<p>Son applied to 12 schools and narrowed choices down to Fordham, Loyola, Scranton and Marist. S plans on studying business and after school believes he'll be staying in the NYC metro area. Fordham and Loyola have slight edge and cost may be a factor.<br>
Looking at what the schools have to offer in terms of
1- quality of business programs
2- quality of overall education
3- job placement/networking
4- social life
5- overall college experience</p>
<p>son attends all boys catholic HS, good student (3.8gpa), athlete, easy going and Type B personality.</p>
<p>My S is now a junior in the business school at Fordham. We looked at a number of the same schools during his process (just put in Bentley and Fairfield and take out Loyola MD). They are all very good schools and in the end, it came down to a gut feeling that Fordham was the right place for my S. </p>
<p>Scranton - We all loved the school on our first visit (had the best two tour guides EVER) but S was not as impressed when he returned for the accepted students overnight. It was unfortunate that the kid my very straight-laced son was put with was into drinking/pot so it was a horrible fit and totally turned him off to the school. That being said, I know that there are kids who drink and do drugs at every school in the country, but it was a deal-killer for him. As an aside, Scranton is also generally considered to be a lower ranked school than Fordham (although ranking is definitely not a reason to pick a school), it was not easy to get between our home from Scranton, and the merit aid was similar to Fordham. Interestingly, the former president at Scranton is now at Fordham.</p>
<p>Marist - This would have been the least expensive choice for us and the school has a great campus. There was just something about the place that didn’t seem to work for him. Nothing at all concrete, just a gut feeling. A minor point, but we all really didn’t like that point system they had to chose dorm rooms (you get points for good grades, joining clubs etc) - the tour guide we had spoke of getting and losing points so often that it put us all off. Again, you hate to be put off by one person, but it does happen. Also the social life seemed to revolve a lot around bars in town, although but I’m guessing if you are there you will find friends and other activities.</p>
<p>Loyola - never looked at. From what I know, which is just hearsay, people like the school.</p>
<p>Fordham - was my S’s favorite from the start. Something about the school and the kids he met there seemed to put a spring in his step. He really loves the access to NYC and he goes into Manhattan a good bit with friends. Another plus for Fordham for him was the freshman wellness dorm. While no school is perfect, he has had a great experience there.</p>
<p>I believe that the best possible way to spend your time is to go back and re-visit the schools that are in your “final four”. When you come down to a group of really nice schools like these to chose from, a lot of the right answer will come down to fit and feel. The second visits helped to clarify for my S which school was the right place for him. Good luck. You can’t make a bad choice!</p>
<p>I agree with Happy1. My son is going to have similar choices, I hope. Fordham is a great school and with the NYC backdrop would have the advantage. But cost can be a huge issue. My son just got some merit money from a “dark horse” choice and is going to be checking it out. A lot of factors at play here, and the only way to make that final decision is revisit and rethink. I know kids happy at all of those school, by the way, as my son goes to the same sort of high school as yours. A lot of kids pick those schools each year.</p>
<p>Fordham!!! Fordham, while expensive, is a great school. The business school there is famous practically… as is the law school. There are great programs. The access to NYC not only equates to more fun but also to more internship opportunites (especially important for a business student). I’m going to Fordham next year. I considered Scranton but didn’t like the location or lower ranking as much, although a cousin went there & loved it & the town & school are beautiful. Another cousin may be going there. Another cousin went to Loyola & loved it. I was gonna apply there but didn’t in the end. The location is pretty good but no NYC & I don’t think it’s ranked as highly. I also considered Marist, which is a great school. However, there is hardly any kind of city life in comparison to Fordham’s NYC “campus”. Remember though that I’m from NY, have fam. in the BX, & got a good scholarship.</p>
<p>Well, I’ve only really heard much about Fordham and Loyola. However, I don’t know which Loyola you mean. There’s Maryland, New Orleans, Chicago, and Marymount (LA), all of which are good schools.</p>
<p>When you say cost may be a factor, what do you mean? Which would cost you more? Or are you waiting on scholarships and aid, still?</p>
<p>Thanks for the posts and seemingly big support for Fordham. BillyMc, I meant Loyola Maryland. Also, I spoke to friend you is vp at JPMorgan for 20+yrs and said Fordham and Loyola MD are on equal ground with Scranton 1 back and Marist another notch down. Fordham’s network is very good in NYC and gets you first job, then it’s about performance. Also added that they don’t even look at resumes with less than 3.25gpa.<br>
As far as cost, Loyola MD and Fordham are about $7k/yr more than Scranton and Marist. Got merit for all but the net cost is higher at these two. Wife is in the midst of job change and should hear where that goes by next week as well. We have received merit and FA packages from all the schools already and I requested a merit re-evaluation at 3. If receives more merit aid from Loyola and Fordham, can seal the deal at one of those.
Told my S. he has till April 19, 3 days after the re-visit to Loyola.</p>
<p>I am so confused with the Fordham website. But i logged on and went into the admission tab next to home and then went into the message tab and there was this message “–Your Fordham Scholarship combined with other gift aid will cover your full tuition cost (excluding fees) at Fordham University. The actual amount of the scholarship will equal the total tuition ($39,235 for 2011-2012) less any Federal Pell Grant, state assistance and any other tuition specific resources. The scholarship will be adjusted for only half of other non-tuition specific outside resources or scholarships and you may use the other half for additional educational expenses. Each year your scholarship will be adjusted for any tuition increases so that your tuition charges will always be completely covered”. Does anyone know what to make of this message?? Because no where does it say anything about being admitted…</p>
<p>Why don’t you call the admissions office and tell them what you saw in that tab? It looks like the FA office has jumped the gun on the admisisons letters but only the school can answer that.</p>
<p>If that is what has happened, they’ll want to know—the two offices need to get themselves coordinated—that is not the way a school wants you to find out you have been accepted!</p>
<p>And if you have not been accepted, it is one heck of a blunder. Help them to fix it so it doesn’t happen to others!</p>
<p>People have been mentioning “Home” and “Admissions” tabs. My son has “Home” and “Applicant” tabs. Is that the same thing? Nothing has changed in several days. But I am wondering if when you login you are seeing something different in terms of tabs from what we are seeing. </p>
<p>So what appeared for you that is different under the Applicant or Home tabs, when you were accepted ? Thanks !
Also someone mentioned a “Messages” tab and all I see on the Home tab is a section called “Personal Announcements”. Same?</p>