<p>Just wanted to hear from alums and upperclassman about their freshman grades. D, who was a stellar student in HS, tells me that she is working harder than ever to keep up her grades. She "realizes how much grades were inflated" at her HS and says Bs and B+s are to be celebrated as freshman grades at Fordham.... Thoughts? Would love to hear from those who actually attended or are attending Fordham. Thanks.</p>
<p>To me, if she’s getting Bs and B+s, she’s doing okay. Also, keep in mind that if you’re referring to her midterm grade, she still has a chance to bring it up by the end of the semester.Fordham is a challenging school and while yes, it is possible to get straight As, you really really have to work for them most of the time. This is hard for those who were stellar in HS, but didn’t really have to put in the effort they do now. Not saying your D is like this, just saying it’s a factor.</p>
<p>Depending on the class, most kids were happy if they got between a B- to a B+. For me, my first semester grades were A-, B+, P, B+, And B. I did get two Cs last semester and plan on that never happening again. </p>
<p>Anyway, as I said, your D seems to be doing. However, if she knows she could get the A or you know she could get A, go for it, even if it does require a little more studying. Like I said not impossible to achieve, but a lot of work needs to be put in to make it happen. </p>
<p>Well I am concerned because my son asked me to send him some books- fiction books. He said college is not hard
And he has too much time on his hands. He joined way too many clubs and plays intramurals. He has made friends, (husband met them for parents weekend) goes out, goes to Manhattan at least once a weekend.<br>
He will hopefully get a job 2nd semester. He has one B+ and the rest are A’s.<br>
He is use to juggling a busy busy high school experience. </p>
<p>I’m a student at RH. If your D is getting B’s and B+'s her first semester I’d say she is doing just fine. The biggest thing is that she is not getting blown out. And as @Reader13 said she may be able to move some of the grades up during finals as well. There are many factors at play here. First there are a lot of adjustments that go along with being a first semester freshman – new living situations, new friends, more freedoms, new activities etc. Some kids have a hard time with it, but it sounds like your D is working hard and hanging in there quite well. Personally, I found my first time (or two) going through midterms at Fordham to be quite challenging with exams, papers, ongoing classwork all going on and it took me a while to figure out how I could better handle that crunch. Second, the student body at Fordham is made up of students who all did well in HS so there are a lot of smart people here working towards those top grades. Also, I have found that as I moved up in years that I have done better grade-wise. And while I generally think the core is a good thing, a few of the core classes were just not great matches for my interests/abilities so once I was able to focus less on the core and more on classes in my major, my grades improved.</p>
<p>It could be just the classes he’s taking. Like I feel that way this semester, with the exception of my history. I did not feel that way last semester. The classes kind of do get progressively harder as you move up. Also, it depends on the professor you have and sometimes the subject as well. </p>
<p>It’s good that he joined clubs, just hope that doesn’t backfire on him next semester if he gets harder classes. And since he seems to be used to juggling, he might not have a problem doing assignments.</p>
<p>Obviously, I’m only one point of view and a sophomore. Someone with a little more experience might be better to answer that question.</p>
<p>My D’s Gabelli professors tell the students that a “B” is a great grade…But wondering if 3.0-3.5 GPA is problem when looking for internships. She has been taking advantage of all that is offered and has already been accepted as a mentor for off campus group and has been accepted on a study abroad program for spring break. So, she is happy, but I am worried about not having a cushion. Ideas on how GPA affects internships? </p>
<p>You will get all sorts of answers and all sorts of anecdotal reports. Some will say Gabelli is tougher and some will say that FCRH (or LC) is tougher. It depends on the professors as well. Some are notoriously tough graders. But often those professors are also some of the best. Freshman year was my kid’s toughest. Class rank comes out in June, but you have an idea where you sit in January. </p>
<p>Some kids will just breeze through and you scratch your head. The best advice is to seek out the courses that are the most beneficial to your interests and longer term goals and even embrace the tough professors. Some of the students are 'tipped off " by upperclassmen on which professors to avoid, grade shopping. </p>
<p>Internships happen from grades…but also happen from recommendations of faculty, and a student’s ambitions and assertiveness. </p>
<p>My kid endured a rough freshman year…and was often in distress. But it did get better. And as I’ve stated many times, she finished Phi Beta Kappa…and proudly took some of the toughest professors Fordham served up, never dropped a course because of a tough prof. She had friends at Gabelli that seemed to breeze through and didnt do that much work. She had friends that worked like she did…always studying etc. </p>
<p>Stay calm. Think about how efficient you are as a student. Think about things you can do to connect with the professor and produce the quality of work they are seeking. See the professors in office hours for advice. </p>
<p>Fordham doesnt have grade inflation. For some high school students that is a shock. </p>
<p>Try to focus on personal goals and measure yourself from your own accomplishments, not on others. Its REALLY hard to do in January when the dorm drama is at a peak, people sick of dorm life, caf food, and people…and then the annoying braggarts on grades. But if you are a diligent student, study efficiently and carefully and focused…it will all work out. Some kids are just good at getting the grades whether from quizzes and tests, to writing papers. Its a process. </p>
<p>For some liberal arts students the math and science courses are rough. For some gabelli students its english lit, philosophy and theology that are rough. </p>
<p>And dont forget that some kids say they are getting A’s and its a not always true…wink.<br>
Dont lose faith and dont beat yourself up. Its a long distance race not a sprint for 100 yards. </p>
<p>Internships occur all over the place and at different times. Some kids create their own internships by being aggressive and creative with target companies or non profits. Mentors come from faculty…and they know who is working hard and what the expectations are. And they often have the best resources for valuable internships. </p>
<p>Also take advantage of the retreats…campus ministry. They are invaluable in helping to stay grounded and emotionally secure. They were life savers for my kid…at critical times when things seemed overwhelming and the stress seemed unbearable. </p>
<p>Faculty will never recommend someone for an internship if they are slackers. And some internships are from “connections:” with family and friends and you cant fret about that. The MOST valuable valuable internships for my kid were with non profits (manhattan and in the Bronx) and were life changing. </p>
<p>God bless.</p>
<p>Since your daughter just started Freshman year, is she getting B and B+ in the core classes? </p>
<p>Math, History, Theology, Ground Floor and Macro. So, core for Gabelli.</p>
<p>Many thanks again for the thoughtful responses!</p>
<p>It really depends on the professors she has. Some just grade harder than others. History, Theology and Ground Floor can be easy A’s but Math (is it Finite or Calculus) and Economics are much harder. I know of many Fordham students who have gotten C’s in Macro (and they are very smart students) and a lot struggle with Calculus. We just had mid-terms so there is plenty of time to bring up the grades. The reason to get a higher GPA when taking the core is that the classes in the major can be much more difficult so you would want a GPA cushion for future semesters.</p>
<p>Hi Mexusa when it comes to getting internships at major corporations or the big accounting firms they normally do require a 3.0 GPA for consideration. My son is a senior in Gabelli and he has found that most professors are difficult to get an A from, but a B is usually doable with some work. His biggest problem has been understanding some of the professors where English is their second language. I don’t think that the business school is any easier or more difficult than the other schools. His friends at Rose Hill (Math, Economics, and History majors) also talk about how difficult it can be to even get a 3.0 each semester. I just hope that the fact that there are so many schools with grade inflation doesn’t hurt them when they are competing with people with higher GPA’s for jobs and graduate schools.</p>
<p>I also hope that it does not adversely affect them when they are seeking jobs and internships. I know that the accounting major is tough, but well respected in NYC. Thanks for your input.</p>
<p>Hi! My S graduated from Fordham in 2012 with an accounting major and I pretty much stopped posting on this board after because I’m not current with what is going on at the school that but I occasionally look at the board. This struck very close to home so I decided to chime in with a couple of comments. </p>
<p>-I wouldn’t take the first half of freshman year results and project that through to graduation. My S started with a 3.2 or so and ended up with close to a 3.6 (missed graduating cum laude by .02 – oh well…). He was also an accounting major at Fordham. My D’s GPA at another college in another major seems to be following a similar trajectory. Sometimes it just takes a semester or two for kids to adjust to the level of work expected at college. Plus my S found a few of the Fordham core classes to be pretty tough.</p>
<p>-To be a CPA one now needs 150 credit hours so many students go on for a one year Masters in Accounting. So in addition to the rest of the four years of undergrad, work there will also likely be a year of grad school that will be factored in (unless she has a ton of AP credits). My S got into (and attended) Notre Dame for his MS in Accounting based on how well he did at Fordham and I imagine ND factored in his undergraduate school when they looked at his GPA. </p>
<p>-The big accounting firms all hire a lot from Fordham. My S is at one of the Big 4 firms in NYC now and says there are a ton of Fordham people there.</p>
<p>-So far your daughter has done well enough to get into every program she wants so that is a good sign.</p>
<p>-You would be surprised at how some kids just bomb out when they get to college. My D had a friend a uber-top school and she started partying too much and got suspended for a semester and now has to apply for reinstatement. Your D seems to have a good head on her shoulders and is working hard so count your blessings there. If she can avoid that crash and burn freshman year that is half the battle.</p>
<p>-If she is anything like my kids your D is probably a bit frustrated by her grades. Hearing your concerns could make her more nervous/insecure/anxious. I found that building the kids up…praising their adjustment to college (making new friends, taking on new responsibilities, living away from home etc.), saying they doing great and that I was proud that they are learning how to meet higher level of work etc at college was very much appreciated – and I think it helped calm them down and give them some confidence that moving forward they could do even better.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>Thanks to all, these observations make me feel better about it. She feels she has a good handle on things, so have to let her be… thanks.</p>
<p>My dd is also having an issue with a professor with a thick hard to understand accent. Also this professor only grades on two exams–midterm and final. He gives no homework, no quizzes and no credit for attendance. He also doesn’t respond to e-mail or have office hours. If you don’t do well on either test, there goes your grade. </p>
<p>Adamsley: for top 100 colleges: most of the profs only have 2 exams, the midterm and the final. The only colleges I know that grade for homework and attendance are community colleges…and Fordham is far, far beyond that.
Your DD needs to talk to her dean if she cannot get an email response from her prof and every prof HAS to have office hours. It is in the contract (used to teach at a 4 year school and 2 community colleges.) So, yes, those two tests are critical. That is why I was nervous about her Bs. Good luck.</p>
<p>Actually, a good amount of professors will deduct your grade if you go beyond, three unexcused absences I believe?And I’ve had a few professors that do count homework in the grade, it’s usually worth about 5-10% of the grade, depending on the class. Spanish is the one that usually does it, but my Science and an English professor did it too. However, most professors do just have the midterm, a paper, a final, and participation for grades, which makes it hard if you mess up the midterm or final, of course. </p>
<p>Mex, my d is a sophomore at Fordham. Since last year all her classes have been marked on a mixture of attendance, homework, papers, mid-term, final and quizzes. This professor is very different from the others she has had. There were 20 students in the class and about half have dropped out since the mid-term (which was 2 weeks ago). He didn’t go over the mid-term so students don’t know what they got wrong. In addition, this professor does not have office hours or return e-mails. This is just the way it is with him. My daughter has never attended community college and has a 3.7 gpa at Fordham (not counting this class). She has already met with the professor and will have a meeting with the Dean.</p>
<p>Freshmen year 2007 my kid was very sick…and missed a lot of class. She went to her professors and all of them worked with her, and the Dean of Students was very helpful. The only thing they dont like is unexcused absences caused by sleeping too much, partying and various other issues. </p>
<p>If a professor is not responding to emails take that information to the Freshman Dean immediately.</p>