<p>I really love the school, yet all of the other schools I seem to like are EXTREMELY different. </p>
<p>Other schools on my list include Colorado College, Connecticut College, Saint Michael's College, Ithaca, and Skidmore. Out of those, I like Colorado College the most... But even if I get in, I will probably not be able to go due to price/distance issues. </p>
<p>I'm a girl and I'm EXTREMELY liberal ...with literally everything. I love Fordham but I feel that the student population may be too conservative for me.. I know that Fordham is often described as "preppy", but is that because of simply the clothes people wear, or more because of peoples' personalities? </p>
<p>I've already been accepted to Fordham but I really want to make sure it is the right fit before I decide what other schools I want to apply to...... </p>
<p>If you consider yourself to be liberal, you probably won’t enjoy yourself much at Fordham, which is a notoriously conservative school. Not sure what area you’re in, but Oberlin and Grinnell are very liberal schools that you should check out. Beloit, Wooster, Kalamazoo are others.</p>
<p>disheartening but i thank you for your honesty, minohi…</p>
<p>i hope i can hear from others, cause i figured that there might be a somewhat liberal-ish population at fordham because i know some who get rejected from nyu end up attending fordham</p>
<p>I think it goes without saying that not every student at a conservative college is going to be conservative. You’d be able to find a group of more liberal people. The conservative atmosphere might suppress what you can and cannot do, however, which is why I think you might not enjoy yourself as much as if you went to a liberal college. (By the way, I saw your other thread and now know you’re looking for schools on the east coast. What about URochester?)</p>
<p>yeah i realize that it’s just that i’m living in a veryyy conservative town right now for high school and i feel like i’d be screwing myself over by putting myself in an environment like this again … like i would hate myself for doing so haha cause applying to college is the chance i have to put myself in an environment that i would actually like, not one where i’d have to find a group where i’d belong… </p>
<p>i haven’t really looked into rochester, but it does seem to have a great psychology program. i was originally looking for a school without greek life, though, and that seems to be pretty prevalent at rochester… maybe i’ll check it out! thanks</p>
<p>Fordham is a Jesuit school…I doubt it’s very conservative.</p>
<p>@minohi Why do you think that F is conservative? What aspects would be conservative? Sure, it’s Catholic and likely against abortion, but it’s Jesuit and likely lefty in most other aspects.</p>
<p>My S went to Fordham RH (graduated in 2012) and it has a wide span of people who fall all over the conservative/liberal spectrum-- a liberal will be just fine as part of the student population. While Fordham is Jesuit, it is also in NYC and the student body is filled with 18-22 year old students. The school itself has some conservative rules stemming from the Jesuit influence (ex. no birth control given out on campus, can’t have overnight guest of opposite sex in the dorm) but students quickly learn how to work around these rules (ex. birth control is readily available half a block away, have a friend sign in a guest of the opposite sex into their room in the same dorm etc.).</p>
<p>In terms of the “preppy” factor, Fordham didn’t strike me as any more preppy (in fact was probably a bit less preppy) than most other private colleges. </p>
<p>For the record, my S had a fantastic experience and seemed to get a great education at Fordham.</p>
<p>At first when you asked this question I was rather surprised. The majority of people who had applied/enrolled in Fordham struck me as people that were leaning liberal. I never really considered Fordham a conservative college, but that may just be because I am from the Northeast, where everyone leans slightly left.</p>
<p>Fordham has many policies that may be deemed conservative, such as the rooming policy mentioned above, but like any college it’s going to have all sorts of students. Because it is Jesuit, it will not be as strict as let’s say, Notre Dame. I encourage you to talk to current students if you have any concerns. It was definitely the way I figured out the vibes of my different colleges</p>
<p>@TomSrOfBoston what do you mean by that/what leads you to think that?</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids thank you, i’ve been hearing that from some people</p>
<p>@happy1 thanks, i am more so concerned about the student body rather than the rules (because i know i will find some way to get around the rules hahah). i really hope you’re right about the “less preppy” thing because a TON of people have been telling me that they were surprised i liked it so much…</p>
<p>@shawnspencer thank you, and yes i have spoken to current students but in light of the fact that the conversations i’ve had with them have been at open house / tour events,… they want to help market the school, and i figured they might be saying that the campus isnt dominated by conservatives just to soothe my worries…</p>
<p>Try talking to some current students via the “Class of ____” facebook group. I know it might be nervewracking at first, but I reaching out to regular students this way (or if just passing by when visiting campus) may be a good way to get an honest opinion. Also, there are sites like uniggo for reviews or you can find past students that have gone there here on college confidential</p>
<p>@flyingbison7 Many people in New York (or Boston) who consider themselves conservative would be considered quite liberal but conservatives in other parts of the country. </p>
<p>Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say. I happen to be conservative and I view Fordham as liberal. LOL. But dont forget the faculty at Fordham is extremely liberal and at least half the student body at RH is self described as liberal. But mostly RH is apolitical. There are clubs for Republicans and Democrats, but mostly its just a non issue. And people respect each other. My kid made friends of all stripes and backgrounds and they love each other dearly, even to this day…years later. Bring your ideas to Fordham and express them, passionately, but objectively and with a tone of tolerance for opposing views. Come to learn from professors and your classmates. Learn to utilize your knowledge and emotions in a positive manner, giving back to community.</p>
<p>A very high percentage of college campuses are liberal. Very very few are conservative. Sometimes its merely urban myths that people perceive as a school as conservative. </p>
<p>And sometimes conservatives can help you understand their perspective. I know of several couples who are “mixed relationships” so to speak…one is conservative and one is liberal and they adore each other. </p>
<p>Come with an open mind and open heart. Share, respect and grow. The very definition of diversity means having people who aren’t like you in all respects! :-)</p>
<p>I’m a student at RH. There are some conservative students here – but plenty of liberals as well. It is a college campus in NYC so while it may be a touch more conservative than some other campuses, you will have absolutely no issue (and you will have tons of company) as a liberal on campus. People are generally respectful of different views which I like. And @happyy1 is right in saying that the school has some conservative rules in place but people get around the rules and students who are particularly annoyed by them tend to move off campus into nearby apartments for their last year or two. In terms of your other question – there are preppies here, but that was the case at virtually every school I looked at. In the end you choose your friends and the friends I’ve made at Fordham are among the most down to earth, smartest, nicest people I’ve ever met.</p>
<p>If you can, come back and visit the school again before you make a final decision. IMO visiting is the best way to get a sense of the school. I went back to re-visit my top three choices after acceptances came out and it clarified in my mind that Fordham was the right place for me. </p>
<p>Congrats on your acceptance and good luck to you wherever you end up.</p>
<p>My daughter is a freshman in Gabelli at Rose Hill. She is quite liberal and definitely not preppy. She was attracted by the opportunity to have a full campus experience in an urban environment. She has found friends of all types, and her experience so far has exceeded her expectations. As suggested, pay another visit to campus. That should help you decide if the fit is right for you.</p>
<p>My D is a junior at RH. She grew up in NYC and is what I would call a moderate by NYC standards (which would probably be considered liberal in most of the rest of the country). She is a seasoned thrift store and Salvation army shopper - not at all preppy by anyone’s definition. She is having a wonderful experience at Fordham. It appears to me that there is a mix of political beliefs on campus and that makes for much more interesting discussions than when everyone thinks the same thing. </p>
<p>If you want to guarantee a liberal campus come to LC. It seems like every other person is a radical feminist and I am not sure how it can keep “Jesuit” in its name because I’ve never met more than two religious people here.</p>