<p>NYU has always been my top choice, but LC has recently got me interested. I know LC is much smaller and a more close knit community, but how would you differentiate the two? Do the two schools interact at all? I want to major in communications (journalism) and minor in drama. </p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>Fordham: has an actual campus and second major campus in the bronx, is located in the theatrical heart of Manhattan, is in mid-town so it’s easier to access more parts of New York, offers more merit based aid, has a larger, more in-depth liberal arts core</p>
<p>NYU: has a true urban campus, is located in the Village, has far more students, has more religious diversity</p>
<p>As someone who as attended both schools, I know of a few major differences between the two:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>NYU is a much larger school than LC. This means class sizes at NYU can be larger than Fordham’s which are usually around 25-30
people max. </p></li>
<li><p>NYU is a more recognized university and higher ranked internationally. This is important because being two schools in NYC, students from both will eventually compete against each other for jobs or internships along with students from Columbia and 9 times out of 10 Fordham will get the short end of the stick.</p></li>
<li><p>Financial aid at NYU sucks. I got a merit scholarship and I still have a huge bill. Fordham is way more generous. </p></li>
<li><p>NYU has a larger Alumni network.</p></li>
<li><p>There is really no close knit community at Fordham. You will have friends but because your dorm room door must stay shut at all times things become limited. </p></li>
<li><p>And I’m going to say this in the nicest way possible and I don’t mean to offend anyone or generalize but most students at LC are NYU rejects. Think about it what school would you rather go to, the #3 in the city or the #2 best? I admit that I used to be one of those students but I did something about it. You will run into a lot of students at Fordham that want to transfer to another school. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>They are both good schools but after you apply make a decision that better suits yourself. And if for any reason you get rejected by NYU, completing your first year at Fordham is a smart option. Just get a 3.8+ GPA first semester and your in good shape to transfer to NYU.</p>
<p>Thanks Rob! Money will basically come down to where I go. I want to apply for Gallatin at NYU. I definitely won’t go to Fordham just because NYU rejected me. I will go to the college with the best fit. I don’t plan on transferring where ever I attend.</p>
<p>Fit is essential. Some kids are prestige hounds (not saying Rob is one of those) and will chase rankings and prestige often at the expense of their own self interest. Fordham LC is actually a very old and widely respected liberal arts college. NYU has several colleges going on down in the Village. Fordham is Jesuit, which is meaningful and beneficial to many, but not all students. Fordham does just fine on the job front and graduate school/professional school admissions front. You learn as you get older to brush off the silly and superficial commentary about who got into a higher ranking school. Its not about that at all. Its about what you learn and how you grow and what you do with your life afterwards, whether that is chasing gelt on wallstreet or doing something different. Its about who you are on the inside out, not the outside in. </p>
<p>If NYU is your real calling and a better fit for the real you, then go there. But if Fordham LC beckons you, then by all means step up and be proud and do it. </p>
<p>Are there transferitis people at Fordham? Yes, like many colleges. Many of those, however, think through the process and ultimately remain at Fordham. Not that many transfer out. On the other hand, if you are truly unhappy because you made the wrong choice as a Freshman, then I say its no use spending four years being cynical and unhappy, better to move along and find a better fit for you. </p>
<p>The truth of the matter is that there is no panacea. There are unhappy kids everywhere, including Columbia and NYU. Every school has its own issues and shortcomings. Institutions are like that. </p>
<p>And people’s opinions vary as their experiences may vary and as one person’s heaven is another person’s hell. (And some people aren’t happy unless they are complaining all the time). </p>
<p>Fordham LC is often referred to as a mini NYU, which is somewhat true (I have used that phrase myself.) But really that is an oversimplification of each school. NYU is very very big, however and some kids don’t realize that until they get there. </p>
<p>Money matters at the undergrad level, in my purview as you will need to prepare for graduate or professional school options and if you are loaded up with debt that is problematic. </p>
<p>And at Fordham if you want to take a class at “the other campus” in the Bronx, you can (as an upperclassmen). So you can experience both campuses and the sports that go on at Rose Hill. </p>
<p>Good luck in your decision.</p>
<p>Thanks so much ghostbuster! I completely agree with you. I want my employer to know where I attended college if I move cross country. I think Fordham will do that. My mom’s friend attended NYU and became a teacher. She is still in debt (was a commuter) and is in her late 30’s and attended graduate school at a tier 4 school. It does not matter because she will get more money for having a masters/specialists. Fit has to be there for me, that is the number one factor. Prestige is also a factor, but I think fit is more important. I laugh when I see people who apply to all the Ivy’s. I will not be in 100k debt for NYU or ANY college for that matter. </p>
<p>If I wanted to live on the Rose Hill campus sophomore or junior year is that possible? What I do like about LC is I can live in the city and have smaller classes and attend a smaller school. It will come down to how much financial aid I receive.</p>
<p>People do transfer intra Fordham from RH-LC and vice versa. But its not very common. What I would do is look at both campuses this summer if you can and go from there. I am not an expert on LC, my D1 is at RH. So I will emphasize that. The beauty of RH is that its still in the city of New York, just another borough: the Bronx. Its eclectic. But the campus is gorgeous and gated and very safe. Its got all the big dorms, big library, open space, sports complex etc. Its a classic college campus with gothic buildings. For some that is the best of both worlds. Its also larger with about 5,000 undergrads and still maintaining small classes. Its a short train ride into the city using Metro North, or using the RamVan to ride over to LC. The subway is another option, but its further up Fordham Road, its not as clean and it stops a gazillion times. Most take the train into the city. </p>
<p>LC is more urban and its a good part of Manhattan. While there are big expansion plans (money is raised and they are working through legal approvals…which is mostly done), its still in essentially one large building. At 1,700 students it is a lot smaller (with fewer than 1,000 living on campus.) The law school is adjacent. A lot of the people at LC are theatre people with Fordham’s storied program there. As well as the dance school people. But it has also produced a lot of Fulbright Scholars. </p>
<p>Financial aid is always a sore spot. I’m no expert on that either. But anecdotally, it depends on your FAFSA and total family assets/income, plus a bit of how well you scored on your SAT…there is always a carrot or a stick. There are many factors which go into who gets what aid and why. Or scholarships. For every story of someone who got plenty and will attend, there are stories of those who are disappointed and have to select another school because of cost. Student loans are always a part of the equation and frankly, I think its good to “invest” in your future. Just don’t load on too much debt. </p>
<p>You would be wise to apply to several schools and see what they do for you.</p>
<p>Thanks again! I like LC a lot! It is definitely on my college list. When I visit New York I will visit both campuses.</p>
<p>early_college, my S was dead set on NYU for years. Why? Because he is a theatre major and everybody knows that NYU Tisch is awesome. Well, his father and I “forced” him to open up the college search and Fordham LC was on the list. It soon became his #1 choice for a number of reasons…yes, the Theatre BA program is tops and the Jesuit education and core curriculums were strong factors for him as well. And being able to be a part of both campuses gives you the best of both worlds. Fordham is a great fit for him and he will be attending LC in the Fall…and he got a great merit scholarship on top of it that didn’t play into his decision.</p>
<p>Now, Rob2391 may have originally been an NYU reject and good for him that if that is where he wanted to be he did something about it! I wish him the best of luck at NYU. But to say that most Fordham students are NYU rejects is kind of ridiculous and is exactly the kind of generalization that he claims he doesn’t want to make. I can tell you that my S and a whole lot of 2014ers (according to their Facebook group) turned down NYU in favor of Fordham for a variety of reasons. </p>
<p>I personally reject the “what school would you rather go to, the #3 in the city or the #2 best” thinking. It’s not helpful and values prestige over personal fit. What school is best is a very individual decision. For example, which school is best if you want a Jesuit education? I mean it’s pretty clear who is #1 if that is among your criteria. And what if NYU and Columbia don’t have the degree program that you are interested in? Are they still better choices than Fordham? When you choose a school based on ranking and the prestige factor, you are really choosing to place other people’s opinions on the school ahead of your own. I’m glad to hear that you are not one of those people…you will be much happier in the long run if you choose a school that is right for you and are able to disregard what others think about your choice. </p>
<p>BTW, I think it is very possible that both Fordham AND NYU could be excellent fits for you and if that is the case then by all means apply to both schools. They were for my S and I think he would have excelled in either school. Definitely visit both and as many times as you can! In the end, you will likely notice that one of the schools just feels a little more like home. Maybe that is NYU. Maybe that is Fordham. </p>
<p>Some things to consider re the programs you are interested in:
I know there is a professional actress at Fordham who is majoring in Communications and minoring in Theatre and she said she is quite happy with both programs. You do not need to audition to minor in Theatre at Fordham and while you cannot take all the courses that the majors take, you can audition for and participate in Fordham mainstage productions. I guess you are planning to create your own program at NYU if you are interested in Gallatin. The only potential problem I see with that is that you may be limiting your theatre experiences to academics and extracurricular opportunities because you may not be able to get involved in any of the studio productions. Definitely do your research on this and know what you want to get out of your major and minor. Look into Steinhardt programs as well. And do consider that if you change your mind about Gallatin or whatever NYU school you apply to, you will still need to wait until the end of freshman year to transfer within NYU which can be an expensive decision if it adds time to your undergrad schooling. At Fordham, you will primarily be working on the core as a Freshman so even if you change your mind the classes you took will have counted for something.</p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck with your college search! Have fun! :)</p>
<p>Not trying to start an arguement but as someone who has been on the inside, I know what I’m talking about. Even the professors are aware of a lot of students being rejected by NYU that they make jokes about NYU to make he students feel better. Sandkmom now you said your S is a 2014er so do you have experience with LC? I wasn’t saying that the tudents at NYU are better, I meant that it is widely known at th school that Fordham is the #2 choice or backup for students that dreamt of attending NYU. And though my choice was based on more than prestige, it is a factor to consider. Most recruiters for different corps. don’t recruit at Fordham, yet have more than two recruiting sessions at NYU and Columbia. In comparing data this results in higher average starting salaries. Trust me I did my research before I decided to make such a big change in my life. And like I said they’re both good schools, but I guess I’ll just get into why LC wasn’t a fit for me and many others that I know. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>It is very reminiscent of high school and I’m not alone in my opinion. At LC, I did not get the feeling of “this is college”. </p></li>
<li><p>The Econ department along with a few others suck. </p></li>
<li><p>The core is too much. The language requirement is ridiculous, and they require almost double of what other schools require. This stresses some students and many take summer courses to just finish. You are also automatically placed into some classes and have little say in the matter. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Those were some of the reasons why I left, but I ultimately left because at Stern I have a much better chance of landing my dream job than I ever did at Fordham even with the GPA I had already earned and the leadership positions that I held. Just saying there are benefits of prestige.</p>
<p>haha there are SO many students at Fordham who turned down NYU. Generally, they got in but couldn’t afford it so they went to Fordham. </p>
<p>Honestly, if you plan to go to grad school, the prestige of your undergrad degree really isn’t going to matter to employers, recruiters, etc. Students from Fordham get into the best grad schools all the time. And, if you blow all your money on undergrad, you may not be able to afford to go to the grad school of your choice.</p>
<p>And fordham’s core is awesome (but I do recognize that it’s not for everyone haha).</p>
<p>Rob2391, if LC wasn’t a fit for you then that is a different thing altogether. I’m glad for you that you are going to Stern and that you think that it is a better fit and that the prestige will help you land your dream job. I wish you luck with that. Having LIFE experience though I can tell you that concept in and of itself is a fraud.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m not looking for an argument either. I just want to point out that you know what you are talking about only from your point of view based on your own personal experience and you said yourself that LC wasn’t the right fit for you. I am quite sure that there are just as many others at LC that are happy to be there and happy with the community, the core, the education, the opportunities to find a good job or attend a good grad school and go out and live a happy and satisfying life. If this were not the case, Fordham LC, would no longer be in business because everyone would have transferred. And as for the professors jokes, how exactly do you know that their intent is to make others feel better? Perhaps you took it that way because maybe you needed to feel better?!!</p>
<p>Yes, my S is a 2014er and the honeymoon is sure to wear off as it would at NYU or BC or any other college he considered attending. However, I think that college is what you make of it. I am not worried about my S in the least. He is capable of creating an environment where he can be satisfied AND successful. I hope the same is true for you. </p>
<p>NYU does have a large alumni network as you pointed out in an earlier post. Of course, it’s a way larger school, too. And you will have to work hard to find community. I gather you didn’t find it at LC based on your comment about closed doors. I hope that you will find it at NYU. Seriously. I really do. </p>
<p>Fordham wasn’t right for you. It may be for others. And that is regardless of whether you or anyone else considers it #3. That’s all I’m saying. </p>
<p>For the OP, I think that NYU and Fordham have a lot in common. It’s in the differences that you will see which is the better fit. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks sandkmom! I have been acting since six years old and originally wanted to get a BFA in acting. I decided it would not be an ideal fit to do so. I love FILM acting and my passion for theater isn’t as strong. It use to be the other way around, but I would still be open to minoring in drama depending on the school. My plan is to get an agent if possible and audition while in college. The con for both NYU and Fordham is the location, lol. I love NYC, but LA is the film capital of the world. NYC has film work, but LA has more. I have an agent in the Southeast, but I haven’t got anything. </p>
<p>I like the schools in the Northeast better; however, I’m going to apply to schools in Cali also. I think LA is where I ideally want to be, so I want a well known college not necessarily prestigious. I love Gallatin’s open curriculum and the few requirements which one has to do. I actually would want to have a concentration in Print Journalism, Television Writing, and Holocaust Studies. You could also have a minor at Gallatin and I would want to minor in Performance Studies at Tisch. My career goal is to become a travel journalist and to work for a travel magazine. I’m also very interested in television writing/screenwriting and I have a passion for the Holocaust. Gallatin will let me experience all my interests! I would love to attend Syracuse U for graduate school. They have an arts journalism program. </p>
<p>I am very open to other schools! A con for many is a pro for me. I hate the typical college experience. I’m not a huge sports fan and I am not fond of greek life. I could go to UGA for free, but why spend four years of misery? I would like to major in English/Journalism wherever I go. NYU is not the typical major, but most schools don’t have programs like Gallatin. </p>
<p>Other schools that I am interested in are: USC, Northwestern, Vassar, Villanova, Boston U, Chapman, Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara U, Connecticut College, Sarah Lawrence, Fairfield, Clark, George Washington, American, GCSU, Flagler, Northeastern, Holy Cross, etc…</p>
<p>PS- I would never want to attend a college that denied me. It is there lost, if they don’t want me I don’t want them in the future either.</p>
<p>Well I grew up in CA so I know avoi th schools down there. UCLA and UC berkley are two of the best public universities in the country as well as the most well known. UCLA has a great communications department and a theater department. UC Berkley is probably a better academic university but it’s located in upstate California. I would also recommend USC but I think that’s th type of school you’re trying to stay away from (they’re so big on sports school). The problem though with a lot of public schools is class size. They usually all have stadiums for classrooms and you’ll be lucky if the professor even knows what letter your name starts with. But of you don’t mind big class size then UCLA is a great school and is a lot less than any school in NYC.</p>
<p>I like smaller class sizes, lol. I also don’t like that most people don’t graduate in four years. I can have a masters in five. I like USC except for the big sports. Yeah, I would <em>hate</em> it if my professor didn’t know who I was.</p>
<p>early_college, you “sound” a lot like my S! He wants to double major English and Theatre and decided early on he preferred the BA to the BFA. The only BFA he applied to (although he did consider a couple others) was NYU. </p>
<p>You are DEFINITELY correct about LA being better then NY for film. Television, too. My S started working professionally in NYC at age 10 and while he does have some nice television credits, he had fewer film opportunities although I did turn down an offer on his behalf due to mature content in the role when he was 12 and had I not done that who knows what might have come next. But good for the kid isn’t always good for the career. He has no regrets. And for him, NYC is IT although he’s primarily a theatre kid. But plenty of people start out in NY then go to LA…NY is real! And plenty of people DON’T WANT to go to LA!!! And they audition in NY for work out in LA all the time. So I’m glad that you are considering NYC! </p>
<p>Your college list looks good. You sound like you have a great awareness of who you are and who you want to be and what you can do to get there. You are sure to have a lot of choices! You just need to remember that what is important to you today may not be as important to you tomorrow and leave room for changing your mind or for life’s other curves. </p>
<p>Auditioning professionally while in college is possible but it will be tough and you really have to think it through and decide what is most important to you, again, another very personal and individual decision. My S has decided that he will audition while school is not in session and for work that is local not on location. But that’s what he says now. Who knows what happens if he gets cast in something else?!! :D</p>
<p>Anyway, if you have any questions about BA/BFA theatre/drama options or NYC or acting professionally, feel free to PM me. I’m not usually on CC every day anymore because I’m at the beach but I do check in! Have a great weekend! :)</p>
<p>@Rob2391</p>
<p>I wrote quickly this morning because I had somewhere to be. I know you can’t always “hear” the tone of someone’s voice on the internet and I apologize if you took what I had to say sarcastically. I didn’t mean it to come across that way. I do genuinely hope that you will be happier at NYU then you were at Fordham and I wish you success in landing that dream job! And ABSOLUTELY keep dreaming about a career in which you love getting up and going to work every day…just know that career and life satisfaction doesn’t come from a prestigious job title or large paycheck. I think one of the blessings of CC is that people have different opinions because they are coming from a different place and your opinion of LC/NYU is of great value. Best of luck at Stern! :)</p>
<p>Sandkmom I will PM you. This thread kind of got a little off subject, lol. But thanks everyone :)</p>
<p>to the OP, your best bet is to visit both schools and see for yourself which resonates more with you personally. i go to LC now, but when i was looking at schools i had an open mind to both fordham LC and NYU. i visited both, and absolutely hated everything about NYU. i can’t explain why, it just definitely wasn’t for me. the first time i toured LC though, it just clicked and i knew it was the right place for me, and it is.</p>
<p>people will have strong feelings about either school that can be totally the opposite of what you think. i have a very close friend at NYU tisch who loves it there, and it’s definitely the perfect school for her, and i’m very happy for her. she knows that fordham is the perfect school for me, and i’m very happy here.</p>
<p>as for what other posters have said, yes, a lot of first year students are bitter that they either didn’t get into nyu or that they can’t afford to go there, but you know what? college is what you make of it. fordham is a great school, and if these people that are unhappy would just take their heads out of their asses for just two seconds and see just how great a school they have right in front of them they’ll see that they really do have it good. it’s also very common for people to get freaked out during the transition process of adjusting to school and start thinking about transferring, even if they did think the school was right for them, especially since going to a school like LC in the city can be a big adjustment for most people. but everyone i know that stuck around is glad they did so, and can’t see themselves anywhere else.</p>
<p>so basically, don’t take anyone’s word as law (including my own) until you look at all your schools in depth and seeing what’s really right for YOU, because in the end, you’re the one that’s going to be going to that school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. I hope I can visit both schools soon enough :)</p>
<p>There are always exceptions. My niece was rejected at LC, but accepted at NYU.</p>