Affording Notre Dame

The Fitzpatrick Family Academic Merit Scholarship is a full tuition scholarship offered to one student in the Notre Dame Class of 2026.

Applicants from the Class of 2026 must complete the following to be considered for either the Fitzpatrick or Liptak Merit Scholarships:

• Student scores of 90 and above on the HSPT or 85 and above on the SSAT. HSPT or SSAT testing must be taken by December 1, 2021 and results must be submitted to Notre Dame by December 17, 2021.  

• Student essays written in response to the prompt below is to be submitted to the Admissions Office no later than Wednesday, January 5, 2022.  They should offer a main idea and support that idea with examples from the student’s life experiences.

• Student Interviews with Administrators will be conducted with finalists chosen from among those who submit essays. Interviews will be conducted by late January. 

• Essay Prompt: Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself - John Dewey.

• In no more than 400 words, explain how a Notre Dame education will guide and prepare you for the future. 

• All applicants are eligible. Semi-finalists will be identified by Notre Dame and invited to submit an essay by Monday, December 22, 2021.  Essays may be emailed to Mrs. Laura Sarubbi at sarubbi@ndnj.org. Scholarship recipients will be notified by February 1.

   

The Mary Ann Liptak Academic Merit Scholarships offers half tuition to two students in the Notre Dame Class of 2026.

Applicants from the Class of 2026 must complete the following to be considered for either the Fitzpatrick or Liptak Merit Scholarships:

• Student scores of 90 and above on the HSPT or 85 and above on the SSAT. HSPT or SSAT testing must be taken by December 1, 2021 and results must be submitted to Notre Dame by December 17, 2021.
• Student essays written in response to the prompt below is to be submitted to the Admissions Office no later than Wednesday, January 5, 2022.  They should offer a main idea and support that idea with examples from the student’s life experiences.
• Student Interviews with Administrators will be conducted with finalists chosen from among those who submit essays. Interviews will be conducted by late January. 
• Essay Prompt: Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself - John Dewey.
• In no more than 400 words, explain how a Notre Dame education will guide and prepare you for the future. 
• All applicants are eligible. Semi-finalists will be identified by Notre Dame and invited to submit an essay by Monday, December 22, 2021.  Essays may be emailed to Mrs. Laura Sarubbi at sarubbi@ndnj.org. Scholarship recipients will be notified by February 1, 2022.

The two President's Merit Scholarships are awards of $5,000 per year for academically qualified 8th grade students who achieve an 85 or above on their HSPT and 80 or above on the SSAT and submit an essay. HSPT or SSAT testing must be taken by December 1, 2021 and results must be submitted to Notre Dame by December 17, 2021.

• Applicants from the Class of 2026 must complete the following to be considered for either the President or Principal Merit Scholarships:
• Student scores of 85 and above on the HSPT or 80 and above on the SSAT must be submitted to the Notre Dame Admissions Office no later than December, 17, 2021.  
• Student essays written in response to the prompt below is to be submitted to the Admissions Office no later than Wednesday, January 5, 2022.  They should offer a main idea and support that idea with examples from the student’s life experiences.
• Essay Prompt: Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself - John Dewey.
• In no more than 400 words, explain how a Notre Dame education will guide and prepare you for the future. 
• All applicants are eligible. Semi-finalists will be identified by Notre Dame and invited to submit an essay by December 22, 2021.  Essays may be emailed to Mrs. Laura Sarubbi at sarubbi@ndnj.org. Scholarship recipients will be notified by February 1, 2022.
• No Interviews are required for the President or Principal Merit Scholarships.

The two Principal Merit Scholarships are awards of $2,500 per year for academically qualified 8th grade students who achieve an 85 or above on their HSPT and 80 above on SSAT and submit an essay.

• HSPT or SSAT testing must be taken by December 1, 2021 and results must be submitted to Notre Dame by December 17, 2021.
• Applicants from the Class of 2026 must complete the following to be considered for either the President or Principal Merit Scholarships:
• Student scores of 85 and above on the HSPT or 80 and above on the SSAT must be submitted to the Notre Dame Admissions Office no later than December 17, 2021.
• Student essays written in response to the prompt below is to be submitted to the Admissions Office no later than Wednesday, January 5, 2022.  They should offer a main idea and support that idea with examples from the student’s life experiences.
• Essay Prompt: Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself - John Dewey.
• In no more than 400 words, explain how a Notre Dame education will guide and prepare you for the future.
• All applicants are eligible. Semi-finalists will be identified by Notre Dame and invited to submit an essay by December 22, 2021.  Essays may be emailed to Mrs. Laura Sarubbi at sarubbi@ndnj.org. Scholarship recipients will be notified by February 1, 2022. 
• No Interviews are required for the President or Principal Merit Scholarships.

The Character and Service Awards are one time awards in the amount of $1,000 for 8th grade students who demonstrate exceptional character and service in their local Catholic elementary schools and community.  A student is nominated by their Catholic School Principal and the final decision made by the Scholarship Committee at Notre Dame.

Criteria includes:

• Strong academic standing

• Demonstrated service in their school, parish and/or community

• Demonstrated character as witnessed by faculty, staff and administration of school