<p>So guys the US News Rankings are coming out in a couple of weeks, so how do you think Fordham will do? They are tied for #56 right now with Boston University, University of Maryland and Purdue and I'm aware that they will be rising. Do you think they will rise? Fall? I know that by 2016 Father McShane wants Fordham to be not only in the top 25 but also the highest ranked catholic school in the US which means it would have to overtake BC at #31, Georgetown at the #21 spot plus Notre Dame at the #19 spot. Since the new dorms opened and a lot of money has been raised in the last year is it enough to lift it higher or will the school have to wait for the new business school to open for it to get a boost?</p>
<p>Well hopefully not since I turned it down for Baruch,lol…But I think Fordham will land around 49-51 this year since the acceptance rate went to ~44%</p>
<p>Considering there is a 7 way tie at #56, I think there is a good chance Fordham will drop into the 60’s in the rankings again since many of the schools it barely tied with this year (like BU, SMU and Purdue) are stronger overall. Pitt and Minnesota might also overtake Fordham.</p>
<p>Acceptance rates mean little in terms of US NEWS rankings. I believe they count for only 3% of the ranking score. Also they will be using data from last year, not this year.</p>
<p>The idea of Fordham being ranked in the top 25 in the next 4 years is laughable.</p>
<p>Yeah, that’s probably not going to happen very soon. But in 20 years, who knows? Schools like Boston College and USC have come so far in 20 years.</p>
<p>^I don’t think so. I believe strongly that Fordham has reached its peak. Pull up the USNWR rankings…those schools immediately in front of Fordham (45-55) and you tell me which schools Fordham will likely to bump off and surpass and which schools deserve to be lower in the rankings than Fordham. I am hard pressed to find even ONE school deserving to be lower than Fordham when you look at the overall picture of Fordham’s academic programs, research and endowment, let alone facilities. It might gain one or two lowly spots to number 54 (if its VERY lucky). But I really think Fordham has hit the glass ceiling. </p>
<p>I went to a Jesuit college and want all of them to do well in the rankings, but look at the cold hard facts. BU is light years ahead of FU in many programs. Light years. They have a superb Medical School and a better law school. Fordham has a better law school than Syracuse by far. But that is about all. And it would have to bump them both off to gain even 2 places. Does BC deserve its lofty rankings? Perhaps…they have a superb higher ranking law school. They have a superb graduate school with many programs in the top 20 or higher. Some are top 10-15. Fordham does not.</p>
<p>Well I mean who would have thought in 2002 when Fordham was ranked 84 that in lest than 10 years it would be 56. I think that its location in NYC boosts its score considerably. But I see them going up in the time being because they are spending a lot of money not only on building i.e new dorms, new business school, a new law school and soon a new student center, but also on luring more top notch faculty and creating more resources such as endowed chairs and such which other colleges they are tied with aren’t doing. Of the 7 colleges it is tied with I believe it is better than at least Purdue(only really strong in the science & engineering), the only schools which are on par or could be better are BU and UMD. Also Fordham’s average starting salary is higher than all of these schools which is a good measure of how well graduates do. I feel it will be able to hang around the mid forties range when their 10 year plan is through in 2016.</p>
<p>HCCrusaders,</p>
<p>What do graduate school programs have to do with the the undergraduate rankings? I don’t understand why you’re hard-pressed to find a 45-55 ranked school that does not match Fordham’s profile. GW, Yeshiva, Syracuse, University of Florida are all very similarly profiled schools; retention rates, graduation rates, and student bodies are all very similar. In fact, Fordham’s student body is stronger than some of these schools like Syracuse. Academically, I would say Fordham is definitely up there with those schools, if not stronger. Fordham is a top 20 producer of Fulbright students each year, which shows their research strength. Fordham produced 13 Fulbright last year, tying MIT…University of Florida had 9 and the other 45-55 ranked schools you mentioned were not even listed. </p>
<p>Fordham has a long way to catch up to the elite schools, but to state that they should not even be in the discussion to share the spot with some of these top 45-55 ranked schools is foolish. None of those 45-55 ranked schools are stronger academically or better research schools than Fordham. They may have larger endowments or better facilities, which is hurting Fordham’s rankings a little. However, which of those schools have a $1.6 billion expansion plan, which includes a new law school, business school, dorms, student center? Which of those schools recently received a $25 million donation and raised $430 million in 3 years? We’ll see in couple of years how Fordham fares in the rankings. </p>
<p>Your condescending tone makes it seem you went to Georgetown or BC. Unfortunately, Holy Cross’ class profile isn’t much better than Fordham’s. Stick to Holy Cross’ threads if you don’t have much correct information or value to add.</p>
<p>Does anyone know when the rankings come out anyways?</p>
<p>HC Crusaders,</p>
<p>I don’t know if you had a bad experience with fordham or anything but fordham IS FARRR from a bad school…and i don’t think “light years” is an appropriate term to use in college rankings. I understand that you may feel all high about yourself because you attend the prestigious College of the Holy Cross (I have a sister that goes to that school and I am also considering it for myself as well). However, don’t just go and bash all of fordham’s academic programs as being poor and terrible when you don’t even go to the school yourself. I know that holy cross did well with forbes rankings and while i’m not saying that rankings are completely unreliable, i think people (especially on college board) tend to rely on rankings too much…want to know how forbes is unreliable, northeastern, a school for having one of the best coop programs in the country received a very low ranking in the 500s just because it has a 0% 4-year graduation rate. forbes ignored the fact that northeastern is a five year school by nature. also, forbes ranked NYU lower than fordham and since you don’t think any school can be ranked lower than fordham, i guess this makes rankings such as forbes and us news and world report unreliable. therefore, maybe Holy Cross’ rank is unreliable. let’s face it holy cross is a good school, but it’s no georgetown. also would you advice someone who for example wanted to study business to chose a school like holy cross over fordham. PLEASE!!! HC has little reputation in the business world comepared to fordham and people would laugh at a matter like this (HC only offers a major in accounting/economics) while fordham has its own business school and if you want to play the ranking game, it almost made the top 50 business college in bloomberg businessweek. maybe your jealous that fordham is much more known that HC but whatever, there both good schools. one other thing that fordham may have over a school like HC is diversity…trust me i visited both campuses. right now, you are embarrassing the reputation of college of the holy cross by bashing the reputation of a fellow jesuit college.
you are giving holy cross the reputation of having a snotty upclass student body that thinks of themselves to highly. yes holy cross is a great school, but its not the best thing since sliced bread honey. do some more research if you don’t have a life. also, if you are that much into rankings, college guide ranked holy cross as one of the top ten train wreck colleges, i dont agree with this of course but here’s the link if your interested: [CollegeGuide.org</a> - Rating America’s Colleges](<a href=“http://www.collegeguide.org/itemdetail.aspx?item=486fb85a-5d15-4d1f-a8f5-5ce2804c3129&page=16]CollegeGuide.org”>http://www.collegeguide.org/itemdetail.aspx?item=486fb85a-5d15-4d1f-a8f5-5ce2804c3129&page=16)</p>
<p>I don’t know why this became of HC/Fordham comparison. Both are great (in the end they were my first and second choice schools respectively), but they are very different (LAC v. national university). Personally I don’t get rankings, it all seems so arbitrary. Seems like anyone can label a school a “train wreck” or “exceptional,” but what does it matter? Both are well respected. You just have to do well at the school you choose. No employer is going to hire a HC grad over a Fordham grad (or vis versa) because of the school they went to.</p>
<p>See the problem with rankings is that you are essentially saying that someone else’s perception and criteria in comparing colleges is more important than your own. Make life choices based on YOUR opinion. Try not to care so much about what other people think of them and don’t waste energy defending them. You are very likely to be much happier and probably more successful…at least according to your own definition of success…than those following the herd. </p>
<p>Let’s look at the common perception that Georgetown is the best Catholic school in the country. What if you don’t want to live in DC? What if the program of study you are interested in is not offered at Georgetown or if you are not impressed with the curriculum? Is it still the best Catholic school? Well certainly not for YOU! </p>
<p>Georgetown, Boston College, Holy Cross, Fordham…these are all fine schools. But ranking them completely depends upon the criteria you use. For my S, a 2nd year Fordham LC student, Fordham was his top choice and he is thrilled to be there in spite of the school not being as highly ranked according to US News standards as other schools he turned down.</p>
<p>“It might gain one or two lowly spots to number 54 (if its VERY lucky). But I really think Fordham has hit the glass ceiling.” HCCrusaider</p>
<p>Really? Then we are VERY lucky!</p>
<p>Well, many on this thread were very wrong in their predictions. Not only did Fordham NOT drop to the '60s as some predicted, not only did it not remain at 56, for 2012 it was 53rd!</p>
<p>This is 53rd in the most difficult, competative category: National Research Universities. We may never reach the top ranks of the Ivies, public ivies or the top 20, but to come so far in some 10 years (86th-53rd) is quite a feat! while HC is a fine school in the smaller Liberal Arts categoy and Villanova is #1 among northeast regional colleges (and one of five #1 regional schools in the nation), Fordham must fight it’s way up in the much more competative and large national research group.</p>
<p>So much for a glass ceiling. If your appraisals are indicative of a Holy Cross education, then HC is very over rated. There are many on the Villanova forum who also hold a low view of Fordham, but as a NYC school we are used to fighting as underdogs.</p>
<p>On September 15, 2012 the new USN&WR rankings come out, and many believe Fordham may gain a spot or two.</p>
<p>To all the smug and arrogant snobs of HC and Villanova who think a few SAT points make you better, smarter people…Come back and talk when YOUR schools are ready to run with the big dogs: the National Research Universities. Lauding you superiority when you are #1 being compared to Scranton and Fairfield regionally or a Davidson nationally is NOT the same as being in the same group as Harvard, Yale, Michigan, Stanford, Duke, Emory, Princeton and others. It is not so hard being a big fish in a small pond.</p>
<p>"BU is light years ahead of FU in many programs. Light years. They have a superb Medical School and a better law school. " -HCCrusader</p>
<p>Light years ahead?</p>
<p>I am afraid HC needs more updating; for USN&WR 2012 BOTH Boston U AND Fordham are TIED at 53rd! Even with a superb medical school they are tied.</p>
<p>So much for light years ahead.</p>
<p>And for Law school, in 2012 BU is 26th, Fordham is 29th. Right now that is only a 3 point difference and FU will be opening a magnificant new law school in a year or so that can only move them up.</p>
<p>“I went to a Jesuit college and want all of them to do well in the rankings,”</p>
<p>No you don’t. You only care if CHC moves up in the rankings. And speaking of… in the smaller Liberal Arts Colleges catregory, CHC was 27th in 2011, but is now 29th for 2012. Fordham has been moving up from 86th to 53rd; your school dropped 2 points yet you come on here to say Fordham has “reached it’s peak”. I think you should worry more about why CHC is dropping in the rankings rather than why Fordham has “reached it’s peak” as you are incorrect.</p>
<p>One of the problems with rankings is that people assume the cloak of elitism and make a personal matter out of what is really a guessing game. They assume their self worth (or self righteousness) is tied up in how high their alma mater reaches. Not so.</p>
<p>The worth of your degree is bound up in the quality of education you received, the values you gained, the friends and cohorts you made, and the overall experience in transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. We all take pride in ownership, to be certain. But really the rankings have not much to do with anything. </p>
<p>As a society we are much more transitory and no longer are schools educating the locals who surround them exclusively. This is true for Ivy League schools, and even most state schools. </p>
<p>We are all proud of Fordham’s recent recognition in the national rankings, and its well deserved. But I am firm in my resolve not to bash any school, as all schools serve a constituency and provide their graduates a chance to broaden their education, meet mentors and take valuable internships. </p>
<p>Fordham was once a largely commuter school which educated the very bright kids who went to catholic schools in the New York metro area. Now its extremely diverse geographically speaking, judging by the numbers of incoming freshmen from all over the country and foreign lands. The quality of incoming students is rapidly rising, as kids are now approaching an avg. SAT of near 1300 (1600 scale). Some decry that as becoming elitist, but Fordham also proudly admits some PellGrant students of meager means and continues to serve those from its historic neighborhoods and schools. </p>
<p>I have nothing but admiration for Villanova and Holy Cross. Choosing to attend one school or the other doesnt make you a better person than one who attends Fordham, and vice versa. Its a choice made from subjective criteria and often financial considerations. </p>
<p>To the Holy Cross grads/students and parents who post comments that are not favorable about Fordham I ask that they reflect on their comments and offer a more positive comparison between the schools, keeping in mind we are both Jesuit schools with proud traditions. Villanova is a superb engineering school as well.</p>
<p>Some people prefer a small liberal arts college. Some prefer a larger university, perhaps in an urban setting like Fordham. What we offer is unique, with two campuses and yet a full array of athletics teams on a gorgeous leafy green campus in the Bronx (the greenest borough in New York City.) </p>
<p>If someone self selects Holy Cross (or Villanova) over Fordham, I send my best wishes. </p>
<p>National University rankings are very stiff (competitive) with schools vying for top spots. We compete against enormous flagship state schools, and some super elite private schools with enormously deep pockets. In that light, we have a tough road to pave…</p>
<p>The University mission is to educate kids with skills, vision, values and a sense of community. That is accomplished without regard to what USNWR says or does. </p>
<p>Many faculty at Fordham attended Ivy League schools for undergraduate or graduate degrees. Some attended elite Catholic schools like Notre Dame and Boston College and Georgetown. We strive to reach their level of scholarship and in many departments we can match them. Fordham’s stated goal is to return to its once lofty status as the premier Catholic University in the country. Whether we get there is another matter…but reaching and excelling in what we do is a good thing. </p>
<p>If you come to Fordham, you join a family. And we wear the Maroon (or Block F on our gear) with pride. Employers know what they are getting with a Fordham graduate: a values laden, well rounded, superb and hard working person. </p>
<p>So I ask everyone to be kind, compassionate and more understanding…and perhaps less strident in their comments about who is better or who attains a loftier ranking. </p>
<p>A Jesuit education demands this of all of us. (I am PROUDLY Jesuit educated). </p>
<p>Thank you. God Bless. Good luck to all.</p>
<p>You are once again the voice of calm and reason, sovereigndebt. For years I have seen negative and derisive comments made about Fordham on different forums by a few from such schools as CHC and Villanova. Even now, on a 4+ year old thread on the Villanova forum, some from Villanova still strain themselves to feel smug and superior and nothing you or I have said has made an impession on that particular thread. This goes beyond a simple rivalry and has become mean spirited and malicious.</p>
<p>I have posted positive things about other Jesuit or Catholic schools such as Fairfield, Scranton, Marist, Iona, Manhattan, Dayton, never a negative word; yet I still find some individuals from CHC and 'Nova to feel the need to put down other schools to make themselves feel superior.</p>
<p>As the economy gets tighter and as fewer and fewer middle class families can afford the wild, rising cost of tuition, more and more smaller private schools may have to merge, be absorbed or close their doors while state schools grow and take in more students. I think the good private schools need to support one another.</p>
<p>I have given good, honest advice to HS students and parents, expounding the many merets of my beloved alma mater while still acknowledging it’s limits, but I have never slandered another school as I have seen Fordham slandered. I think that is why I now “Push-back” when I see such nonsense. There is something bibical about not seeing the faults in others till you have ffirst removed the “Log” in your own eye. I guess I now point out those “logs” that people don’t want to see in their own eye.</p>
<p>Keep giving the great advice I see you give sovereigndebt, you are a credit to Fordham.</p>
<p>Ray: Thanks for that. I share your frustration and desire to push back. It is better, however, to take the high road and show those who come here what it really means to be a Fordham Ram; live by example. Those people on other threads from other schools are really only showing a deep insecurity. And I believe most students and parents see through that, for what it is. </p>
<p>We are proud Rams, but not arrogant or condescending. A big difference.</p>
<p>And we can be proud that Fordham has not altered its reported SAT scores to USNWR to attain a higher ranking from them, as some schools have reportedly done (one that shocks me last Friday).</p>
<p>You are a better person than I, Gunga Din! but you are correct in your points.</p>
<p>PS: I too was floored by what a top school like Emory did. A school you would not expect that from.</p>