Morals vs Money
Written: Jan 27 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: "name", alumni network
Cons: lack of rigor, small town, alcoholism problems,
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| dboyes's Full Review: University of Notre Dame |
Notre Dame has a lot of prestige and pomp associated with it -- I took a job there due to it's position and reputation for self-introspection and considering what the nature of a Catholic university should be in the 20th century. I expected a significant emphasis on scholarship and support of positions, and a good academic background on the incoming students. The other Catholic university in the US with a similar reputation is Georgetown in DC.
I was badly disappointed on almost all respects.
To start with the positive, the facilities available on campus are good in terms of available resources: gym, computer labs, etc are of reasonable size and are available at most hours. Labs and classrooms (particularly in the newer buildings such as DeBartolo and the new Business School building) are comfortable and well-equipped with technology. Notre Dame has an excellent (if somewhat religiously oriented) art collection, and has a very professional museum on campus. The Notre Dame cathedral is an elegant piece of work -- very quiet, very serene, and immaculately landscaped. If you're looking for a picture postcard university, ND has some really spectacular sights -- Rockne Stadium, "Touchdown Jesus" (a mural on the side of the library visible from the end zone of the stadium), the cathedral on snowy winter days.
My biggest disappointment was in the general academic quality and behavior of the students. Academic preparation was generally poor, and the level of discourse in the classroom was limited -- it was a very difficult process to drag creative work out of most classes, and there was a serious undertone of "spoon-feeding" as an expected role for instructors. The library is poorly organized, and very dated for significant scientific materials -- in most cases, traveling to Indiana University or University of Chicago was worth the 2 hour trip (fortunately, IU and U of C have reciprocal borrowing privileges). Internet connectivity is limited to nxT1, although I hope this has been upgraded recently. Campus health care facilities are available -- but diagnoses tend to be either pregnancy or mononucleosis; real diagnostic medicine requires a trip to the SB hospital.
South Bend is relatively isolated -- it's a small town -- and unfortunately, there are limited opportunities for entertainment other than ones involving alcohol. Alcoholism is a significant problem among ND students, and is often tacitly encouraged by the massive emphasis on the "tailgaters" before ND football games. In some cases, people start arriving for a Saturday game on Wednesday, and camp out in the parking lots! As a "moral" institution, also be prepared to deal with a document detailing a conduct code making consentual sex between two people grounds for summary expulsion. "Parietals" (read "bed checks") are enforced by live-in monitors. I found this attitude disturbing -- is this a university or a day-care center?
The motivation of the student body to participate is often limited. Many students attend ND on the advice (or mandate) of their parents. It's rare to find (IMHO) a student who genuinely wants to be there.
Last, the emphasis on football is unbelievable. Yes, this is the home of the college football hall of fame, but really, folks? perspective? It *is* just a game.
So, why go there? In my mind, the alumni networking opportunities. The alumni tend to be a fanatical bunch, and they hire their own. Particularly in the business school, there is a serious recruiting effort by alums for ND grads. It's also a "name" that everyone recognizes.
Summary: it's an average school (with two notable exceptions, theology (duh) and chemical physics) with a big name. If you want academic rigor, go to University of Chicago or IU. If you want better sports, go to IU. If you want ethnic diversity or a challenge of your worldview, go to another school.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
dboyes
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Member: David Boyes
Location: Ashburn, VA
Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
Mild-mannered engineer with decided uppity streak. None genuine without the face on the label.
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