<p>I'm a girl from NJ, and am currently deciding between Fordham and GW. I got into the honors program at GW, which I really, really like. Both gave me enough money so that tuition is roughly the same for both. I am looking to be a Bio/Chem Major Premed (because there just aren't enough of those!) I love both NY and DC, I have no idea what I'm going to choose. Any thoughts on which school is better?</p>
<p>GW is better than Fordham, especially since you want to be pre-med.</p>
<p>disagree. Premed is a very strenuous and stressful major. Its imperative that a student select a school where they will succeed and thrive. Medical schools are lot less concerned about USNWR rankings, than MCAT scores, class rank, major and overall reputation of the school (how have students from that school done in medical school?).</p>
<p>Fordham is an awesome school and does very well placing kids into highly prestigious medical schools. </p>
<p>GW is a great school, but its known best for its international relations and politics majors than perhaps other majors. </p>
<p>Pick the school that best suits you/the student for success…and I would suggest a well rounded Jesuit education counts for something in the overall preparation for life.</p>
<p>My sons decision came down to choosing between those 2 schools as his top 2 choices. He did research a lot of quality of life things that were important to him and while I would agree that GW has a better “ranking”, his decision came down to revisiting both schools and going with his gut feeling. He announced his decision in the Fordham book store when he was picking up a sweatshirt to purchase. As we left the store to leave campus a bell was ringing and my husband said he read that the bell signifies a victory for one of their sports teams, and as we passed the stadium we realized that Fordham had just beaten GW in baseball. This made us feel that he made the right decision for him and it was meant to be. We all liked GW also, but as a parent I thought it might offer too many distractions right outside your door and with it’s lack of a true meal plan would end up being much more expensive (on our visit one of the students admitted that he ran out of meal plan money by October during his first semester). My son is in the business school at Fordham, if political science, international relations, or a job in government were part of his plans he might have opted for GW.</p>
<p>Neither uni is known for science, so you probably won’t be able to choose based on quality of bio/chem programs unless you really prefer the science building or a certain major at one or the other. (Fordham has a Neuroscience major; GW has a Public Health major, etc.)</p>
<p>If you’re moderately or very Catholic, Fordham is the easy choice.</p>
<p>If you really like the GW honors program, you should lean towards going there.</p>
<p>Also, it’s not possible to like NYC and DC equally, so you might try visiting both cities again and really thinking about which you prefer :D</p>
<p>Thank you all for your feedback! Molly12, your post was particularly insightful. In the end, it comes down to gut feeling. I’m currently leaning towards Fordham, but will be visiting both schools in the next two weeks before I make a final decision.</p>
<p>All good comments. And remember its a very personal decision. As parents we want to choose for them…and since we are often writing the checks its normal. BUT…its really about letting go, and letting them grow up…and making a decision in their lives as an adult…and learning to live with it…good, bad or ugly. In that sense its your decision. So embrace it. (also read other comments on other threads about Fordham…) It IS a gut feeling. I would never have dreamed my kid would pick NYC and Fordham. I thought she would pick a southern school. We pulled the trigger when we heard Fr. McShanes closing speech in the Rose Hill gym…then spoke to him for 30 minutes later at the reception. And yes, we bought the gear too! </p>
<p>Fordham is a classic gothic campus. GW is less "campus feel’ and more urban, though its toney in Foggy Bottom (I lived and worked in DC for years.) </p>
<p>Science is growing at Fordham…and I STRONGLY recommend that if you pick Fordham then make it your mission to push Fordham even further…be bold, make demands and make your voice heard. Become a LEADER. </p>
<p>Finally Fordham has a special place in Armonk for Biological Research. THey also have a special place for student retreats…a spiritual retreat. My daughter went on two retreats and it was simply amazing. Very very helpful. That Jesuit foundation at Fordham means something.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>