As prospective students and their families arrived at The Rally on Thursday, Notre Dame student volunteers and admissions team members welcomed them to the Joyce Center, their hub for the weekend.
The Rally, Notre Dame’s admitted student event, drew thousands of visitors to campus.
At “Commit Alley at the Rally” in the Joyce Center, admitted students celebrated their commitment to the University with photo-ops, confetti and the chance to build a take-home Lego figure.
Freshman Nora Kulak volunteered at the Lego station, inspired by her own positive experience at The Rally.
“I was in charge of the Lego station ... I chose to work at this station because I remember making a Lego when I came to the Rally and still have it on a shelf in my room,” she wrote in a statement to The Observer.
After arriving on campus, prospective students took campus tours and visited residence halls. Kulak helped walk the prospective students to the starting locations for these tours.
“I really enjoyed this, as I got to talk with the students and share with them the best parts of residential life and Notre Dame in general. I also enjoyed answering their questions and I could see how excited they had gotten about residential life on our way back from the hall tours,” Kulak wrote.
Prospective students gathered in Purcell Pavilion on Thursday evening for the official kick off of The Rally, where members of the Notre Dame community such as the band, spirit squad and current students welcomed them to campus.
Afterward, the admitted students met in the Loftus Sports Center for the “Class of 2029 Connect,” where students had a chance to meet each other, talk with current students and play games.
“My favorite event was the ‘Connect’ event last night and the official opening to The Rally. The band played the ‘Victory March’ and that was really cool,” said John Vincent, a newly admitted freshman. Vincent officially accepted his place in the class of 2029 this weekend.
“I met so many interesting, smart and fun people that I can’t wait to call my classmates,” William Cahill wrote in a statement to The Observer. Cahill has been committed to Notre Dame since December.
On Friday, the events were split by college and academic interest. Depending on their prospective major, admitted students could attend a wide variety of classes, ranging from the philosophy department’s “God and the Good Life,” the sociology department’s “Becoming a Force for Social Good” to a class on cancer cells offered by the College of Science. Faculty in various colleges and programs also held panels for students to ask questions.
“I sat in a class learning about cancer cells and how they divide. It was really cool seeing that aspect of college life,” said Ryan Crafton, a committed student.
Throughout the weekend, the admissions team held concurrent sessions on studying abroad, residential life, financial aid, accessibility, spirituality and pursuing research opportunities.
For students who were not already committed to Notre Dame, attending The Rally provided insight into the University’s academic programs, spiritual life and campus community.
Vincent discussed his decision to commit to Notre Dame while on campus.
“I was struck by the campus environment, the people I met, how inclusive it is and just the amount of support that’s there for everybody. I think that’s something you don’t find anywhere else, something really special here,” he said.
Cahill echoed these sentiments.
“Everyone at Notre Dame is so inviting and personable, and I can tell that character is a major part of the admissions process. I never once felt uncomfortable socially, even in a situation that would normally be overwhelming for many,” Cahill wrote.
