<p>I've applied early action to Fordham and its currently my top choice school, I love everything about the school but I'm hesitant as to whether it will be a good fit for me, seeing as I've lived in San Diego all my life? I'm more than open to discovering a new life at Fordham and in NY, but any reviews or extra info could help! Thanks!</p>
<p>I have the same problem</p>
<p>Do some perusing on the threads here on CC and get a feel. Going to college is a challenge, regardless if you stay at home or travel far away. Dorm life on campus wears thin after 3 or 4 weeks, and pressures mount. Its VERY important to pick friends with similar values and habits. Your roomie may or may not be in that crowd freshman year, though Fordham tries to match people with similar interests. After freshman year you pick your own roomies and even pick your dorms and or apartments on campus (Rose Hill-Bronx). </p>
<p>New York is a very big city and its very exciting. But its fast paced and you can feel overwhelmed. So reach out to your friends. Fordham is welcoming to everyone. We are not New Yorkers…and it was a bit nutty freshman year…but it all worked out. Stay busy. Stay focused. Manage your time well. Pick activities that give you a distraction from class, but can be with friends…like the Ram Newspaper for example. Eat right. Sleep right. Study right…and with a clear plan. Party animals exist and they can be annoying. Ignore them. They will pay dearly with poor grades. </p>
<p>The beauty of Fordham is its a classic college campus in a large city. Best of both worlds. You arent stuck in the middle of nowhere, but you have the comfort of a gated and beautiful campus. </p>
<p>Be not afraid. Be responsible and open and tolerant. You will be fine.</p>
<p>There are definitely students here from CA. If you want to come to NY to get an education and explore another part of the country, you won’t be disappointed. Just be sure to get a good winter coat before you come east!</p>
<p>I was stationed in San Diego while in the Navy. I lived there for 4 years. Lived in PB for 2 of them. Now I live in north NJ. I dont go to Fordham (waiting to see if I was accepted or not). I was accepted to USD, so I am deciding if I want to stay on the east coast or go back to SD.</p>
<p>I hang out in the city, I go drinking on the weekends and chill at my friends. I am not saying I know all about NYC. I only know a little and can give you my opinion about the locations.</p>
<p>It is completely different then SD though. You will be taking public transportation everywhere (bus/subway/train), it will take some getting use to. The weather is an obvious difference, very hot in the summer, and very cold in the winter. The city does have a lot to offer, and if you want to do something outside of the city, you can. But it will not be the easiest thing to do if you dont have a car. Fordham also seems to have a lot happening on their campus. Im sure others can fill you in on that.</p>
<p>I want to go to college in the city, even a little bit over SD, because I think it would be a great experience, college should be about exploring (along with a great education). It is not SD, but it will be exciting in its own way as long as you keep an open mind. I think getting out of your home town would be a good thing if you lived there your whole life. Just know it will be different. I have other friends who are now going to school in NYC, and love it. So if you want a completely different experience then you would get in SD, id say go to Fordham. Let me know if you have any questions.</p>
<p>Can you afford a trip out to visit? Like, during the winter?</p>
<p>I’ve applied early action so my decision comes out in about a week, and if I’m accepted then my family and I have a trip planned for early January to visit the school! I’m really excited, especially since one of my friends might be attending as well, so it’d be nice to have a buddy. I know it’ll be different, I mean, 50 degrees is the coldest it gets over here! Phew, it’s just gonna be such an adjustment, I don’t want to go back on something I’ve convinced everyone I can do!</p>
<p>Before you book any hotels and flights a few salient points.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Its cold and gray and sometimes wet/snowy in January. Its the typical transferitis month for freshmen who are homesick and dormsick and gradesick. Trust me. So you wont be seeing it at the optimum month, but if you know going in its the lowest month, then you know it only gets better from there. Again, trust me on this one.</p></li>
<li><p>Fordham Admissions does a fabulous weekend visit for admitted but undecided students, both for EA and RD. Pick one. You have until May 1 to decide, I believe. The prearranged weekend is fabulous and Rose Hill Society Students tour you around and you see and hear professors, administrators and Fr. McShane’s closing speech. That is what we did, and it sealed the deal. </p></li>
<li><p>If you come on your own with parents, I strongly recommend the mid town hotels in Manhattan. We often used the Four Star Hyatt Grand Central. Its a very nice hotel, its directly above Grand Central Terminal to catch the Metro North directly to Fordham. Use an online service and get a discount. Its not cheap, but they are good, and very convenient. The restaurant in the lobby is also fabulous…eaten there many many times. Sunday Brunch is yummy too! Take Metro North New Haven Line to Fordham Road, drops you off at the gate. about 15 min ride, and about 8.00 (5.00 off peak). Clean, safe, efficient, fun. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>You can do this. If you are admitted, it can be done. Dont freak. Its a little nerve racking and for mom and dad its also tense. But Fordham is welcoming and friendly and a fabulous school. Lots of kids from California. </p>
<p>The friends you make at Fordham are lifelong friends. Fordham students are tight…they hang together and work together. Internships are AMAZING. </p>
<p>On clothes, if you do attend, kids bring a set in September, and then their parents ship the winter clothes LATER, or they bring them in a separate suitcase returning from Thanksgiving (if you go home for Thanksgiving…and not to some friends house on Long Island, e.g.) </p>
<p>Fly into LaGuardia. Take a taxi to midtown hotel. Then the train to Fordham. Easy. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>This was the best advice and info I have gotten since my interest in the school peaked, wow thank you so much!! I hope I’m accepted, it’d be a great christmas gift (: </p>
<p>I’ve been looking into financial aid, especially the scholarships and grants offered and I was wondering how many students receive aid. My parents are very big on not getting loans if possible, seeing as I already have 3 siblings in college! I’m a National Hispanic Scholar so I’m hoping I qualify for something, seeing as Fordham is one of the most expensive schools in the nation! I’m also applying for scholarships like crazy outside of the whole FAFSA thing.</p>
<p>A few points. First, hearty and genuine congrats on being a National Hispanic Scholar. Well done! Second, Fordham does give scholarships and every application is reviewed automatically for them. Some scholarships are notified with EA admissions and SOME COME LATER. Dont panic. FAFSA is critical. </p>
<p>Fordham also gives grants. Financial aid always includes low cost government loans. Fordham is consistent with the national avg for graduation debt. Some people get gapped. Its not fair. But it happens. So see what they do. Being a minority will help.</p>
<p>Outside scholarships must be reported if you accept them and they can in fact be subtracted from the school financial aid package. I have always thought that was insidious and odious and unrighteous. But its what most if not all schools do. Its why outside scholarships are often unclaimed. I wouldnt put much emphasis on them. </p>
<p>Only you and your parents can decide if Fordham is affordable for you or not. Compare all your offers and the relative merits of attending each school and make your choice. Private schools discount the price through grants and scholarships but they cant possibly match the UC system for cost. Just the facts.</p>
<p>Fordham a great place. Very special. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, you were a tremendous help to me! I can’t wait to find out!</p>
<p>Its my/our pleasure. Fordham families stick together. I have met people on CC and have communicated for YEARS. Fordham is not perfect. NO school is perfect. There are animals at every school. Growing up is challenging and sometimes scary. But you can do it. My kid was freaked out freshman year. We are NOT New Yorkers. But it worked out very well and graduation there was as many tears as when we dropped her off freshman year. Its a very special place. </p>
<p>You will make friends and they will help you. (We are Rose Hill people). </p>
<p>Faith in God. Faith in yourself. Faith in your fellow humans. Faith in Fordham.</p>
<p>claudillah…my son got in EA as well and we are from SD as well. He has many schoolmates from SD that have gone on to Fordham which he still keeps in touch with them and they are all doing fine…they just had to buy winter clothes a little differently than we do out here. </p>
<p>I will tell you the same thing I tell my son: part of the experience of going to college is what happens is outside the classroom/studies/tests/exams/degree. Go and experience a completely different part of the country; experience different accents;different perspectives; different weather;different ways of thinking;experience the challenge of navigating your way through a city on mass transit—something we have never really had to do in So.Calif. It is all these intangibles that add up to give you life experiences that will help you as an adult well after you leave college. I was born and raised in SD and went to college here and it is truly one of my regrets—I believe I missed a lot by staying in town. It is healthy on some level to leave your fiends and family and create your own universe of a support system with new friends. You will be fine…it will take some adjusting but you will be the better for it in the long run. </p>
<p>We visited Fordham in April and knew right away is was the right fit. My son emailed the head of the dept he is interested in…and not only did he respond…but he met with us for close to 2 hrs…explaining the program, introducing us to other prof/students and gave us a tour of the building. This is a guy who had no idea if we were even going to wind up applying, but he still took the time and energy to invest in us. That is the type of guy I want teaching my son and running the dept. You are not going to be treated like some head of cattle ushered into some huge hall to hear a lecture by some TA with a microphone which you might get at other schools.</p>
<p>What a great opportunity to go live in and experience one of the best cities in the world; you may not have that chance again. Being nervous about such a big change is normal and to be expected. Stretch and challenge yourself—that is how you grow and develop confidence in yourself.</p>
<p>Pumas5, it’s so comforting to hear a fellow San Diegan’s great experience with the school! I’m incredibly excited and any hesitation I have is pretty much inevitable but I’m so ecstatic to experience something so new and diverse!</p>
<p>When my D was a freshman, one of her new roommates was from Santa Barbara, CA. The Santa Barbara girl was on the swim team and kept very busy but loved the north east experience. There were kids from Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Puerto Rico as well as Spain, Sweden, Taiwan and other interesting places. Fordham recruits regularly in California so bumping into kids from Cali will not be a rare occurrence.</p>
<p>When I was on a tour in Fordham, two of my tour guides were from SoCal and they told me it was an intimidating move but they absolutely loved New York City. It is a huge city with basically anything you could ever want. If you’re into expanding your experiences, Fordham will be a fantastic school for you!</p>
<p>Thanks for everyone’s advice! I was just accepted to Fordham Early Action!</p>