Why does Fordham only require interviews for Chinese internationals only?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Fordham University
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<p>I am a Chinese international student, currently living in California. I lived in Manhattan last summer and fell in love with that area. It kind of bothers me that Fordham only requires Chinese international applicants to have a face to face interview. It sounds a little discriminating to me. Does anybody have any idea why they do that?</p>

2

<p>Because of the prevalence of fraud among applicants from china:
<a href=“The China Conundrum - The New York Times”>The China Conundrum - The New York Times;

<p><a href=“Fraud fears rocket as Chinese seek a place at any price | Times Higher Education (THE)”>http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/fraud-fears-rocket-as-chinese-seek-a-place-at-any-price/2004704.article&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“Chinese students found cheating to get into U.S. colleges”>http://money.cnn.com/2014/07/01/pf/college/chinese-students-cheating/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.vericant.com/”>http://www.vericant.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>It may very well be discrimination, but you aren’t an American citizen. If you want an acceptance, you must do what they ask.</p>

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<p>@GMTplus7‌ Why don’t they just interview everybody? It’s not like the majority applicants are international students. It seems so unfair and hurtful for Chinese applicants.</p>

<p>@twoinanddone‌ I know. It’s just so unfair for students who did not cheat. And I kind of feel ashamed thinking about why they want to interview me.</p>

5

<p>

Because many schools have +30,000 applicants and there’s aren’t enough hours in the day to interview them all in the space of a few months. And beside, it’s unnecessary for domestic applicants to verify their English ability.
<a href=“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC6aUDjQYHQ”>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC6aUDjQYHQ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And because there are effective GPA and test-taking security protocols in place in the US.<br>
<a href=“http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/30/world/asia/china-south-korea-sat-test-cheating/”>SAT tests probed for cheating in China, South Korea - CNN;

<p>

No one is forcing applicants in China to apply to US schools. China likes to assert itself as a great global power. Maybe China should work harder to make its own universities and university admissions process more appealing to its citizens.</p>

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<p>This is a difficult topic. First of all, I am not even certain the OP is correct in her assertions. Second, I dont believe Fordham “only interviews” asians, because if there are asian american applicants who are american citizens, I believe they are treated like all other applicants. </p>

<p>I think if Fordham interviews Chinese nationals its because they want to ensure they can truly speak and read and write English, and not use fraudulent means (proxies) to fill out applications. </p>

<p>It would not surprise me that Fordham interviews a lot of foreign nationals. If you cant read, write and speak fluent English you will simply not do well at Fordham. </p>

<p>There are other issues, I have heard anecdotally, but I dont want to go down that path. So lets leave it at that.</p>

<p>To the OP: Take the Opportunity to interview in a very positive light and bring enthusiasm, joy, openmindedness, embracing New York and all that Fordham has to offer, including its Jesuit ethos and ethics. Bring something to Fordham that is special, promise to be involved at Fordham in clubs, events, and ultimately to become a Fordham Ram who gives back to community and gives back to Fordham…and always being an Ambassador for Fordham wherever life takes you.<br>
Good luck.</p>

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<p>I looked online and saw that the interviews are conducted in China with CIEE, a organization that interviews Chinese nationals to help screen applicant’s oral and written communication skills for colleges (not sure who does the interviews for Chinese nationals currently living in the US). The fact that this agency even exists indicates to me that Fordham is not the only school with such a policy. Perhaps you can contact Fordham admissions and see if they would be willing to waive the interview since you are living and going to school in the US (especially if you have been in CA throughout your HS career).</p>

<p>Ultimately, life isn’t always fair. If you do need to interview you can take this policy as a negative and complain or be offended or you can take it as a positive and use it to your advantage. Since you are currently living in CA I’d guess that your English is very good at this point so an interview could serve to remove any doubts from admissions officers and will likely end up as an overall plus for your application. </p>

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<p>@sovereigndebt‌ Yes the OP is correct in her assertion that Chinese international applicants are required to interview.<br>
<a href=“http://www.fordham.edu/info/20542/international_students”>http://www.fordham.edu/info/20542/international_students&lt;/a&gt;
And I want to correct my comment above, apparently the CIEE interviews can be a supplement to an application, but an in person interview is required.</p>

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<p>My roommate is Chinese (international student, first time outside China), and he says it’s to screen for English proficiency and readiness. I don’t know any international students from other countries, so I can’t check with them. I guess Fordham just wants to make sure their international students are ready to succeed here, although I’ll question the effectiveness of that seeing as how many wealthy Chinese students only come here just to be in NYC for four years and barely go to class, but that’s a discussion for another time.</p>

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<p>@GMTplus7‌ Sorry, I meant why they can’t just interview all international students regardless of their citizenship.
I checked. They only have 5% international applicants. That’s not too much compared to other countries.</p>

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<p>@sovereigndebt‌ They only require interviews from “Chinese” international applicants.
<a href=“http://www.fordham.edu/info/20542/international_students”>http://www.fordham.edu/info/20542/international_students&lt;/a&gt;
It’s at the bottom. “In-Person Interviews for Chinese Applicants”.</p>

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<p>Thanks for your advice. I’m not scared by an interview. Just feels discriminated for not having permanent residency and being Chinese :frowning:
@sovereigndebt‌ </p>

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<p>Your situation is a bit unique in being a Chinese national and already living in the United States. As you likely know, their is massive fraud in college applications from some foreign countries where English is not widely spoken, and it is a gross disservice to them ultimately. Fordham is very expensive. They dont provide translators. They want all students to succeed. Ensuring they can read, speak and write proficiently in English is actually not discrimination but supporting them! You should be grateful. Fordham is a fabulous school. Its an academic school. The workload is heavy. Its New York, which is fast paced and highly competitive. </p>

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<p>Hi :slight_smile:
I think the reason only Chinese international applicants are interviewed is that China mandates Chinese (mandarin/Cantonese) as the country’s first language. Chinese internationals are just at a disadvantage when it comes to English because most other international students come from countries where English is a first language, or at least more prevalent.</p>