5 Things to Avoid at University of Notre Dame

In an interview with Terresa Stalard, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, she gave me some of the inside information that every new Notre Dame student can benefit from. If you think that you know what to expect from college life at Notre Dame because you read about another university, you might be surprised by what you see here.

1.) Avoid South Bend

Most college towns welcome college students into the fold. They enjoy the extra business that the students bring and some cities even offer extra benefits to those college students. Apparently, South Bend, Indiana, residents are a little different. Terresa recommends limiting your social life to the college campus as much as possible.

The alternative is to socialize in an area where you might not be as welcome as you would expect. One issue could be that many local residents were hit hard by the recession and can’t afford to attend Notre Dame, so they resent those who come in from out of town and are able to afford the tuition. Many students even come with their entire family in tow from outside the United States to attend this university.

2.) Don’t Get Caught with the Opposite Sex

Many campuses have gone co-ed in recent years. In fact, it is only in recent years that dorms have gotten mixed. Yet some freshmen are still surprised when they find out that a member of the opposite sex can’t be in your dorm past midnight. This is a very strict policy at Notre Dame.

Terresa, having grown up in a Catholic household, wasn’t shocked by it, but many other students were. In fact, she was shocked by the idea that a dorm would be mixed at all. Whatever your own religious affiliation, if you are going to attend Notre Dame, expect to see some Catholic observations in the rules as well as the celebrations and holidays.

3.) Don’t Let Socialization Rule Your World

It was Terresa’s experience that some people seemed to want to attend Notre Dame just so that they could say they went there. Those numbers were small, but significant to her because it was those students who put pressure on others to be more social, rather than focusing on their academic tasks.

Notre Dame offers a high quality education, but you have to be willing to rise to the challenge. This isn’t a diploma mill or a school that allows you to just skate by. Take your studies seriously and leave the socialization for after test day.

4.) Don’t Skip a Break

Just as you shouldn’t let socialization rule your world, you shouldn’t become so overwhelmed by your studies that you don’t even take a break to be social. Take advantage of the Academic Support Center if need be, and pace yourself so you aren’t causing your own stress. Terresa found it helpful to plan weekly outings or get together with other students just so she had something to look forward to on the weeks when her course load felt overwhelming.

5.) Don’t Let Attitudes Scare You Off

Many students at Notre Dame come from very wealthy families. This can be off-putting to students who don’t come from wealth. In some cases, it can make the whole social experience very overwhelming. It’s important to always remember that you are all students of the same college, no matter how you got there.

Dealing with people who may be less than friendly to you is good practice for the world of business. Aside from that, go to a football game when you feel left out. One thing Notre Dame doesn’t lack is school spirit. When you’re cheering for the ball to make it across the line, everyone is the same.

Kathy Foust, a graduate of WGU Indiana and a freelance writer, has a keen interest in various college experiences. Terresa Stalard, who attended the South Bend, Indiana, campus of Notre Dame University, generously offered to share some of the details of her experience to help educate potential future Notre Dame students about some of the things college students might be most interested in. Terresa enjoyed the academic challenge of Notre Dame, but found the social atmosphere to be less friendly than she would have liked.