<p>I'm really interested in going to a school in the NYC area and unfortunatly i believe NYU stern is a bit of a reach for me. I'd like Fordham to be my backup and it looked very intriguing until i saw it was a Jesuit University. The thing is, I'm atheist and don't want to deal with religion being pushed down my throat. </p>
<p>So my question is what are Jesuit Universities really like? Do they lightly promote Christian values or do they shove it down your throat?</p>
<p>Also anyone else have any recommendations for another good business school i might get into with a 3.7UW/29ACT and medium ECs?</p>
<p>I don't think you would find Fordham (or Fairfield U, Georgetown, BC, Notre dame, Marist, etc.) to be a particularly religious institution though you may be required to take a course or two in religion or philosophy, check their course catalog.</p>
<p>In the NYC suburbs. up to 90 minutes out that is, you might also want to check out Rutgers and Drew in New Jersey, Fairfield University in Connecticut, and Bard and Vassar in New York. The last two are tougher to get into but not out of the question though they have little business focus.</p>
<p>I have a parent who went to Fordham. We're Jewish. At the time, she said it was a little uncomfortable because most people who went there were boarding-school-Catholics. However, religion was by no means shoved down her throat. In fact, it wasn't really much of a factor other than the student body, and on top of that, she got a really top-notch education. I'm sure the population, as with most affiliated institutions, has grown more diverse and is now a hundred percent accepting of anyone.</p>
<p>The only discouraging factor I could tell you about is the neighborhood. It's not exactly the nicest area of the Bronx. Down the street is Roosevelt High, one of the most crime-ridden high schools in the city.</p>
<p>BTW, she majored in computer science (a vastly different subject at the time!), finished her degree at Maryland (she made Dean's List at both schools in one year), and then went to Fordham Law School.</p>
<p>From what I hear, most top Jesuit schools aren't overwhelmingly religious. Holy Cross, Boston College (I have a Jewish friend who's applying ED), Fordham, G'Town etc. are not religious at all. Notre Dame, I'd imagine, is a little more, but it's actually not a Jesuit school. Villanova, the other most prominent non-Jesuit Catholic school, is supposedly more religious as well.</p>
<p>Jesuit schools do not "push religion down your throat." They require 3 or 4 classes in philosophy or theology but these are not classes that teach or espouse any one religion. They are designed to promote thought, research, and discussion, and you usually have a choice of classes.
That said, you may find that some of your classmates are practicing Catholics. There will be a campus mass available that might be well attended. But you will by no means be the only non-Catholic around.</p>
<p>Go to Fordhams threads on this website. But in a nutshell, Fordham is an amazing school. We are southerners and my D is at Fordham as a freshmen and LOVING it. The neighborhood is much improved from what it was 20 years ago. Fordham kids are very tight and support each other. There are many different kinds of kids at Fordham from all over the country. There are pious catholics and catholics in name only. There are more than 40% non catholics there. Religion courses are required (two I think) and they are taught mostly as survey courses, exploring philosophical aspects. There are also classes in comparative religion, Islam, Judaism etc. NOBODY pushes ANY dogma down your throat. That is NOT the Jesuit way. </p>
<p>Fordham is an awesome school. Its very rigorous and you will work very hard. But its worth it. Its a beautiful campus. Fordham kids go to the Botanical Gardens and Bronx Zoo together all the time in groups. They go into the city for nightlife in groups. Its just a fabulous experience.</p>
<p>If you are tolerant of others they will be tolerant of you. Mutual respect.<br>
The Jesuit ethics and ethos are all about your character and integrity and service to other human beings. It has an amazing faculty. The kids I know about in the CBA (College of Business Administration) are all very bright and very outgoing, with amazing opportunities. </p>
<p>Be open minded and people will be open to you. Good luck. And Peace!</p>
<p>Just to reiterate, Jesuits are all about tolerance, and practice social justice. This gets them in trouble with the Pope on occasion, but they practice what they preach and preach what the practice. They are the finest educators in the world, bar none. </p>
<p>2-iron, just FYI, Roosevelt HS as your mom (and I) knew it is gone. It's been converted into a NYC magnet HS school for the Performing Arts, and is quite successful. Think the HS from the movie "Fame."</p>
<p>Jesuits are jewels! They are to be embraced and cherished. And they are SUPERB teachers. But while Fordham has, I think, the highest number of Jesuits on its campus of any Jesuit college in the US (48), their faculty numbers more than 600 and obviously a very high percentage of those are not Jesuit priests, and many are not even Catholic. But they all embrace the Jesuit ethics and ethos and manner of teaching.</p>