<p>Could someone give an update on how the social life and school spirit are at Fordham? I have read some old threads, but wonder if there has been any change this year. One complaint the came up in old threads is that the college seems to assume students make use of NYC and as a result there are not a lot of planned activities on campus and the few that are there are not well attended.</p>
<p>Any hope of RH being an active campus with lots to do there...the city being a side bonus?</p>
<p>Any thoughts? I would assume RH would be more active than LC, but the complaints of old threads were directed at RH quite often.</p>
<p>There are plenty of activities on the RH campus, but I would be hard pressed to say that NYC is a “side benefit.” NYC has everything. Often groups of students will visit different parts of the city together. There are many who like to remain on the Rose Hill campus, however. The city is there, but you have to want to take advantage of it.</p>
<p>I dont mean to sound snarky but if you are asking this question you perhaps dont get it. If you are looking for big state school with huge football stadium and cheerleaders and fraternity or sorority parties, Fordham is not your school. Its an very strong academic school, its Jesuit, its in the city (Borough of the Bronx), its next to the New York Botanical Gardens, its adjacent to the famous Bronx Zoo, its a train ride to anywhere and its the Big Apple. There are opportunities here for everyone, both professional and personal. </p>
<p>Fordham Rose Hill has a football stadium (playing today in the FCS playoffs, btw) and the oldest basketball arena in the NCAA. Fordham has competitive athletics in almost every sport, and then there are club sports and intramural sports. There are no fraternities and sororities (no loss in my books!). You will be plenty busy with your workload, so you wont be wandering around Eddies Parade scratching your head with nothing to do…and if you are…then again, its not the school for you. </p>
<p>School spirit is a matter of opinion and whom you ask. Its not Ohio State. But its not a small Division III school either. There are kids who aren’t into college sports (beats me ???) but there are plenty of rabid Rams on the Fordham campus, believe me. </p>
<p>Its a great mix of academics and athetics/school spirit, and remarkably its in the city…on 90 acres of green lawns, beautiful trees and gothic architecture. </p>
<p>If you want Notre Dame spirit, you have to go to South Bend Indiana for that. ;-)</p>
<p>Finally, my recommendation is you come to Fordham and be a part of building MORE school spirit and becoming a rabid Ram fan. But dont forget your school work!</p>
<p>My child would be coming from quite far with no family in the area. Having NYC right there would be great, but she’d also want a campus that stands alone with things to offer students such as herself (enjoy sports-watching an playing- and good clean fun…and unable to go home for weekends).</p>
<p>She does not need a Notre Dame or Ohio State level school spirit, but some ‘Fordham Pride’ to share with others at games and some campus weekend activities are essential.</p>
<p>On one thread a student mentioned Fordham lacking in student activities on campu, but that may have just been her/his thought?
T</p>
<p>There is plenty to do on campus. And since a high percentage of students are resident students, most of them remain on campus during the weekend, even the kids from nearby Long Island and New Jersey typically stay on campus a lot. Some go home…but my kid’s friends went home only a few times in a semester. </p>
<p>Fordhams football team is in the FCS playoffs. The basketball team is playing well and there really is a lot to do for relaxing and having fun. </p>
<p>There are student clubs, student government, the Ram newspaper, and all sorts of things to do on campus where a student can contribute to the University. There are internships available in the Bronx to give back to community. (Those are highly rewarding, I might add.) </p>
<p>Fordham is NOT a commuter campus, though some students commute and some resident students do go home periodically. An increasing number of students come from all over the country and some from foreign countries. </p>
<p>Adjusting to New York takes time. After the first few weeks, the honeymoon is over and then the weather changes and it can get challenging with school pressures, social pressures, dorm drama and just being in a huge city with a different culture than your own. Been there and done that. We had ups and downs freshman year…big ones. But it all worked out and my kid did extremely well. Adjusting to college life regardless where you go is a big challenge. The work load. The level of work is tougher than than high school. The fact you are in a dorm, close quarters and people can be annoying and insensitive. Its a growing process. </p>
<p>The key is to stay busy and pick good friends with healthy habits. My kid essentially hung with and lived with (in dorms and apartments on campus) the same group of friends…they all had a large group of friends…but the inner circle was basically about 8-10 people and they ALL finished Phi Beta Kappa…all good kids, hard workers and supportive. Still friends today…and yes some are engaged. </p>