Meet Some Current Transfer Students
When it comes to the Notre Dame experience, our students say it best.
Carley Sapp
Hometown: Columbia, MO
Majors: Spanish, anthropology
How did you become interested in transferring to Notre Dame?
I didn’t know what Notre Dame was until my older brother attended in 2015 and showed me the amazing community and atmosphere that the school had to offer. After attending my first football game at a fairly young age, I became hooked on the school and loved everything it offered.
However, it wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I considered it a legitimate option for myself. That’s when I decided to look into its fantastic study abroad programs, major options, and extracurriculars. The more I researched, the more I wanted to attend. After getting waitlisted when I applied as a first-year, I still couldn’t get the idea of going to Notre Dame out of my head or all the amazing experiences I thought I was missing. After much thought, I decided to try transferring and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Which aspects of the Notre Dame experience appealed to you as you considered transferring?
The community was one of the biggest parts of the ND experience that appealed to me. Even at my first ND football game as a child, I remember the fantastic atmosphere and energy of the student section. I also think the residential aspect of Notre Dame feeds into this great community. This community thrives a lot due to almost all undergraduates living on campus and in a dorm. There are entire separate communities within the dorm system, which is something that seems really special to me.
How did you choose your major and minors?
I came into college having no idea what I wanted to study. However, ever since my freshman year of college, I really wanted to be bilingual so I decided I wanted to continue to pursue Spanish as a major. I briefly looked at many different majors like English, math, and history, but after my first semester in college, I thought about what truly interested me. One of the classes I really enjoyed taking was an Intro to Anthropology class. I have always enjoyed traveling the world and learning about other cultures, and I feel that Spanish and anthropology encompass these hobbies into a great study area.
Which extracurriculars and/or research are you involved in?
I was involved in the cheer team last year and am excited to continue that this year as a student-athlete at Notre Dame. Cheer has always been a big part of my life, and I always wanted to pursue it in college. I am excited to cheer on the Irish at many sporting events and participate in community events with the team.
Do you have any advice for students interested in transferring?
Never give up. I know the application can feel daunting, but the day I got the email saying "welcome home," it was all worth it. The process is hard and emotional sometimes, but try to persevere. When I got waitlisted going into my first year of college, it was hard, but if you really feel like Notre Dame is the perfect school for you, apply for transfer!
Elle Strogilos
Hometown: Schererville, IN
Majors: Neuroscience and behavior, political science
How did you become interested in transferring to Notre Dame?
The end-all-be-all of my original college search was: No Midwest, No Notre Dame. But, my first-year college experience was rough. So, I decided to reevaluate what I wanted to define my next three years. Community. Spirit. Character. Those three words scream ND.
Thus, I resonated with Notre Dame’s mission “be a force for good.” People at Notre Dame are driven and intelligent, but there is an innate desire to help others and make the world a better place. The people at ND comprise a remarkable community defined by curiosity, service, and energy.
At ND, I have found my best friends through my dorm, classes, and extracurriculars. Alongside the people, I was looking for a spirited school. ND’s football culture and school pride are unmatched. From the classroom to the football student section to the alums' enthusiasm, I knew Notre Dame was the place for me. Love thee!
Which aspects of the Notre Dame experience appealed to you as you considered transferring?
The community, spirit, and tradition of Notre Dame appealed to me as I considered transferring. I knew I wanted to join a community that people were proud to be a part of. But I also wanted to be challenged in the classroom. Notre Dame is the perfect combination of community, spirit, tradition, and academics. And, as an extra bonus, Notre Dame’s has a beautiful campus!
How did you choose your major and minors?
Growing up, I was told I could pursue anything but that the purpose of life is service. For me, service materialized in the field of international relations and security. I found my home in NDISC, the Notre Dame International Security Center. NDISC provides a forum for national security discussion through specialized coursework, a student-run podcast, research support, mentorship, and bi-weekly seminar discussions.
I have had the privilege to host a podcast with Carmen Medina, a retired Deputy Director of CIA and assist senior career defense officials in research. The resources, community, and coursework NDISC provides led me to declare a major in political science.
My second major is neuroscience and behavior through the College of Arts and Letters. I have an interest in the human mind, specifically, the intersection of biological and psychological processes. In the future, I would love to combine my interests in the human mind, security, and service.
Which extracurriculars and/or research are you involved in?
I am involved in Baraka Bouts (women’s boxing), Adopt-a-Family, interhall sports, teach kids to learn to skate at the ice-rink, and help out with Welcome Weekend!
I am also a research assistant in Dr. Gibson’s Attention, Memory, and Perception Lab.
Baraka Bouts is the largest all female club on campus pairing service with athletic ability. Girls attend practice four times a week combining HIIT workouts with boxing instruction, while also learning about and fundraising for the Holy Cross Missions in East Africa. Participating in Baraka Bouts is an empowering and uniquely Notre Dame experience!
I also enjoy volunteering with Adopt-A-Family, an organization that partners with local families to spread the holiday spirit. Lastly, my extracurricular list would not be complete without plugging interhall sports! I love playing flag football and sand volleyball with other Flaherty Bears.
Do you have any advice for students interested in transferring?
If you have a gut feeling, follow it. Transferring to Notre Dame was the best decision I made. And, if you do transfer, do everything. Put yourself out there: make friends in class, join interhall sports, participate in clubs, and embrace all that ND has to offer!
Mary Claire Lewis
Hometown: Hinsdale, IL
Majors: Psychology, theology
How did you become interested in transferring to Notre Dame?
Notre Dame had always been on my radar, but my senior year of high school, I decided I wanted to experience somewhere different and get out of the Midwest. I ultimately spent my first year at an institution in Texas, but ND never left my mind. When I realized that my previous institution’s values and culture didn’t directly align with mine in the same way that Notre Dame’s did, I made the decision to transfer. Transferring has been the best decision, as I’ve been welcomed into the supportive, collaborative, and encouraging environment with open arms. I truly could not imagine myself graduating from anywhere else.
Which aspects of the Notre Dame experience appealed to you as you considered transferring?
When I was considering transferring to Notre Dame, I was heavily considering three other institutions, and therefore weighed a lot of the normal factors: location, school culture, curriculum, housing options, etc. Of course, I took into consideration Notre Dame’s amazing sports, very manageable class sizes, and the beautiful campus. However, my values ultimately made my decision for me, as I longed to be part of a community that appreciated social justice, fought for the marginalized, and sought to be world changers on the same level that I did. At the end of the day, Notre Dame appealed to me because of the vast opportunities available, the incredibly rich school culture, and the way that every single Notre Dame student is unbelievably proud to be part of the Fighting Irish.
How did you choose your major and minors?
As someone who is very interested in how the brain works but is not super scientifically inclined, psychology is perfect for me. I briefly considered pursuing a degree in neuroscience, but opted for psychology because of the variety of classes offered, the incredible faculty, and the flexibility of the requirements. I added a second major in theology this past semester after being completely drawn in by my introductory theology class. I went to a Catholic high school, but felt as though I was completely reintroduced to the faith via my class at ND. I couldn’t help but want to investigate my faith through this new lens further, and therefore picked up a second major in theology! As for my minor, it was love at first sight. At my previous institution, I took a class in which my passion for education became ignited. Upon transferring to Notre Dame, I attended the activities fair and was informed about the ESS minor. It sounded like a great fit for my interests, and I picked the minor up the next day! Overall, I absolutely love my combination of programs and feel that all of them have prepared me for my future in a uniquely different way!
Which extracurriculars and/or research are you involved in?
At Notre Dame, I’m very involved with the Summer Service Learning Program (SSLP) recruitment process, PATH Companions and SAINTS tutoring, intramural sports, the women’s boxing team, peer advocates, and ND tour guides. I also served as one of the fall welcome weekend transfer captains in 2020. As for research, I’ve spent time in the Development & Psychopathology Lab under the direction of Dr. Kristin Valentino as well as the Cognition, Learning, and Development Lab run by Dr. Nicole McNeil. Research was a great way for me to discern my interests and gain some fantastic psychology insight and experience!
Do you have any advice for students interested in transferring?
If you are a student heavily considering transferring to Notre Dame, do it. It seems like a scary jump off of a cliff right now, trust me, I remember my anxiety clearly, but you will absolutely not free fall. Transferring has been the best decision I’ve ever made, and I’m so grateful for the community that helped welcome me in and hasn’t left my side ever since. If you do decide to transfer, GO TO EVERYTHING!!! If you have even the slightest interest in something (a club, a sports team, etc.) just go to a meeting! It's the best way to get involved and meet new people.