<p>Hey guys</p>
<p>I was just wondering which school you think is better for a Finance major. My choices right now are NYU, Fordham, PSU... I won't even ask about NYU because I'm pretty sure I don't have a chance in hell of getting there.</p>
<p>So I would really just like to go to Fordham. The only downside I see is the cost.</p>
<p>I've heard a lot of stuff about admissions there... Some people say it's one of the most competitive schools out there and some say it's just an average school. I don't know how hard it is to get into their business school.</p>
<p>I really screwed up my freshman year... REALLY screwed up. I got a 3.4 final GPA. I took all Honors courses (highest possible in my school) and got a C in Geometry and Biology, a B in Spanish. A's in everything else.</p>
<p>So, I just wanted your thoughts on the Fordham Business school admissions and if Penn State is a better school.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<hr>
<p>Oh yeah... How far can connections get you with college? My uncle is the former co-owner of Faded Glory clothing company, and my aunt is also a big business person. Again, just wondering.</p>
<p>A 3.4 isn’t horrible for Fordham if it’s your freshman GPA, especially if you were taking the harder courses. You just have to make sure that you do excellent in your sophomore and junior years, and try to get it up to around a 3.6-3.7 average. You sound like you know you can do better in school, so don’t doubt yourself and work hard. </p>
<p>The business program at Fordham is excellent, especially because it has top-notch internships and job placement. Fordham is also great because you still take a liberal arts core, which helps with overall critical thinking and writing skills and gives you a wider perspective of the world. I’m not familiar with Penn State’s business program, so I can’t help you with comparisons.</p>
<p>If money is an issue, you should probably look at CUNY Baruch. (for residents–5000 per year) I do not know how the finance program in Baruch is ranked, but the accounting is ranked much higher than Fordham’s. I know many students who terned down NYU, Columbia, Fordham for Baruch.</p>
<p>I can’t seem to find any admissions info for CUNY, but I’ve heard about its business program.</p>
<p>By the way, the 3.4 is my weighted GPA. I’m not sure if that’s what you meant. My unweighted is 3.0 :'(</p>
<p>I know I can do better next year. I’m once again taking the max load of classes I can take at my school. If I get all A’s, I can get a 4.6 (weighted of course). I’m not sure if I can get that though, but I’m definitely not getting any C’s. So then my accumulated GPA would be a 4.</p>
<p>Also, since you seem to be very knowledgeable about Fordham, do you know how generous they are with scholarships/financial aid? It’s over $50,000/year!!!</p>
<p>On the same note, does being a serious Roman Catholic give you any advantage. I know students there are from all religious backgrounds, but just wondering.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>You will not have an advantage on your application because you are Roman Catholic. Admissions really does not care what religion an applicant practices.</p>
<p>Here’s the official website on merit scholarships: [Grants</a> and Scholarships – Fordham University](<a href=“http://69.7.74.46/section6/section79/index.html]Grants”>http://69.7.74.46/section6/section79/index.html)</p>
<p>I’m lucky to have a full tuition scholarship because I was a National Merit Scholar. (If you don’t know about that, it’s based on your PSAT score, which you take at the beginning of your junior year. You get an automatic scholarship if you become a semifinalist, which they don’t tell you about until the beginning of your senior year.) I believe that most financial aid is based off of federal grants-- you definitely have to fill out your FAFSA. You might also have to take out loans. Honestly, I believe Fordham’s financial aid is only average, comparable to other schools of its caliber. All in all, they are VERY generous with merit aid, but they do an average job in financial aid.</p>
<p>Okay thanks for the great info.</p>
<p>I was looking at the National Merit Scholarship… Only difference is I’m going to be taking the PSAT this October (beginning of my Sophomore year). </p>
<p>Is there a certain score you need to get the scholarship? Or is it a top percentage? What did you get on your PSAT? </p>
<p>Thanks a lot.</p>