Fordham or Emory-Oxford?

College Search & Selection
1

Hello! I was accepted to both Oxford College at Emory University and Fordham University (Rose Hill), and I am having a difficult time picking between the two.

On the one hand, Fordham offered me a reaaallllyyy good financial aid package (basically a huge grant). It offers a major/concentration in what I am interested in (English Literature/Creative Writing), and has a core curriculum that touches on virtually everything, so I can explore different subjects. It would also be close to home, as I live in New York. However, I have read more than a few (and I really mean way more than a few) scathing student reviews on how the academics aren’t all they’re cracked up to be and most of the student body is more into partying/drinking than actual learning. I know college is what you make it, but I really don’t want to attend a cliquey college/university where the most popular major is partying (I had enough of that in high school).

On the other hand, Emory didn’t offer me a great financial package (they offered me a nice enough grant but most of my money is either student loans or work/study), it’s quite far away from home (though it would have its pros) and I’ve also heard many things about it being kind of elitist and full of pretentious rich kids. However, Emory has one of the best creative writing programs in the nation, it is a really good and well-reputed school and most of the students that attend there have had nothing but good things to say about it, especially Oxford.

I was able to tour Fordham, and wanted to tour Emory but as it is too far away and money is a little tight at the moment, I can’t go down to Atlanta.

Any advice (maybe someone who has attended one of the above schools)?

Thanks!

2

My D is a Creative Writing/Spanish double major at Emory but she’s on the main campus. She likes most of her English/CW professors (very supportive) and finds the academics challenging; she studies a lot but it has been a great fit for her. Like any top private university, Emory has many pretentious rich kids but my D has found her own friends. There’s a wealth of community service, performing arts and other clubs to meet other students; the greek scene is about 30%. She wanted to get out of the NE, and Atlanta is a direct and reasonable flight for us.

One of her friends from high school has a full scholarship at Fordham in the business honors program and found the academics exactly as you described but has been on internships on three continents, so hasn’t spent that much time on Rose Hill. I don’t know about their party scene.

Similar to your situation, Emory’s f. aid wasn’t as good as some others my D received but she felt Emory was her best option academically. As parents, we have sacrificed a lot to be able to afford Emory. She works part-time (and full time at home during summers) and took out more in student loans to help with extra expenses.

Perhaps you could meet with some Fordham professors in the English/C. Writing depts. and get a better idea if you would be comfortable there. Being in NYC will be a plus if you want to apply for internships later. I would think carefully about turning down a terrific financial aid package.

3

Can you list actual net price* at each, as well as what your parents can pay "out of pocket " (ie., from income and savings, NOT from loans)?
*net price = (tuition+room+board+fees) - (grants+scholarships)

4

Remember that online student reviews are biased. Few people go online to rate something like colleges or professors because they had a wholly expected or even mostly positive experience; they go because something bad happened and they want to rant about it (or, in rare cases, because something extraordinary happened and they want to talk about it).

Fordham is a good school with over 15,000 students; it admits less than half its applicants and the students tend to be above-average students who were near the top of their class (most in top quarter, at least half in top tenth) in high school. With a student body like that, I find it hard to believe that none of them care about actual learning. I’m always skeptical when schools that have excellent reputations are branded as “party schools.” Remember that it is possible to love partying and the social scene and also be intellectually curious.

That said, Oxford/Emory is a great school - and as you said has a great writing program. You get the best of both worlds in that set up - two years at a small liberal arts college forming tight-knit bonds and close relationships with professors, and then another two years at a large research university with more students. But finances do come into play here. How much would you have to borrow? Can your family actually afford to pay any of it?

5

Thank you for the responses––they were very helpful.

@MYOS1634 the net price would be around 29,000 dollars for Fordham and around 35,700 dollars (with around 5,000 dollars a year being borrowed, and the rest either being grant money or work/study) for Emory-Oxford. I’m not sure what the out-of-pocket cost for my parents would be––they’ve told me they set up a savings account a while ago for my siblings and myself to go to college, but I don’t know how much money they can help me pay off.

6

Are you in the Honors College a Fordham? Is there a Living Learning Community you like?
Are the 35,700 dollars for Emory before or after you deduct the 5.5K loan? Ie;, would it be 35,700 - 5,500 = 32,200 - work study -2,500? = 29,200 for Emory with loans and work study?
versus 29,000 for Fordham without any loans (so you could graduate without debt)?
Is 29K your parents’ budget for your college (can they pay that out of pocket)?
I’d go with Fordham, personally - but what are your parents saying?

7

I’m not in the Honors College. The 35,700 dollars is, unfortunately, after I deduct the 5.5k loan.

8

Ok, so Fordham sounds like the better idea financially speaking. Unless your parents can comfortably afford 37K, Emory isn’t affordable - what have your parents said in terms of budget?
Can you email/apply and ask the HOnors college to review your application ? There may still be time.
If not, look at the living-learning communities: which do you like? Or is there a wellness floor, or a living/learning floor?

9

Now is the time to have that conversation with them. You can’t make an educated and realistic decision about where to go to college unless you know how much they can afford to pay for you. So you have to ask them before you can make the choice.

10

My daughter Mary is going to Oxford College. She applied early decision to both campuses. Oxford offered her a scholarship. We live in Georgia and visited both campuses. Emory was her first choice, and we didn’t push her one way or another. In fact, we thought she would apply to school far away. She loved Emory, Emory likes her, and Oxford College loved her enough to make it worth her while to attend.

I had some of the same thoughts about Oxford being in such a small town. Too small. Not enough to do. And so on. But we only live 25 miles from Oxford and 35 from Atlanta and find plenty to do in terms of cultural activities, concerts, great dining, outdoor events, etc.

Another thing to consider about Oxford is this. Only freshmen and sophomores attend. Classes are taught by professors who want to teach students. Help centers are staffed by professors. Freshmen and sophomores take leadership roles from the beginning.

The campus itself is beautiful! Oxford just opened a brand new science building as large, as state of the art, and as impressive as any on the Atlanta campus. The dorms are very nice. There is a nice mix of new and old in Oxford.

There is an amazing community atmosphere on campus. One group was setting up bounce houses for an afternoon of fun just because on the day of our first official visit. The students who grow food in the campus gardens have a farmer’s market. The students we met are from all over and very friendly. I think it is a safe, congenial environment to begin a college experience.

Then, in junior year everyone moves to the Atlanta campus located in one of the city’s most upscale areas. Students who begin at Oxford will get the best of two vastly different college experiences as they work on their undergraduate degrees.

If you are worried about missing out on the night life in Atlanta, keep in mind it’s not that far from Oxford. You will be able to enjoy the concerts, festivals, art museums, gardens, restaurants, etc your freshman and sophomore years with a little planning without the distraction easier access might bring.

Send me a private message if you or your parents have any questions.

Emily

By the way, one of Mary’s reasons for choosing Emory is mild winter weather. We lived in Ohio most her childhood. Oh, and she began the application process at Fordham before she knew Oxford would make it worth her while to attend.