<p>This is going to be a kind of long thread so please bear with me. These three schools are my top college choices and I'd appreciate some outside perspectives on the academics, quality of life, and social life at these schools, with a focus on Fordham because we're in the Fordham thread.
Okay so I'll start with what I feel is the biggest difference between the three schools, quality of life. I come form Tucson, AZ so I'm really used to warm weather year round and I'd like to know what the climate is like in the NYC area. How tolerable is the winter and how nice is the fall and spring? How comfortable are the dorms? Is the campus nice, i.e. does the campus have big green lawns with an abundance of trees and is architecture attractive? Are there many options for the outdoorsy type? Is the weather in the Bay Area and LA really that much better?
On to the social life. I've heard some supposed Fordham alumni rant about how terrible the social life is, they say that most people at the school are preppy, which I'd describe myself as, that the administration cracks down on parties, and that there is a zero tolerance alchohol policy. Is all of this true? How relaxed is the student body because I visited Pomona and saw people outside barbecuing and relaxing underneath the trees and warm CA sun so is Fordham anything like this? Also, I come from AZ so I'd have to make a fresh start knowing absolutely nobody at Fordham or even in any of the colleges in the NYC area so am I going to be going to a school where everyone knows everyone and is interested in making any friends?
Finally, academics. I'm under the impression that there really isn't that much of a difference between the academics at Fordham, Santa Clara, and Pomona, aside from the fact that you'll probably have more contact with the faculty at Pomona but I can deal without having dinner with my teachers, is this true or is Fordham really superior or inferior? I'm Catholic and went to public schools all of my life so I'd really love to be able to take some courses in theology to better understand my faith and see it more clearly, that's why Fordham and Santa Clara are two of my top choices, so is Fordham's theology department of good quality? Also how is the classics, philosophy, and economics departments at the school, are they pretty good?
Oh and I forgot to ask one of the most important questions, how's NYC?
That's about it and thanks in advance to anyone willing to answer my lengthy post!</p>
<p>Wow! Okay. First of all, Pomona is an awesome school. Its very, very highly regarded and very, very selective and the kids who get in there and attend mostly have uber stats and are very academic....very typically liberal arts kids. Its a superb school, but not much of a national following except among the liberal arts kind of people. Depends on where you want to live when you graduate and what you want to do.</p>
<p>Santa Clara is more like Fordham in its academic realm and Jesuit philosophy. But Santa Clara is a quintessential California school like Pomona and therefore vastly different from Fordham.</p>
<p>Fordham is awesome. Its an oasis of 90 acres or so in the Bronx, next to the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Gardens. Its urban like Columbia and NYC, but more of a typical college campus. It has awesome sports. Division 1. Its strong academically and hugely respected in New York and gaining a national following. Its less selective than Columbia and NYU but its also getting tough to get into. Its a classic campus with gothic architecture. You can google it or go to Fordham's website for pictures and webcam. Rose Hill Bronx is about 5,000 undergrads so its not too large. The Metro North Train stops at the Fordham gates, literally, and takes you into Grand Central in 10 minutes for 4.00. Fordham kids are tight and go into the city together. Fordham has a very good business school with awesome internships in Manhattan. But it also has strong history, philosophy and theology and english departments.</p>
<p>Its more than 60% New Yorkers/Connecticut/New Jersey kids. About 60% are Catholic. Many are weekly mass goers. Outsiders fit in fine at Fordham. They are outgoing and friendly. However, like all regions, many have their own cultural traditions and many come from Catholic High Schools with a large presence so in some ways its up to you to break the ice and deal with the culture shock. If you are put off by it, close minded and not a big city person, then you may want to reconsider. In short, its a warm and endearing place...but in a New York kind of way. Does that make sense?</p>
<p>We are NOT from that region and my D has made many wonderful friends up there. It was a pretty tough culture shock at first, but she has adapted and been accepted. New Yorkers move at a faster pace. They are competitive by nature. It is what makes New York what it is. But they are also accepting and tolerant. If you are outgoing and make friends easily you will be fine. There are LOTS of Californians there. (New York has more than 77,000 students and young people who come there every year....looking to experience the Big Apple academically or professionally.) Kids from all over the country. But its very much a New York centric campus. </p>
<p>In my opinion, its less competitive (as in intense personalities) than Columbia and NYU. Its also a very typical campus. It can be a bit preppy, but not overwhelming. Its pretty "normal" as far as what I can see. </p>
<p>Pomona and Santa Clara draw their own brand of wealthy students. Fordham has its share as well. </p>
<p>Fr. McShane is Fordham's President. He is a dynamo and very ambitious. He is also very, very friendly. He is smart as a whip and knows kids names and remembers them. He is ubiquitous around campus. He is a gem! And he is going to take Fordham to new heights...and it is getting there.</p>
<p>I HIGHLY recommend a campus visit. Its the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Fordham has its fair share of party kids like all schools. They are cracking down on alcohol abuse, particularly on underage kids. There are wellness dorms. But there are also popular bars and restaurants across the street and on Arthur Ave (Little Italy in the Bronx) nearby. Kids have fun, but its not regarded as a heavy party school. If you are looking for animal house, Fordham is not it. But then again, neither is Pomona or Santa Clara. Fordham kids get hired by companies and are heavily recruited because of their work ethic and personal ethics. So its not nerdsville, but its not StateU party city either. If you get behind in your work at Fordham, beware. There is plenty of heavy workload and its bear to catch up if you get behind. Also, Fordham has the vast majority of its classes on M-T and Th.-F, meaning Wednesday is normally a day off. Kids catch up on sleep, work or just relax in the city or the parks. A nice break.</p>