Podcast
Welcome to College Bound, the Notre Dame Admissions Podcast
We know that researching colleges and filling out applications can be a stressful process. Our weekly podcast will provide you with an understanding of the Notre Dame review process and deadlines, and help you get to know Notre Dame a little better.
Meet Your Hosts
Admissions counselors and Notre Dame grads alumni, Maria Finan and Zach Klonsinski, are passionate about Notre Dame and the University’s mission. We know that high school is a busy time for students, and we want to help you navigate the application process.
How to Listen
Listen and subscribe via Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, or Google Podcasts. New episodes are released every Tuesday through November 1.
Episode transcripts are available via the same link.
Want to join the conversation? Connect with us via TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. We'd love to answer your questions.
Episodes
Season 5
Season 5 of College Bound is hosted by admissions counselors Maria Finan and Zach Klonsinski. They walk you through the college application process and Notre Dame's holistic application evalution. Episodes will be released weekly on Tuesdays leading up to the November 1 Restrictive Early Action application submission deadline.
Episode 1: Test-Optional and the Academic Review Process
Your co-hosts Maria Finan and Zach Klonsinski kick off season 5 by covering the extension of Notre Dame's test-optional pilot program and how they evaluate test-optional applications.
Episode 2: Non-Academic Review
Admissions counselors Maria Finan and Zach Klonsinski cover the non-academic side of your application evaluation in this episode. They discuss holistically evaluating everything from your extracurricular activities or your letter of recommendation to your college application essay.
Episode 3: Understanding the College Essay
Admissions counselors Maria Finan and Zach Klonsinski answer some FAQs about the college application essay and share a few tips on how you can write your best essay for your application to Notre Dame.
Episode 4: Admissions Myths Debunked Pt. 2
Admissions counselors and co-hosts Maria Finan and Zach Klonsinski debunk myths relating to academics and student life at the University of Notre Dame. Check out season 3 episode 2 for Admissions Myths Debunked Pt. 1!
Episode 5: Should You Apply to Notre Dame?
Is Notre Dame the right place for you? In our final episode of season 5, admissions counselors and co-hosts Maria Finan and Zach Klonsinski help you explore what the University of Notre Dame offers its undergraduate students. They help you determine whether the University is a good fit for you.
Season 4
Season 4 of College Bound has two parts: We Are ND and Life on Campus. Episodes will be released weekly on Tuesdays leading up to our May 1 confirmation deadline.
Our Being @ ND episodes explore identity at Notre Dame and, more specifically, what it means to be a student with intersectional identities on our campus. Our student hosts discuss academic and social aspects of being a diverse student at Notre Dame and the support and resources available.
Then, our focus shifts to broader topics about life on Notre Dame's campus. We’ll explore club sports, student employment and affordability, study abroad, finding jobs and internships, our alumni network, and what it’s like to be a first-year student at Notre Dame.
The Spring Line-up
Being @ ND Episodes
Episode 1: Being Black @ ND
In our first episode of Season 4 of the College Bound Podcast, ND Admissions interns Tajae Thompson and Savannah Carr share their experiences and perspectives on being Black at Notre Dame.
Episode 2: Being Latinx @ ND
ND Admissions interns Irasema Hernandez Trujillo, Lulu Romero, and Vera Leon Asilis host this episode and discuss being Latinx at Notre Dame.
Episode 3: Being AAPI @ ND
ND Admissions intern Hailey Oppenlander sits down with her classmate CJ Foronda to ask her about her experience being Asian American at Notre Dame.
Episode 4: Being Indigenous @ ND
Episode 5: Being First Gen @ ND
Episode 6: Being a Force For Good
Coming soon ...
Episode 7: A Year in Review with the ND Admissions Senior Interns
Season 3
Admissions counselors and Notre Dame graduates Maria Finan and Zach Klonsinski co-host Season 3 of the College Bound Podcast. They discuss everything from test-optional policies to Notre Dame history. They will also bust a few common admissions myths along the way.
Episode 1: Test-Optional & Deadlines
Maria Finan and Zach Klonsinski co-host this episode to kick of Season 3 of College Bound. They discuss Notre Dame being test-optional for the 2022-23 application cycle, and they will also give you a rundown of our application deadlines and help you to determine whether applying Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision is best for you.
Episode 2: Debunking Admissions Myths
Maria and Zach debunk myths surrounding the Notre Dame admissions process. Is there a secret code to crack to gain admission to Notre Dame? How much does your freshman year in high school impact your college application? Is standardized testing required? Maria and Zach tackle all of these topics and more in this episode.
Episode 3: Gameday Traditions & Football Weekends at Notre Dame
Maria and Zach walk you through a home game weekend at Notre Dame, covering everything from admissions information sessions and campus tours to tailgating and the best spots to grab a bite to eat.
Episode 4: Notre Dame's History
Maria and Zach dig into Notre Dame's history and its mission, taking you all the way back to the year the University was founded and sharing the key moments over the years that have made Notre Dame what it is today.
Episode 5: Notre Dame and the Surrounding Community
Maria and Zach dive into everything about the area surrounding Notre Dame's campus, including details on travel, where to eat, and all of the fun places to check out outside of campus.
Season 2
While co-hosts and admissions counselors Maria Finan and Matt Greene are busy reading your applications, the ND Admissions interns step in as your guest hosts to provide a student's take on life at Notre Dame. From Southwest Salads, to 8 a.m. classes, and of course the highs and lows of Notre Dame Football, we've got the inside scoop on everything you need to know about the unfiltered ND experience. Go Irish!
Episode 1: Why I Love My Major, My Classes & My Professors
Current students from the ND Admissions Intern Team are stepping in as your guest hosts for season two of College Bound: Notre Dame Admissions Podcast! In this first episode of season two, interns Hailey Oppenlander, Catherine O'Leary, Tajae Thompson and Nicole Campbell discuss why they love their majors, their favorite classes, and most memorable professors.
Episode 2: Notre Dame Superstitions & Residential Life Traditions
In this episode, your hosts Catherine O'Leary, Hailey Oppenlander, and Tajae Thompson are joined by fellow ND Admissions intern Grace McDermott. They highlight the fun traditions each residence hall has, game day traditions, and other Notre Dame traditions, superstitions, and lore!
Episode 3: Faith and Spirituality at Notre Dame
In this episode of College Bound, hosts Catherine O'Leary, Hailey Oppenlander and Tajae Thompson discuss faith and spirituality at Notre Dame. They share how faith and spirituality play a role in classes, in the community and in campus life, and they discuss what it's like to be both Catholic and a non-denominational Christian at Notre Dame.
Episode 4: Adjusting from High School to College at Notre Dame
In this week's episode of College Bound, ND Admissions interns Catherine O'Leary, Hailey Oppenlander and Adeline Chappuis discuss how they navigated making the transition from high school to college during their first year at Notre Dame.
Episode 5: Resources on Campus
ND Admissions interns Catherine O'Leary, Hailey Oppenlander and Tajae Thompson are joined by fellow intern Sarah Price to discuss resources available to students on campus for everything from their mental wellness to academics.
Episode 6: The Best of South Bend
ND Admissions interns and College Bound hosts Catherine O'Leary, Hailey Oppenlander and Tajae Thompson are joined by fellow Notre Dame student Indy Brown, who is from South Bend. They chat about all of the best spots to hang, eat and check out in the South Bend community surrounding campus.
Episode 7: Good Eats on Campus
ND Admissions interns Catherine O'Leary, Hailey Oppenlander and Tajae Thompson debate North vs. South dining halls and share all of the good eats and treats you can find across campus.
Episode 8: Navigating the Relationship with Your Randomly-Assigned, First-Year Roommate
ND Admissions interns and co-hosts Catherine O'Leary, Hailey Oppenlander and Tajae Thompson are joined by fellow intern, Rory Finn and Rory's first-year roommate, Gador Aliseda-Canton. They discuss how they navigated living together as first-year students at Notre Dame and how what started as a random roommate assignment grew into a close friendship between the two of them.
Episode 9: Managing Final Exams and Tips for How to Stay Connected With Your Notre Dame Family Over the Summer
ND Admissions interns and co-hosts Catherine O'Leary, Hailey Oppenlander and Tajae Thompson are joined by guest, Ben Fecher, a junior political science major who lives in Dunne Hall. They share studying tips for finals week and discuss how they keep in touch and stay connected with Notre Dame during the summer break.
Season 1
Season 1 of College Bound has two parts: The Application and Why Notre Dame. Episodes will be released weekly on Tuesdays leading up to our November 1 Restrictive Early Action deadline.
Our Application episodes offer an overview of what we mean when we say we review applications "holistically." We'll talk about the role that context plays in our review process, our deadlines, the academic and nonacademic factors we consider, what we’re looking for in the essays, and how our financial aid and merit processes work.
Then, our focus shifts to “Why Notre Dame.” We’ll explore Notre Dame traditions and lore, residential life, faith and service, research and innovation, finding jobs and internships, our alumni network, and what it’s like to be a first-year student at Notre Dame.
You'll also hear from current students and special guests.
The Fall Line-up
The Application Episodes
Episode 1: Application Review & Deadlines
In our inaugural episode of College Bound, we discuss our philosophy for application evaluation, specifically the holistic approach we take to evaluating applications, and the role that context plays in our review process. We also explain our Restrictive Early Action and Regular Decision deadlines and timelines, and how to choose the best one for you.
Blog Post: Application Review and Deadlines Overview
Episode 2: Academic Criteria
This episode provides an overview of the academic criteria we consider when reviewing applications. We dig into test-optional and what that really means, in addition to offering advice about who should submit which tests under specific circumstances. Lastly, we emphasize that test-optional really does mean optional!
Blog Post: Academic Criteria for Admission
Episode 3: Non-academic Criteria & Essays
Our discussion of holistic review continues in this episode as we talk about the non-academic portions of the application. We offer advice on what to include and some insight on how to best tackle your college essays.
Episode 4: Financial Aid and Merit Aid
We cover the financial aid applications Notre Dame requires, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile, and provide you with some helpful resources. We also explain how merit aid works at Notre Dame.
Blog Post: Financial Aid and Merit Aid
Why Notre Dame Episodes
Episode 5: Notre Dame Traditions
This episode of College Bound is a special one as we transition into our first of many discussions about student life at Notre Dame. With over 175 years of tradition, Notre Dame has a rich history full of lore, legends, and traditions. If you like ghost stories, or triumphant endings, you’ll love our exploration of Notre Dame’s past and present.
Blog Post: Notre Dame Traditions
Episode 6: Residential Life and Dorms
This week we attempt to settle the debate as to which dorm really is the best dorm on campus. Tajae Thompson ‘22 and Connor Patrick ‘23 join us to talk about how residential life works at Notre Dame, and their favorite traditions and events associated with their dorm communities.
Blog Post: Residential Life and Dorms
Episode 7: Faith and Service
We dive into two quintessential aspects of life at Notre Dame this week: faith and service. Brian McGee ‘21 and Adeline Chappuis ‘23 join us to discuss their experiences with faith and service, on and off campus.
Blog Post: Faith and Service
Episode 8: Research
Kellen Round ‘21, a Science-Business major, and Alena Coleman ‘22, an English and Spanish major, join us to talk about their current research projects and how they got involved in research. Notre Dame puts a big emphasis on undergraduate research in all academic disciplines, whether that’s here on campus, in communities across the U.S., or even internationally!
Blog Post: Research
Episode 9: Internships & Networking
David Korzeniowski ‘20 joins us to talk about how Notre Dame, his internships, and the Alumni Network helped him find his path post-graduation. Currently a graduate student at Northwestern, David talks about working with NBC at Notre Dame football games, calling baseball games for the Falmouth Falcons, and the way Notre Dame alumni helped him decide to pursue graduate school.
Blog Post: Internships & Networking
Episode 10: First Year at ND
In our final episode of season 1, we’re joined by American studies major, Meg Beuter '21, and political science major, Matthew Fischer '21. Meg and Matthew join us to talk about their transition to Notre Dame from Tennessee and North Dakota, as well as their extracurriculars, dorms, and favorite aspects of Notre Dame. They end by sharing their best advice for current high school seniors!
Blog Post: The Notre Dame Family