December 1st is almost here!

Our early action deadline is approaching quickly!  Remember to submit your application as soon as possible so that you are in the first round of admission and scholarship decisions! 

A completed application includes the following pieces:

•  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)

For transfer students with more than 30 credits:

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

When all of the pieces listed above are received in our office by December 1st, students are guaranteed an admissions decision by Christmas (and wouldn't a college acceptance be such a nice early gift??)!

There are still a few days left to get in under the deadline and we are anxious to learn even more about you!  If you have questions, need help, or just want to check in to make sure we have everything, please give us a call at 410-532-5330 or send an email to your counselor!  Ready, set, apply!!!

SAT...More than Just a Test?

The fall season offers so many activities to which we all look forward.  Football games, pumpkin spice lattes, homecoming, SATs.  Wait…..SATs?  So maybe we aren’t exactly looking forward to that particular element of the fall, but it is important to be prepared for it and to understand what it does and does not mean.

For many, many years, students have dreaded the SAT and at some point it came to be viewed as the end all and be all of acceptance into college.  While the SAT is an important element to your college process, it is just that, ONE element.  At Notre Dame of Maryland University, your SAT scores are not the embodiment of you.  We use it as just one tool that allows us to get to know you.  You will read about and hear us discuss “minimum” and “average” scores, but please know that we look at more than just the score that is sent to us.

In the months and weeks ahead of the test (maybe even during your junior year!), be sure to take some time to prepare yourself.  Purchase an SAT prep book, use the practice tests to determine your strengths and weaknesses.  If your school offers an SAT prep class, use that as an opportunity to prepare yourself.  Learning about the kinds of questions to expect and the timing of the test will provide you with a sense of comfort and preparedness that will undoubtedly calm your nerves. 

At Notre Dame of Maryland, we suggest students take the SATs two to three times, and possibly even the ACT. In taking the test multiple times, your scores are likely to increase thus providing the best possible scores for your application.  Once we receive your scores from each test session you completed, we will work with your “super score,” which means that we will take your best math score (maybe from your second round of testing) and your best verbal score (maybe from your first round of testing) and combine those two to create your “super score” and work from there. 

During your school research, it is important to be aware of the minimum scores each institution requires for acceptance and what they indicate is the average score for their accepted students.  This information will help you to figure out your testing goals and practice needs.  It is also important for you to work closely with your admissions counselor as you go through the testing sessions.  Be sure to let her, or him, know about your current scores, your plans for future testing sessions and any issues you are encountering.

What matters the most with the SAT is that you are prepared and focused.  These qualities, along with a great night of sleep and a breakfast of champions, will help you find the success you have been working toward. 

Upcoming SAT test sessions: December 1, 2012; and January 26, 2013.

It's That Time of Year Again!

It's that time of year again! Our admissions counselors are out on the road traveling to high schools all along the east coast and beyond, while students are working to narrow the huge list of schools they were once interested in down to the select few to which they will apply.  We know as well as you do that this time of year is as exciting as it is stressful, but it is important to stop and just enjoy the moments of your senior year of high school.  We have suggestions for you that might help you to make those big decisions, while still living in the moment of the amazing memories you will have for this year of your life.
   

1.      Research the schools you are interested in; decide what factors are most important to you in a college/university and start there.  What schools have the majors that are of the greatest interest to you?  What student life activities are important to you?  Do you want to be closer or farther away from home?  Are you looking for an urban campus, or something with a little more open space?  These are questions that will certainly help you to begin crossing off that long list of options. 

2.      With that smaller list, you are ready to begin your campus visits.  The importance of campus visits cannot be stressed enough.  It is through these visits that you will begin to determine and recognize the “perfect fit” for you.  Visiting college and university campuses is more than just walking around the campus for a little bit on your own.  They are about scheduling time with the admissions office and your personal admissions counselor, sitting in on a class or two, touring campus with a current student, even spending the night to get the true feel of residence life.  Taking the time to have a meal in the dining room and sitting down with a professor are also key elements to a meaningful campus visit. Many schools  host campus events that provide you, the prospective student, the opportunity to do all of these things; Notre Dame of Maryland University hosts several Get Acquainted Days every fall, welcoming students and opening the campus to them for the day. Click here to register for our next Get Acquainted Day on Friday, November 16^th.  Through your visiting, you will begin to understand what truly matters to you and how each particular campus and school fits into those emerging values.

3.      Once you have visited the schools on your list and have maybe even paired it down a bit more, start your applications and work toward early application deadlines.  Many schools offer an early action/decision deadline of December 1st, as Notre Dame of Maryland does.  As a first year student, if you meet the December 1^st deadline, you will receive your admissions decision by Christmas.  Transfer students have a priority deadline of December 15^th for the spring semester and March 15^th for fall semester. The earlier your application is completed, submitted, and reviewed, the earlier we can provide decisions on not only your acceptance, but about your qualifications for internal NDMU scholarships and financial aid opportunities.

     All schools have different requirements and procedures for completed applications.  At Notre Dame of Maryland, a completed application includes the following:

- application (paper, online or CommonApp)

- personal essay

- student resume 

- one letter of recommendation

- official high school transcript (not required for transfer students with over 30 credits)

- official SAT and/or ACT scores (not required for transfer students with over 30 credits)
- official college transcripts (transfer students only) 

4.      The final step in the application process begins January 1^st – the day that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is made available.  With this completed document (based on your family’s tax information from the previous year), the federal government will determine what your family is able to contribute to your college education and the federal monies for which you are eligible.  Be sure to list all of the schools to which you have applied on the FAFSA so that each school is certain to receive your information and there are no delays in your financial aid decisions (Notre Dame of Maryland’s school code is 002065).  And don’t worry too much if you discover a mistake somewhere on the FAFSA, you have the ability to go back in and make changes!

The key to all of this?  One step at a time!  The admissions counselors and our entire Women’s College admissions staff is here to help you each step of the way.  Just take a minute to give us a call at 410-532-5330 or send a message to admiss@ndm.edu and we are happy to provide our guidance and insight.  Not sure who your admissions counselor is?  Take a look at our Meet Your Admission Counselor tab to meet your personal admissions counselor at Notre Dame of Maryland University.  We hope to hear from you soon and we would love to hear about your favorite memory of senior year so far!

Move-In Day and New Student FAQ

You have reached the hub for many of your questions as an incoming student!!!  This blog will outline some common questions:

1. Can I have my bed raised:
Answer:  In Doyle Hall, you can have your bed raised within its frame.  Pictured below is two NDMU beds bunked together.  Please note that you CANNOT bunk your beds in Doyle!  This is the best picture I could find to explain the raising feature and give you some dimension perspective.  When requesting to raise your bed, the mattress can move up or down within the headboard/footboard wood frame.  A fair amount of students like it raised in order to allow storage underneath the bed.  You can bunk or loft beds in Meletia, however. Bunk= bed on top of bed; Loft= height without the mattress so you can put your desk or dresser, etc. under your bed.  If you would like your bed raised, contact your RA or Residence Life Director at 410-532-3173.  There is no cost.



2. Can I buy a minifridge?
Answer: You can rent a Microwave/ Mini-fridge combo through Notre Dame.  Paperwork was in your residential packet which you received in the mail.  You can bring your own Mini-Fridge, if you choose, but you cannot bring your own microwave, due to wattage concerns.  There are communal kitchens that contain a full size fridge/ freezer, oven, and microwave.  This means that you can choose to neither rent nor buy a mini-fridge and use the communal kitchen or you can bring your own mini-fridge and use the communal microwave.  Most students like to rent the micro-fridge combo through NDMU for convenience.

3. What can I NOT bring?
Answer:  Coming directly from ndm.edu:

• Pets (with the exception of seeing-eye dogs and fish). Hermit crabs, turtles, rabbits, snakes, dogs and cats are not permitted!
• Microwave ovens, except those attached to University-approved Microfridge units. You can order them from our approved vendors website at MyFridgeRental.com.
• Toasters, indoor grills, hot plates, coffee makers
• Halogen lamps
• Candles and incense
• Firearms, fireworks and weapons

3. What do you suggest I bring?

Answer: Coming directly from ndm.edu:

• Pillow, sheets, blankets and a bedspread suitable for a single bed with a standard twin mattress
• Laundry hamper/bag and laundry detergent
• Shower caddy and shower shoes
• Towels
• Stackable crates (a space-efficient storage)
• A fan (Doyle Hall is not air-conditioned)
• Flashlight
• Alarm clock
• Personal items*

*Make sure to coordinate with your roommate who will bring a rug, stereo, TV, etc. The more you talk ahead of time, the more organized your move-in day will be!

4. What size are the beds?

Answer: The beds are a standard Twin.  They are NOT Twin XL.

5. When do I move in?

Answer:  Move-In Day is August 25th!  You can begin to move into your new home at 8:00am.  You have from 8a-1p to move in and adjust your room, so you do not have to be here at 8am.  Parents can stay with you for move-in day festivities until after dinner (around 6:30p).  Students are expected to attend all of Orientation.  If for any reason you cannot attend, please contact Student Life.

6. What if I haven't waived/enrolled in my NDMU health insurance yet?

Answer: Go to www.gallagherkoster.com/NDM to enroll or waive.  This will either keep or remove a $1,340 charge from your bill.

7. Where can I order my school textbooks?

Answer:  You can either stop by before Orientation begins or at some point during your Orientation to purchase your books from NDMU's bookstore.  If you would like to explore outside options for purchasing books, such as Amazon, you can use your class schedule and Bookstore website to see what books you will need.  You can go to http://ndm.bncollege.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TBWizardView?catalogId=10001&storeId=42570&langId=-1 to look up your books.

8. When will I receive my ID?

Answer: You will receive your student ID at Orientation along with a detailed agenda of Orientation.

9. What do I need for my first day of class?

Answer: You can take some time to explore Joule if you would like, but you will receive more information on each course during your first class.  If you do not have your books by the first day, do not worry!  You will have a little bit of wiggle room if you need to buy a few more or are waiting for them to be delivered.  Your professor will usually take the first class to go over the syllabus and introduce you to the course.  Anything you would ever need for class is most likely available in the bookstore!

10. From parents: When do I get to see my baby again?!

Answer: You are welcome to come visit you daughter, but we hope that you will encourage them to stay on campus for the entire first month and not travel home for a weekend (We know it's scary!).  Beginning college can stir up many emotions, but please encourage them to make friends, get involved, and enjoy campus life!  While you are welcome to visit NDMU, we do have a special Family Weekend!!!  September 21-23 is jam-packed with activities for families!  You will receive information in the mail and your daughters should hear more about it as well.  The Family Weekend is home to the beloved Honors Convocation for all new students, the annual crab feast, a movie night, and so much more!  We look forward to seeing you all on Move-In Day and Family Weekend; we promise to take care of your little girls! 

We look forward to seeing you all very soon!  

We hope you read this Honor Code and stand by it as an OFFICIAL Notre Dame woman!

With a keen sense of responsibility, I accept this symbol of my entrance into the world of scholarship.

And I give this pledge of my purpose to wear it worthily.

I shall try to follow all truth.

I shall try to see all beauty.

I shall try to be all goodness.

And thus to come to that eternal wisdom,

which is the word of God.

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