As a high school student in Sri Lanka, Amandhi Mathews, BS ’21, found UD on the internet. She was drawn to the idea of a “Catholic university for independent thinkers'' and decided to apply, even though she did not know that Dallas is in Texas. Knowing that she wanted to study science, the liberal arts education with an opportunity to read classic literature was an added bonus.

Though she was unable to attend, Patrick McNeely’s Canadian sister first put the University of Dallas on his radar. His interest in the school continued to rise thanks to cheerful friends and mentors he met through The Grade, a program for high school boys in San Antonio.

When Claire Haley, BA ’21, was growing up, the University of Dallas was already a part of her life. Her father traveled around to different colleges to recruit teachers for the local Great Hearts Academy school in her hometown of Phoenix, and what he had to say about UD impressed her.

The Schneider family learned about UD from a family friend who at the time was in the seminary and is now a priest. He knew several people who attended UD and encouraged Blaise Schneider, BA ’21, to visit.

Like many UD students, Maureen (Mo) Shumay, BA ’21, first heard of UD through one of her older siblings, a sister who graduated in 2013. Initially, Shumay wasn’t keen on attending UD because she wanted to avoid following in her sister’s footsteps and being compared to her once again. She also had a somewhat subpar campus visit the Monday after Groundhog, though she now appreciates why everyone on campus looked so exhausted!