Q: Are all extracurricular activities at Notre Dame open to students of all majors, meaning certain clubs are not restricted to only students of certain majors? (ex. Only theatre majors may be in theatre club)
A: Extracurriculars are typically open to students of all majors! There are a few exceptions, but most clubs - even those named after specific majors like the Anthropology Club or the Economics Club of Notre Dame - invite all interested students to join.
For theatre specifically, there are opportunities for students of any major! We have many different performing groups on campus. Pasquerilla East Musical Company (PEMCo) is a student-run musical theatre group that performs a revue and two musicals each year. The Not-So-Royal Shakespeare Company is Notre Dame's only student-run Shakespeare troupe. Show Some Skin is an annual production that brings to light the anonymously-submitted narratives of Notre Dame students. The Department of Film, Television, and Theatre also holds one-acts, plays, and a musical each year, and you don’t need to be an FTT major to audition for them!
One of my favorite things about clubs is that you can meet people of different majors, grade levels, and dorms. Try out some activities that aren’t specifically tied to your major or career goals, and find extracurriculars that bring you joy. Whether it’s sailing, rock climbing, or swing dancing, there’s a club for every person and every passion!
A list of all student groups can be found here!
Q: How much of a variety there is on campus in terms of religion? How inclusive are all the practices and traditions?
A: Although the majority of students identify as Catholic, Notre Dame’s commitment to faith-filled learning means that people of all faiths are encouraged to cultivate their beliefs and practice their religion. Campus Ministry provides resources for students of all faith traditions. They have a nondenominational prayer room in their building, in addition to the 57 chapels spread across campus.
Iron Sharpens Iron (ISI) is a student group that brings students of all denominations together for prayer, praise and worship, retreats, weekly reflection, and more. Unchained Melodies Christian a cappella group (which I’m a member of!) and Voices of Faith Gospel Choir are two inclusive musical groups that use the gift of song to carry out their Christian faith. We also have a Muslim Student Association and a Jewish Student Group. More interfaith resources can be found here.
Campus Ministry has compiled a list of local houses of worship and contact information to help interested students find a ride. And of course, everyone is always welcome to attend Mass on campus. Many non-Catholic students attend their dorm Masses because it fosters a sense of community. The Grotto is also a very inclusive and faith-filled place on campus. Whether you’re religious or not, the Grotto is the perfect place to find solace and send up a prayer or just take a moment to breathe.
Q: Will campus tours and information sessions resume alongside Notre Dame’s reopening this fall?
A: Although we wish that we could welcome prospective students to campus, we must put the health of our community members at the forefront of our decisions. As of right now, we do not have any campus tours or in-person info sessions scheduled this fall. Any updates to this situation or changes will be posted on the website. In the meantime, we have lots of virtual resources to explore campus from home! You can wander our campus with a street-view feature, sign up for Virtual Information Sessions from our Admissions Office, and browse other ways to learn about Notre Dame and engage with our community while we’re apart!