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If I had to do it over, I would have gone to graduate school at ND. Graduate students generally got more financial aid. A graduate degree like a PhD, MBA, JD, etc. is more prestigious and means more in the modern working world. I came from a horrible HS and was unprepared for ND's elite STEM program. I should have gone to a community college and gotten two associate degrees: (1) the first to simply "catch up" in STEM and (2) the 2nd to specialize. Then as a junior I should have transferred to an in-state school. Then by about age 23-24 I would have been ready for ND. Instead, I did it backwards. However, I survived the turmoil and ultimately caught up in STEM. I now have six master's degrees in STEM and am working on a PhD in AI at Arizona State. My 6th master's degree was an online MS in Data Science from SMC. Go figure - the "Zahmbie" who went to SMC.

I’m thinking about going here on an exchange for a year from Ireland would you recommend?

I graduated from Notre Dame in 1991. I was a minority student on campus - an Apache from rural AZ. Notre Dame is very prestigious with a high volume of applicants who generally excelled in whatever HS they came from. I learned very early that my HS in rural AZ was far outmatched by the students from elite prep schools or elite public schools. A good example in AZ is Brophy Prep which is one of the top HS in the southwest. By contrast, my HS was far below average compared to the other ND students. So, as a physics major I was in deep shock with the rigor of courses. I started out far behind and never caught up as an undergraduate. I burned out my sophomore year and just decided to go the distance even though I was overwhelmed. So, the academic aspect was one problem. The other problem was the culture gap. I felt like many students did not understand me. I stood out like a sore thumb for being different many times - a brown Apache among mostly white affluent students from the Midwest and East Coast. There were also clusters of racism which were hard to deal with far from home. For example, I would sometimes have guys pretend to be nice to me. But when they thought they were out of earshot they would say very racist things. The same thing happened with white female students at times. I had one such horrible experience at Lyons Hall. I was out-of-place as a brown Apache at times. A group of minority students formed a movement called SUFR and had a protest against racism on campus in the Admin Building. To be fair, there were many nice ND students who were not racist. In hindsight, there were many positive things to point out. I think the most positive was the Catholic aspect. Here in modern Tempe, the young Gen Z are mostly non-religious and very far left "woke". I feel like I have to hide my Catholic identity as an old PhD student who returned to Arizona State. The far left woke students often vilify Catholics as part of their "cancel" culture. I actually went back to SMC for an online MS in Data Science and graduated in 2023. Part of the reason was that modern Tempe is very woke. That MS from SMC got me into ASU for the PhD in Data Science. SMC was all-female but accepted men into graduate studies by about 2016. The SMC females were very polite and inclusive at graduation despite my old Gen X status. It was also great to come back as a "prepared" student. I had five master's degrees in STEM and got my 6th at SMC - a far cry from being an unprepared student at age 18 from rural AZ. I did very well in the MS program at SMC. As for dating, I would think modern ND males have much better odds. I understand the gender ratio is roughly even. When I was at ND in 1987-1988, the male-to-female ratio was about 3-to-1. Most guys got rejected many times before landing a date for an SYR. Some guys got fed up and left the dating scene to wait until after graduation. It was that bad. The best dating experience I had was at Tallahassee, FL with women from FSU in the 2000s when I worked at FL DOH. I met them at the gym. But I would think modern ND has got to be better than the dating scene of the 1980s when the ratio was horrible. I was not even at SMC for a full day but could sense the major difference compared to the 80s. Overall, I am very content with having gone to ND as an undergraduate. I felt bitter for a few years about the academic burnout but that subsided by my late 20s. I learned to appreciate the growing phase of my time there. I was very happy to see ND football come back to prominence. I rushed the field with ND students on 1/2/1989 the last time we won the championship. It looks like that may finally happen again. Best wishes to the young ND students of Gen Z.

As a '74 grad I must say you're spot on. All these were banes of our existence, but hey, they kept us out of trouble :)

I was surprised to not see homework/studies in the list. How hard or how much time and effort do classes take for the average student taking a science major?

Super helpful! I’m excited for the rest of the videos

Dude. Cannot hear you...

Incoming freshman love ur vids bro!

thank you so much for posting these videos. so many of the colleges i’m applying to have no day in my life’s on them etc. I applied regular decision, i don’t know if i’ll get in but thank you for your comprehensive review

This is Episode 2 of 10 of my Notre Dame review. Why am I doing this? When I got into Notre Dame, I didn’t know what I should do. Some people told me it was the best school in the country, and every alumnus I spoke with described their time in South Bend with overwhelming love. But others said it wasn’t worth it or insisted that the University of Wisconsin was a better choice. I was torn. I analyzed everything I could - student to professor ratio, majors, alumni perception, student experience, dorms, food, and more - yet nothing gave me a comprehensive answer. Ultimately, I was going to have make a decision. And after much thought and with support of my awesome parents, I chose Notre Dame. I realized if I picked another school, I’d always wonder, "what if?" Even stepping on campus freshman year, I wasn’t sure if I made the right choice. Over four years, I worked hard to meet people and embrace opportunities. I learned that Notre Dame isn’t for everyone, but it can be for you if you make it. This series is for my 17-year-old self, answering the questions I wish I’d known before choosing Notre Dame.

Blud thinks he’s still a student

Yo bro I am new to this channel but this actually helped me a lot to see feedback from someone who just went through it. Im in the class of 2029, will be starting my college journey here and it looks like a dream I cant wait, even though I know it will be a challenge I also know it will help shape who I am so what a great opportunity and thanks again 🙏🙏🙏

They’re putting a hit out on you before the next vid is uploaded, sorry bro

Hello bro, I have literally watched all your notre dame videos, as i have loved this school for a long time and have applied this year in rd, hopefully i get. Your videos have been so helpful and amazing. The kind of fun you guys have at notre dame, and everything i loved each part of it. I just wish for being accepted at school. I'm an indian and hope that as an Indian I get the opportunity to enjoy as much as you guys did.

Randomly saw you filming in a video I was watching about Appalachian America…crazy crossover

This is Episode 1 of 10 of my Notre Dame review. Why am I doing this? When I got into Notre Dame, I didn’t know what I should do. Some people told me it was the best school in the country, and every alumnus I spoke with described their time in South Bend with overwhelming love. But others said it wasn’t worth it or insisted that the University of Wisconsin was a better choice. I was torn. I analyzed everything I could - student to professor ratio, majors, alumni perception, student experience, dorms, food, and more - yet nothing gave me a comprehensive answer. Ultimately, I was going to have make a decision. And after much thought and with support of my awesome parents, I chose Notre Dame. I realized if I picked another school, I’d always wonder, "what if?" Even stepping on campus freshman year, I wasn’t sure if I made the right choice. Over four years, I worked hard to meet people and embrace opportunities. I learned that Notre Dame isn’t for everyone, but it can be for you if you make it. This series is for my 17-year-old self, answering the questions I wish I’d known before choosing Notre Dame.

Greetings. I skipped around your video looking for what makes ND suck but never found it. You seem to have your finger on the pulse of things so I chose you to give an opinion. BTW. I graduated 50 years ago when things were 73,544% different if not the total opposite of today. The students pretty much ran things. I could tell you stories to make your head flip. Lived in Sorin Hall, third floor. Anyway, I am publishing a book next month and thought of advertising it to the ND community. Wonder how I would do and that and more importantly, should I do that given the book itself. The title is: My First Sunday at Notre Dame was My Last Sunday as a Christian/Catholic/Theist. The book is actually a series of conversations with ChatGPT on the subject of god. Both sides are well represented as ChapGPT showered me with counterpoints to create balance. But having said that, would such a book be iill received or is there an open mindedness that prevails? Would the administration get ruffled? I understand that years ago an atheist club was disallowed from taking form. How does what I'm suggesting rub you? Thank you for your response. John B.

great vid g

I love the excitement in this one! Keep being awesome-can’t wait to hear more stories! 😄🎉

It would have to be the location/weather. I love ND, but I can't imagine how a recruiter sells South Bend to a top athlete (or anyone). There is nothing in South Bend except Notre Dame. The best thing that can be said is, "It's about 70 miles from Chicago..an easy drive...unless there's another snow storm."

amazing! im from cuhk~ glad you loved hong kongg

excuse me, I'm wondering if this is a good school to go to for pre-med and then medical school.. please reply~

Father Jenkins is now is the president of my high school

as a Hong Kong student who loves nature and hikes, your perspective of this place reminded me of the fact that just how beautiful this city can be, which can be SO slept on and I feel embarrassed of not appreciating them as a local then you guys and other foreigners. and MAN do you have great energy on these videos, love it

Is this a quad?

The first guy is the enemy of all white Americans.

Nice video, hope to see you in Hong Kong again in the future!

As a lifelong Marshall fan, it was a bucket list goal to even get to see the Herd play at Notre Dame. Then Marshall won. I ran out of the stadium and actually wept. Notre Dame fans were class and the whole trip was great. Go Herd.

ND has been my lifelong dream!! Applying REA this year! Super stressful but if I get in it’ll be so worth it!!

I love how its always the Caucasian person who complains about the "white" vibe 😂

just ask them if they'd like to do an informational interview at starbucks

Women PR

I knew you could!

Thanks for coming to our Home After Dome event! Hopefully it was helpful to connect with alumni as you prepare (gulp!) to head off to your next adventure. Spes Unica

love you drew

I like it, before I even start watching it!

Certainly, being in educational community , I get a sense you are surrounded by educated and well cultured people. But, if u go to inner city neighborhoods , u can smell certain weed everywhere and anytime 😂

Drew Braaten more like Dew Braaten

lock in!

What was the id of that dnb in the intro

Omg I’m here 😂😂😂 I’m so honored to actually meet you here at ND! I watched your videos a lot before coming to ND to work 🤭

No way I got hit with the weed transition

this is fire🔥🔥

New Drew Braaten drop. Today is a good day

I wish I was in college again, preferably at ND. You are the man

omg lee woo sing!!!!! such a great place, have so many memories hahahaaha

Would you have less of a chance of getting in you're not catholic?

Shout out Baumer Hall for making the tier list photo

Currently deciding between ND and UMich for a one year masters 😪

your words make me cry soooo beautiful what you said !!! congratulations !!!!!