Hi! I’m applying to Fordham regular decision. I actually did RD for most of my schools because I started my common app a little late (September) and I wanted more time to make sure my applications were perfect.
I’m getting a bit nervous on whether I’ll be accepted as im seeing a lot of defers to RD and people with lower stats than mine getting admitted. I have a 98 weighted gpa and 95 unweighted. 1330 sat but I haven’t decided if I’ll submit or not. A unique and deeply personal essay. And my ECS are pretty good (podcast/youth led organization, interned at my moms law firm, student council vice president, NHS secretary, model congress vice president, fashion club president, National level club volleyball since 6th grade, Varisty volleyball all 4 years and team captain my senior year. My awards are meh but my main and biggest one was winning second place for sdg 10 for the UN SDGS challenge. It was an international award so I think that’ll look pretty good. I also attend a catholic school, im not sure if that’ll help.
I chose to do RD because I saw that the difference in acceptance for EA was small, but seeing everyone’s acceptances are kinda making me nervous. Fordham is a target for me, and i was/am pretty positive that I would get in, but idk. Do I still have a good chance getting in RD?
You haven’t given enough info - like rigor - but yes you have a chance assuming you took the right classes. You don’t know why kids get in while others don’t. It could be money (if they are not need blind, I can’t tell) or yield protection - they want to see if some drop out after getting into more selective schools so they don’t admit them now and have a low yield (few they accept attend) or perhaps they didn’t demonstrate interest. Or it could be someone not meeting their Jesuit standards.
Apply and see and make sure you have a few assured and affordable schools. Have confidence in yourself though - no need to worry about others.
Is this your top school? I’d use your supplemental essay to show ‘fit’…how you’d take advantage of being in NYC and a Jesuit education. I’d also do everything possible to show demonstrated interest.
Yes it kinda is my top school, or at least one of my top schools. I didn’t really think I needed to do EA seeing as the difference in acceptance is around 2%, but now I’m not so sure. And what do you recommend doing to say demonstrated interest? I toured the school in the beginning of the school year but haven’t really done much else.
also, they gave me a fee waiver, not sure why, idk if that helps my case or not. I received an email around early November and then another one towards the end, both saying they were giving me a fee waiver. I wasn’t sure if those were common
They gave you a fee waiver because they want more applicants!! Their yield is less than 10% - meaning they accepted over 25000 last year and less than 2500 enrolled. It’s a very low level so they need to admit a ton to get a little to attend. That’s why sent you a free app although they might tell you it’s because you visited.
What else can you do? Open their emails, click on the links - even if you walk away.
Very few submit their SAT. Their 25th percentile is 1340 and you are close but not there. Given only a quarter submitted, I think you’re ok going TO but your score is close enough that maybe it’s ok. But in general, being below the 25th percentile likely isn’t a good luck.
My daughter had several schools waive application fees this year. It was definitely nice since the fees really add up.
For demonstrated interest I’d interact however you can in the time remaining. Open all of their emails, open links and attachments. Go on their website, set up an account if possible…a lot of schools track if you’ve been on their website and for how long and what pages you open. You did the campus tour which is great. Attend any additional local engagements…local admissions sessions or school visits and introduce yourself since it will likely be the admissions officer for your region. Sign up and attend any webinars offered. If they offer interviews, sign up for one.
Be as specific as you can in your supplemental. Look up the school’s values and philosophies and describe how that’s an ideal learning environment for you. Mention specific classes, programs, instructors.
I’m not familiar with your grading system but from what you’ve described you definitely seem to have what’s needed to be accepted. At our tour they were clear that they can’t unsee test scores so to only submit if you’re sure it will help. Good luck!
My son was accepted here Early Action. He has a 3.6 GPA, maybe a bit higher once they add in Semester 1 grades since he had all As the first semester. He was TO. 7 APs (most of the ones you listed).