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How to Answer Notre Dame's Faith Question

How faith influences the decisions you make. Faith can be religious or not; the question is about real decisions.

50-100 wordsChoose 2 of 4Short answer2026-27
University of Notre Dame's wording, checked October 26, 2026
“How does faith influence the decisions you make?”

How to approach it

  1. 1One decision, one example of faith at work in it.
  2. 2Faith here can be your own tradition, your questions about it, or convictions you hold. Be honest about which.
  3. 3A hundred words is one decision, not a life story.

A structure that works

One way to shape this answer. It describes moves, not sentences: the words have to be yours.

  1. 1One real decision, stated plainly.
  2. 2How faith entered it: what it asked of you or ruled out.
  3. 3What you did, and what that shows about how you choose.

Mistakes to avoid

  • A statement of belief with no decision in it.
  • Writing what you think a Catholic university wants to hear.

The checklist our grader uses for this question

When you check your Notre Dame answers, this answer is read against these 4 areas. Each comes back Met, Partly or Missing with a quote from your draft as evidence, and together with the 50-100 words limit they set its readiness verdict.

AreaWhat a reader looks for
Answers the questionThe opening sentences answer what was asked, plainly, before background or a hook; every part of a multi-part question is answered.
SpecificIt uses a concrete name, detail or image instead of a general statement.
Something newIt shows a side of the applicant that the rest of the application probably does not.
Notre Dame's askAnswers how faith (or its absence) shapes real decisions, with an example, in 50-100 words.

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Questions

How long is Notre Dame's "Faith and your decisions" essay?

50 to 100 words.

Is it required?

Choose 2 of 4. Notre Dame's full set of questions is on the Notre Dame supplemental essays page.

Can I reuse an essay from another college for this prompt?

You can start from material you have, but rewrite it for Notre Dame's exact wording: answer every part of this question, and cut what it does not ask for.

Can Statementory write or improve my answer?

We never write or rewrite it: colleges ask you to affirm your essays are your own work. Our checker reviews it against the checklist on this page, quotes your own words, and asks the questions only you can answer.

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