How do Notre Dame and Stanford compare in admissions selectivity and holistic review?

Stanford is the more selective of the two, and its applicant pool is usually broader, deeper, and harder to stand out in. Both schools use holistic review, but Stanford tends to draw an especially large number of applicants with near-perfect academics, major national-level accomplishments, and strong extracurricular distinction. Notre Dame is still highly competitive, but it is typically somewhat more accessible than Stanford in overall selectivity.

One important difference is the shape of the applicant pool. Stanford attracts huge numbers of students aiming for one of the most coveted spots in the country, including many applicants with exceptional research, entrepreneurship, competition results, or unusually advanced academic profiles. Notre Dame also sees many top students, but its pool is somewhat more self-selecting around students who are excited by its mission, community, and undergraduate-focused environment.

Their holistic review also has a slightly different center of gravity. Stanford tends to place a lot of weight on intellectual vitality, unusual initiative, and evidence that a student will bring a distinctive perspective or level of impact to campus. Notre Dame absolutely values strong academics and leadership, but it also pays especially close attention to character, service, community contribution, and fit with the school’s values, including its Catholic identity even though students do not need to be Catholic to be admitted.

In practice, that means a student who looks excellent on paper may still feel more predictable in Stanford’s pool if the application does not show a particularly vivid voice or standout dimension. At Notre Dame, a compelling record of academic strength, meaningful service, leadership, and sincere engagement with community can align very well with what the school emphasizes.