Notre Dame is my top choice as well. Honestly, the emphasis Mendoza places on ethics is what appeals to me most. Along those lines, it's definitely not a cutthroat/ultra competitive program. Football is an added bonus.

What about you? Are you applying R1?

Ahhhhh yeah you definitely get a taste of all 4 seasons in South Bend from what I hear. I don't mind necessarily. I'm originally from western New York so I've seen my fair share of snow and cold and ice.

I will be visiting campus this weekend actually. Not a typical visit because I'll be there on Friday when classes aren't in session. I'm super excited though and will let you know how it goes.

Back from my visit. I was there Friday through Sunday. Took a tour of Mendoza. The building/facilities were nice as was the admissions staff. I didn't get a feel for classes since I was there on a Friday but there were students around meeting with teams and what not. There were some forums and recruiting events being held also.

Campus itself was beautiful. My friend who is an undergrad there was able to show me around campus. Got the chance to go to the Purdue game which was an incredible experience to say the least. Also went to mass in the Basilica which was beautiful.

I'd describe the surrounding area... Mishawaka as a typical American suburb. It has everything you could possibly need like grocery stores, restaurants, and a mall, etc. Saw some of the off-campus apartments as well which seem pretty nice. There are some under construction that look like they could be ready in time for Fall '09. As a matter of fact, a lot of the ND campus is under construction with new buildings like the expansion of the law school being built.

Needless to say I really enjoyed my time there and ND remains my absolute top choice. Of course, I was fortunate enough to experience a football weekend and it was just incredible. Alumni that I met were super friendly and helpful. It is definitely true that ND has some of the most loyal and devoted alumni around. Anyway, I guess that's all. Let me know if you have any questions. When is your visit?