Scholarships

The Global Citizenship Scholarship recognizes upper school applicants with a demonstrated interest in deepening their cultural competence and expanding their worldview to include diverse perspectives.

Eligibility Criteria

In addition to meeting our standard criteria for academic merit scholarships, candidates should demonstrate an interest in and experience with as many of the following criteria as possible:

• Second language study in school and/or proficiency in a second language through family life or personal interest.

• Global education experience and/or involvement with a global organization.

• Cross-cultural experiences that provide opportunities to work alongside people whose background and perspective are different from one's own.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Classes in school with a global focus or curriculum that involves an international exchange of some sort, or that uses texts and sources from diverse points of view.

• International or domestic travel which included cultural experiences that expanded your worldview. 

• Service, travel, participation, or work completed with organizations that aid and assist people in need.

• Hosting an exchange student or sponsoring a refugee family/student; being an exchange student for any period of time

• Hobbies or sports that lead to international experiences

• Language immersion program

• Long term "pen pal" communication

*Please note that these are only examples of global experiences; not all are required.

Application Requirements:

Candidates must complete the following by Monday, November 1, 2021. 

1. Complete your Application for Admission, including an Entrance Exam, Virtual Shadow Day Visit, and all required supporting documents (new applicants only.

2. Submit a 250 to 500-word written essay in a .pdf format that answers the question: “Tell us a story of a time when you took into consideration the perspective of another person in order to better understand them or a problem they were experiencing.” Include as many relevant examples from the above criteria as possible.

Please refer to the bottom of this page for instructions on how to submit your essay.

The STEM Scholarship recognizes upper school applicants with particular aptitude and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Eligibility Criteria

In addition to meeting our standard criteria for merit scholarships, candidates should demonstrate:

• A strong foundation in mathematics, including the successful completion of Algebra 1 by the end of the 8th-grade year.

• Participation in a math/science extracurricular activity.

• Passion for the STEM fields, including but not limited to participation in a math/science/coding club, volunteering, or interning at a STEM-related facility (like a hospital or research institution).

Application Requirements:

Candidates must complete the following by Friday, October 30, 2020.

1. Complete your Application for Admission, including an Entrance Exam, Virtual Shadow Day Visit, and all required supporting documents. (new applicants only)

2.  Submit a 250 to 500-word written essay in a .pdf format that details your experiences and responds to one of the two prompts below. Include as many relevant examples from the above criteria as possible.

• "Describe a past science experiment you have done or an idea for a future science experiment you would like to conduct (and why)."

or

• “Describe a STEM-related question you have or a topic you would like to explore. Why is it interesting or meaningful to you?”

Please refer to the bottom of this page for instructions on how to submit your essay.

The Music Scholarship recognizes applicants with an aptitude for vocal or instrumental performance.

Requirements
In addition to meeting our standard criteria for academic merit scholarships, candidates should plan to submit a video audition.

Video Audition Deadline - October 30, 2020
Vocal and instrumental selections should show versatility, showcase abilities, and demonstrate high musicianship skills (dynamics, interpretation, phrasing, musicality).

Vocal Audition Guidelines

1. Singers should sing two of the following scales: A Major, C Major, E Major and G Major using solfege syllables (do-re-mi, etc.), or a neutral syllable such as "la" or "da". Typically, if you are a soprano, you should sing E Major and G Major. If you are an Alto, you should sing A Major and C Major.

2. Please prepare and submit two, 2-minute excerpts of two contrasting pieces. For example: Classical and Broadway.

Instrumental Audition Guidelines

1. Instrumentalists should prepare and submit two, 2-minute contrasting pieces.

2. Instrumentalists should submit two scales from the following list by instrument. Please announce what scale you are playing prior to playing it.

• Strings: C, G, D and A Major with the relative harmonic minors in 2 octaves with at least 1 shift.

• Woodwinds/Brass: F, G and C Major and their relative harmonic minor in two octaves.

• Piano: Choose any two white key major and minor scales in 2 octaves with hands together.

Music Resume
Both vocal and instrumental performers should provide a music resume along with their audition. The resume should include experiences and accomplishments as well as a list of your performances, years, studies, and teachers (school and private). Musicians may also choose to submit one or two written recommendations from current instructors, though they are not required.

Additional Information

To maintain eligibility, award recipients must participate as a member of Notre Dame's Upper School Ensemble, Women’s Chorale, or Notre Dame Nightingales, as well as share their talents by performing at school liturgies.

Learn more about The Academy of Notre Dame's Arts Program here. 

Please refer to the bottom of this page for instructions on how to submit your video.

The Dance Scholarship recognizes applicants with an aptitude for dance performance.

Requirements

In addition to meeting our standard criteria for academic merit scholarships, candidates should submit a video audition.

Video Audition Deadline - October 30, 2020

Dance Audition Guidelines

1. Dancers should prepare and submit two (2) solos of their choosing, lasting no longer than one minute each.

2. One or both solos should include the following technical movements:

   • Pirouette both en dehors and en dedans

   • Grande jeté and developpé leaps

   • Spiral to and from floor

   • Grand battement with both right and left leg

3. The genre may be classical or contemporary and should showcase the dancer’s range of technical and artistic capabilities. Choices should give a sense of placement, line, body awareness, flexibility, and control.

4. Dancers may choose a featured excerpt from a group piece or a specially-choreographed piece for this audition.

Dance Resume

Dancers should submit one letter of recommendation from a dance instructor as well as a dance resume along with their audition. The resume should include experiences, accomplishments and a list of your dance schools, years, styles and teachers. 

Additional Information

To maintain eligibility, award recipients must participate as a member of Notre Dame's Upper School Dance Company for each scholarship year.

Please refer to the bottom of this page for instructions on submitting a video application.

Learn more about The Academy of Notre Dame's Arts program here.

The Visual Arts Scholarship recognizes applicants with a demonstrated interest in and aptitude for visual art.

Requirements

1. Portfolio Submission

Applicants should submit their portfolio images in a Google or .pdf slideshow format comprised of 8-10 images. The slideshow should be shared via email to scholarships@ndapa.org and labeled clearly with the artist's name and current school.

Portfolio Guidelines

• All submissions should be digital images.

• Artists may submit 3 dimensional work, but only in photograph format (NO actual sculptural submissions).

• Submitted work should demonstrate a variety of styles, mediums, and abilities.

• Portfolio images should be submitted via email to scholarships@ndapa.org and clearly labeled with the artist’s name and current school.

Additional Information

To maintain eligibility, award recipients must take a full credit of visual art each scholarship year.

Nomination forms for new upper school applicants are provided to school principals each summer. Principals may recommend one student from their graduating class for this award. Nominees are invited to interview in early November.

Notre Dame eighth-grade students are invited to submit an essay indicating their interest in being considered for a St. Julie Award. The Scholarship Committee will select a student for this award based on the quality and content of essay submissions as well as input from faculty, staff, and administration. Please submit a 250 to 500 word written essay that highlights your experiences, activities, and interests as inspired by the life and spirit of St. Julie. Essays must be submitted in .pdf format to scholarships@ndapa.org by October 30, 2020.