Best dorm for a transfer student?

Hey everybody, i just got accepted as a junior transfer into the Gabelli School of Business, and I’m trying to figure out which dorm would be the best? Or do i even get to choose? I’ve never been on campus, or new york for that matter as I’m coming from the west coast, so any information about housing at fordham would be great. Thanks!

Congrats. Make sure your credits transfer over…because Fordham’s core requirements still apply and stick to you like glue…they are not waived because you are a transfer student. Though some of your credits may apply. Do that right away.

As for dorms at RH (presuming that is the campus you are attending and presuming they offered you housing) there are several. The freshmen dorms are obviously not in the mix: Loyola, Queens Court, Loschert. The issue is that most of the upperclass dorms are apartment style (Walsh, Campbell and Salice-Conley). So if you dont mind living in an on campus apartment and sharing space with people you dont really know and cooking your own food in the kitchen…those can work. Walsh is a high rise (11 stories I think) on campus, older, but has its own charm and laughs.

OHare is adjacent to the parking garage, is air conditioned and is a standard dorm of singles and doubles. It has some floors that take the healthy living pledge (no drinking etc). It has a lot of sophomores in it, but upperclassmen also live there, particularly if they dont want the apartment living and prefer a single dorm room and being alone.

If you were accepted to the Global Program for Gabelli at Lincoln Center (new program) then you will have only one choice at Lincoln Center but they are new and above the new law school, and also apartment style living. If you were not offered housing, then you have to find an apartment in Manhattan or nearby borough or community. Its VERY expensive.

My kid stayed at Queens, OHare, Walsh and Campbell in four years. All were different, all had big pluses and some minuses. Like everything in life.

Fordham’s campus is 85 acres, gorgeous, gothic and nothing is really far away. Its a very convenient campus…and gated. The Metro North Train stops outside the gates on Fordham Road and takes you north to Westchester or New Haven or Poughkeepsie, or south into Manhattan and Grand Central Terminal in about 15 minutes. Its clean, safe and used frequently, running until 100am.

The Bronx is gritty, eclectic and very ethnic, but also full of great places, restaurants and things to see. Common sense is vital: do not go out drinking and wandering around alone at night. Otherwise, its like every other big city borough.

The RamVan takes students to the Lincoln Center campus and leaves on the hour from McGinley. Its free if you have classes at Lincoln Center. Its a nominal charge if not. Reservations on the RamVan are recommended. Many students use the RamVan for airport service, particularly LaGuardia.

Go to the Fordham.edu website and there are walking tours and videos about campus and maps and you can see the dorms and where they are located. Fordham is a wonderful school. Its an academic school that will challenge you to the fullest. It has great internships available. Getting to know your professors is helpful in finding an internship.

New York is the capitol of the world capital markets and some say the Capitol of the World. If you are from a large west coast city, you will see typical big city things and be able to adjust fairly easily. If you are from a small community or rural area, there will be culture shock and pace of life shock. Be true to yourself and you will be fine.

Good luck.

  1. Are you going to attend the Rose Hill or Lincoln Center campus? 2) Did you get housing (not every transfer student does) 3) It is likely that you will be assigned a dorm - I’d call ResLife and try to see what choices you might have.
    Hope you enjoy Fordham.

Sorry for not specifying that. Yes i am going to attend rose hill, and yes i got an offer for housing

@sovereigndebt thanks! Thats a lot of info, i’m from san diego so i’m somewhat used to a big city, but new york is a whole different animal so im looking forward to it.

If you are coming in as a sophomore, I’d ask for O’Hare or Tierney because that is where a lot of sophomores live. Most juniors live in Walsh which has apartment style dorms. I’m not sure you will get a choice though. And keep in mind even if you get a room assignment you aren’t thrilled with you will likely be able to switch into a better situation for the spring semester (ex. a friend who transferred into Fordham got put in an off-campus dorm and was able to move into Walsh with a friend for the spring semester).

Hope you enjoy Fordham and NYC!