Hello everyone. I’m a junior from the D.C area with a 3.6 uw, and a 3.95 w gpa from a rigorous school district. I also have a 2030, and a 31. I also have a pretty impressive golf résumé and would love to play for the Rams. I plan to major in finance with a minor in a business or a social science related field. Is the business program at Fordham really that well respected? Does Fordham offer a good college experience? Is the food really that bad? I could probably get great financial aid through golf (ya it’s like that), but is it really worth the price tag? Is the campus safe? Do my scores make for a good Fordham student? Does the business school offer good internship opportunities? Please excuse an grammatical errors as it has been a long day. Thank you.
I can’t answer all of your questions but I can opine on a few:
- Fordham is a well-respected school, generally considered a top-60(ish) university. I imagine their business-related programs are quite good -- both for the teaching and for all the internship opportunities in New York City.
- If they are willing to give you a full or partial scholarship, that just makes Fordham more attractive. (and gives it an edge over schools that can't or won't match the Fordham FA package).
- I think that if you show real interest in your correspondence and write good essays, you'll have a pretty good chance of being accepted. Adding the potential golf hook likely puts you in for sure -- if the golf offer is solid.
FYI – Business-related majors work quite well with Sociology and Psychology classes because the latter two fields help marketers to better understand people and populations. And if you know your customer, it’s easier to understand what he or she values in a product.
I grew up in the upper-Midwest, as did my dad… and he would always mention Fordham when he was counseling me about schools. That was 20 years ago, but just this past weekend the subject of colleges came up… and he again mentioned Fordham (along with perhaps his favorite school – aside from our alma mater, UW-Madison – Haverford. He likes it because it was founded by Quakers and because it’s reallllly good. hehe). I believe he likes Fordham because it’s well respected in spite of being somewhat overshadowed by Columbia and NYU, giving not-quite-superstar students access to a high-quality education in a great city. And because Vince Lombardi was a Ram… one of the Red Blocks of Granite or whatever.
Thank you, if only I was good enough at golf to go to uw-madison.
Being a Fordham Ram student athlete has been an unbelievably great experience for our DS. Fordham’s NCAA Athletic teams are at the Rose Hill Campus in the Bronx. Fordham is a ‘Hogwarts’ style campus- old buildings, clock-tower, expansive lawns – and one step outside the gate you are in the bustle of NYC. The experience for a student, and for a student- athlete at Fordham is excellent. As for the cost, that depends on your situation. Fordham is expensive (tuition alone is $46,120 this year). Fordham is a Jesuit college, and cares about the Jesuit ideals of service to others. There is absolutely no need to be Catholic, Christian, or have any religious affiliation. Almost all students graduate in four years. It is possible to double major or double minor and still graduate in four years.
Gabelli School of Business has a good reputation, and its internship opportunities are extensive. Fordham has a reputation (well earned) that the school has resisted grade inflation. It is not automatic and easy to get A’s. As with most things in life, success depends on hard work. Business classes have been the least time-demanding of DS’s classes. The core curriculum is serious – although Gabelli students don’t have all the same requirements that Rose Hill College students do. The Core is a large part of what makes a Fordham education so valuable. Fordham has one of the highest internship rates - being in NYC makes the choices wide and varied!
Fordham Rose Hill is a true “classic college experience.” The pictures you see of students on the sun-drenched Edwards Parade (affectionately called “Eddie’s”) grass, in groups playing Frisbee or studying, is real. It happens every sunny day. The campus is remarkably safe and secure. There seems to be almost no problem with theft among students. NYC - To get to Manhattan, you can take the Metro North Train, located a couple yards from the gate. That takes you to Grand Central. There is also the subway a few blocks away, and a bus system that runs right outside the gates. New York is changing, as all cities are, and is not as safe as it was just a couple years ago. It’s a college in the Big Apple, so use common sense off campus. On-campus it is quiet and calm.
Fordham runs the RamVan system, making trips from Lincoln Center at Columbus Circle to Rose hill and the reverse, every half hour or more often. Security will also come and pick you up at night from the Fordham area if you need a ride.
The area around Fordham is the Little Italy area known as Arthur Avenue – one of the gems of NYC. Get to know the shopkeepers (there are at least a dozen bakeries, many delis, three fresh-cheese stores, and so much more - it’s an amazing area). Stay off dark streets late at night, and be sensible (whether you are in a small or large city). Living on-campus has made it easier to get good grades, too.
There are advisors for athletes to help them with the issues specific to athletes (time management, eligibility, etc.) Athletes have access to tutoring and printing, as well as the training facilities. Check NCAA rules- since you are a junior, you can contact the coach and they can reply. After July 1, they are allowed to contact you in person. The rules vary by sport. If you want to play for Fordham (or any college) - initiate the contact!!
As for the food –we have found each time we go visit that it is very good. You can eat freshly-prepared, healthy meals, or processed carbs – it’s your choice. There is always fresh fruit, salad bars, soups, whole grains, pasta pizza, sandwiches, roast chicken, pulled pork, ribs, omelets, wraps, sushi, dairy products, coffee, tea, fresh fruit smoothies… the list goes on and on. The unlimited food plan with the many choices, including ‘meal-swaps’ at other campus restaurants, and DCBs (a ‘debit-card’ like system that is included in the meal plan) gives students lots of options. There are lots of choices for proteins, and food is plentiful – an important consideration for an athlete. The food servers are some wonderful people –ever-hungry athletes get to know them! There are well over a hundred choices for each meal. I believe the complaints about the food is a sign of students’ limited knowledge of ‘real life’. They have arrived here from home- where for the majority, their parents provided meals. When they have to pay for and prepare all their food, they will miss the buffet of fresh food and multiple selections every day. (It’s hard to have 20-30 different fruits and vegetables each day at home- not to mention that they are already sliced/peeled/steamed/cooked at Fordham for the students.) Many colleges no longer have buffet style cafeterias – which can mean better presentation and more expensive ingredients, but besides limiting choice, that can be very costly for athletes who need thousands of calories a day. The caf is one of the major social places on campus. And remember, you are going to college for the education – not the food 
It is a fantastic university - good luck on your decision!
I don’t go to fordham but I live right by the campus and spend a lot of time there for sporting events. From what I hear, their business program is the best program in the school. The campus itself is very safe. I’ve spent a lot of time there and even as a freshman in high school I never felt scared or unsafe. The area around it could be a little scary if you’re not used to it. After a few years of going there, I feel safer in the neighborhood. It’s not the best hangout but to go get food or starbucks (or go to bars that are predominantly fordham students) I personally think its fine. Another pro is that if you don’t feel safe in the area, there is a train station practically on campus that runs through westchester up to white plains and also goes the other way to grand central station.
You ask some good questions and I will try my best to answer them:
The business school (Gabelli) is really good. They have a state-of-the-art building that has all the updated bells and whistles. It used to be a dorm but it became Gabelli. My daughter had a workshop there and she saw first hand how amazing the facilities are there. She’s not Gabelli, but her mouth just hung open when she saw their facilities. As FordhamMom says above, the internships are amazing. The alumni network is great. Fordham alum look for Fordham grads. So it’s good to network and make yourself known.
As for the food, depending on the timing, the food choices are slim during the “peak” times. My daughter is currently in an apartment on campus so she does her own cooking but she will go to Rams Deli off campus occasionally and Arthur Avenue for other things. If I can tell you how many times I’ve heard my friends say to me “If I had known you were going to Arthur Avenue I would have given you a shopping list!” Yes, it’s that good.
Since you are from the DC area, you would be surprised to know that Fordham is used as Georgetown in the CBS show Madam Secretary.
I can’t add much, but most of what FordhamMom says pretty much sums it all up. Good luck!