California Girls

Debbie

Do any of you know anything about Norte Dame de Namur University in Belmont Ca. They are pursuing my youngest daughter hard for their masters program. Just curious if anyone knew anything about the University or the area it is in.

Thank-you!

12 years ago

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12 replies

Latest reply was from Debbie

MsMary

Veteran

I got nothin'. I didn't even know where Belmont was -- had to Google it!

Ah. Bay Area. Expect the cost of living to be high, high, high!

12 years ago

Kristin SF

Veteran

Debbie, I basically work in Belmont, well in neighboring Redwood Shores, and I drive past the University on my way home, whenever I manage to make it into the office. So I can say that the area is residential and safe, and the campus seems very pretty although I have only driven by it.

Belmont is about 22 miles south of San Francisco, and maybe 10 mins south of San Francisco Intl Airport. You can get to SF from Belmont via Caltrain, and I did that commute for years. However, it might be nice to have a car in this area. Keep in mind gas is expensive out here, too.

I can't speak to the university itself, but I'm sure your daughter will know the rankings and can find out more info about her particular program as well as student feedback. She might look on yelp, there seemed to be some negative reviews and some positive, so that might yield some helpful info. Of course, you have to take yelp with a little grain of salt sometimes, as people like to complain, but it might be helpful to some degree.

Best of luck to your daughter!

12 years ago

Debbie

Veteran

Thank-you Kristen. You gave me the info I needed. We were mostly interested the area. I think a trip is going to be in order.

12 years ago

Anonymous

I have a good friend who's son works there - not sure what he does. I would be more than happy to ask her if her son (or someone else) could give your daughter some insights about the school/department. What program is she looking at?

12 years ago

Debbie

Veteran

Marin Thank-you. She is looking at psychology. Any info would be appreciated.

12 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

I know several colleagues who have a master's in psych from Notre Dame de Namur. They all have a specialty in Art Therapy and seem to be very good at what they do.

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I used to hang out in Hillsboro, which is next door to Belmont. Had friends who attended Notre Dame de Namur. They were all scary Catholic, but those were just *my* friends I'm sure. (My bf, btw, is Midwest Catholic and is positively frightened by the churches out here; they're older and often gothic looking and you will not find large screen t.v.'s around the altar.)

Anyways, Notre Dame is respectable but not necessarily well known, even in the Bay Area. It's perhaps like a Colby college of the West. Belmont is a nice town, not total suburban wasteland. I would think you'd want a car there; it doesn't have the service level of mass transit that SF or the East Bay have. You have to go the city or East Bay for "culture", if you're into that (and it's quite the journey).

12 years ago

Anonymous

Umm, no clue, but a quick lookie in the interwebs did not raise a red flag for moi. My kiddo is a Neuroscience / pysch major too.
( I am a Cali girl by adoption, hehe)
The pursuit comes with a scholarship? if yes, go for it. She is likely to need a PhD for that field. A masters is a quick pit stop, so why not?

12 years ago

Debbie

Veteran

Zap-The pursuit definitely comes with a scholarship. Which is why she is considering it.

Rachylou-My daughter attended a Catholic University for her bachelor's degree We are not Catholic so I understand your BF's comment.

I will say my daughter received an excellent education.

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

It sounds like it could be a really good fit. This is a good place to be for neuropsychology (that's what your daughter is studying, right?), and your daughter is acclimated to Catholic culture... ;>

You guys should come check it out.

12 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I've heard good things about NDdN, and it has a pleasant-looking campus that I've visited a few times, although I'm not associated with it in any way. Their programs in psychology and education are both supposed to be pretty well known, at least in the local area. Not Stanford-level renown but not a community college either.

Belmont is a very nice, safe town, and pretty high-end. Cost of housing will be high but depending on how far your daughter wants to commute there are slightly cheaper options. I would disagree with Rachylou and say that the peninsula does have culture but it's true that if you're used to a big city it's a little suburban. Transit options directly in Belmont would be the bus or Caltrain (just down the hill from campus) which will connect you to BART, Muni, etc. If you or your daughter need more info about the area, I'm happy to share; I live about 15 minutes away.

12 years ago

Debbie

Veteran

Thank you Laura! I will definitely be in touch. I am fairly certain we will be making a trip in the spring to check it out. She likes what she has heard about the program. She has spent the last week researching it. The people at school are helpful and she likes a small school. I think it could be a good fit.
Thanks everyone for the information!

12 years ago

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