<p>I just started looking at St. John's University in Queens and have a few questions. It'd be great if I could get some knowledgeable opinions or responses from people who have had experience with the university. I'm looking to major in marketing and maybe do something with art/design as a minor.</p>
<p>Some of my concerns are the percentage of commuters (I'd like to reside on campus and want to be sure there will always be activity and it won't be empty on the weekends) and the internet capabilities (can you connect to the internet in the dorm rooms?). Also, does anyone have information about financial aid? That's another major concern.</p>
<p>I really like the location of the campus, but any opinions on the safety of it would be great.
I visited Fordham and really liked its campus, how does St. John's compare?</p>
<p>Any other information you have would be great! Thanks!</p>
<p>I went to grad school @ St. John’s, and just graduated in May.</p>
<p>I don’t know what the percentage of commuters is, but it is a lot. I have heard residential students complain about that. But I also know of residential students who had a great campus experience. It isn’t empty on weekends, but it certainly is not as busy.</p>
<p>The financial aid is not the best, but not the worst either. As a grad student, I was not eligible for most aid, so I can address that personally. The college board site states they meet on average 71% of need.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about the neighborhood Fordham is in, but I know I would regularly get emails from campus safety about students having issues off campus. My younger D lived a block and a half from Brooklyn College for a year and did ok. NYC is just a place where no matter where you are you are going to have to be very careful after dark. There are no subways near the campus - you would have to catch buses (and the college provides a shuttle to the Jamaica station.</p>
<p>Their financial aid is not that great. They do have merit aid, though, so if your stats are good enough, you can put yourself in the running for a full ride - Presidential Scholarships, I believe, are essentially full rides.</p>
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<p>There is a campus life, to be sure, but St. John’s is a heavily commuter-oriented school.</p>
<p>In the end, I did not select St. John’s, but it is a good institution with many opportunities for motivated students, like the Honors Program. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Fordham is a stronger academic school. St. Johns enjoys a good reputation in New York. </p>
<p>Fordham is a safe campus. As the previous poster said, New York after dark you must be careful anywhere. At Fordham most students go outside the gated community in groups. Little Italy is very safe, but dont wander around alone, drunk at night. </p>
<p>St. Johns is much more commuter oriented than Fordham. Fordham has about 75 percent resident students. </p>
<p>I am biased, certainly, but I would select Fordham over St. Johns.</p>
<p>Even I graduated from a college in NYC, I don’t know St. John’s very well. However, I am aware of their 6 year pharmacy program is well regarded and they have a Far Eastern Study department is very strong. The Taiwan government spent a lot of money for that and the person behind it is a major political supporter of Taiwan.</p>
<p>agreed kwu. I dont know if their merit aid is better than Fordham or not. Fordham is extremely selective. They had 27,000 applications last year! Merit aid at Fordham generally (but not always) requires you score 1400 or higher (1600 basis). </p>
<p>Fordham is Jesuit, that speaks for itself. St. John’s is Vincentian Fathers. St. John’s has a better basketball team by far. LOL. Fordham has football. Fordham plays its games on campus, and St. Johns uses MSG. </p>
<p>Fordham is adjacent to the New York Botanical Gardens and Bronx Zoo. Its a short Metro North Train ride into Grand Central Station. St. John’s its a subway ride from Jamaica/Queens into the city. </p>
<p>Fordham is about 5,000 undergrads on its main campus in the Bronx. St. John’s is considerably larger. </p>
<p>Fordham is increasingly a national university and St. Johns is still very much regional and draws heavily from the New York metro area. </p>
<p>Fordham is to St. Johns what Columbia is to Fordham. Just my perception.</p>
<p>I don’t bash ANY school for any reason. Its bad form, and every school serves its constituents with a mission. I applaud that, even if its Division II or III or NAIA.</p>