Fordham University vs. Macaulay Honors College @ Baruch

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Not sure which college to choose! Macaulay gives full tuition and I got a large scholarship to Fordham so money is not an object. </p>

<p>If I go to Fordham I may decide to major in business @ the Gabelli School of Business or perhaps join the 3+2 Engineering program and spend 3 years at Fordham, 2 at Columbia, and be awarded with a BS from Fordham and a BE from Columbia.
Con of the engineering program: For guaranteed admission to Columbia a minimum of a B is necessary in every pre-engineering course. I'm afraid I may get a B- in just one pre-engineering course and thus lose my guarantee. Pros of engineering at Fordham/Columbia: I'd leave the program with 2 bachelors, one from Fordham, a well respected school, and one from Columbia, which obviously has a great reputation. I'd come out of the program having gained much from 2 different but respected universitys. </p>

<p>If I go to Baruch I can major in business. If I decide to go for engineering I may be able to transfer to the Macaulay Honors College @ City College which offers engineering, though I'm not sure how good of an engineering program City's is, especially in comparison to (possibly) Columbia.</p>

<p>Any insight/opinions are appreciated.</p>

2

<p>What a coincidence, I have to make the same decision! (Except I’m also considering Barnard.) Mind you, I have zero interest in business, but I think I can be of some assistance.
So the dual degree thing in engineering with Columbia and Fordham sounds very appealing. It won’t be easy, but as long as you’re willing to work hard to stay in the program, you’ll be able to reap its benefits.<br>
Macaulay, on the other hand, is a prestigious program all its own. It is certainly not to be discounted. Just a note, I don’t think you’d have to transfer from Baruch to City. You can take engineering classes at City, or see if you can swing the ad hoc major thing? Your adviser will be able to help you if that’s the way you decide to go. In any case, I’ve heard really good things about the Grove School of Engineering. The faculty is supposed to be spectacular.
Are you going to the admitted student days for either school? The Spring Preview thing for Fordham is on Saturday. I’m pretty sure the admitted student day for Macaulay at Baruch passed, though. (You didn’t go, by any chance? I missed it, and I’d like to know what I missed out on… ) Anyway if you have specific questions about engineering at City, it would do you well to visit. Maybe call up Macaulay and see if you can arrange something through them?
Best of luck to you and, congratulations! Both are excellent choices.</p>

3

<p>IMO --</p>

<p>Macauley is a great program, and I understand a number of students choose this over Columbia straight up.</p>

<p>This being said if you want to be an engineer and Baruch doesn’t offer this program, I wouldn’t go to the school, personally.</p>

4

<p>Last year, I chose the general (regular) program of baruch college over Fordham due to financial reasons. Let me tell you, the education at Baruch College is very watered down. I found college to be easier than HS, so you won’t really learn anything. However, the Macaulay students are treated like gods. You guys get your own personal advisors as well as early registration, which plays a big factor in college. It really depends on what you want to do in life though. I like the fact that I dont have to worry about tuition like many of my friends at private schools and that commute is 1-1.5 hour for me.</p>

5

<p>Congratulations! What a pleasant “dilemma” …choices!</p>

<p>This video captures a few aspects of the overall experience of a Macaulay Honors College student: [Macaulay</a> Honors College - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>

<p>You were accepted to the Honors College in its most competitive year yet - 36% increase in applicants, 0% increase in seats available and a drop of 10% in our acceptance rate (from 29% to 19%). There were 5500 applicants for 500 seats.</p>

<p>You will be academically challenged and your interests will be maximized.
If Engineering is your focus I would NOT recommend choosing Baruch.
We encourage students to research the campuses and their options before applying.
City College would have given you BOTH majors.</p>

<p>I can’t speak to every student’s experience. It’s impossible to please everyone. I just have not seen an unhappy Macaulay student personally. </p>

<p>Our high-achieving students at Macaulay continue to win the top fellowships in the world, enroll at the top graduate institutions in the world, engage in graduate level research, gain hands-on experience in their fields of interests through competitive internships, gain employment at the top companies and government agencies across the country, while enjoying the life and culture of New York City, both in and out of the classroom.</p>

<p>This is no easy feat and hats go off to the stellar advising and academic support available within this close-knit community. This is the true secret to our student’s success - personalized academic, professional and personal support.</p>

<p>The advisors will register you for courses that will challenge you.</p>

<p>You will be part of a very small community with the brightest students in NY and with access to the best opportunities. The personalization of our Macaulay Advisement Program is a major part of why our students are winning the most prestigious fellowships and internships, and being accepted to the TOP grad schools/Law Schools/Med Schools in the nation.</p>

<p>Here is our factsheet (the admission stats are from last year): <a href=“http://macaulay.cuny.edu/about/factsheet.pdf[/url]”>http://macaulay.cuny.edu/about/factsheet.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>See also: [Macaulay</a> Honors College - The Macaulay Program](<a href=“http://macaulay.cuny.edu/prospective-students/macaulay-program.php]Macaulay”>http://macaulay.cuny.edu/prospective-students/macaulay-program.php)</p>

<p>The value that you gain for your degree and this amazing NY and Global experience is unmatched.</p>

<p>BUT all that said, you have to find a FIT for you and must be HAPPY. That’s all that matters in this decision making time.</p>

<p>For more information please call (646) 312-2125</p>

6

<p>Thank you everybody for your insight. Anybody else?</p>

7

<p>Personally, those 3-2 programs make me a little nervous. As a parent I can look back at my own college experience…and switching schools after three years for me would have been miserable, even if it was for a great school like Columbia.</p>

8

<p>Fordham. Hands down. Its a world class UNIVERSITY, Jesuit, Catholic and a phenomenal well balanced education. A beautiful campus, wonderful and warm professors, and outstanding internship opportunities. </p>

<p>Gabelli has a newly renovated building in Hughes Hall and has a new NYSE trading floor in the lobby.</p>

<p>Its a classic college experience.</p>

9

<p>I would also consider where your BSE would come from: if from City U (through the MaCauly Honors), how highly ranked is that engineering program? If from Columbia, how highly ranked is their school of engineering (they are ranked 15th in the National Research category)? As good as an honors program is, when you graduate you will be competing for engineering jobs in the real world and you have to ask: which degree will open more doors? has a stronger almumni network? has a better reputation? It’s a tough market out there and every advantage counts.</p>

<p>I may be biased but I would lean towards Fordham. Consider that in the Fordham 3-2 program you will get 2 degrees from 2 nationally ranked research universities, you have access to the alumni network of 2 world class schools, the panache of the Ivy League and I do believe their engineering program is ranked higher than CUNY, but do the reseach and pick what is right for you</p>

10

<p>I’d also lean towards Fordham. If you get into the 3-2 program it is a bonus, if not you will still get a wonderful education and graduate from a great university. For full disclosure my S is a senior in the Gabelli school at Fordham and I’ve been very impressed by the quality of the education he has received, the quality of the friends he has made, as well as his overall experience.</p>

11

<p>Thanks for your responses! Keep them coming…</p>

12

<p>This is a really tough decision… but congratulations!
I wish I was in the same position as you (my SAT score was a little to low to be admitted into Macaulay @ City College)
Anyway, I am highly considering the 3-2 program myself (trying to get more finaid from Fordham) and unless the specific engineering options from the program do not appeal to you, you should probably pick a top class university like Fordham if money is not a problem.
Either way, you are going to have an amazing college experience.
Good luck with your decision.</p>