I’ve been admitted to both of these schools, with decision day coming up im having a hard time choosing. Suffolk would be slightly cheaper, but nearly the same price. I’ll be majoring in psychology. I’m from Texas, looking to move to the northeast. Skipped a few grades when I was younger, so i’m on the younger side for a HS senior. I did visit both schools before covid hit. I would pick Fordham but i’m concerned with the safety around that campus. I’ll be going off campus a lot, so the neighborhood around campus matters to me a lot. Suffolk is in a better area, but the school seems less than Fordham. Am I overreacting about Fordham’s neighborhood or should I be concerned?
If price is not an issue, go with Fordham. Its reputation has improved a lot over the years. Much better networking than Suffolk. From my understanding, the kids feel safe on campus, and they are in groups when they venture out. I know of a bunch of kids at Fordham, and I have never heard anyone say anything about safety
My son and niece both went to Fordham. Neither had problems with safety even though my son was an RA in an off campus dorm in his senior year and lived in the neighborhood for a year after graduation.
Having said that, I assume that your interest in going off campus isn’t to see the bustling urban neighborhood around the campus, but to go into Manhattan for all it has to offer. To do this, you have 2 options. First is the college run Ram van, which leaves every half hour 7 days a week from early in the morning until midnight. Cost is $3.50. Reservations can be made in advance. It takes you to Lincoln Center, which is West 60th Street and means access to performing arts events at LC, Central Park, & the Theater Distict as well as allowing you to connect with subways.
Second choice is Metro North commuter rail, which is right on the edge of campus. You walk out a campus gate and entrance to the train station is literally right there. Metro North brings you down to Grand Central Station at East 42 Street right in the heart of midtown, within walking distance of the UN, and providing connections to NYC subways. It has a stop at Yankee Stadium on the way downtown. It also rims north out of the city to some upstate and Connecticut locations.
If you want to access a NYC subway from campus, it is a 10 minute walk along Fordham Road, which is a very busy commercial street and very safe. If you want to visit the gorgeous NY Botanical Gardens, they are literally right across the street from campus, and the Bronx Zoo is just across Fordham Road, south of the Botanical Gardens. The Bronx’s Little Italy neighborhood, Belmont begins right across Fordham Road from campus, is safe, and is where you’ll find some of the best Italian restaurants you can find anywhere.
Thousands of young women attend Fordham every year. If it wasn’t safe, parents would stop sending them there.
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My son graduated from Fordham a few years ago and had a fabulous expereince. The campus itself is gated and feels safe. In terms of the area around the Rose Hill campus he found it to be a positive. Yes, you need to learn to be a bit street-wise (ex. don’t go off campus alone and drunk waving your iPhone around). But he really enjoyed the proximity to Arthur Avenue, the local bars, running in the Botanical Garden, having access to stores etc. He also did volunteer work with an organization right off campus. The campus police also seemed to patrol the surrounding neighborhood. On top of the area in the Bronx, he enjoyed having easy access to Manhattan via Ram Van, subway, Metro-North (depending where they were heading in the city). If you can visit the campus that would be helpful – you have to be comfortable.
And FWIW he got a great education there, made wonderful friends etc.
You may want to create a post on the Fordam page asking about the neighborhood.