Major: Psychology, Pre-Med 

Minor:  Sociology,Theology

Email: aconkli2@nd.edu

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Questions about Academics and COVID-19

 

What were your classes like in your first year or in your major/concentration, especially transitioning from Shen? 

My classes were overall very manageable. The content was definitely taught at a faster pace and with more detail than in high school, however, the workload was not too much to handle. As long as you go to class, take notes and study for the tests, you will be prepared.

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What academic experiences have stood out to you at your college in either positive or negative ways?

I am a research assistant in the Cognition, Learning, and Development Lab on campus. I got involved in this lab during the spring semester of my sophomore year (most students start research in their sophomore year) and I have enjoyed it so much. We are currently researching which types of counting books best help children learn the principle of cardinality. As an undergraduate research assistant, I transcribe videos of the children reading the books and will be able to administer the experiments once I am trained. The lab was very welcoming to me, and I have already learned so much in the field of Cognitive Psychology through the discussions that I have had with the other lab members.

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How was your online learning experience at your college? What resources did your college provide you during this time?

I found the online part of the semester to be less work than what had been previously given to us in person. Only one out of my four classes was on Zoom and the others were recorded lectures from the professor or online forums where we discussed the readings for that week. A few assignments were taken off of the syllabi because we did not have the time or the resources to complete them, and deadlines were more flexible for other assignments. I had finals or final papers in all of my classes, but we were allowed to use our notes for some of them which would not have happened if we were in person.

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What did your college do well or poorly to support students and communities when COVID-19 first hit?

I personally think that Notre Dame did a good job in communicating to us the changes that would be made for the end of the spring semester. They gave us a partial refund on room and board for that semester and allowed international students to stay on campus if they could not return home.

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Questions about Student Life

 

If students are interested in your major/concentration, what extracurricular activities do you recommend they do at your college?

For clubs, I recommend joining the Psychology Club, the Pre-Professional Society and/or the Compassionate Care in Medicine Club. These clubs bring speakers to campus to talk about interesting topics in their respective fields, and they offer a lot of volunteer opportunities for you to get involved in. You can also meet great students that have similar interests to you!

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What are common things to do on weekends? Do students commute back home for the weekend or are there events on campus?

Sports are huge at Notre Dame so every weekend most students will attend a football, basketball, volleyball, soccer game etc. depending on the schedule. There are also a lot of concerts, performances, guest speakers, and movies that are available to attend on weekends as well. Nobody really goes home for the weekends because most students live far away, and there’s always something to do on campus.

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Are you involved in athletics at your college? How do you balance sports, academics, and extracurricular activities?

I am not involved in athletics, but I know there are a lot of resources available, such as tutors and study groups, to help athletes manage their work and practice schedules.

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Do you have a job during the school year, or is it common for students to have on-campus jobs? What is that experience like?

I do not have a job on campus, but I know a lot of students who do have one. It is definitely not impossible to handle your work schedule with your class schedule as all employers are flexible and will make the shifts work around your schedule.

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Extra Questions

 

What advice would you give to current Shen students when applying to your college?

Be sure to make the “Why Notre Dame?” essay question very specific to the school. Research different organizations, clubs, professors etc. on campus that align with your interests and that you see yourself getting involved in once you get there. This will show you’re really interested in the school and you will make the most out of the resources provided to you.

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What makes your college special to you?

Notre Dame checks all the boxes for me. In addition to the community of friends that I have made, I love the amount of sports that students can get behind as well as the rigor of the academics and religious values of the school. There’s also an indescribable feeling that I get when I’m on campus where there’s so many beautiful places and rich history.

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What do you wish you knew about your college when you were a senior at Shen?

Travel has probably been the most difficult part since Clifton Park is 11 hours away from Notre Dame and the local airport in South Bend is very small and expensive to fly into. I wish I would have known about the different trains/buses/shuttles that you can take to the Chicago airports because those have been very helpful in my travel.

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Before COVID-19, what was the housing like at your college? What would you recommend to Shen seniors to find their roommates?

Freshmen are required to get random roommates their first year. This was not an issue for most people. Everyone seemed to get along well with their roommates even if they weren’t best friends. Also, all dorms are single-sex, and there are rules in place for when the opposite sex can be in your dorm (not after 12am on weekdays and 2am on weekends).

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How is the financial aid situation at your college?

Notre Dame does offer a good amount of financial aid (they gave me more money than other schools did) although it’s not exactly the amount I would want it to be. Definitely look into the financial aid options at ND vs the other schools you’re looking at, and even contact the financial aid office if you have questions about your personal situation.

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Is there anything else you'd like to share about your college experience that hasn't been addressed yet in this questionnaire?

Choosing to attend Notre Dame was definitely the right decision for me. I feel that I have grown in basically every aspect of my life, and I have already made so many unforgettable memories in the two years I’ve attended ND. The campus is as beautiful as it looks in pictures, and the professors are as good as they come. The student body is also so welcoming and friendly, and we all seem to look out for one another rather than compete for the best grades/opportunities. Please email me if you have any more questions!!

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