<p>Hi, I'm new to this site and the reason I decided to register was actually to post this thread. I'm a HS Senior in Miami, FL and I was admitted into seven out of nine universities. I didn't get in to Notre Dame, which was my top choice. I did, however, get into Fordham University, Lincoln Center which was my second choice. I was so excited about the acceptance and I really like how the school sounds. The catch? I recently recieved an admission to Marquette's 100 student honors program. It sounds like an awesome program with many benefits (best dorm rooms, seminars, smaller and advanced classes, etc.)
This threw me off balance. I'm not sure if being in an honors program at Marquette is like the equivalent of attending a highly ranked University like Fordham. I know that Fordham is somewhat harder to get into, and I really like the reputation of the school. Does anybody have advice? I need to choose between now and the last week of April! I will not be able to visit any of the schools before then :( Any advice would help...thanks!</p>
<p>Some additional info when it comes to making a choice:</p>
<p>Fordham</p>
<p>Pros:
* location! (NYC)
* awesome school, good academics, good rep, etc.
* nice weather (4 seasons)
* cheap plane flights</p>
<p>Cons:
* more expensive (about 4k more a year)
* i'm not in the main campus, so idk if that means less of a "college experience" feel
* the campus itself is small and not so "gothic/brick" looking
* not sure if there are other honors oppurtunities...i tend to do very well in school and i want to be part of something "honors"...but i did not make it into their honors program :(</p>
<p>Marquette</p>
<p>Pros:
* honors program
* homey campus feel
* good sports teams</p>
<p>Cons:
* far away! close to canada!
* weather must be even colder than NYC
* not as competitive a school as Fordham
* expensive plane tickets</p>
<p>THANK YOU!!!</p>
<p>The Fordham LC honors program only has about 10 kids so it is extremely selective. There are opportunities as you go through your major to do individual study with professors and earn other honors titles. The academics at Fordham are very good, and you will get an excellent education without being in the honors program.</p>
<p>I’ve also struggled with the “campus” issue. LC is essentially two buildings so it can at times feel a bit too independent. Luckily, the other campus is only a $3 intercampus RamVan ride away (about 30 minutes). If you feel the need to get more involved in the student body you can go there, attend sporting events or general activities. LC does have a number of ways to get involved itself, though. Also, if LC does not feel “college-y” enough, you can easily transfer to Rose Hill. That campus is much larger than LC, has the gothic buildings typical of college campuses, large quads, and a beautiful library. LC, on the other hand, has incredible dorms, and is the absolute best possible location in NYC. It is literally one block from both Columbus Circle and Lincoln Center making it a hub for restaurants and entertainment. While it isn’t as traditional of a college experience, if you’ve ever wanted to live in NYC it is probably the best opportunity you’ll have.</p>
<p>It sounds like you will not have the opportunity to visit either school before making your decision, so I think the best thing you could do is decide what is most important to you and see how each school measures up in that area.</p>
<p>nyc2013 will tell you…normally I am not one to rule out finances as part of the picture except in the case of my own son because I have that option! 
But the $4k difference in price is insignificant given the overall cost of college and if you look carefully, I’d be willing to bet that most of that is due to higher room and board. This is to be expected when you compare living in Manhattan to living in Wisconsin. And keep in mind, this will actually be lower when you factor in the cost of travel to and from your home in Florida. Honestly, I would disregard the cost factor altogether when making your decision. </p>
<p>You list as a Fordham con that you are not in the main campus yet you applied to LC which is actually harder to get into given the lack of space. Is the program you are interested in only offered at LC? Did you think you wanted to be in Manhattan and are now having second thoughts about the non-traditional vs. traditional college experience? I think you need to consider the reason that you applied to LC over RH more carefully. As you have been told, you can transfer to RH but even if that is not an option because of the program you are in, you can take classes out of RH and be a part of that community as well. You will get the best of both worlds thanks to the Ram Van if you go to Fordham. </p>
<p>You’re on the Fordham forum so of course, most people are pro Fordham! But really the only factor I see in your decision is Marquette Honors and the truth is you should consider yourself “honored” to be accepted to a great school like Fordham in the first place! Seriously, though I think you may be slightly enamored with the perks and Honors title. Clearly you will be in a program with the best of the best at Marquette. But LC is a small community so you are sure to get the attention you are looking for and perhaps Honors will come later. </p>
<p>My S will be attending LC in the fall. He’s pretty brilliant himself and he didn’t make Honors either at Fordham which just makes you wonder about the geniuses that do! He did make Fairfield Honors and sat in on classes at Fairfield AND a class at Fordham in February. And he was blown away by the learning environment and the intelligence that surrounded him at Fordham. He didn’t feel outmatched and he didn’t feel smarter than everyone. It was a perfect fit. Granted, he is a theatre major and Fordham was his top choice to begin with but intellectually, you will probably feel the same. There’s something to be said for going to school and not coming out with a superiority complex OR an inferiority complex! </p>
<p>If I were you, I would zero in on your intended major. Go with the better program. If it’s Fordham AND only offered at LC, do consider your campus life questions as well. Finally, consider where you want to be when you graduate and which school will better help you in the end.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>First, congratulations! Second, relax and breathe. Third, schedule trips to BOTH schools for admitted student orientation and get the vibe and see what you like. </p>
<p>Fourth, Honors programs are very prestigious but also a LOT of work. There is grade deflation in Honors programs because the expectations are so high. You necessarily shrink the pool of grade competition and thus your chance for an A is tougher, plus the kids are all brilliant. Its heady stuff and will thrill and challenge you to the max (whether Marquette or Fordham Honors), but the downside is more stress, grades and a workload which is horrendous. The workload at Fordham College (either LC or RH) is already pretty steep, so think about that.</p>
<p>Fifth, and finally, you can ask Admissions at Fordham if they will take you in RH, but you must do that very soon, or you can ask to switch perhaps after the first semester, if you prefer to be on a large typical college campus. Rose Hill is awesome and very pretty. Its only 5,000 undergrads so its not a giant school. LC is very small and intimate. Awesome classes and professors, but you will be living with these kids and in class with all of them all the time, so its either Heaven or Hell depending on your experience. Not beating up on LC. People there all love it and love being in Manhattan. Its just a very different experience than Rose Hill. And as NYC2013 said, you can take classes at either campus by taking the RamVan service (its free for students doing this, there is only a fee to ride if you are NOT going to a class.) </p>
<p>Marquette is a wonderful school steeped in Jesuit tradition. It has a phenomenal basketball team, whereas Fordham has been…well…ahem…scraping the bottom of the barrel for a few years (though they hired a new coach from Hofstra and hopefully will improve.) Milwaukee is not New York. But its a few hours to Chicago if you want the glitz and glamor of a major city.</p>
<p>Fordham has several honors programs that may be offered to you after Freshman year if your grades are high enough (3.5 cumulative gpa or higher). That is another option.</p>
<p>Thank you to all of you!</p>
<p>My intended major is English/Philosophy in the pre-law program, and I know that Fordham is known for its great law school, so I assume its pre-law track is also wonderful.</p>
<p>About the campus issue, when I applied to Fordham, I considered that the law school is in the LC campus, as well as being surrounded by Manhattan. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I def. don’t regret applying to LC–I prefer it over RH. Obviously I would be more happy if LC had the same location but a bigger campus, but I don’t think that’s possible. I would probably take advantage of the RamVan for taking a cours at RH to feel both campuses. I’d also go for basketball games and such.</p>
<p>sandkmom:</p>
<p>That is excellent that your S chose Fordham over Fairfield Honors! In my school, I’m alsways tagged as “smart” or “honors kid”. I have the feeling it would be the same at Marquette. But I like the challenge and the setting of being with people who are “all on your level” (somewhat) and not being a big fish in a small pond. That way, I can work harder to achieve honors at Fordham, which is more prestigious than honors at Marquette. I hate the feeling of being in a school where you are one of the “smartest” people. I like being surrounded by smart and smarter people constantly.</p>
<p>I will consider all of what you guys said. I will post my decision in the next few weeks. Thank you!</p>
<p>One more point. PreLaw is not the most common way to get into Law School, btw. Fordham does have a special program that allows you to gain entry early, but its extremely competitive and robs you of your senior year at Fordham College. Many students at Fordham go onto Law School, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, NYU, and many other top 25 schools, in addition to Fordham Law. But gaining entry into Fordham Law from Fordham College is wickedly hard. It can be done, but you must have near perfect grades and a super high LSAT. Many kids who go to law school have majored in History, Philosophy, Theology, English, Political Science, IPE, American Studies (an Honors Program by invitation after freshmen year grades are in). </p>
<p>I am one who believes that those four years of undergrad school are valuable for many reasons…including maturity. Many law schools prefer students who are older and more seasoned anyway…with a few years of work experience under their belts. Gives them more gravitas to supplement their book smarts. </p>
<p>FCLC is an awesome school and had a bunch of Fulbright Scholars last year. But if you find its not for you and you prefer a more classic college campus with dorms, athletics, large open lawns and trees, huge library etc, then make the switch over to Rose Hill. But your grades will make a big difference. </p>
<p>Most students are happy where they are and don’t transfer between campuses (or out of Fordham.) But for those who want to change, that option is available.</p>
<p>You will be surrounded by very smart people at Fordham. You will be plenty challenged and the workload will keep you more than busy.</p>
<p>Actually sofia, my S’s FINAL decision came down to Fordham and NYU because of major and NYC location. He chose Fordham for the Jesuit education and the BA theatre program. He is also highly interested in English and considering a double major or minor. He was VERY impressed with the English professor who spoke at the Fall open house, Virginia Woolf scholar, Dr. Fernald. You might be interested in reading about at her in [Woolf</a> Scholar Brings Virginia to New York](<a href=“http://www.fordham.edu/campus_resources/enewsroom/inside_fordham/april_27_2009/in_focus_faculty_and/woolf_scholar_brings_69485.asp]Woolf”>http://www.fordham.edu/campus_resources/enewsroom/inside_fordham/april_27_2009/in_focus_faculty_and/woolf_scholar_brings_69485.asp) .</p>
<p>Knowing that you want to go to law school and that you are happy with LC, I definitely vote Fordham. And hearing that you “like being surrounded by smart and smarter people constantly” might I say that you sound like a Fordham student already! :D</p>
<p>Best of luck and do keep us posted!</p>
<p>Definitely consider ghostbuster’s advice on law school…I missed that when I was writing my post. BTW, my H was a Philosophy major who went on to law school!</p>
<p>Good to know. I guess it would be better to finish my four years and THEN apply for law school–makes sense. Thanks :)</p>
<p>sandkmom, my son is a junior @ Fordham Rose Hill, Honors Program, English major…final decision came down to NYU vs. Fordham. He’s taken at least one course at LC each semster and has thoroughly enjoyed the experience so there seems to be a lot of back and forth among the campuses. He is currently spending a semester at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, so I am living vicariously through your posts here. :D</p>
<p>^^Your S sounds like someone my S would love to meet! He may well end up majoring in English himself! </p>
<p>And clearly your S must be one of the geniuses I was referring to if he’s in the Honors program! How exciting for him to be in New Zealand!</p>
<p>Thank you all for the wonderful advice. I ended up choosing Marquette University. I’m sure Fordham is an excellent school. However, I think I made the right decision in choosing Marquette. Thank you again! :)</p>
<p>While we are sorry to see a very good student go elsewhere, we also know each decision is very personal. We wish you the very best at Marquette. Its a fine Jesuit school. </p>
<p>My best advice is to send in your deposit, IF ITS A FINAL DECISION (you have until May 1), close the book on college applications and buy the gear and look forward. When you arrive at Marquette in the fall, keep the values you were raised with, avoid the party animals like the plague (they are a plague of locusts, I can assure you!) and focus on your studies and making the right kind of friends with the same values and study habits.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>If I were you I would take the benefit of going to Fordham in Lincoln Center its in a good part of ny close to a lot i think the expensive aspect might be the real negative i applied and was accepted in Lincoln center as well the only reason i didnt go was because my number one choice is usc so i am waiting to hear from them this semester if not i would have gone to fordham! great school great location definitely an experience worth having. but again it probably will be best for you to make the decision that you feel most comfortable with where you can envision yourself</p>
<p>ooooop haha didnt see your post above ! congrats on choosing marquette!!</p>
<p>Hi, </p>
<p>This is pretty funny because I’m currently in the same position. I just happened to stumble upon this on google, isn’t it great? </p>
<p>I want to study International Studies. I’m currently a senior in high school but, grew up overseas. I want to pursue any sort of East Asian Studies corresponding with Chinese (Mandarin, to be exact). </p>
<p>I was wondering if you have any advice. I take it you have been at Marquette for a year now? I have family in Madison. If I do go to Marquette I would end up majoring in International Business or Political Science. I received a scholarship (not huge, but hey it’s a scholarship). </p>
<p>Thank you for any of the help you can give me :)</p>
<p>@kbuckless22 - If you are interested in the Political science program at Marquette the Les Aspin program is very well regarded. Here is the link [Marquette</a> University Les Aspin Center for Government](<a href=“The Les Aspin Center for Government // Marquette University”>The Les Aspin Center for Government // Marquette University) Good luck!</p>
<p>@kbuckles22</p>
<p>I would choose Marquette. The honors program will give you that one-on-one attention that will definitely be a plus when it comes to finding internships, research opps, or jobs! Seriously. </p>
<p>Wisconsin’s great. I have family in Minnesota, and you couldn’t find nicer, more down-to-earth people than in the Midwest. You probably already knew that, since you have family in Madison :)</p>
<p>And cost is HUGE. The less loans you will have coming out of undergrad, the better. Grad school is expensive, and jobs can be scarce.</p>
<p>By the way, I’m not biased towards Marquette. Quite the opposite…I’m going to Fordham!</p>
<p>Now, it’s obviously your decision. But you have two fantastic schools at your feet. Good luck!</p>