<p>Just returned from a trip to Fordham University--both the Rose Hill and Manhattan campus. It seems to be a college to good to be true. Any CC'ers who are familiar with aspects of the school. Pro's and Con's would be appreciated.</p>
<p>I know of 3 ppl who currently attend. All love it! One is a business major, one architecture, and the last was undecided. All are women, if that matters.</p>
<p>one of the obvious negatives to fordham and maybe the only negative is the surrounding neighborhoods. fordham is not in a terrible neighborhood but it is not in a good neighborhood. on the positive side the rose hill campus is very impressive and it is nice to be within walking distance of the bronx zoo and the botanical gardens. my daughters high school probably sends 20 to25 students to fordham every year so they must be doing something right.</p>
<p>They seem to have a shuttle that students can take to get from one campus to the other.</p>
<p>My son visited Fordham and liked it. (I wasn't with him, so Ive never seen it.) They also offered him good $$$. He actually loved the surrounding area of Bronx. And guess why? He thought it looked like there would be LOTS of good ethnic food around it and he is VERY into eating. :)</p>
<p>But, he didn't end up going there.</p>
<p>That's funny Weenie, my son wanted to see the Italian restaurants before we left too, for him it was part of the "tour". I'm glad to hear your son was offered $$, because they aren't noted for it. My son's GC said they send a lot of students there, but how they decide who gets what, always leaves her bewildered.</p>
<p>Debruns:
Frankly, I couldn't really figure out the money thing with Fordham either. The "scholarship" (or grant or whatever...) was fairly generous, but had to be renewed every year. To me, that was a little too much based on an unknown - because it wasn't clear why he qualified for it. (So, what was he supposed to do to keep it???) As I recall, they had it categorized under need based, but since our "expected family contritution" based on FAFSA was $65,000 a year I knew that was bogus. Clearly, it was a carrot - but it felt a little tenuous.</p>
<p>Weenie,I of course, can't say for sure, but I think your instincts were right. I remember last year reading on their live journal, that aid wasn't guaranteed year to year (at least for these 2 students) and they ended up with what she thought was way too much debt after 4 years.(Some students find transfering easier than others.) Some colleges, are more upfront and would make me more comfortable, but again, who knows what April will bring. : )</p>
<p>My cousin's D graduated from fordham a few years ago. She was from the area (Yonkers) but lived at the Rose Hill campus. AS far as I understand, she loved everything about it--was an accounting major and now living in and making good money in Manhattan. My understanding is that she got a merit scholarship which covered just about everything. Her stats were way over their averages.</p>
<p>Two students who I know that attend, commute. They both told me that they got 5,000 for "commuting expenses". Both come from divorced families. Lets just say that one student's parent I was told makes well over 350,000/ year and both parents are involved. The other student was raised by her mother and the father is totally uninvolved (student has met her father a couple of times). Mom has a good job. I do not know her salary, but would guess that it is no more than 80,000/year (burbs of NYC).</p>
<p>In case anyone is wondering, the uninvolved parent does not earn much money.</p>
<p>Here are some facts about Fordham's financial aid:</p>
<p>79% of incoming freshmen appled for need based aid. Of those, 69% were determined by Fordham to have need. Of those determined to have need, only 20% had their need fully met (Fordham does not guarantee to meet 100% of need).</p>
<p>73% of returning students applied for need based aid. Of those, 65% were determined to have need. Of those determined to have need, 21% had their need fully met.</p>
<p>Average total financial aid packages:</p>
<p>Freshmen: $21,197, returning students: $19,953</p>
<p>Average need based grant:
Freshmen: $17,493, Returning: $9662</p>
<p>Average self-help aid work study, non school loans
Freshmen: $4189 Returning: $5276 </p>
<p>Average annual need based loans
Freshmen: $3267 Returning Students: $4396</p>
<p>Merit scholarships: 8% of freshmen receive, average award is $7,444. 9% of returning students receive merit, average award is $8005</p>
<p>Athletic scholarships: 2% of freshmen receive, average award is $16741 2% of returning students receive, average award is $14,500</p>
<p>Average debt upon graduation: $17,144</p>
<p>I am an original south bronx girl, I also have a nephew who attends Fordham. While the family believes nephew is gay and afraid of coming "out" so as not to upset the in laws (nephews grandparents) because they helped him get into the school via their devout selective cathlocism,(not $$$), he said if they think you may become a priest you will get major$$$$ from the school. What he did not realize is that he never read the "fine print" until it was pointed out that if he does NOT fulfill his "calling" he will be in MAJOR debt. As far as the neighborhood, if you stay in the italian section its fine. Manhattan is just a 30 minute train ride so its not like Siberia.</p>
<p>I am applying to Fordham. The locale is excellent. My only gripe with Fordham is that is has very rigid distribution requirements, and the demanding core curriculum turns me off. </p>
<p>I think I like LC because of it's position in Manhattan, but I heard it's more competitive because of housing limits and a part of me wants the more colliegiate experience. If I must go there, I will have many reservations about attending. No doubt.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the comments. I will keep them in mind!!</p>
<p>White Materia, I agree with you and this is why my son is not applying.</p>
<p>The $5,000 is NOT financial aid. EVERY NYC kid--meaning any applicant who applies from NYC schools and plans to live at home--gets $5,000 off tuition at Fordham. It doesn't matter how much $$$ your family makes.</p>