chance me at fordham please!!!

nocousin
Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:52:09 +0000

Agreed. Fordham’s Jesuit heritage and administration is a PLUS…an added benefit of going to school there. Its motto is “New York is my campus; Fordham is my school!” What that means is you get two educations for the price of one: a real world NYC experience and education and a classic Jesuit education. You will be well rounded and READY to face the real working world upon graduation. Whether in social work or finance or French or fine arts. Biology or Business.

But it IS New York: either Lincoln Center (the City) or the Bronx-Rose Hill. Its NOT suburban Los Angeles or San Francisco. I strongly encourage applications from the four corners. I want MORE geographic diversity at Fordham, as it is doing by building its national name and prominence. More work needs to be done. But I am confident that Fr. McShane is on the job and making positive changes.

Its an awesome school. But its not a party school. Come ready to WORK.

To answer your question directly: You dont need to address catholicism or religion in your essay. 40% of Fordham students are not Catholic. Your essay should be you personally so that the admissions committee knows who YOU are. Fordham tries to look at the whole person in making admission decisions. There are some VERY bright kids walking around Fordham. My D had excellent stats and is plenty challenged. (She just completed her sophomore Mid-terms and did EXCEPTIONALLY well…even better than last year. But she worked very hard to get those grades. ) Fordham is also a quintessentially east coast school and the “culture” on campus is decidedly eastern…and specifically New Yorker eastern. While it is changing, what that means is that it is not a laid back west coast school and there will be culture shock for kids. Some will adjust and thrive and some will not. Nationally, 30% of college freshmen do not finish their degrees. Fordham does not have that severe of washout or burnout or even financial washout. Not to scare you, but its a serious school with a competitive student body. They are good kids and welcoming. My D had NO PROBLEM making friends…good friends. Of course, there is the usual dorm drama and as people this age group grow and change, naturally there are some casualties in the “friends” category. But I am confident a lot of them will circle back around as they mature.

Can you do it if admitted? Well, I am one to believe that every admitted student is admitted BECAUSE the committee believes in YOU and that you can succeed and thrive. The kids who wash out usually do so because of partying or being immature or unable to adjust to dorm life/being away from home. Its the toughest in January when its cold and gray and the novelty has worn off, dorm drama is at its peak (sick of antics and being in close company…true at EVERY college), and the reality of your grades has struck home.

Do you see the picture I am painting? We are NOT New Yorkers and not Northeastern people either. So there was an adjustment. But my D is THRIVING and loving it. (Plus she has a GREAT boyfriend whom we adore!)

Best of luck to you.

p.s. We are public school people as well and frankly, I think it gave my D an excellent preparation for Fordham’s rigors, both socially and academically.