<p>Thanks @fallenchemist-I didn’t know why they said 5 schools admitted to “falsifying data”-this is why I added the fifth school-I should have dug deeper and included more information I apologize. This gives more of an explanation:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/five-colleges-misreported-data-to-us-news-raising-concerns-about-rankings-reputation/2013/02/06/cb437876-6b17-11e2-af53-7b2b2a7510a8_story.html”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/five-colleges-misreported-data-to-us-news-raising-concerns-about-rankings-reputation/2013/02/06/cb437876-6b17-11e2-af53-7b2b2a7510a8_story.html</a></p>
<p>The article from Vox is pretty much a hatchet job on the school my kid attends I guess I was more concerned with trying to correct a few things regarding that. I assumed the author would have put in the 5th school or if leaving it out said why-which if it was a well researched and accurate piece they would have. </p>
<p>According to this article it’s actually better to outright lie anyway:</p>
<p>"But the worst thing is it might be more ethical for a university to just lie to US News than to climb the rankings through putatively honest means. Putting rankings front and center leads colleges to increase tuition and spend the money on things that have little to do with education, all while encouraging prospective students to apply whom they have no intention of accepting.</p>
<p>At least lying doesn’t actively hurt the students you are trying to educate."</p>
<p>This is truly one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read.</p>
<p>If anyone wants to discuss this further I linked the thread going on in the Northeastern forum about this-I don’t claim to have any deep understanding of how US News ranks or how all the other rankings work-I don’t pay attention to the details of that-I use my own methods to help my children pick the right schools for them. I said before my son picked NEU when it was lower ranked than his other two finalists-I think that’s proof we think they are meaningless. I only commented on this because I know from real life the school is doing real things that impact real students-it isn’t all smoke and mirrors in my opinion.</p>
<p>Back to Fordham-where is the best place to find out everything I can about this school-I want to try and make it a possibility for my daughter! I wouldn’t be concerned about the ranking. they are fun to talk about it is more like a game at this point-but for something no one cares about there is an awful lot of dissection of them. :)</p>
<p>Pepper:</p>
<p>CC is a good place to start discerning schools and find generic information about a school and how it fits for your daughter. There are many opinions on CC and while all are valid, they do often present different perspectives; some from students and some from alumni and some from parents/alumni. But in the end, the best source is the school and going to the campus for visits and orientations. Some schools are a hit for kids and some are not. My kid rejected outright some schools that are higher ranking than Fordham for reasons I wont ever understand except vibe. It happens. </p>
<p>The biggest thing besides student reaction to the happiness factor of existing students, imho, is the relationship between faculty and their students: mentoring, teaching skills, warmth, understanding, and helping them prepare for graduate/professional school (not giving out A’s like halloween candy). Some kids are all about gpa’s…and yes I get that for job interviews, but there has to be meat on the bone, and content behind that grade. Thus the teaching skills are critical. Fordham shines in this area, I believe. My kid had numerous professors who were deeply influential and became either friends or sources for recommendations/mentors. Some were simply so superior they still have an impact on her life. But they were all demanding…helping her hone her skillset in writing. </p>
<p>Thank you @sovereigndebt I know Fordham is an intellectually challenging school and she would welcome that. She intends on pursuing an Accounting degree but likes the core at Fordham she realizes the importance of the humanities. I look forward to the visit!</p>
<p>Bravo! I hope you both enjoy the visit and experience. Its a very special place indeed. Dont be freaked by the environs in the Bronx, assuming you are visiting Rose Hill.</p>
<p>If coming from the south cross over GW Bridge and take the immediate exit at the end of the bridge, Highway 9, The Henry Hudson parkway, north. Go past the Cloisters and Harlem and over the bridge into the Bronx (a small toll bridge). Continue north and exit at Van Cortland Park/Moshulu Parkway. Follow Moshulu Parkway past Lehman College and to the very end at Botanical Gardens. Turn right. Fordham on the immediate Right. By this manner its lovely drive, safe and avoids the I-95 traffic and mess on the Cross Bronx Expressway. </p>
<p>If you are flying into LaGuardia from out of state, you can take a taxi direct to Fordham going over the Triborough Bridge. Or to Grand Central Station, then take the Metro North train from there to Fordham Road, the train stops outside Fordham’s gate. There are subway trains that go to Fordham Road but they stop a lot of places on the way and they drop you off a good jaunt and requires a healthy walk up Fordham Road. No harm, but the metro north train is better. </p>
<p>There is a RamVan service between Rose Hill and Lincoln Center daily on the hour. In case you visit both campuses. Good luck</p>
<p>Thank you-we will be driving from the north probably leaving from a friends house that she tells me is 15 minutes away in a town right outside the city-I will keep you posted! :)</p>
<p>Take the Bronx River Pkwy South to exit 7W. Stay in the right lane, the fringe edges of the Botanical Gardens will be on your right. You will go through a blinking yellow light and then at the next light (there are bus stops there, just take your time and don’t worry) just make the right (don’t go under the tunnel) you will see the parking garage on your left, (as you make the right onto Southern Blvd, just gradually move into the left lane) and make that left at the first light right into Fordham. When you drive onto campus, it is almost surreal. The hustle and bustle of the Bronx is behind you and up ahead are gothic buildings and trees. I still love it when I drive down to see my daughter (or drop stuff off). </p>