What are my chances at Fordham with a 1.8 GPA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Fordham University
1

<p>Brace yourselves... What you're about to see may shock you.</p>

<p>GPA: 1.8
ACT: 17 (taking SAT next month)
I was selected as a Your Choice Applicant, for whatever reason, so that slightly increases my chances of admission. The Your Choice Application is a streamlined application for students that Fordham is interested in. Does anyone else know about this?</p>

<p>African-American/Asian/Native American mix
Female
A state very far from NY </p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<p>Varsity Debate team: 10th, 11th, 12th
Mock Trial Atttorney: 10th, 11th, 12th
Academic Decathlon Captain: 11th, 12th
DECA: VP, 11th, President, 12th
... and a whole bunch of other stuff I don't feel like typing out right now. Several leadership positions. Most of my clubs are academic, Several awards (local and state level), TONS of community service.</p>

<p>Excellent essay explaining my grades (homelessness, father's death, etc.). It was edited by my English teacher.</p>

<p>Superb letter of recommendation from my Adv. English teacher. It speaks very highly of me.</p>

<p>Given that I was chosen as a Your Choice applicant, and they sent me emails almost every week urging me to apply, saying "I think you'd be a great fit here at Fordham," "I am looking forward to hearing from you especially," "I'm very interested in seeing your application," etc. along with waving my application fee.. What do you think my chances are?</p>

<p>To begin with, I never even planned on applying to Fordham (even though it's always been my #1 choice) because of how low my grades are, but when they sent me that email and letter in the mail I became ecstatic! In fact, nearly in tears. It's a dream come true. Does the Your Choice application mean I'm in? That means they want ME, right?</p>

<p>I already sent my application. I called earlier today and they said it should be in the mail any day now... I won't be getting any sleep tonight :p</p>

<p>Thanks for the help!</p>

2

<p>sorry chances do not look good. good luck.</p>

3

<p>It sounds like you’re excited about being accepted to a college but are you interested in actually being in college? I mean the academics? Because you certainly weren’t interested in academics in high school.</p>

4

<p>I agree…Fordham doesn’t seem to be much of an academic fit for you. I hope you have considered other match schools. Nevertheless, good luck with your decision! If you’re accepted, just put in the hard work because you can’t go wrong with that kind of a degree!</p>

5

<p>The Your Choice application doesn’t mean Fordham is interested in you, specifically. It just means they’ve gotten your name from somewhere. I’m sure you’re a wonderful, smart candidate, but I think Fordham is too much of a reach for you.</p>

6

<p>If you do get accepted to Fordham you may go into serious academic shock. Their middle 50% for the ACT is 27-30 and their average GPA is 3.7.</p>

<p>[Class</a> Profile](<a href=“http://www.fordham.edu/admissions/undergraduate_admiss/applying/class_profile_28473.asp]Class”>http://www.fordham.edu/admissions/undergraduate_admiss/applying/class_profile_28473.asp)</p>

<p>I understand where you’re coming from and that you explained the low grades which will help. But with a 17 on your ACT and a 1.8 GPA I think you’d be better of with a couple of years in a junior college covering basics, then transfer to a 4 year college.</p>

7

<p>How sad. A cruel hoax, it appears. While Fordham does take chances on URM’s and from difficult situations, I don’t think you will one of them. Could we be wrong? Yes. But if you came, would you be happy? Would you thrive? Hmmmmm…big concerns there. </p>

<p>My strong recommendation is that you go to community college and get your self off to a good start. Work really hard and strive for success…your life depends on it. Make academics your ONLY focus for one year, perhaps two in community college and see how you do. Then if you succeed there, transfer to a four year college.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you. Life has given you some terrible circumstances, but you can lift yourself up, its all up to you. Focus on your future and not your past.</p>

8

<p>Thanks everyone. </p>

<p>Would a particular talent or ability increase my chances?</p>

<p>My English teacher, who wrote the Rec letter described my writing skills as extraordinary and he uses my work as examples for his Creative Writing and English classes. I also sent some of my original work with my application. For my major I filled in Liberal Arts, but indicated that I plan to focus in Creative Writing. (LC campus)</p>

<p>If they are impressed with my work, will that increase my chances of acceptance despite my academic faults?</p>

<p>As far as Fordham not being an academic fit for me, I would strongly disagree. My father’s death and homeless situations effected my grades dramatically. My father died two days into my freshman year of high school and I lost focus, but in middle school I made straight A’s and received several awards for Academic Excellence. I think Fordham is a perfect fit for me, and just the right place for the fresh start I need.</p>

9

<p>Also, I know some schools have programs for incoming freshmen that are basically academic probation, but with friendlier names that they admit students in under. Does Fordham have this? …</p>

10

<p>Some, my sister gets tons of emails from Fordham (and other schools but mostly from Fordham) because she checked the box on the PSAT that it was ok for her to receive brochures, pamphlets and info material. She also gets stuff via snail mail. She gets a kick that everything says “YOU’RE THE ONE” but knows that it’s all part of marketing which some schools can afford more than others.</p>

11

<p>Ok, Petiza, no offense, but you didn’t answer any of my questions…</p>

12

<p>Somegirl:</p>

<p>Fordham will give your application a complete review. If you have special circumstances explaining your situation, it will get more than a cursory review…</p>

<p>could you turn your life around? Yes. Should you try like the dickens to get on with your life and prove yourself? Yes. </p>

<p>But you should also have some common sense about your situation. Schools arent required to admit you just because of your unfortunate situation (which I cannot prove or disprove and take at face value). Do they have compassion? Of course they do. But they also have kids with 3.2 gpas’ and SAT’s on the bubble (1150) and what do they do with them? Take you and reject them? Is that fair? </p>

<p>Go ahead and apply. (I know its past the deadline and you likely already did so). If you are homeless, whose computer are you using to access this website?</p>

<p>But brace yourself.</p>

<p>I know for a fact that LaSalle has a special program for people like you and they admit them a month early and help them get acclimated so their chances of success in college are vastly improved. I think they have rolling admissions. Try them.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

13

<p>If you can afford the application, you should definitely try since no one can say for sure that you will or won’t get in. Still, I would definitely apply somewhere else too, just because you should never apply to only one (really selective) college regardless of your stats. Your background will help, but I honestly can’t say how much since there are undoubtedly people who have faced similar struggles but have different qualifications applying to the same college.</p>

14

<p>ghostbuster: I’m not homeless anymore, although I was during both my freshman and sophomore years. I have other situations I explained in my essay; personal issues that I would prefer not to post on CC. Why the heck would I lie about being homeless? Besides, the proof is in my financial aid application. “Proof” that I was homeless and come from an economically disadvantaged home… Ridiculous! Beyond that, why would I waste my time coming on CC to lie? How would that help me? If I were going to lie about anything, it would have been my GPA.</p>

<p>I am using the family computer right now, if that’s alright with you.</p>

<p>Jahaba: The Your Choice application fee was waived, so I didn’t have to pay anything. Thanks for the suggestion.</p>

15

<p>No one told me… Do individual talents/abilities help in Fordham admissions?</p>

16

<p>

</p>

<p>True, but you might have to pay for SAT / ACT scores (although in your case you probably can get that waived) and transcripts. I don’t know if Fordham requires the CSS too,a lso from collegeboard.com.</p>

17

<p>I already applied. My school sent the transcripts for free. I took the ACT in September and the scores were automatically sent to them. My school payed for the ACT. I called Fordham and they said my application is complete.</p>

18

<p>Still, no one has answered me… Do individual talents/abilities help in Fordham admissions?</p>

19

<p>As far as talents, I think being an opera singer or a ballerina or a great musician might be of help, but they expect everyone be a decent writer.</p>

<p>As far as the Your Choice app, I have a feeling they are using that to boost the # of apps they get so they can appear to be more selective. My brother’s friend got one this year- he never had any interest in Fordham, but since it was free, his parents made him send in the app. He had stats well within their upper middle range- he was deferred. This bugged him, since they kind of invited him to apply. So don’t read too much into the fact they they sent you one- it’s not a guarantee.</p>

20

<p>I don’t mean to brag or come off as full of myself, but in all honesty, my writing skills are significantly more than decent. I would send you a poem I wrote so you can see for yourself if you sent me your Facebook (if you have one) info. I don’t feel comfortable posting things on CC. Too public.</p>