<p>No. Much of it is myth. The so called “grade deflation” is really just ordinary “college deflation.” Courses in college are harder than high school, the work load is tougher. Professors expect you to rise to a level of professional scholarship and submit work product that is consistent with “the collegium”. There will be pressure, but its not undo pressure. If you do your work consistently and don’t procrastinate or party away your semester, you will be fine. </p>
<p>Not everyone comes to college with the same preparation or ability. Not everyone comes to college with the same motivation and determination. </p>
<p>Some kids are better writers than others. Some have a deeper understanding and analysis of the material. </p>
<p>The only course curriculum where so called “grade deflation” is markedly noticeable is in the honors curriculum. </p>
<p>The flip side of the coin is that you don’t want to attend a college that is all fluff and “everyone gets an A.” That is not doing you any service and it deflates the value of a degree. Fordham graduates are known for work ethic, personal ethics and a broad based knowledge. </p>
<p>What can you expect? Some students will rise to the top of the class. Fordham ranks its students at the end of each academic year. Many of those students are on scholarship and have SATs that are through the roof. But not all of them. There are always “sleepers” who come in, work extremely hard, write with depth and character and earn their A’s. What you can expect is to really have to work hard for an A, and reasonably hard for a B. There will be rogue professors who give out C’s to even hard working students, but they are rare. Further, there is a challenge procedure if you feel like your grade is unjustified and you can appeal to the Dean for further review. </p>
<p>Being a bit “scared” is normal and also highly motivating. </p>
<p>Also, some of the flighty birds (some of them locals who have friends as upper classmen and hear the buzz) will professor shop, particularly freshman year…they will use and abuse the add/drop procedure taking easy professors and classes to maintain that lovely 3.8 gpa or whatever. That is sad in my view. Instead of toughing it out and rising to the occasion of a challenging (and often fabulous) professor. What is wrong with a B+ in a class you worked your rear end off and learned a great deal and earned the respect of your professor and classmates? NOTHING. I would rather have that outcome,than have a transcript of flaky courses with higher grades and learning very little and being unprepared for life and perceived as a straw head. </p>
<p>Finally, I don’t agree that Fordham “isnt that selective a university”. To the contrary, it is highly selective. And when you get to Fordham you will quickly find out its an academic school that takes learning seriously. If you are lazy and procrastinate or party your semester away, you will find out…usually around midterms how punishing that can be. I know of stories where the university had to call parents after the midterm exams and tell them, “you should probably withdraw your kid from Fordham and get your refund while you can.” Those cases were all kids who simply were not doing the work. </p>
<p>If you have strong study skills, are a good writer, can learn from your mistakes (and not roll over and crumple up like a tin can), you will be fine. Can you get a 4.0? Yes, it happens. But its infrequent. But will you end up with a 2.5gpa? Not likely unless you are doing crappy work and don’t care. </p>
<p>Go to class. Take notes. Participate in discussions. Go to study sessions. Manage your time. Do the research and reading. Write papers ahead of schedule and then rewrite them and clean them up. Study hard for exams and you will be just fine.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>