<p>Just a quick question: does Fordham look at Critical Reading/Math SAT I scores only, or do they also factor in Writing? I know it's not black and white, but any input would be awesome. Thanks.</p>
<p>Not sure if the rules changed for this year, but last year it was CR/Math only. Normally the writing score should be somewhat near the CR scores. If it is very, very, very low, that will be a red flag.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response; Ill give you some specifics, if I got a 710 CR/690 Math, it won't be alarming that I scored a 650 on Writing, correct? I'm just wondering because I'm planning on retaking one last time and don't really want to concentrate on Writing :P</p>
<p>There's nothing wrong with a 650 writing score (I was referring to a score much, much lower than that) & as you see it's not that far off from your 710. If you got 2 650's on CR/Math, that's a 1300 & that's a good score. But you already have a 1400 & that's a very good score for Fordham.</p>
<p>Cool, thanks.</p>
<p>Does that mean Fordham doesnt consider writing section at all? Like... only look at CR/M and not even consider W??</p>
<p>I don't think they completely disregard it, but on the site they imply that CR & M have the most weight.</p>
<p>Fordham DOES include the writing score as part of our review. We have been doing so for the past year.</p>
<p>Sigh...I really wish folks would reach out to us directly on issues like this and not post questions to discussion boards.</p>
<p>Peter Farrell
Director of Admission</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, Peter. Sorry to press on with this issue, but does Fordham take into consideration the Writing section as much as Critical Reading and Math?</p>
<p>I got a 640 on CR and a 780 on W
hmm</p>
<p>Interesting. I am certain we were told last year that FU does not consider the writing section. Perhaps it was a new policy then or it wasn't implemented yet. I specifically remember because my d did so well in the writing section, that there were certain schools we were disappointed would not consider it & Fordham was among them.</p>
<p>Good to learn the new policy.</p>
<p>Fordhamalum, did your D end up applying or going to Fordham? Son did not but it was a top choice of his. Next kid has it very high on his list already; he loves the place. Just went to middle school game where I sat with two sets of parents whose kids are at Fordham, and they absolutely love it there. The kids are commuting. One a freshman, one a junior.</p>
<p>Collegehelp:</p>
<p>Mr. Farrell is the Director of Admissions at Fordham. Listen to him. Others are well meaning, but not always informed up to date.</p>
<p>I will add that the CollegeBoard recently disclosed that their OWN analysis of success rates for college kids indicates that the writing score is "critical" (pardon the pun) to success in college. For the previous two or three years, since it was a NEW section and not enough data had been collected, a lot of colleges sort of treated it as a stepchild and focused more on CR/Math for admissions decisions.....or perhaps used the writing score to help them make a decision about someone one the bubble so to speak. I gather from what Mr. Farrell stated above is that Fordham has been using the writing score at least for the past year in its holistic approach to a student application, which I applaud. </p>
<p>From my D's experience at Fordham, writing skills are essential to success as many classes require a lot of paper writing, and of course the ubiquitous mid-term and final exams are written. </p>
<p>Selecting which colleges to apply to and which school to ultimately attend is a highly subjective analysis. Fit (socio-economic AND academic), geography, finances, scholarships, culture, weather, dorms, sports, food service, programs, student/faculty ratios, course offerings (frequency and location are important), job opportunities, internships, and that very important "gut feeling" you get when you walk around campus. Every prospective student has an idea about what they want their college experience to be like, or at the very least are open minded about how they will change as human beings being at a particular school. Being a Fordham parent, I of course have a bias in favor of Fordham. But it is really up to you in the end to determine if its for you and why. There are MANY very bright students at Fordham.....while many of them are high SAT kids, there are also a lot of highly intelligent kids with scores that were not as high (below 1350, for example. CR/Math). Fordham does a good job of looking to "create a class" as they enter their doors. Looking around the gymnasium at the Open House for Admitted Students in April 07 for my D, we marveled at how nice they all looked and how it seemed to "fit for us." We went back to our mid town hotel (a prominent one!) had supper and made the decision. We have not looked back. And we are NOT from New York, Connecticut or New Jersey. </p>
<p>I strongly encourage Fordham to continue to recruit in all four corners of our country and the midwest as well. To achieve its stated goals in the 2016 plan of becoming the preeminent Catholic University in the United States (returning to that position from historical records), it will have to continue to recruit at high levels from all over, as that is precisely how Georgetown, Notre Dame and Boston College have attained their lofty status/rankings. It can be done with great sensitivity to its local heritage, yet still achieve its goals.</p>
<p>While I strongly encourage kids blessed with high stats to apply and attend Fordham, I am also highly interested in recruiting top athletes, top musicians, top dramatic arts students, visual arts students, scientists, mathematicians, writers, linguists, and kids with amazing personal stories to share. In short, diversity that is more than just racial.</p>
<p>I don't work for Fordham. But I am trying to do my part here and everywhere I go in our city and state to get the word out that Fordham is an awesome school with tremendous opportunities and really good kids attending there. I would NEVER denigrate another school, a peer school, a higher ranking school or lower ranking school. Not my bag. But I have to say that Fordham offers some great opportunities and really two educations for the price of one (particularly for kids NOT from the New York area), and it has been a wondrous experience. There will be dorm drama. There will be disappointment and stress. That is axiomatic at EVERY university in the United States. But we proudly wear our Fordham Ram gear around town, and I am quick to challenge anyone who says something negative about Fordham University. </p>
<p>Is there room for improvement? Yes, of course. And we have continuing concerns, particularly in light of the financial meltdown which seems to get worse by the day. I wish Fordham Financial Aid was as proactive as the US Treasury! LOL.</p>
<p>Fr. McShane is a wonder. An incredibly funny, insightful and driven man as Fordham's President. He is warm and embracing. I will NEVER forget meeting him by chance on Eddies Parade as we strolled for the FIRST time ever on Fordham's campus, his inspirational talk at Open House and his warm endearing and inviting comments to us personally as we chatted and contemplated our decision. When my D arrived on campus for move-in day, there he was, handing out water and greeting EVERY car that came through the gates. And he saw my D in the hallways later on and REMEMBERED her name and where she was from. We were STUNNED. </p>
<p>Now we would NEVER consider transfering...not even to Yale (as if THAT would happen?). Unless of course the bottom falls out and financial concerns require a change of plans.</p>
<p>My epistle here is to convey to you (and any other readers, prospective applicants) that Fordham is a school with some moxy and some class and yet is embracing and endearing and helps you grow as a human being in a very special Fordham Jesuit way. If that is not enough to bring you here, then I give you my best wishes.</p>
<p>Hope to see you on campus sometime (when I am in town.)</p>
<p>""Others are well meaning, but not always informed up to date.""</p>
<p>I don't believe anyone here stated that they knew what the 2008-2009 policy is except for Mr. Farrell. But seriously, last week you posted that local high schools are becoming "less important" to Fordham, and you felt the need to make this comment?</p>
<p>WRONG. I stated in context, Fordham Alum, that local schools SHOULD become less important IF Fordham is to attain its stated goals in the 2016 plan, otherwise it will always remain what it is...a very good school for the local community. Notre Dame, Georgetown and BC, its peers whom it wishes to replace as the premier Catholic University in the United States, all reached their lofty status (at least in rankings and "peer prestige" etc, for whatever that means) by recruiting to the four corners of the country. </p>
<p>My comment was not specifically directed at you in any regards, but to the general community. I have also stated several times that I strongly dislike the "chance me" kind of questions because we obviously do not work for nor represent Fordham. (It also applies to all the other "chance me" threads on this website for other schools.) I try to stick to Fordham's stated/disclosed class stats and refer people to that. Beyond that (and I am no fan of the SAT, trust me on that! Its HIGHLY superficial and wrongheaded and is prejudicial for purposes of scholarships) I usually try and encourage most kids who ask about Fordham on this site, with the very small exception to those kids who truly seem like they may not be a good fit (at least from my perspective). </p>
<p>I was simply in agreement with Mr. Farrell (whom I do not know) that SPECIFIC questions like the OP asked here would be better addressed to the Admissions Office than by well meaning people here guessing or postulating, as it may be wrong. I would in fact APPLAUD Fordham if it FOLLOWED HOLY CROSS AND WAKE FOREST and went to a complete SAT optional application process. That is my opinion, of course.</p>
<p>Peace.</p>
<p>""WRONG. I stated in context, Fordham Alum, that local schools SHOULD become less important IF Fordham is to attain its stated goals in the 2016 plan, otherwise it will always remain what it is...""</p>
<p>Hmmm.....that's not what I read:</p>
<p>"As for admission, Fordham has a long list of catholic feeder schools who have sent top students to Fordham for years. But as Fordham seeks to become less a regional school and more a national school those schools ARE becoming less important."</p>