FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is my admissions counselor?

Each of our admissions counselors is assigned a territory.  They work with all students from that geographical territory, as well as any private schools they have been assigned in the Baltimore area.  The best way to find out who your admissions counselor is, is to call or email our office and tell us where you go to school.  

For example, Mackenzie Kegley works with all students in Pennsylvania. If you go to school in Pennsylvania, Mackenzie is your admissions counselor.  If you live in Philadelphia, PA but go to school in Camden, NJ, Christine Gutowski would be your admissions counselor, because she works with all students in New Jersey schools. Never hesitate to contact our office with any questions! You can see who has which territory on our Contact Info page.

What does an admissions counselor do?

At Notre Dame of Maryland University, your admissions counselor will help you through the entire admissions and financial aid processes.  We attend college fairs and visit high schools, meet with you when you come to NDMU's campus, review your application when it is completed, advocate on your behalf to the admissions and financial aid committees, and give you advice on the best way to discover if Notre Dame is the best fit for you.

How do I know if NDMU is the best fit for me?

If only choosing a college was this simple.

Only you can answer that question.  You will know you have found the right school when you get "that feeling", or when you can picture yourself actually being there as a student. You have to ask yourself, "What do I want out of my college experience?"  We recommend that you "try on" the Notre Dame experience.  We offer many events throughout the year that give you the opportunity to see what it's like to be a Notre Dame student.  If you can't attend an event, we are more than happy to schedule a personalized visit for you and your family.

Why do I have a missed call from Notre Dame?

Your admissions counselor called you! As stated above, we are here to help you navigate the admissions and financial aid processes, and to advocate on your behalf.  The better we communicate, the easier it is to help you get the information that you need to make your final decision and choose the college that is right for you. When we call you, it is to tell you something important such as: an item is still missing from your application (we can't read it until it is complete), we don't have a FAFSA on file for you (we can't give you financial aid without a FAFSA), we found a scholarship you could be eligible for (who doesn't want free money?!), or any of a number of other things that could have a significant impact on your ability to discover if NDMU is right for you.

How do I apply?

You can apply in several ways.

1. Paper Application

2. Online Application: www.ndm.edu/apply

3. Common Application: www.commonapp.org

4. Universal Application: www.universalcollegeapp.com

The most common ways to apply are either the online Notre Dame app or the Common App. We have rolling admissions, so you can apply at any time, however we do have deadlines for some things like if you want to be considered for scholarships.* The Common App is the most efficient way to apply if you are applying to many schools, but be careful not to start your essay with, "Dear [Other School's Name]," or, "[Other School's Name] is my dream school..." because we will all see the same essay.

Always proofread your essay.

Also remind the person who writes your letter of recommendation to be careful of this mistake.  In Notre Dame's office of admissions, we take the time to read everything you submit to us. We read each and every application that comes across our desks.  We know that you are applying to many schools, just make sure you proofread EVERYTHING before submitting it.

*Priority Scholarship Consideration Deadline: February 1, 2015

What is the FAFSA and why do I need to do it?

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  If you are a U.S. Citizen, you should fill out the FAFSA.  You should not pay for the FAFSA, its FREE. Some websites will try to trick you into paying for it, but this is the real website: fafsa.ed.gov

Each school you allow to see your FAFSA** will use it to determine how much aid to give you. Every school will give you a financial aid package.  This package could include loans, grants, scholarships, and federal work-study. Try to fill out your FAFSA ASAP after Jan. 1st, so that you can be reviewed for as much aid as for which you are eligible.  We often refer to it as the "FAFSA Pie", if you want a bigger slice, you need to get to the party early. If you need help navigating the FAFSA or financial aid process, please contact us.  We can schedule a meeting for you with the office of financial aid at NDMU.

*Deadline to submit the FAFSA by for NDMU: February 15, 2015

**Notre Dame's School Code is 002065

If you have a question that has not been answered here, please feel free to ask it in the comments below, or contact the office of admissions.