Fordham is being considered by my daughter, we drove through the campus when we were in the area and she liked it. But the reviews I have read have scared me off a bit…safety, things to do on the weekend on campus, lack of admin support, food. Can anyone give a more accurate idea of what its really like to be a student at Fordham? Thank you!
Bump, I was accepted to and this seems like an interesting post
Hello! As a current freshman at Fordham, I would be happy to answer questions! For safety, there are obviously precautions that the school and the students take when we venture out into the Bronx or greater NYC. To name a few, guards checking IDs to come into campus, public safety vehicles patrolling the surrounding area and taking students to and from the subway late at night, traveling in groups, and generally being aware of ones surroundings. There are plenty of activities on campus during the weekends, whether they be sporting events or activities put on, such as movie nights, farmers markets, trips to the Botanical Gardens, etc (join clubs!!!). I have found the admin to be helpful when need be…not quite sure what the OP was getting at here. The food is campus food. There are good choices and bad ones, and it’s no where near home cooking, but it’s palatable and serves its purpose. College Confidential really helped me a year ago when I was making this decision, so I would love to clarify my experience for anyone if need be!
@naz0707 Do you know if Fordham LC students interact with RH campus and students or not? I got into LC as a global business major but I would like to also have the traditional American college experience in terms of community, sports, clubs, etc.
Back to the OP – which campus are you considering?
Fordham offers a wonderful college experience including a good solid education with core classes. Attending Fordham has been a fantastic opportunity for our son! It is a mixture of modern university, NYC life, ivy covered buildings and expansive lawns. Our son was impressed at how many students wear Fordham gear and T-shirts. It shows pride in their school. The students become part of the 'Ramily".
SAFETY: Common sense is key for personal safety anywhere, of course.
Our son has had no issue with crime. Post graduation, he still lives in the area, partly because of the safety! He commutes to Manhattan daily. Fordham Rose Hill (RH) has a gated campus and the campus is very safe. (Again, common sense is always recommended) The neighborhood around campus is a mix of students and local families. It has Fordham security officers and is well patrolled by NYPD, so it is safer than most areas of the City. The Arthur Avenue area is a family area, - Saturday night the parks are full of families BBQing and kids playing. Lots of families and students live in the surrounding blocks. Between Bathgate and Belmont, from Fordham Road to about 184th is a great area. Of course, late at night on the weekends, there are the usual issues.
Our son valued that he didn’t have to lock his things up. He could leave his book bag and phone on the grass while playing a pick-up game of frisbee - theft was almost unheard of on campus. I was afraid for him the first time he went to Manhattan in the evening for a concert (class assignment). But the main streets in NYC are incredibly full of people and safe. We have visited often and have no concern strolling around the streets of Manhattan even at midnight.
TRANSPORTATION Fordham offers the Ram Van service between Rose Hill and Lincoln Center, (right by Columbus Circle). There is a small charge for the Ram Van, it runs often all day and into the wee hours. The Metro North train (station is RIGHT outside the RH gate) is faster and generally plusher than the subways, but those have been fine too, although daytime - especially rush hour- is safest. If a student is off campus and feeling not safe, they can call campus security and arrange a ride in the RH area. There is even an on-campus shuttle service on RH campus.
THINGS TO DO: It all depends on you. JOIN!! Jump in! Statistically, you will meet in the first couple weeks most of the people who will become your college friends. The people you meet then are often classmates again a couple years later. Join groups, join sports teams, join an exercise class, join a dorm activity (or ten). Join one of the scheduled outings, Join a study group. Join a church group. Go to the Dorothy Day Center and volunteer for something. There is a campus fair in the first week where many of the clubs and groups have a table for students to sign up. Look up the clubs and contact them BEFORE school starts even. … And study.
WEEKENDS - Go downtown- (take the Ram Van or Metro North) see a play (discounted tickets are available for students). Go to the Top of the Rock for the morning or night view. Take the Staten Island Ferry for a night-time City view. Get reservations to climb to the crown of the Statue of Liberty. Go for a bike ride. Go see the stunning museums NYC offers. Join a museum group even! Shop Fordham Road (a very trendy fashion place). Walk the Botans (Botanical Gardens - often free for students).
Study. Go to the Libraries on Campus. Go to your dorm’s open areas and study there - others will come too. Get out of your room. Arrange a cooking night (many dorms have a communal kitchen) - make cookies, candy for Christmas, a meal even. There are many great restaurants in the Arthur Avenue area, and many wonderful bakeries. Some fun breakfast places, too! And of course, there are bars - some catering to students, some to adults.
Food - the unlimited plan is best for the first year especially. There are hundreds of choices daily. Many can be ordered as you want them (omelets, salads, sandwiches, pasta, burritos, etc …). The food is good, balanced and plentiful, and they offer an incredible number of choices compared to home!!
ADMIN SUPPORT: Much of the support your student gets depends on them. GO TO OFFICE HOURS. Take advantage of the Career services. The Dorothy Day Center, the many support offered to students. AND GO TO OFFICE HOURS. Search out what you need - the staff is there to help you. See your Class Advisor a couple times just to ask questions - not just to get your registration done. AND, GO TO OFFICE HOURS. The relationships you’ll establish there will be a wonderful resource later - and it will help you learn more, and improve grades
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FWIW, the OP has not been on CC for over a month.