Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas from the Women's College Admissions Team!

The University is closed Monday the 23rd- Friday the 27th. Feel free to email us during this time and we will respond during the New Year.

Finish and Follow Up

It is that time of year when we give thanks for all that we have and to look forward to a new year, which for our high school seniors includes graduation and their first year at college. With classes finishing up and winter break so close, we know all you want to do is grab some hot chocolate and sleep all day; but you need to ask yourself two very important questions before you take that well deserved break!

Have you finished all your applications?

Sounds like a silly question but it’s worth asking. Fall is a crazy time and maybe you only had time to get out 4 applications but there were 3 other schools you also wanted to apply for. Now is your chance, most schools are still accepting applications but the longer you wait, the less chance you have to get choice scholarships!

Have you followed up with the schools you have submitted applications to?

Have you talked to your admissions counselor within the past two weeks? If not pick up the phone right now! Although you may feel like you are all done because you hit the submit button on your application you still have to follow up to ensure your application is complete. Your admissions counselor might still be waiting for test scores or waiting for letters of recommendations or transcripts. If you don’t follow up to ensure your application is complete, it may delay your acceptance or keep you from being accepted. It is best to find out what is missing now because it will be very difficult to get in contact with people once winter break is in session and you don’t want to wait till the New Year to get that missing piece in to your counselor. 

And once you have confirmed you are all done you can truly relax and wait for your acceptance letters to arrive.What a nice Christmas present that would be!

Snow day!

Everyone loves a snow day- especially students who are knee deep in their finals. Tuesday the 10th, the weatherman did not disappoint! The snow started at exactly 7am as predicted and 10 minutes later the text went out saying school was delayed until 2pm. By noon, the campus was officially closed. 

While some students took the opportunity to get a little extra studying done, some braved the elements to have a bit of fun!

Christmas Traditions at Notre Dame

Every university has special traditions to mark various events and holidays and women's colleges are especially known for these traditions. Last night was the annual Tree Trim and Christmas Dinner at Notre Dame1, one of the most beloved traditions on our campus.

We started the evening in Doyle Formal where there is a small prayer service to mark the season of advent. This prayer service immediately flowed into the campus Tree Trim where every office, department and student group was allowed to place an ornament on the tree. It is always so much fun to see the new student groups and new members of the community join in this celebration, though without a doubt, A Child’s Place steals the show every year. A Childs place is a preschool for kids 3-5 years old and some of our education students intern or volunteer there. About 8 children came forward with their handmade ornaments and of course received a crowd wide “awww” and a round of applause. 

After all the ornaments are placed and the tree is lit, everyone was dismissed to the dining hall where Christmas dinner was served. This tradition has been around since the very start of the College, when the School Sisters would serve Christmas diner to the young women! The tradition continues with faculty and staff taking on the role of the server. Many of the admissions staff are alumni of the Women’s College who have fond memories of our own Christmas dinners, so it is especially sentimental for us to continue the tradition as servers.  After dinner and desserts have been devoured, it is on to the caroling, the favorite song being the 12 Days of Christmas. Each table is assigned a certain set of numbers and you have to stand up and sing (shout) out your verse.

This is a great tradition and a welcome break during the last week of classes for our students. But if you think this sounds great, wait till you hear about what goes on during finals week! Stay tuned!

Welcome Home

It's the first day of Women's College classes at Notre Dame of Maryland University!  All of us in the Admissions Office would like to wish all of the new and returning students the best of luck as they begin a new semester.

Check out a few pictures from move-in and welcome week:

Professor Angela Sherman helps Lauren move into her new room in Doyle Hall.

Incoming student Lillian poses with her family for a quick picture.

Students and families line up for the signing and pinning ceremony.

The School Sisters of Notre Dame bless the students at Tuesday's community lunch.

To see more pictures and updates, check out the Women's College Admissions Facebook page!

Move-In

It's almost move-in day!  Next Saturday, August 24th, campus will be swarmed with students and families moving into their new rooms.  Everyone here in admissions is excited to finally have students back on campus...this summer has been too quiet!

Orientation will take place from Saturday until Tuesday and include lots of fun and informative activities.  Saturday's signing of the book, pinning, and mass have become beloved traditions in the Notre Dame community.  Notre Dame students will also be seen out and about during orientation, as they will be attending a baseball game (go Orioles!) and checking out Baltimore's Collegetown Network with their orientation leaders.  Incoming students--check your email or the Facebook group for a more detailed schedule!

Check out these pictures from previous move in days:

Happy summer – June Orientation Overnight information!

Warmer weather is finally here to stay! We know that many of you are attending all of the wonderful events that only come around during your senior year: prom, graduation, beach week, and more! Deposited students, when making your summer plans, don’t forget about our June Overnight Orientation on Thursday, June 20^th – Friday, June 21^st. This overnight event will be a great way for you to bond with your future classmates, register for your classes, obtain your ID card, and more!

To find out more about the event and to RSVP, visit: www.ndm.edu/newstudent.

On the website you will see the new student forms required for incoming freshman. Please have these in hand when you walk through the doors of Doyle Hall for the event! Our Office of Student Life needs the paperwork as soon as possible. There is also a list of resources available that you may want to keep handy as you start your journey on campus as a Notre Dame woman! Some of these “quick links” include our SAGE dining service, business office, health center, and commuter services. Feel free to browse and become familiar with them – more detailed information will also be available at the orientation event!

We want to see all of our deposited students here on campus, as this is the only scheduled summer orientation! If there is a conflict, please be in touch with your Admissions Counselor.

For those students who have not deposited yet, please be in contact with your personal Admissions Counselor. We want to make sure you get everything in order and have all of your questions answered.  We are here to help! We want you to take part in all of the activities and begin to build excitement about this upcoming fall! 

The Admissions Team looks forward to seeing your smiling faces in a few weeks! 

Frequently Asked Decision-Making Questions

We have compiled a few frequently asked questions that students have when they are making a final decision on which college they will attend.  What other questions do you have?  Contact us to ask!

Will I fit in?

Absolutely!  There is not one specific type of student at Notre Dame.  We have students from multiple states and foreign countries.  Our campus is very diverse--ethnically, religiously, and socio-economically.  Students are interested in Art, Pre-Med, and everything in-between!  Everyone is extremely friendly and you will always see many smiling faces on campus :).

Will it feel like home?

Hopefully you've already figured out which colleges feel right to you!  Visiting is such an important part of discovering that "perfect fit."  If you have yet to visit, or want to visit again, there is still time to do so!  Contact your Admissions Counselor ASAP at 410.532.5330.

How will I find a roommate?

We work as hard as we can to pair you with a good roommate!  You can either request a roommate or fill out a short questionnaire and we will pair you with a roommate with similar preferences and interests!  For more information on housing, check out our Residence Life page.

Can I handle the academics?

College academics are very different from high school academics.  However, there is so much support on campus that Notre Dame Women are able to handle the differences!  Your professors are all eager to see you succeed, so they will help in whatever way they can!  Your classes will be small so you will get the personal attention that you need to succeed in the classroom.  You will also be able to meet with your professors one-on-one at any time--all you have to do is ask!  Your first semester you will be in a seminar class.  This class is specifically designed to introduce you to all of the resources available on campus and help you make the transition between high school and college.  You will even get to meet your seminar group during the June Overnight Orientation!  We also have an Academic and Career Enrichment Center on campus that provides free tutoring to all students.

Will I receive a good education?

Absolutely!  Our students gain wonderful liberal arts knowledge as well as specific subject knowledge in their major(s)/minor(s).  They are all very successful once they graduate.  Almost 100% of our students are in a job or graduate school within 9 months of graduation--that is a fantastic statistic and much higher than the national average!

Will I make friends?

There are lots of opportunities for you to meet your fellow classmates and make friends!  You will know the people in your classes.  If you live on campus, you will know people on your floor.  You can attend social events to meet other first-year students and upperclass students.  You will also be able to meet many of your fellow students during the June Overnight Orientation.  If you want to start making friends now, be sure to join the Accepted Students Facebook group in order to meet some of your future classmates!

Are there clubs/organizations that I want to join?

We have over 40 different clubs and organizations and you can join as many as you would like!  Check out the short list here.  If there are no organizations that you are specifically interested in, you can start one of your own with the help of our friendly Office of Student Life!

Is it safe?

Our campus is very safe.  Being located in one of the residential neighborhoods of Baltimore we have a real sense of community at Notre Dame.  Public Safety patrols the campus constantly via foot, bicycle, and vehicle.  They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The office of campus security even provides a student escort service round the clock for all students and faculty should they need assistance in getting around campus!

10 Reasons Why NDMU is Awesome

Two of our students--shout out to Joop and Jazmin--came up with 10 reasons why Notre Dame is great!  Check out their video.

1. Dr. Conneely.  His door is always open...he even participated in this video!

2. Beautiful campus.  Jazmin--"I like sitting out by the driveway where I can watch the coming and goings of campus and enjoy natural surroundings while still being only 10 minutes away from the Inner Harbor!"

3. Free printing.  Enough said.

4. The pool.  You can swim whenever you want, rain or shine, the pool is always open!  A lifeguard must always be present, but if no one is around, you can call one!

5. Small class sizes.  The student to teacher ratio is 12:1!

6. Open gym.  Get your fitness on for free!

7. Nun fountains.  The fountains make wonderfully quiet places to read, think, and de-stress.

8. We love Old Bay.  Participating in the local Maryland culture is lots of fun!

9. 40 clubs and organizations.  Get involved in one of them, all of them, or create your own!

10. Free laundry.  We are a quarter-free campus which means that you don't have to count on your parents!

Jazmin--"Not only does Notre Dame have all of these great assets, it is also a place where you can grow as an individual.  I love this school!"

Financial Concerns?

It isn’t a secret that May 1^st is known as the national college decision date, and if you take a look at your calendar, it isn’t a secret that May 1^st is just around the corner!

We know that you have a lot to consider in the next few weeks and that the decisions are exciting, important and complex.  The office of admissions at Notre Dame of Maryland University is committed to helping you make your final decision.  And while we hope that your decision includes us, we know that what is the most important is that you find the place that is the right fit for you.

One of the first topics to address in your final decision making is finances – students and families’ ability to pay for four years of higher education is likely the top concern faced.  Here at Notre Dame, 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 you to understand every line of the letter, but it also allows the admissions counselor to discuss your bottom-line cost and payment options.  Even if you think that the cost is too expensive, we can most likely provide suggestions of where to find available funding or see if Notre Dame can help in any way.

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 Notre Dame of Maryland affordable and attainable for you.  Your personal admissions counselor can talk you through different financial aid appeal options that could result in additional financial aid monies.  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 $5,000 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 is covered and then look at scholarships, grants, etc. from each institution.

4. Be aware of the difference between the private and public schools to which you have been accepte.  Private schools do 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 would be an example of when you should talk to us about possibly closing that gap.

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 to purchase a meal plan on top of housing cost.  Another common bill is parking.  Parking on some campuses can be a large expense, so make sure to look into that (Notre Dame is free and guaranteed).  Try to also think of little things like laundry or transportation.  NDMU has free laundry on campus and free transportation around Baltimore if students utilize the Collegetown Shuttle.   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 four years.


Please know that we are committed to your daughter and your family - we will truly do all that we can to make your goals regarding Notre Dame of Maryland University a reality. As a smaller school, we possess the ability and commitment to work with each family one-on-one to understand your story and to address your concerns.


As always, we welcome your calls and emails.  By calling 410-532-5330, you will reach our admissions office front desk and then be connected with your counselor.

The National Decision Day is May 1st...Have you made your decision yet?

Hello to All!

The last few weeks on campus have been very busy for us!  The inauguration of our 12th president, Dr. James F. Conneely, provided a great deal of activity on campus, including a student surprise party, a special Mass, the inauguration ceremony, and the inaugural ball!  Check out Anna's blog for her perspective on all of the inauguration events.

We also hosted the Accepted Student Overnight event.  It was a great night of exploring the Inner Harbor, forging new friendships, and identifying the best karaoke performers. 

Baseball season has begun which means that everyone has been sporting their Orioles' gear in Baltimore!  Our very own Sister Paulette, the Baseball Nun, was interviewed about the upcoming season.  Check out her thoughts here.

And on top of all those Notre Dame and Baltimore updates, we don’t want to overlook that May 1^st will be here soon!  As the National Decision Day, May 1^st is the day that students are to decide what college/university is the right fit and submit their final decisions and deposit.  Are you ready to make your decision?  Don’t forget that the Notre Dame of Maryland admissions team is here to help you in the next week as you work toward that exciting choice!  As you might imagine, we certainly hope that you have found your home at Notre Dame, but we also know that won’t be the case for everyone.  No matter your choice, please let us know as soon as you have come to that decision.  We are always happy to hear from you and are happy to share in your excitement.

If you haven’t visited campus yet, we would love to welcome you and it is a great way to move forward in your decision making.  Sign up for a personalized visit where you will meet with your admissions counselor, sit in on classes, take a tour of campus, and even eat in our dining hall – we can make your tour what you need it to be!

Guest Blog: Accepted Student Overnight

One of our student ambassadors wrote about Accepted Student Overnight--I hope you enjoy!

"I am so excited for this weekend!  There are so many things happening on campus, including our new president's official inauguration.  In the Admissions world, it's time for our Accepted Student Overnight event!  This is such a fun event--I went two years ago when I was an accepted student.  I remember meeting so many new people and starting a lot of new friendships over the two days.  I found some of the pictures from when I was an accepted student two years ago--I hope you enjoy!

"Right after we all arrived on campus on Sunday, we got onto buses and went down to the Inner Harbor for a scavenger hunt and dinner.  It was really cool to explore the harbor with other accepted students, some who were familiar with the landmarks and others who had never seen them before!  We ended up at the Rusty Scupper where we had a buffet dinner.  After all of the walking, talking, and picture taking, I thought the food was amazing!

"After dinner we got back on the buses and headed to campus.  We watched a movie, played lots of board games, sang karaoke (my favorite part), and got to hang out with some of the current students.  We even had a second dinner of pizza....yum.

"Then it was time for the ghost tour.  There are so many current students involved in this and yes, it can actually be scary!  It was so different to walk around campus in the dark.  We toured quite a few of the buildings and even got to walk up to the iconic NDM tower!

"After all of that I met my host for the night.  I was tired, but we didn't end up going to sleep for awhile--we were too busy talking about everything and how much she loved the school.

"The next morning I was able to sit in on a class.  I also got to meet with some of the nursing faculty--they were really informative.

"After lunch it was time to head home.  Even though I was tired, I didn't want to leave campus!  I had so much fun and made so many new friends that it was bittersweet.  But I was also even more excited for the school year to end and to finally enter college in the fall!

"I can't wait for all of the accepted students to come to campus this weekend.  It'll be a lot of fun yet still informative.  I and all of the other current students can't wait to meet you!"

-Anna

Transfer Student Priority Deadline: March 15th

 Our priority deadline for transfer students is almost here!  Please remember to submit your application as soon as possible so that you receive full scholarship consideration! 

Remember that a completed application (for transfer students with more than 30 credits) includes the following pieces:

·         application (our free online application, our paper application, the Common App, or the Universal App)

·         admissions essay

·         student resume

·         official college transcript(s)

·         TOEFL scores (required only for international students)

If we have all of these pieces by March 15th, we will guarantee an admissions decision within two weeks.

We also have a Transfer Evening Program coming up TONIGHT, Wednesday, March 13th!  During your visit you will tour the campus, meet members of the admissions team, and sit in on a panel of current Notre Dame transfer students.  We will be accepting applications during this event, so feel free to bring your missing pieces or your complete application!  If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here.

Questions?  Please contact our transfer admissions counselor, Guin Frasca, at gfrasca@ndm.edu or 410-532-5390.

Financial Aid 101

Financial aid season is upon us!  It's time to sit down with your families and make the necessary and thoughtful decisions about how you will pay for college.  Please remember--all of us in the admissions office are here to help.  You should receive a call from your personal admissions counselor within 2 weeks of when you receive your award letter, but please reach out to us ASAP to clear up any questions or concerns that you may have!

Here are some of the basics:

·         The award letter lists multiple different "costs" that you will incur while in college. However, you will only be billed directly for the "tuition and fees" and "housing and meals."  The other costs are only estimates of what you will spend.

·         Grants and scholarships are essentially free money.  These are the best awards that you can receive because you will never have to pay them back.

·         Work study allows you to earn up to $1000 working approximately 10 hours per week at an on-campus job.  Although you do have to find a job once you arrive on campus (don't worry, there are plenty of opportunities!), this money is earmarked for you and can help with any expenses while at school, such as books, laundry, or going out to eat with your friends.

·         A federal loan is money that must eventually be repaid.  Federal loans, however, are some of the best loans to have.  Interest rates are low and fixed and you will not have to begin paying your loans back until 6 months after you graduate.  There is a small difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans:

                                Subsidized loans do not accrue interest over the four years that you are

enrolled full-time in school.  The interest rate on these loans is fixed at 3.4%.

Unsubsidized loans do accrue interest while you are enrolled in school.  The

interest rate on these loans is fixed at 6.8%.

·         If you receive an ESTIMATED award letter, this means that the federal government has flagged your file as needing verification of some sort.  Don't worry--the government flags approximately 30% of all FAFSAs for verification.  Be sure to submit the required paperwork as soon as possible so that you may receive a FINAL award letter.

Please be sure to read over the information on our Financial Aid website where you can find additional information.  Once again, PLEASE contact your personal admissions counselor with all of your questions and concerns!  We are here to help!

Spring Checklist

Your application is completed and your FAFSA is submitted.  Hopefully, you have received your admissions decision and are waiting for your financial aid award.  What should you be doing now?

Look for outside scholarships.  College is an investment in your future, but money is still an important factor in your decision.  While you are waiting to hear of your financial aid package, you should apply for any available outside scholarships.  There are numerous outside scholarships available, sponsored every year by companies, government offices/officials, and corporations.  Our financial aid office maintains a list of available outside scholarships and additional scholarship resources.  Find more information here.  Remember, every dollar helps!

Remain in contact with your admissions counselor.  Although you may already be admitted to multiple schools, be sure to remain in contact with your admissions counselor.  Your counselor is still your advocate throughout the financial aid process, so keep her updated on how things are going.  If you ever have questions or concerns, your counselor should be your first point of contact!

Visit your schools again.  Visiting campus as an accepted student allows you to really ask the question, "Can I picture myself here for four years?"  Many schools, including Notre Dame, offer events just for accepted students to see the campus once more and meet potential classmates.  Make every effort to attend those events in order to determine which school really is the best fit for you.

Keep up with your schoolwork.  Colleges receive and look at your final transcript.  Occasionally, students’ acceptances are revoked because of poor performance during their senior year.  Although this is rare, don’t take any chances.  Make sure you continue to study, complete your homework, and pay attention in class.  Additionally, if you are enrolled in AP or IB courses, your success in those courses can mean earning college credit even before you leave high school!

Remember to enjoy your senior year.  Maintaining your schoolwork is important, but so is having some fun!  There are lots of things that you have the opportunity to enjoy only as a senior, such as prom and recognition ceremonies.  You will remember high school for the rest of your life, so be sure to make the most of it!

The FAFSA Deadline is Tomorrow

Notre Dame of Maryland University's FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) deadline is tomorrow!  Make sure you submit your FAFSA and include Notre Dame's code (002065) so that you can receive financial aid.  If you have any questions, please contact one of our friendly admissions counselors at 410-532-5330!

14 Days and Counting!

Our February 1^st priority scholarship deadline for first-year students is quickly approaching!  Please make sure that you submit all of the pieces of your application by this date so that you receive full consideration for all available scholarships.  Don't miss out on great Notre Dame scholarships by overlooking the importance of February 1^st!

A completed first-year application includes:

• application (our online application OR our paper application OR the Common Application OR the Universal Application)
• admissions essay
• student resume
• official high school transcript
• 1 teacher or counselor recommendation
• official SAT or ACT scores
•  TOEFL scores (required only for international students)

 And while we are reminding you of this deadline, it is a great opportunity for us to also remind you about completing your FAFSA!  The February 15^th Notre Dame FAFSA deadline will be here soon and the counselors in the financial office are here to answer any questions you might have as you begin that work.  Check out their website to view more about the financial aid process, instructions for the FAFSA, and up-to-date lists of external scholarships that are available for students.

As always, if you have ANY questions, please contact your personal admissions counselor or the main admissions office at 410-532-5330.  If you are not sure who your counselor is, check out the Meet Your Admissions Counselor! section of this blog.