<p>bballmom, for what it is worth, there is no good reason why your son was waitlisted or others denied other than NUMBERS. (in my humble opinion)- These days it is a crap shoot. I know several of my d’s friends who are high achievers + who did not get into schools they should have gotten into… from a qualification standpoint. That is what I mean about your son’s stats— he would be an excellent Fordham (or anywhere else) candidate— but when admission offices are going through 30-40,000 applications… it is ridiculous. Kids are applying to 10-15 schools-- but guess what, they are only going to ONE. So, again in my opinion, some apps just end up “no” pile with no good reason, some in the “wl” pile with no good reason and some on the “yes” pile with no good reason— meaning their stats were not the best but they met a “diversity” need- religious, cultural, racial, socioeconomic, geographic… the list goes on. This is just my opinion. Which I guess is a long way of saying you son SHOULD have gotten in- but sheer numbers of applicants made the pool very murky. JMHO.</p>
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<p>That’s strange-- our youngest of 4 just went through the application process and we did not find any correlation between the kind of contact they received from school and the results of their applications. This includes matches, reaches, and safeties.</p>
<p>glassharmonica - I agree with you based on my D’s experience applying to school this year as well as my son’s experience 4 years ago. I think the amount of information given out by a particular college is more determined by the school’s policies and technology (some appear to be much more computerized than others) rather than by any potential acceptance/rejection.</p>
<p>^^^ Yep. Some schools are famous for pumping their apps up (a prestigious LAC in the midwest) by sending out glossy brochures to the world, and then rejecting them or waitlisting them so they look more competitive/selective. Not good. </p>
<p>Admissions is quirky everywhere, without exception. Lots of stories every year of this or that. A rude awakening to many people. </p>
<p>At the end of the day, you embrace who accepted you, turn the page and close the book on the others and look forwards and upwards.</p>
<p>My post was on those who were ACCEPTED vs. those who were REJECTED. I never mentioned INITIAL RECRUITS when EVERYONE gets the glossy catalogues, letters, testimonials etc. This all changes when the initial review of the application goes into the yes/no/maybe piles. You don’t know what you are not receiving if you are in the NO or even the MAYBE piles UNLESS someone on the forum informs the rest. My mother was the VP of Admissions for 22 years and EVERY school has followed this pattern. Just a little tidbit for the future…This is a fact not opinion.</p>
<p>kingsport…I am not sure of your point. You said that anyone who simply gets an acknowledgement of the application and “fill out your fafsa” is probably getting a rejection letter. I couldnt disagree more. Some schools are small and can be more personal…and many are. Still others take a more hands off approach and are very quiet about their inner workings. Fordham gets 33,000 applications and they rarely say another word after the application is complete, unless you are an uber stat National Merit Finalist they really want to recruit. </p>
<p>My kid heard NOTHING from the day the application was submitted online via the common application, RD pool. (She had been waitlisted ED and EA at other highly selective schools.) But Fordham accepted her and welcomed her. </p>
<p>Its very much on a school by school basis what they do. I wouldnt read too many tealeaves into whether they are interested or not based on their relative silence until notices are sent out. In the end, as your mother likely knows, it comes down to SAT scores and gpas, then a variant of EC’s, recommendations, essays. </p>
<p>My kid was waitlisted at a very good school that had a lot of contact with her before the application process and afterwords…in fact, even after they waitlisted her they were still in contact…as she was high on the waitlist…but they ended up only taking a handful of people.</p>
<p>Fordham…nothing more can I say- you’ll have to read between the lines.</p>
<p>I was accepted to Johns Hopkins and Carnegie Mellon, but I was waitlisted to Fordham. What kind of poorly designed system does Fordham have or did I just get really lucky… shake my head… And I got money from Hopkins!!!</p>
<p>^^That is surprising based on the typical admission statistics for the school, but this whole process is subjective to a certain extent so things like do happen. If for some reason Fordham is your first choice, you I would call admissions to be sure that there was no error. But if you prefer the other schools, then just be happy with what are really great options and don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>@Greekgod - Maybe they thought Fordham was a safety for you. Obviously your stats must be fantastic if you got into JHU and CMU. A lot of schools reject kids who are over qualified.</p>
<p>I know someone rejected at Notre Dame who got into Princeton. This weird stuff happens every year.</p>
<p>What website can I go to to check if I got accepted or rejected?</p>
<p>Is it weird or did the University just not see something in you that another University saw? IT isn’t all about the stats, sometimes it isn’t even the essays but the amount of money the school has for fin aid! Sooooooo many factors.</p>
<p>@cugaz - Everyone should have been notified by regular mail by now, no website. I would call them asap if you have not recieved anything.</p>
<p>Just found this thread and wanted to say I have always believed in fate; what is meant to be will be. This being said, my daughter applied EA to Fordham and was accepted with 1830 SATs, 27 ACT, and a GPA of only 90. I say “only” because I can see that most accepted had much higher GPAs and SAT scores. She was also given a very nice scholarship. She attends an all girl catholic high on Long Island, has a lot of community service hours, and earned her Girl Scout Gold Award (which I do feel helped in the acceptance process). I feel she had an outstanding essay also. Fordham sent her many applications and letters early on, and made her feel like they wanted her from the beginning. If nothing else at the time, it really boosted her self-esteem, and made her believe in her self a bit more. Not everyone we knew received these letters, so they did make her feel like she had a chance. Her guidance counselor told her Fordham was very big reach for her and she shouldn’t apply by the way. Fordham waived her application have our FAFSA forms filled out and sent to all the colleges she applied to. They have been unbelievably helpful, caring and kind. My husband and I are so impressed and grateful for the help and guidance they given us thus far. My daughter is an amazing young lady, but not anyway near the top of her class, and yet, this University has made her feel like she is. So, I do believe in fate, what is meant to be will be. I know there are hundreds/thousands of applicants with MUCH higher scores than hers, and many more tags on their resumes, but I guess they saw something on her resume that caught their attention. She was shocked and quite overwhelmed when the big envelope came; I think we all were. She really wanted to go to Penn State, but was waitlisted there and Northeastern. She got into all her other schools (Loyola, Fairfield, Hofstra and Quinnipiac to name a few.) My husband and I feel after living in the Long Island Bubble her whole life, attending a small private school, and very sheltered- she will have to rise up, grow up, and become independent at the Rose Hill campus. We loved Loyola but I felt she would be back in a Bubble again. We do so much for our children, we protect them, and shelter them, and know we have to release them so to speak and pray they will manage without daddy and mom at the rescue. I must say, I always get a nervous feeling in my stomach as we drive up to Fordham, as the surrounding neighborhood is certainly not the bubble she is used to. I know that this will be not only an academic education, but maybe more importantly for her, a character building education where she will grow and become a strong, Independent, responsible member of a society that is moving way too fast, for our youth. So, to those who did not get in, I know in my heart that it is not where your future will be nourished. God really does know what he is doing, and I pray for all our graduates that they are safe, happy and make healthy, wise decisions in their newly found freedoms. I don’t know what I am going to do in August when I leave her off, but, knowing she is only 20 minutes away does help this very nervous mom !</p>
<p>Cphelan: Congrats to you and your daughter. Scholarships are quirky too and many of them are restricted to specific schools, notably catholic high schools…often by wealthy alumni. </p>
<p>My kid went to a public high school and had very high scores but was below 1400 and got nothing in the form a scholarship, but did get a nice grant in aid. </p>
<p>Yes, being nervous parents is part of the process and often tearful. But its a transition for everyone, even if 20 minutes away. I think its hardest on parents of girls. Just my opinion of course.</p>
<p>I remember the Mass on the lawn in front of the Church on drop off day, and Fr. McShane saying, “The Mass has ended. Go in Peace. Now kiss your kids good bye.” I thought I was going to embarrass myself and my kid (and our family) by bursting into tears and it was all I could do to hold myself together, kiss her forehead and watch her running across Eddies Parade to her Orientation group to pick up her class schedule! Her hair bobbing up and down…and we drove out the gates and down to the Henry Hudson Parkway and I let loose…we cried and cried…across the GW Bridge. Awful. Then the LONG drive home.</p>
<p>But true to his words, Fordham was a transformational experience…and my kid is all grown up and in graduate school and happy being Mary Tyler Moore (figuratively)…lol.</p>
<p>Its almost time to pull the trigger for applicants around the country. Two weeks and then its all over. Best of luck to all.</p>
<p>sovereigndebt-
OMG- I literally cried reading the part where you dropped your daughter off… I am going to be a basket case, having only one child was not a good idea- although that also was God’s decison- he knew I couldn’t go through this twice!!! Thank you for all your pearls of wisdom on this thread-
two questions - were you worried about the surrounding location, did your daughter ever have any problems traveling from and to Fordham?
and pearls of wisdom or suggestions about dorm life?</p>
<p>Area is fine, just be smart. Arthur Ave is great, Fordham road, a bit more dodgey late at night stupid drunk college kids, but same on any big city.</p>
<p>My d goes to 24hour fitness on Fordham road all the time, shops, the fruit stands, takes the subway, walgreens, etc. Ram Van to manhattan Lincoln center is great. My daughter lived on campus and no off campus on student sanctioned housing. All is good.</p>
<p>Biggest pet peeve regsrodng Fordham is the cafeteria food. Thumbs down. But edible.</p>
<p>As for drop off we were sooo tired, I cried for about five minutes the it was I need a glass of wine and a steak dinner. Both daughters were so happy hard to cry too much</p>
<p>cphelan:</p>
<p>I am delighted to help you and anyone…Fordham is about family most of all. I believe that deeply in my heart. I could write a book (and maybe should!) on the experiences we had.</p>
<p>The biggest lesson I can share with you (and again, its only me…and others may have differing opinions or experiences) is this is a transformational experience for both parents and students. Its not the end of the world, but the beginning of a new paradigm. Letting go is very hard. Yep. (We have three kids).</p>
<p>For us, Fordham wasnt even the top choice originally…and it came down to three schools…then two…and it was gut wrenching deciding which to choose. Tears and door slamming and then some hard feelings from friends here who hoped for a different choice (a prestigious southern school). Then we had huge culture shock…because you Northerners are different (lol) and being so far from home. </p>
<p>The Bronx is a shock to many…but in the end, you learn to love and embrace it. Both for entertainment (eats!) and internships. Its eclectic. But those neighborhoods in Little Italy all depend on Fordham students and families and faculty for business. Its safe…you just have to be smart. Dont go drinking at night alone, dont wander around at night alone and use common sense. Fordham kids are tight and go out together, from Arthur Ave to Manhattan to Westchester. There is a huge contingent from Long Island and they seem also to hang together. </p>
<p>Fordham kids come from all over and all walks of life…a good thing. Diversity. And they are generally non judgmental and tolerant. There is a three or four week honeymoon…then the pressure of school sets in and the dorm dramas begin and boyfriends and girlfriends breakup and so forth. And the complaints about the cafeteria start in. And as parents you just say, “its part of growing up…learning to deal with circumstance and solve your problems without mom and dad to fix everything.” </p>
<p>We had drama and we had sickness and we had transferitis in January something awful. But we got through it all…the sun came out in March and it all worked out…still dating the Fordham young man she met freshman year! </p>
<p>And of course all of this goes on at every school, without exception. I have neighbors with kids at very big name schools (public and private) and their stories are nearly identical! We all just pour a glass of wine, roll our eyes…sometimes dry their tears (and ours) and help them see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.</p>
<p>I can tell you as I have told many others. That graduation was as emotional and tearful (happy1 is about to find out!) as move in day. We had pictures with profs, pictures with four deans (all crying!) and pictures with families and on and on…and all the while moving out of Campbell Hall! Nobody wanted to leave…but then again, we knew it was over and time to move along…to a new chapter (and new schools!). </p>
<p>You will learn to LOVE Fordham. Its a very, very special place. Not for everyone and not one size fits all. But a very special place. </p>
<p>Its all good…and your goal is to have your daughter grow and change and become an adult who is independent and can think on her feet…and she will! And make friends for a lifetime. </p>
<p>There will be stories in the dorms about behavioral abnormalities…shall we say. Its what happens at every campus. All you can do is be tolerant and stick to your knitting and morals. DONT DRINK. Have fun, laugh at yourself and with others. </p>
<p>We will be there for all of you in September…</p>