New Parent with Questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z Fordham University
1

<p>Our child was accepted EA with an excellent scholarship. Fordham was not top on her list (it was less known to us than other schools) but with the award we are starting to review things now. She also was deferred at Notre Dame but found the location far too remote upon visiting and is expecting no money, and probably no acceptance, since she is below the 50% mark in scores. Villanova is still on the table (as are several other schools). 'Fit' is very important. She likes good fun, school pride, service and band.</p>

<p>Regarding Fordham...
-The freshman retention rate is in the 80% range and admissions could only tell us that some kids have trouble adjusting. Any thoughts beyond this?
-At Nova, we fond the Freshman learning communities (and at ND) to be a real binding force with the freshman but there was nothing equivalent at Fordham and we received vague answers about what was done to build a sense of true community within the freshman class as a whole.
-We are trying to arrange overnight visits to EA schools. Every school our child was accepted to EA was glad to arrange for her to come overnight before the end of February...except for Fordham. They said they (admissions) do not arrange overnight stays for perspective students. Does anyone know why this is?
-She has emailed the band 3 times and received no response. She then contacted admissions who said they would have someone from band contact her. This was in early November. Still no response The Villanova band director returned the email and put a freshman student in touch with her...and invited her to come play with them at a basketball game this winter anytime (and stay overnight). Is the Fordham pep band active at all?
-Finally and biggest concern: When asked about nightlife (and even on other boards we read) kids talk about 4 local bars...not about campus activities, not about school spirit, not about dorm traditions...about bars. At RH, what more/different do kids partake in? Is the bar scene THAT much of the life at RH? We know kids drink everywhere, but we cannot get a feel for what goes on at Fordham RH outside of groups heading to bars. It also seems that there are a lot of commuters at Fordham and a lot of kids from within an easy drive home. Villanova seems to totally be a residential campus.</p>

<p>There were lots of great things we've found about Fordham, but the above are some of our concerns. Her gut is Fordham, but the responsiveness and hugely active campus of Villanova (plenty of parties but LOTS to do for students not into that as it is not a commuter school)are big pulls.</p>

<p>We would like to hear from current students or parents about the above issues; and we hope we are reading things wrong from our limited visits and contact with students</p>

2

<p>You will get plenty of opinions. My kid graduated in 2011. We are not New Yorkers. There was a lot of dorm drama, per usual, and ups and downs with homesickness, genuine sickness, and culture shock. It got dicey in January, after grades came out, mostly because some of the flighty types would add/drop schedules for easier professors and then brag about grades. My kid is a fighter and would accept the challenge of a tough grading professor for the benefit of the knowledge. She persevered and by March was on her way and really never looked back.</p>

<p>Villanova is a great school especially for engineering. But I would stack Fordham up with the best of catholic schools in the liberal arts. Fordham is an academic school and its old fashioned, lots of papers, lots of reading and it ranks its students. </p>

<p>There are party animals at every school, without exception. I have as many stories from top 10 schools as I do from Fordham. Trust me. A student must find the kind of people who are like them in personal and study habits and focus on that. It worked beautifully for my kid at Rose Hill. They stayed friends forever, shared apartments on campus as upper classmen and all finished Phi Beta Kappa. </p>

<p>There is lots to do on campus. Fordham basketball and football are lots of fun, doing well and a great way to get away from the books, all on campus. Fordham’s dorms are varied and some have dorm activities, like Queens Court, which has a lot of traditions like a debating society. Fordham has no sororities or fraternities but it has honor societies. It also has student clubs, an orchestra, a band, a theatre group, a chorus, a well respected student newspaper. There is plenty to do and if a student reaches out there will be plenty of opportunities. </p>

<p>School spirit is defined differently by people. For many it revolves around athletics. Fine. We have that. But also it is about the joy of learning and the spirit of faculty and student relationships…meaning mentoring. Fordham excels at that in my opinion. Faculty were awesome at Fordham as well as the deans for the college. Graduation was as emotional as moving in day freshman year.</p>

<p>What Fordham offers is unique. Its special. Its a classic and challenging college campus, while being in the middle of one of the greatest cities in the world. New York is renowned for its food…from Little Italy, to China Town to bistros to bagel shops on and on. Fordham has amazing contacts for internships in Manhattan, or in the Bronx for those interested in social justice. My kid did both and I can assure you that the Bronx internship was as rewarding and emotional as Manhattan…a tearful departure at graduation. </p>

<p>Fordham is hugely respected, and its degree is a pedigree that carries weight with employers…all over the country. My kid went onto graduate school and found a job almost immediately and the employer remarked about the Fordham degree as being special…not just another “state flagship applicant.” </p>

<p>Fr. McShane will tell you several times that Fordham is transformational. He is not kidding. He is not being dramatic. He is being forthright and inspirational. </p>

<p>Selecting a college is enormously stressful, particularly when you have several competing offers and all sorts of confusing ideas swirling around. Its also very personal.</p>

<p>Fordham offers an accepted student weekend BEFORE the deadline of May 1. Go to one of those weekends (Feb and April I believe). You will meet and greet students, faculty, administrators and Fr. McShane himself. All our very approachable. It sealed the deal for us…DONE! And yes it was hard to say no to others. </p>

<p>Nobody here can choose for you/your kid. Its very personal. But I can tell you that it was an amazing experience. My kid is still dating her boyfriend from Fordham. Fordham kids are largely very good kids, from the tri-state suburban areas as well as around the country. They tend to be highly competitive and ambitious, but not cutthroat. They hang together in Manhattan. They go on retreats at Fordham (Campus Ministry offers several and I strongly recommend them…awesome and fulfilling and supportive). </p>

<p>The transition from home to independent student is not always easy. Some kids are not prepared for the workload and are too immature. Some sadly leave for financial reasons or other personal reasons. There is always some fallout after freshmen year but Fordham actually has a pretty good reputation for retaining its students and graduating a high percentage in four years…and a few in five (accounting typically takes five because of the CPA exam.) </p>

<p>Ping me by pm if you want more specifics on programs, departments and professors. Ignore the boobirds. There are risks everywhere. No perfect school. No perfect city. No perfect answer. </p>

<p>Look also at Wikipedia for the amazing Fordham alumni listed…some very very famous people in the arts, business and government. </p>

<p>Congratulations to your daughter. She will be fine. Its an awesome school. We cried when we dropped her off and drove across the George Washington Bridge for a long drive home and we cried at graduation just as hard. She made and we made many, many friends. Including faculty and deans. </p>

<p>Come prepared to work very hard. My daughter worked to exhaustion most every semester…too hard sometimes. But it paid dividends beyond belief.</p>

3

<p>Here are some valuable links. </p>

<p>88% of Fordham Freshmen return as Sophomores.</p>

<p>About 75% of Fordham students live on campus. Lincoln Center has the highest percentage of commuter students. </p>

<p>Fordham guarantees housing on campus for four years. (Villanova does not, btw.) </p>

<p>[Fordham</a> Facts](<a href=“http://www.fordham.edu/discover_fordham/facts_26604.asp]Fordham”>http://www.fordham.edu/discover_fordham/facts_26604.asp)</p>

<p>[Student</a> Leadership & Community Development](<a href=“http://www.fordham.edu/student_affairs/student_leadership__/]Student”>http://www.fordham.edu/student_affairs/student_leadership__/)</p>

<p>[Research</a> Centers & Institutes](<a href=“Centers and Institutes | Fordham”>Centers and Institutes | Fordham)</p>

<p>[Fordham</a> University: FAQs](<a href=“http://www.fordham.edu/faq/]Fordham”>FAQ)</p>

4

<p>Great school. If band is on her short list of important school offerings and she can’t get a response from anyone in the department I would be concerned too.</p>

5

<p>You already know that the academics are excellent. Therefore to get a feel for the social aspect, visit campus any Saturday afternoon when school is in session. Count how many students you see walking around. Stop by the sports facilities and see how many students are participating. Talk to the students informally. This is how you will determine what the university is like on the weekend. Accepted student days don’t give the real feel of the university on a daily basis. Many upper class students do not live on campus but in housing across Fordham Road so the student body is not centralized on campus. Others do commute. Visit and observe to get a true feeling of whether Fordham is a good fit.</p>

6

<p>Definitely visit on a day that’s not accepted students day or the presidents spring/fall preview. Stay overnight if possible. That’s the best way to get a feel for the social atmosphere.</p>

7

<p>Officiating, where are you getting that 80%? “America’s Best Colleges” cites a 92% first-year retention rate.</p>

8

<p>So very sorry about the non-response from the band. The pep band (or so I assumed it was) played enthusiastically at the Welcome Open House in October. The lack of response is puzzling.</p>

<p>Overnights – Fordham used to have them. We were told that Fordham is now overwhelmed by requests for overnights, and simply doesn’t have the administrative staff to coordinate and otherwise oversee them. It is possible to have an informal overnight, through a current student if you know one.</p>

<p>Learning communities – there are a few. I confess I only paid attention to those I had some interest in for my students; however, at the Open House I was told these are expanding, and mostly related to major. An exception is the original learning community, Manresa. Info on Manresa here: [The</a> Manresa Program, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) - Fordham University](<a href=“http://www.fordham.edu/academics/colleges__graduate_s/undergraduate_colleg/fordham_college_at_r/opportunities_for_ex/manresa_program_27103.asp]The”>http://www.fordham.edu/academics/colleges__graduate_s/undergraduate_colleg/fordham_college_at_r/opportunities_for_ex/manresa_program_27103.asp).</p>

<p>Activities – Fordham has a tremendous number of active clubs. One current club goes to the theater and opera, paid for by Fordham. IT’S NEW YORK CITY. The world is your oyster. Many Fordham students are taking advantage of that. I love Philly, but Villanova is rural, not in Philadelphia. Fordham also has a number of speakers addressing fascinating topics,both at the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses.</p>

<p>Number of residential students: Fordham 78%, Villanova 70%. Villanova’s rural setting may have given rise to a different impression. I don’t have numbers in front of me to compare, but do know that Fordham has been working to have more students from outside the northeast and I suspect it is more geographically diverse than Villanova.</p>

<p>First-year retention – 92%, on a par with others of its level of selectivity, and not bad for a school with all the temptations of NYC at its doorstep.</p>

<p>At the Welcome, Father McShane reported that Fordham students contributed to the community an astonishing <em>one million</em> volunteer hours last year. A person could die of pride.</p>

9

<p>I should be clear that I am not trying to be overly critical of Fordham. My hope is that some current parents and students can provide some insight to concerns. Again, our contact with Fordham has been minimal. Our D’s college counselor told her Fordham is a great safety…one of the A colleges for B students or something along those lines. Therefore, A students were given the impression by her that Fordham would be a safety, especially if they apply EA as the acceptance rate is over 50%.
After looking at the stats of those admitted, I disagree. Our D was fortunate to get in and very fortunate to receive a merit scholarship for tuition. But, we were unprepared to really consider the school and now are scrambling to do so before RD results and visits start coming into play.</p>

<p>“The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 88.8 percent”…from the US News Rankings which lists Fordham as #57. The ranking surprised me given the stats of kids accepted; though it seems like those accepted who we’ve talked to (and seen on this board) are well above the average numbers posted by Fordham. I think their average numbers will soon rise greatly. Also, we know that you can find statistics to support almost anything and that rankings mean far less than fit. </p>

<p>I understand about the overnights now, but it may be that Fordham will HAVE to increase their admin. Upon further reading, I am getting the feeling that Fordham is starting to spread its wings and have more of a national name (we are from another region) and on the verge of really breaking through. Comments such as those of our college counselor (‘great school for a B student, great safety for an A student’) will soon not be uttered.</p>

<p>Finally, thank you all for the assurance that the 4 bars we keep hearing of are not the focus of campus fun for all and that they do in fact offer things for those who cannot go home and do not want to go to bars. The website does not have the spit and polish and bells and whistles of other schools so it is hard to grasp. As we live in another region, there is no buzz about Fordham at all and few graduates around to show their love for the school. That is what is making getting information so hard.
We’ll keep pressing and visit again on a random day if possible, but certainly for an accepted students’ day. And glad to hear that this is possibly and active pep band!
Thank you.</p>

10

<p>Officiating: Since you live far from Fordham, I will let you know that the 4 bars you mention are a major focus for many students on campus–not everyone. Also the campus is very quiet on the weekends. However, Fordham is not a school for the B student but for the A student as it is now very selective. Fordham does not have the “spirit” that you might find at larger universities. It does have students who are involved in athletics and clubs. I am not sure if the Fordham band is as large as you may want so you should investigate that further. I don’t think that Villa Nova’s band would be any larger than Fordham’s. Plan a trip and visit both Fordham and Villa Nova to decide what school is best for your daughter. They are both excellent universities.</p>

11

<p>Officiating:</p>

<p>A couple of points. A lot of high school counselors dont really know schools out of the region and are making comments based on third hand information or common books on the shelf at Barnes and Nobles. They mean well but dont really know, unless they have been sending kids to Fordham a long time.</p>

<p>Fordham will challenge students, and in fact, the better students are often given more and harder work by professors…that was my daughter’s experience. Why? To prepare them for graduate school. </p>

<p>Fordham is big enough for some degree of anonymity and a lot of variant opinions, but also not so big as to become a cold HUGE university. Professors at Fordham love to mentor and embrace their top students with warmth and encouragement. </p>

<p>Freshmen at Fordham often get “blue” this time of year…holidays over, dorm drama, grades are coming in and the sky is gray and its cold outside. Then the talk of transfering starts bubbling up in the dorms…frustrations. BUT…the spring is around the corner and things do get better and kids learn to grow up and face reality and buckle down. I cant stress this enough. </p>

<p>No matter where your daughter attends college the dorm drama will be there. Its impossible to find the perfect school with perfect people. We had friends who sent kids to Duke, UVa. Columbia, Harvard, Dartmouth, Princeton, WashU, UChicago, UNC…on and on. The stories there were no different. </p>

<p>Safety school is a relative term for a student’s scores. Fordham has plenty of top students and its also true that SAT scores dont always convert into straight A’s in college. Nothing replaces hard work. </p>

<p>My kid was in the orchestra at Fordham. It wasnt a big orchestra and it was mediocre. But it was a good way to escape the books and have an outlet. If your daughter wants a music school for music performance then Fordham is not it. But if she wants a school with a band and orchestra for relaxing, meeting new friends and just continuing to play, its fine. I understand because in highly competitive high schools their orchestras are often amazing, and community youth symphonies are astonishing. Been there and done that. Fordham is not Oberlin. </p>

<p>Lincoln Center has a new alignment with the Julliard School but I caution that is for extraordinary performance majors and future professional artists. </p>

<p>For liberal arts, I would pick Fordham over Villanova. Just my bias. Plus Manhattan has amazing internships. </p>

<p>I am no pollyanna or glossy brochure. But I will also tell you that part of the growing up and transformation to adulthood is learning to deal with the myriad of issues that occur during one’s college years. My kid entered Fordham somewhat sheltered and shy and from a very different part of the country, and emerged at graduation independent, self assured, extremely well prepared for graduate school and the working world. She loved Fordham and the Bronx. </p>

<p>Dropping her off, arranging the dorm room and then driving away as she ran across Eddies Parade to meet up with her dorm mates and get her class schedule and start orientation that Sunday afternoon in 07 was extremely hard to do…but we are very glad we did so. :-)</p>

12

<p>Fordham’s website isnt the easiest to navigate, but the information is there, including the bulletin with programs, courses, professors credentials, honors programs, honor societies and really everything you need, including maps and descriptions of buildings and dorms. Its a gorgeous campus at Rose Hill. Stunning. Gothic. :-)</p>

13

<p>I should add that our child is at boarding school now, so I fully agree that the winter months, especially the first year, are very challenging. At her school, they do a great job of having kids do a sport, winter play or volunteer work in those months. It gets them off campus at a time of year when it is too cold and dark to do so outside of planned activities. More importantly, it gives them a stress reliever as the work increases and the pressure (especially for seniors with college apps and interviews on top of academics) is immense.
That is part of the reason she really wants and active college campus. She knows to engage, but she needs to be on a campus where the school, at least for freshman, offers lots of ways to be engaged and the kids WANT to be engaged and have a real sense of community (not run off to cliques immediately). HonourStudent’s comment confirming that the 4 bars are a major focus and that the campus is very quiet on weekends is concerning. That is the view we have gotten a lot from current students. </p>

<p>As for band, no she does not need or want a Notre Dame band. She is the kid who did band as an elective (and did a team sport for fun) not one who was in a big time band. She would just like to have an active pep band that plays at games and where the kids have some level or a friendship. Same with sports…will want intramurals as she loves to play and is a varsity athlete, but has NO illusions about being a college athlete!</p>

<p>She seems to get that this is college and is prepared to find and join things. But she would like dorms that do activities and have traditions and very much would like someplace where there will be plenty of others coming from around the country who will need and want on hand activities and not a suitcase campus where kids go home on Friday or rely on NYC solely as their entertainment. The one main huge draw of Notre Dame is that the campus is buzzing 24/7. Those kids are totally engaged as there is nothing to do off campus! Drinking? Plenty. But there are so many kids and so many activities that across the board she was told ‘we hang here on weekends because it is too hard to get home and because there is so much to do on campus’.</p>

<p>She and another from her school went to Fordham on a weekday for a tour and liked RH’s campus a lot. They said the kids were friendly…but many said that it was not a traditional experience in terms of the school offering a ton to do on the weekends and that there was kind of an immature rivalry with LC. LC kids seemed to indicate that RH was a beautiful campus and that there were sports there…but no ‘down talking’. </p>

<p>So, still trying to get a feel for Fordham.
Great education? Check
Great location? Check
Catholic in the best of ways (to us)? Check
Service in the community? Check
Fostering a sense of unity and engagement with the students? Unknown</p>

<p>Sound about right?</p>

14

<p>One of the major complaints here at Fordham is that there are not many activities for students to do on the weekends. This year the football team was amazing and the games were completely sold out–most who attended the games, however, were alumni. Many students go home; others travel down to Manhattan; others go to the bars. In addition, many students do not even live on campus but are in buildings off campus. There are, however, many students who do dorm on campus and stay for the weekends but when you walk the campus on a Saturday afternoon, it is very quiet. There is more activity at the high school located on campus than the university on the weekends.</p>

15

<p>Every school has its own vibe. Urban schools tend to focus on urban activities. Imagine NYU with no real campus and all they have is the surrounding urban experience in the Village. </p>

<p>Notre Dame is in the middle of nowhere and the ONLY choice is campus activities. But its an outstanding school…the top Catholic school in the country, bar none, in my opinion. </p>

<p>I wont disparage any other school. I can only compare and contrast as best I can.</p>

<p>Its true some Fordham kids go home, but to call it a commuter school is incorrect. Some kids go home freshmen year because their parents are nagging them to come home. LOL. I know this from what my kid experienced. And after Freshmen year a lot of kids stop going home as often…they learn to leave the nest and become more independent, and some have jobs in the city or internships. </p>

<p>Saturday is a quiet day, because a lot of kids are catching up on sleep, doing laundry and just getting away from the campus. My daughter looked forward to excursions in manhattan, midtown or to lincoln center/central park. A visit to museums, just window shopping. But there wasnt a lot of leisure time trust me. She was just as often found in the library doing work/research as anywhere. </p>

<p>The thing about Fordham is that if you reach out for activities and fun, its there. If you want to be a loner, you can do that. If you want to go into the city, or the Bronx Zoo or the Botanical Gardens, you can do that. If you want to attend sporting events you can do that. If you want to go to Long Island with your roomie to have home cooked meals you can do that. if you want to go hiking you can do that. Some kids ride the train up to Poughkeepsie in the fall…see the trees, pick apples and then come home. </p>

<p>if you are bored at Fordham its YOUR fault. </p>

<p>There is campus spirit. Its not Notre Dame…where its all about either the Cardinal Newman Society or the football team. Thats another level of athletics we will never match. Its also a larger school…about twice the size of Fordham. (Rose Hill is about 5700 undergrads or so.) </p>

<p>If you research the website and look under the dorms, you will see the freshmen choices and the programs they offer. </p>

<p>I wont ever talk someone out of picking Notre Dame. But rest assured that there are many of Fordham’s top students who got into some very prestigious schools and picked Fordham because its New York, perhaps because of scholarship funds, and even because its Jesuit. </p>

<p>To say there is more activity at Fordham Prep than Fordham University on weekends is silly. </p>

<p>Fordham built new upperclassmen apartments in the last 5 years. They are full. All of Fordham’s dorms are full. A high majority of students live on campus all four years. Upperclassmen have jobs, internships and are very busy. But they live on campus…many in apartments with full kitchens and prepare their own food. </p>

<p>In the final analysis a student must select the best college for them. It comes down to a gut feel, a vibe, and knowing themselves and what they want. To go where they will thrive academically and socially. Its their life and their future and this is the first decision they make as young adults which directly affects them long term. They have to own the decision. </p>

<p>Its not easy choosing between outstanding offers. But you have until May 1.<br>
Some kids choose the higher ranking school for prestige. One thing Fordham does well in my opinion is great social diversity. Its true that a large number of kids come from upper middle class families in Connecticut and Long Island. But a lot of kids come from more modest means. My daughter made friends with kids in every class…and some of her peer upperclassmen friends were from challenging circumstances, but they persevered and were top performers at Fordham. And went onto great grad schools and law schools and medical schools. Fordham is not snobby. </p>

<p>You will find people at every college who you dont like or who misbehave. You shrug, move along and find people you like to hang with or room with after freshmen year. </p>

<p>We had dinner in Little Italy with the parents and students of all my kid’s main clique/roomies. So many memories.</p>

16

<p>Fordham also has intramural and club level sports for activities. And women’s rowing which allows walk ons. :-)</p>

17

<p>@sovereigndebt I’ve been a swimmer my whole life and I don’t really have any desire to swim on Fordham’s D1 team but I still want to remain active in college. I’ve always wanted to try rowing and I’m thinking about joining Fordham’s team but I also want to try other things in college. Do you know if I join the crew team if I’d have time to join other clubs too?</p>

18

<p>Is there a student union on campus…one where kids just hang out an socialize and is the central place for all activities? If so, is at an active hub? If not, where do freshman go (outside of their dorms) to mix, mingle and find out what is going on on campus and just be with other students (inside, especially, during the cold winter months!).
T</p>

19

<p>OP, I was finishing up a relatively long reply when my phone died so I will just address a few things here.</p>

<p>First, I’m the parent of a RH applicant and LC Senior so we obviously think highly of the school or S2 would not have applied. We have family that went to Villanova and their school spirit and pride still runs deep. S1 also feels Fordham spirit and pride but it’s not rah rah and in your face…it’s New York. And that permeates every aspect of the Fordham education. Taking an Art History class? Expect an assignment at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Just one example.</p>

<p>Second, the guidance counselor’s comment is outdated but came from US News several years ago when Fordham was referred as an A+ school for B students. A quick look at the Class Profile and you know that is no longer the case. It might be considered a safety for an Ivy stats applicant but the B student probably has something else going for them if they get in.</p>

<p>Finally and most importantly, you aren’t going to find the “perfect” fit. S1 was accepted to all 7 schools he applied to including some that were higher ranked than Fordham. And every school passed the “can you picture yourself here” test. What was different for him at Fordham as he was making that final decision is that when he was at Fordham he not only could picture himself there but he couldn’t picture himself anywhere else! Your D’s gut says Fordham? I say go with that. She will be able to carve out a fabulous college experience for herself.</p>

<p>Good luck! :)</p>

20

<p>Yes, there is a student union – the McGinley Center, which has the bookstore, the cafeteria and a couple other eating places, as well as the fitness center, with a very nice (I think new) indoor pool. There is a new space with many ellipticals/treadmills, etc., with a lot of students using those when we visited. Upstairs are event spaces/ballrooms. Students do hang out there. Also in doom common rooms, and, when weather permits, on Eddy’s.</p>