Questions About Fordham, Any Inputs Will Be Appreciated

southernbbq
Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:39:07 +0000

I dont know the answer to your immediate question, but sometimes there are reasons. It doesnt hurt to submit an application, particularly if they have extended it for you.

Your SAT scores indicate scholarship money may be available as well.

It would take too long to explain here all the wonderful things that a Jesuit education does for students. There are numerous threads on the Fordham CC site, and on the CC site in general for you to glean all of that.

My D is a sophomore at Fordham and loves it. While we are Roman Catholic, we are southerners and NOT New Yorkers. If that helps. She is thriving at Fordham. Moreover, she has been intellectually challenged and learned a lot about life, particularly being in New York. She is at FCRH.

Rose Hill (Bronx-main) and Lincoln Center are very different campuses, though both part of Fordham University. Rose Hill is a classic college campus, with gothic buildings, large green lawns, sports facilities and many dorms. Lincoln Center is the quintessential “Manhattan college experience” much like a much smaller version of NYU. Many Lincoln Center kids are theatre, drama and art majors. Its all in one building. So its a different experience. Kids who go there love it, but its a special place for those seeking a Manhattan experience. For those desiring a more typical college experience, then Rose Hill is for you.

When you are accepted, go to the April Admitted Students Orientation on campus. Its a weekend of fun, learning and observing. That is what we did and that is frankly what sold us. We turned down several other generous offers to attend Fordham.

Of course, no school is perfect and no school is a one size fits all. Every person and family are different and you have to determine for yourself if its a good fit for you.

Fordham is 60% Catholic student body. 40% non Catholic, with a mix of Protestants, Evangelicals, Jews, Muslims and some Hindus. Even some agnostics. Most are protestant, however. Its not a problem at all. Jesuit education is about inclusiveness, tolerance, and challenging you to think and defend your own ideas. You will take 2 Theology classes as part of the Core Requirements, but there is a wide variety of courses to pick from. Dogma is not required and really not taught at any Jesuit school. That does not mean that Catholic teaching is non existent or minimized. Jesuit ethics and ethos are omni present on campus.

My D has had several non Catholic Professors. You can be as religious as you desire or non religious as you desire.

Fordham is primarily an academic school. Its Division 1A athletics, but those are not dominant aspects of Fordham life, just a balanced part of it. Come ready to study hard, write a lot of papers, learn HOW to think not what to think. There are several dormitory choices as well, including wellness dorms. There are party animals at every college in America, even dry campuses. At Fordham the party kids tend to blow out pretty fast as the workload really catches up with them quickly.

Your scores and GPA are lovely. A really good fit if you ask me. My D has friends at Fordham who are on scholarship and many who are very, very smart. But Fordham is also about diversity of geographical and socio economic background as well.

Its a VERY safe campus. You can go into Manhattan as kids often do on weekends or on Wednesdays when many have no class. They often go in groups. The train stops literally at Fordham’s gates and takes you directly to Grand Central Station.

So go ahead and submit an application. Good luck. I am pretty sure you will be admitted and then we can all welcome you to the Fordham Family!