Fordham University or St. John's University

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Please keep all bias aside. </p>

<p>I need help choosing which college to pick. </p>

<p>I still haven't gotten a letter from Fordham, but am sure I can get in. But I got into STJ with a 20K scholarship. </p>

<p>Which college should I attend?</p>

<p>I heard that Fordham is a better academic school, but STJ holds more prestige and its diploma holds more importance. College ******* said this on its site about STJ. </p>

<p>"A degree with the name St. John's on it is a heavy piece of paper. People rarely overlook an SJU diploma. The name can take you places."</p>

<p>Also STJ has it's home basketball games at MSG, and to be honest, I rather live in Queens than the Bronx even over a gated community Fordham has. </p>

<p>But what are your thoughts? Fordham or STJ?</p>

2

<p>…</p>

3

<p>St. John’s is a commuter school and has only regional prestige. The only place a St. John’s degree will take you is Queens. The decision between the two should come down to total cost of attendance after grants are taken into account.</p>

4

<p>anyone else?..</p>

5

<p>I’d go for Fordham without a doubt. Consider St. Johns only if $ is a factor or if the school has some particular program you want.</p>

6

<p>This is a repeat thread from the Fordham threads. I understand that…you want more opinions. Fine. But let me post here what I posted there for the benefit of all those reading this thread. </p>

<p>That website you referred to is absolutely wrong. Every objective ranking system I have ever seen has Fordham at least one tier higher than St. Johns. This is true at the undergraduate and graduate levels as well. While certain programs may be better at one school or another (which is true everywhere), I think Fordham’s faculty stand with the best of the best (many with Ivy League credentials), and Fordham’s student body is exceptional. The notion from that website that employers believe St. Johns is a better school (and better hire) than Fordham is laughable. </p>

<p>I don’t trash any school. Every school serves a good function for their students and community. But I can assure you that a Fordham degree carries a lot of weight in professional circles, academic circles and in the workforce. </p>

<p>As far as comparing offers and deciding on that basis, its perfectly legitimate to do so, if money is a factor for you. But wait and see what Fordham offers before you do. </p>

<p>You mention MSG as a draw for you at St. Johns. Fordham is playing St. Johns in basketball now with more frequency. We beat them at the Rose Hill Gym last season, and this season (Dec 2011) they beat us at MSG in a close game. Fordham offers tickets to events in Manhattan, including the Knicks and Yankee stadium and Broadway shows, at a huge discount through student affairs/dorms etc. </p>

<p>For some kids, basketball and football are huge factors in picking a school. Picking Fordham is largely an academic decision. We are Division I and proud of it. We have a very up and coming basketball program with a new coach and a recently named new football coach (Fordham alumnus who coached as OC and QB coach at UConn). St. Johns’ doesn’t play football. </p>

<p>We have an awesome softball and baseball team, a decent swimming team. We play well in soccer. We also have highly competitive club sports for those who want to play…including basketball and ice hockey. </p>

<p>I totally understand the draw of athletics and Fordham is trying hard to improve its footprint in that realm. But rest assured, going to Fordham is about academics. You will work extremely hard there. Nobody skates through Fordham. Nobody. Its business school is also world class and I personally know people who have studied in Beijing with Fordham’s unique school over there. There are also close ties with the London School of Economics. </p>

<p>College ******* is not reliable or objective. Its a biased book of opinions and you are asking for non biased views. . Sorry to inform you. USNWR is much better gauge and more objective, though I am not a fan of rankings. I’m just trying to give you some facts…meat on the bone so to speak. </p>

<p>Fordham also has a very strong Journalism department with excellent connections in New York and elsewhere…including major cable and network television stations. They have an Honors Journalism program as well. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

7

<p>If you are accepted in SJU’s BS/Pharmd program and got good aids through out, then go for it. Otherwise…</p>

<p>Why don’t you try the Pace Honors college? Its full ride and its downtown…</p>

8

<p>Go where you fit in, where your goals can be attained. However, there is no question that Fordham is the more nationally recognized school, and it’s diploma is more prestigious, if that is your aim.</p>

9

<p>Update! Fordham upsets #22 Harvard at Rose Hill tonight:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/01/03/sports/ncaabasketball/AP-BKC-T25-Harvard-Fordham.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/01/03/sports/ncaabasketball/AP-BKC-T25-Harvard-Fordham.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

10

<p>I’m stuck on these two schools also. Being from out of state, (like all the way down here in KY) I don’t get the opportunity to visit either schools. I, too received a generous scholarship from St. Johns… Haven’t heard back from Fordham yet though. But regardless, St. Johns, from my research & convos with alumni seems to be MORE diverse, down-to-earth, laid back, academics somewhat easier to bear than Fordhams. Both very good schools, but if I were you I would lean more towards St. Johns. Personally, I prefer a setting where there it is diverse, exciting, challenging yet enough to manage vs. a college where your nose would be stuck in the books 24/7. Just saying…</p>

11

<p>Well, Hannah…that is certainly one perspective. And to each his/her own. And yes, one person’s heaven is another person’s hell, in theory. It is subjective on many levels. But it is also an objective analysis too. Each student must select the college where they will be happiest and do the best for them. For some that is selecting the most comprehensive and challenging school, to get them into law, medicine or graduate schools, or even the top jobs in Manhattan, e.g. For others, they just want a school where they can graduate and do reasonably well and see what happens. Kids at Fordham are not all geeks, I assure you. There are even some party animals there (to their detriment, I might add.) Fordham is proud of its being 25% diverse in racial/ethnic matters. Its a highly selective school for admissions. And getting tougher every year. </p>

<p>The competitive kids at Fordham do tend to rise to the top of the class (Fordham ranks its students the old fashioned way, both at Gabelli Business School and FCRH or FCLC.) But the best students get the best jobs and best graduate placements. Its that simple. Hard work pays off. </p>

<p>My kid did extremely well at Fordham and finished near the top of the class. Exhausted. But it paid off big time for graduate school placement and being prepared for graduate school rigor. But while she worked like a dog for four years, she also had a lot of fun, going to basketball and football games, going to concerts, eating out in Manhattan, shopping, going to Central Park, or going to the Bronx Zoo or Botanical Gardens (free on Wednesdays!). She took challenging courses at Lincoln Center for a change of venue and professors…also a worthwhile endeavor. She went to Broadway shows and Yankee games at a huge discount. She had incredible internships (2 distinct and diverse ones which affected her career aspirations). </p>

<p>I am not saying this doesnt happen at St. John’s. They are a fine school. Each student must check out the campus environment for themselves. Selecting a school sight unseen is never a wise decision. So I strongly recommend you visit one or both schools before deciding. </p>

<p>Fordham expects more than 35,000 applications this year and its a Top50 school (likely this year in USNWR). Its white hot. </p>

<p>Finally, there is no such thing as a perfect school. They all have “issues in the closet”. Even the Ivy League. That is why its important to pick the best school for you. Where you think you will be happiest and do the best.</p>

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<p>The poster who said that St. John’s will only take you inside of Queens was completely false. I personally know three people specifically who are not even working in the state of New York who are St. John’s alum. Plus, Wall Street is filled with St. John’s alum; as well as Fordham alum too.</p>

<p>All in all, I’d say Fordham may be the better school academically, but St. John’s could take you far is well. There are many things to consider.</p>

13

<p>St. John’s has a good pharmacy school and great basketball and is known in the metro area. Fordham is solid academics, a national and international reputation, a rebuilding football and basketball team but not really known as a powerhouse for athletics. You can get a good education at either school.</p>

<p>Here is one uncompromising, irrefutible, hard fact to end any debate as to which is better academically: US News and World Report 2012 ranking of National Universities:
St. John’s is #152 Fordham is #53</p>

<p>Study WIKI on each school, visit each school and form your own conclusion as to which will meet your needs.</p>