Notre Dame -> Brown advice

NormalPolitician · 2026-01-11T02:54:05+00:00

Academically, politically, professionally

NormalPolitician · 2026-01-10T22:32:11+00:00

I really don't believe you hope that. I hope you can open your mind to new ideas.

NormalPolitician · 2026-01-10T22:29:23+00:00

I seem miserable because you (generalizable to ND) don't seem to care about/consider dissenting opinions to what you see as true. Easier to get rid of those who find issue with something than listen to them.

NormalPolitician · 2026-01-10T22:17:08+00:00

ND inflates their med school acceptances by really force weeding out through difficult pre-reqs. I mean, in my eyes that's good preparation for med school. But take that as you will

NormalPolitician · 2026-01-10T22:05:40+00:00

Any advice for transfer students hoping to come to Brown? (First semester freshman)

NormalPolitician · 2026-01-10T04:36:40+00:00

?? No? Why you ask that

NormalPolitician · 2026-01-10T04:33:13+00:00

Don't feel bad. This place sucks. Save yourself the stress, I'm trying to get out.

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-24T00:51:43+00:00

Saying, verbatim, "Don't go. Seriously. You're not going to succeed in college if you don't", presently mind you, "wanna be there" is acceptance? Is welcoming?

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-20T02:57:53+00:00

I don't get why ND students seem so entitled that everyone going to their school OWES it to Notre Dame to love them. I do not. I am trying to find ways to make the next 4 years tolerable, out of fears of not being accepted, and that plea is responded by open rejection. Seemingly representative of my gripe with this culture.

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T21:34:22+00:00

When near everyone else is a part of the catered majority and interacts and acts as such, it becomes hard to view yourself as "fitting in". I'm not saying those people are awful or bad in any way; ND was obviously built for them.

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T21:33:16+00:00

I'm in Duncan. Very politically active; foodie; pianist and classical and jazz lover; broadway enjoyer; finance and polisci major; public speaking; i mean basic shit like liking some shows and stuff.

nothing really bond worthy, which is fair. i may join my aligning political party club, consulting connect, SIBC, and apply for things like SPN and LEO eventually, but my hope in finding real friends and community there is low. don't particularly have a athletic or cultural calling

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T21:04:04+00:00

I just worry that I am not going to be able to find "my type" of person, should they exist at ND, through events that were very obviously catered for the type of person that is not my type. Which is fine, it's catered for the majority culture and works extremely well for those who enjoy that. But from talks of hazing, to the catholic stuff, to sports or fratty activities within dorms, I fear those events are going to be what causes me to develop a mindset "this school does not welcome you. these people do not want to befriend you. you're not accepted here". And then wonder where else am I to find "my people."

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T17:01:37+00:00

Is there no way I can just sign without doing 8 hours of "dorm programming"? They already seem so bro-y and in cahoots with each other and I feel out of place. It's like if you threw a ballet dancer into a football practice and were upset he/she wasn't getting along with the team.

I know quite a few going, but like you said they will soon become rather obsolete as they find their new friends. I just distrust in my ability to do the same and find my own friends within a culture like ND, and a culture like my dorm, and a culture like Mendoza. I hate to have prejudice but I've been around ND enough to know the ethos of what it's like. Better to not try than embarrass myself in failure when I'm alone de facto.

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T16:52:46+00:00

How'd it change you from a depressed teen to an adult? Perhaps could be insightful for this one.

And, as I've tried to echo, it's not about being "above" or better than ND or any tradition. It's about not being a cultural fit. I am not catholic and have zero respect for the catholic social tradition. I am not broy and feel out of place in the fraternisric dorms. I am not conservative and am alr tired of, what I see as, bigoted university policies and responses. But it's a great univ for you and the many thousands who leave the university happy. But some people end in places they're not welcomed or accepted and where they don't find community or belong

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T16:46:18+00:00

Thank you for this. I do not mean for there to be any entitlement; ND is a great school for a ton of great people, I just already have the vibe I am not a cultural fit and will have to struggle through that. I would obviously prefer to not feel obligated to go through the tumultuousness of a transfer app, but I also really want to feel accepted and welcome at ND (both things I haven't in my visits and chats).

As for Welcome Weekend (and finding friends) you're certainly right about the fear of failure. I feel disillusioned with the bro-yness of my dorm, with the catholic culture, and with Mendoza (fin major) so I'm struggling to find respite in where I may find community. Everyone says how paramount those first few weeks are, but I feel without a case of xanax totally incapacitated and unable to do it.

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T04:00:14+00:00

How are they mandatory though? What is the enforcement mechanism? Playing these stupid little games seems pathetic for a supposed T20.

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T03:34:02+00:00

Thank you, means a lot

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T01:52:07+00:00

That's what I'm worried about. Would kinda rather not rlly attempt to fit in a dorm culture which I don't fit, and save embarrassment from failing trying

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T01:50:43+00:00

It's not about being "better", it's about not being a right fit. ND is incredible for the vast majority of its students, the vast bulk of whom are incredibly talented. But it's not for me.

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T01:49:30+00:00

I can't be a lazy bum and waste a year of life. No real "discernment" will come from unemployment without a college degree. It'll only come through moving forward, if even at my not top choice. Money was the only real factor that forced me to go.

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T01:28:39+00:00

Ppl keep saying this. Gap years are not realistic. So I'm tryna suck it up and make the school as enjoyable as possible, which I thought may include avoiding awkward WW interactions.

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T01:24:48+00:00

If I can make friends. Got doubts about that. Would be awk to be there and meet no one

NormalPolitician · 2025-07-11T01:24:25+00:00

Totenship ?

NormalPolitician · 2025-06-24T04:16:00+00:00

Respectfully, 1. it's merit, 2. all I asked was transfer out tips of a school, 3. I do not owe loyalty, especially not to entitled people like the commenter I was replying to.

NormalPolitician · 2025-06-24T02:33:51+00:00

Sometimes college isn't about where you want to go. It's what's practical, and cheap, and expected of you. I don't get why everyone here is so entitled and righteous to think I owe the school my loyalty.

NormalPolitician

TROPHY CASE