5330!

Crunch Time/ Financial Aid Concerns

The next step, which is the most difficult, is deciding where you/your daughter would like to go to school for the next 4 years.  The National Decision Day is May 1st!


I wanted to use this blog to cover concerns we hear the most about when families are going through the college decision process.  By far, the most common concern is finances and the families ability to pay for the four years of education.  Speaking for our office, we are always available to talk to you about your financial aid package and about your questions or concerns with the cost of attendance!

Some suggestions:

1. Have at least one phone conversation with your personal Admissions Counselor to go over your financial aid award letter.  Not only will this allow for you to understand every line of the letter, but it also allows the Admissions Counselor to give you your "out of pocket" cost.  Most families think they will have to pay a certain amount, because of a misconception of the letter when, in fact, it is usually less.
2. Use that conversation to talk to your Counselor about any financial problems or concerns.  We are your family's advocate and will do all that we can to make NDMU affordable and attainable for you!  Your personal Admissions Counselor can talk you through different financial aid appeal options in order for you to receive more aid if it is needed.  We are here to help!
3. Keep in mind the connection between cost of attendance and aid given for all of your schools.  Just because college B gave you $5000 more than college C, doesn't mean College B is necessarily less expensive.  Make sure to look at the cost of each school and what that covers and then look at scholarships, grants, etc. from each institution.
4. Be aware of the difference between the private and public schools you have been accepted to.  Private school does not have "In state" vs. "Out of State" tuition.  If you are from another state and could receive state aid at a local school, this is just one example of what you should talk to us about in order for us to possibly close that gap as much as possible.
5. Lastly, make sure to understand what your money will be paying for and what will still be left to cover.  Some schools have Room and Board, which covers living and eating on campus, while others require you purchase a meal plan on top of that bill you receive.  Another common bill is parking.  Parking on some campuses can cost an arm and a leg, so make sure to look into that (Notre Dame is free and guaranteed).  Finally, think of little things like laundry.  NDMU has free laundry :)  Finally, make sure you check with schools to make sure that your willingness to pay for living on campus or parking on campus (depending on the college) isn't in vain, since some schools don't allow or don't have room for each student all 4 years.


As a final and very honest note,
If your daughter wants to be here; we want her to be here & will do whatever we can.  We will truly do all that we can to get you here and make NDMU as affordable for your family as possible.  Because we are a smaller school, we really do have the ability to work with each family one-on-one to understand everyone's story and to address their concerns.


Please do not hesitate to give us a call at 410-532-5330.  This is our Main Office of Admissions number, which can always direct you to your specific counselor.


We look forward to hearing from you soon and seeing you in the Fall!
The Notre Dame of Maryland University's Office of Admissions