<p>I just wanted to put the issue of St. John’s versus Fordham in perspective. Being an alumnus of Fordham (which I hold in high regard) I had originally hoped my son would attend Fordham as well. He was accepted to Fordham with a small scholarship and initially planned to attend. However, he received almost a full scholarship to St. John’s and decided to sit in on classes to make a decision between the two schools. After doing that he decided that he felt more comfortable at St. John’s.He is currently a junior and going to St John’s was one of the best decisions he made. St. John’s has many excellent professors, honors programs and tremendous study abroad opportunities. Additionally, it is well connected in many fields if you want to stay in New York.Like any college it is really what you do with what a college offers</p>
<p>Of course, many of my son’s friends go to Fordham and they are also quite happy. To me while reputation is important the ultimate decision of where to go should be based on deciding which school is a better fit for you.</p>
<p>It is very easy to get into a “My dad is better than your dad” argument on CC. I hope you don’t that is what this is. While this is a Fordham forum and many will talk up the school, every school has something to offer and be a different fit, filling a different nich. St. John’s serves it’s role well and has much to offer, so thanks for providing some balance and perspective.</p>
<p>PS; if ever you want to check out some CRAZY arguments on this “My dad is better than your dad” theme, look up the Villanova vs Fordham posts on the Villanova forums here. Classic, silly stuff lasting years!</p>
<p>On the flip side, I chose St. John’s over Fordham because of financial reasons, and without a doubt it’s been the biggest mistake of my life. I’m hoping that things will work out and I will be able to transfer in the fall, but if I can’t, I don’t know what I’m going to do because I can’t stand to be here.</p>
<p>I agree that the Bronx has a certain “fright factor” for those who are not from the Tri-State, or even out of NYC. I am from SoCal, and landed in NYC via London. I had a friend at Fordham Law, and decided to look into the school. I was quite impressed with what I learned, the libraries, (important for me) even the “Fordham lore”. I had heard in advance that Jesuit schools had rigorous programs, and I found that to be so very true. Beyond Fordham, I went on to Columbia U. for grad school. A great amount of synergism between the two schools really helped me fit right in up in Morningside Heights. Made my mom happy, too, as she’s an alumna of Barnard College back in '38. I’m proud to say that my education in economics prepared me for a career (and life) in progress, and found the combination of those two universities to be a great “hot-bed” of learning! </p>
<p>By the way, if the grammar and spelling of a number of the posts by St. John’s students and grads is any indication, I certainly wouldn’t choose to be an English major if I were planning to attend St. John’s. The diploma may “be heavy” as one poster said, but believe me, more people in CA. knew of Fordham than St. John’s out here, other than St. John’s basketball reputation. (I also discovered that even with their hoops achievements, many did not even know where it was located.)</p>
<p>I don’t get why people register for cc and bring up old threads just to bash a school. Of course there are just as many people in forums of higher ranked schools coming to the same incorrect conclusions about Fordham being a joke. Pointless if you ask me. </p>
<p>S1 is at Fordham and S2 may very well end up at St. John’s so I happen to like both schools! And FWIW, I happen to know someone who transferred from St. John’s to Fordham simply because Fordham was the “better” school and ended up transferring back. It’s about FIT people! </p>
<p>@sandkmom, I agree with you. Unfortunately, when it comes to St. John’s, I’ve heard more bad than good stories about it. Most of the kids I went to school with knocked it, a few of my brother’s friends want to transfer or did transfer out of it. Also, I did not have the best experience on the day I shadowed there. That I think is more of a case of the school needs to pick better people to represent their school. The ambassador I had wasn’t exactly a go-getter and she didn’t even want to be there and she was a senior!</p>
<p>However, I have heard some good stories about St. John’s and many people who have graduated from SJ have done very well, and most I know are working. Also, if I don’t get a good financial aid package for next semester, I might be going there, or Adelphi. I really wouldn’t mind either, but St. John’s would have what I’m looking to major in.</p>
<p>That’s too bad that you didn’t have a good shadow visit. S2 did the overnight and they did a great job pairing him. He stayed in the Catholic Scholars dorm and he was also accepted into the program so meeting all those kids was great. </p>
<p>I have a lot of ties to St. John’s…family members who graduated, my H was an adjunct, priests who we are close with involved with various programs and like I said, S2 might go there. I wasn’t actually going to post on this thread but there is quite a bit of application overlap between the two schools and while plenty of those students will choose Fordham, plenty will choose St. John’s as well for various reasons. And while we are pretty pro-Fordham here in the Fordham forum, long time posters know that you can be pro-Fordham without bashing other schools. It’s what makes this section of cc nice enough to stick around!</p>
<p>It comes down to the personal choice once one puts down the pros and cons of both schools. I know lots of kids and alum from both. Personal preference for one over the other, but there are some real benefits each school has over the other. Some preprofessional programs at St Johns are stellar and you can’t get them at Fordham. If you love the big basket ball scene, St John’s is also stronger there. As the poster with a son at St Johns wrote, it really is up to the student. </p>
<p>For most students, money not withstanding, Fordham is the choice due to stronger overall reputation, ratings and recognition. </p>
<p>It is a personal choice, and every school meets a need, provides a place for students. For those here who argued that SJU is a “Better” school than Fordham, there are so many was to state that: basketball, dorms, the experience of some students… but the ultimate worth of a school is if it educates, and the outcomes is valued in the success of it’s graduates. Both schools have good records. The one source that helps parents and students consider, rate and differentiate from different schools is the de facto standard of US News and World Report college rankings. For 2014 National Universities they have:</p>
<p>Fordham: 57th</p>
<p>St. John’s: 152nd</p>
<p>SJU is a good school and I have nothing bad to say about it, but when you get past the pride, banter and chest-pounding, ultimately this difference seen in USN&WR sets the record straight.</p>
<p>I am also deciding between St. John’s and Fordham. I am from Kentucky and finding out that St. John’s is a huge commuter school frightens me quite a bit. I want a good social scene at my college. I visited both and preferred Fordham, however it is just so expensive. I can attend St. John’s with little to no debt as my parents are willing to pay $20,000 a year and I received a $26,000 scholarship and $5000 grant. Fordham’s package included a rather weak $7000 scholarship but a great $17,000 grant. I am appealing to Fordham and there is a section on sending in other school offers. Should I send in the St. John’s offer even though they really aren’t comparable in terms of “prestige” and “rank”? I love Fordham and it is where my heart is set to go. </p>
<p>When it comes to a good fit, you can ignore rankings and prestige. Go to the place where you feel like you belong, you are comfortable. Does the school have the major you want? are the classes large? Can I afford it?..and other factors… There are many kids who have to turn down their preferred school (like Fordham) due to cost. Your education is what YOU make of it, regardless of where you go.</p>
<p>…and I would definitely indicate you got a better package to St. John’s…might help, couldn’t hurt.</p>
<p>I definitely felt more at home at Fordham than any of the other 5 universities I visited. Fordham also offers the smallest class sizes out of any other university I applied to. I’m just praying they can offer me additional aid. </p>
<p>Good luck diceman. It never fails to impress me how much kids love Fordham and the lasting impression it leaves.
I went there 40 years ago and still stay active, doing college fairs and going to games. My daughter just graduated and is doing very well; another fan for life.</p>
<p>And congrats to sandkmom, whose son has decided to go to St. John’s over Marquette. Like I said, every school fills a need. Where ever you wind up, be the best you can and you will get the most out of your college experience.</p>