<p>friedoka
how did your D do in the rain? Mine loved it!!</p>
<p>Well, Emory is hardly a model for school spirit, but at least the student body is diverse.</p>
<p>^That's quite true, but I was pointing out the fact that Fordham Alum and current students really don't care too much about the direction of the school, or its future (to answer the initial "campus sentiments" question). This is also heavily influenced by the fact that a huge number of students commute, and have no attachment to the school other than taking classes...</p>
<p>This thread has been brought to my attention and given all the posts Ive just read, I thought it necessary to post a reply.</p>
<p>Largely, this forum is a useful one for folks to discuss the University and get some advice from others. Sadly, this has not come close to that ideal as the tone has become rather nasty and personal in nature. Sniping of this kind does little to elevate students search for a good college match. (A process that is already overwrought with opinions not based in fact.)</p>
<p>While Im really not worried about any of the negative comments posted related to our reputation (its strong enough to take the slings and arrows of our critics), I would hate to see some of the statements that are factually inaccurate lead to students being misinformed.</p>
<p>Ill correct these quickly:</p>
<p>School Spirit: In order to be a Div I or I-AA there are attendance minimums schools must meet. Fordham does this with no difficulty. The idea that only 100 students would be watching a football game is just nonsense. We typically average over 4,000 per game. Go RAMS!</p>
<p>Financial Aid: While individual students experiences may vary, over 85% of this years entering freshmen received some type of financial aid or scholarship. On average, 75% of demonstrated financial need is met by our financial aid program (this only includes government loans. So, the statements about most students receiving little aid and big loans just does not reflect the facts.</p>
<p>Commuters: We do have a vibrant commuter population. At Rose Hill, this typically is only about 20% of the population. At Lincoln Center, it is closer to 50%. University wide, 22% commute. Is that a large portion of the student body? Fordham remains committed to serving students in the 5 boroughs of NYC. For many of these students, commuting to college is an affordable option.</p>
<p>Role of Religion at Fordham: Yes, Fordham is a Jesuit Catholic college. That will mean that well expect students to confront issues of ethics, morality and spirituality within the classroom and community. But, a hallmark of Jesuit education is the welcoming of a diversity of voices to the conversation. Over 40% of students at Fordham are not Catholic and we deeply desire their input and value their faith traditions. To say Fordham is not a place of progressive thought is simply and totally inaccurate. To intimate that non-Catholic students will not feel comfortable at Fordham is not reflective of the experiences thousands of students live every day at our University.</p>
<p>So, let the record stand corrected. And, with sincere hope, this conversation end.</p>
<p>Peter Farrell
Director of Admission
<a href="mailto:pefarrell@fordham.edu">pefarrell@fordham.edu</a></p>
<p>Thank you for clearing that up, Peter. I've been following this discussion closely. </p>
<p>I have some questions I'd like to ask you about the LC campus, could I perhaps email you?</p>
<p>It's very refreshing to see the director of admissions for ANY college, let alone Fordham posting on CC. Wow.</p>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to reply to this thread, Mr Farrell.</p>
<p>I'll address a couple of points you made</p>
<p>Re: Religion -
By your own numbers, at least 60% of fordham's student body is catholic, which makes sense considering that it's a catholic university. I'm pretty sure that the actual percentage of the student body being catholic is quite a bit higher.</p>
<p>Does Fordham issue mandatory surveys of the religious preferences of all of its students? I certainly never received one to fill out...</p>
<p>I'll put this in perspective: When the university officially supports and advertises pro-life discussions/forums on campus, and does not leave room for an opposing point of view to be presented at the same time, you know that religion plays a very strong role in campus life. </p>
<p>There were many posters openly posted along Eddie's Parade a couple of years ago (and last year, as well) rallying against same-sex marriage. This is *** quite*** the hallmark of a progressive, open minded, institution. Apparently, everyone thought this was ok to do, twice...</p>
<p>Re: Financial Aid - </p>
<p>Meeting 75% of [fordham's calculated] need (including loans) still means that there is still 25% left for the student to cough up,* in addition to their EFC*; This is not world-class financial aid, as others were saying. Fordham does not offer loan replacement grants, loan caps, or super-cheap/free tuition to low income students, for example.</p>
<p>Example - I pay 1/4 (25%) of what I paid to attend Fordham, as a transfer nonetheless, at Emory. In addition, I also have no loans - which at Fordham totaled more than 14,000 a year.</p>
<p>Fordham is a fine institution, which is great on its own. The only time there'll be a problem on this forum is when people [or if, worse yet, the school] tries to make Fordham appear to be something that it absolutely is not.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>As an Alumni I follow the postings of this site occasionally and was truely shocked to see the level of malice this Greg poster appears to be showing towards Fordham. From the looks of his postings it would appear as if he has some hidden agenda that is slowly taking shape with each subsequent post. Unfortunately he is providing a lot of misinformation to potential students and parents seeking information for their college age kids, which may be his intent. However per an earlier post, I would suggest that we all ignore this individual with his hidden agenda.</p>
<p>Lets hype our Alma Mater!! We are proud to be Fordham Alums!!!</p>
<p>Go Rams !!!!</p>
<p>Actually Greg's information is probably the most relevant since he has been a student at Fordham most recently. He has used objective data to state the facts (eg. % of commuters, % of Catholic students, financial aid insight, etc.). Perhaps this data may deter some prospective students, but the purpose of this forum is to provide all views of the school, not just the positives. Fordham can censor data and put itself in the best light possible without recourse in its own recruitment (all schools do this of course), but not here.</p>
<p>Actually I would like a response to what greg ster posted - the pro life agenda and the gay intolerance. I think its relevant to the application process. Also I find the "new member" postings suspect.</p>
<p>I for one don't take anything gregster says seriouslly, why should I? Not what not transferable says either</p>
<p>two emory students coming here to put down Fordham, why? </p>
<p>And someone put up POSTERS, the gall, in America, people posted signs</p>
<p>As a pro choice person, I have no issue with, gasp, signs</p>
<p>And I am pro choice and it is A CATHOLIC SCHOOL for heavens sake, you know that going in</p>
<p>My Ds are pro choice as well and disagree with many people in that regard, not just the Pope</p>
<p>We also are anti death penalty, should they avoid a campus in Texas then?</p>
<p>I found a group that ster might be referring to- not my cup of tea, mind you, don't agree with this group, but these these schools have had forums as well....</p>
<p>Berkely
Rutgers
Harvard
Stanford
Yale</p>
<p>maybe this isn't what he is talking about, but even if not, Fordham aint alone</p>
<p>Greg: Thanks for the well wishes. As I'm sure you remember from your own recent experience, these can be anxious times for my daughter as she prepares to take the SATs in the upcoming school year. So much pressure is put on high school kids these days. When I was in high school, things were far less pressurized.</p>
<p>Enjoy your experience at Emory but remember that being at Emory is an opportunity -- a great opportunity at that -- but it is not an end in itself.</p>
<p>I just don't think that there's any reason for you to come to this board and bash an excellent school. Fordham graduates do well professionally and personally and I know that because I know many of them.</p>
<p>As I said these are high pressure times for high school kids like my daughter. She doesn't need to come to this board and see posts from others reinforcing the misperception that her life is over if she doesn't get into NYU or Columbia, especially after I pretty much convinced that she should consider Fordham as an great alternative for her. </p>
<p>Ok?</p>
<p>The only reason I continue to post is that it annoys me that people think the sole purpose of this message board is meant to glorify a school. Obviously this is not the case, but it is your right to defend. So far the best rebuttals have been from the director and greg. Others turn to name calling and try to discredit any non-positive remarks as "bashing."</p>
<p>
evermind, just not wirth my time</p>
<p>I am glad that Mr. Peter Ferrell came on the board to clarify the misstatements and set the record straight. It really irks me when people spend their time bashing (what else would anyone call it?). Mr. Ferrell made a poignant comment, that Fordham is strong enough to take the slings and arrows of its critics. Absolutely. And we as either alumnae, friends, family, students of Fordham are proud enough to stand tall for Fordham and defend it. The Fordham family is indeed big and strong and school spirit is running very high.</p>
<p>I did not begin my commentary on this board with the intent to hurt or insult any person. But I changed my tone a bit after reading the comments of our foes on another Fordham thread that were beyond the pale of decency, attacking the integrity of Fordham students and their intellectual prowess. And as I said, I would never denigrate another college or university, certainly for its academic standing or putative ranking.</p>
<p>If you go on ANY thread from any of the colleges on College Confidential and start throwing rocks, you will undoubtedly attract a lot of people who will come to the aid of their beloved institution. And so they should.</p>
<p>I regret this "conversation" took the path that it did, as the initial poster asked a genuine question and I gave him my best answer from what I know or have gleaned from reading, or anecdotal commentary. But my opinions are my opinions. I do not work for Fordham or represent Fordham. And I always encourage students and parents to visit each college campus they are interested in and to attend the school where they have the best fit....as that, utlimately, is what the college also wants....a student body that is happy, flourishes and advances the cause of higher learning in a civilized manner.</p>
<p>I dont think anything I said was over the line of civility. But in the chance that Mr. Greg and Mr. Not-Transferable are offended, I will offer my hand in peace. But I still ask them to cease and desist.</p>
<p>And I ask them not to misrepresent my comments. I did not at any time say that Fordham should be Ivy League today in some ethereal academic context. I repeated a story that was told to me, that when the Ivy League was formed...it was formed for the purposes of athletic competition among highly selective and prestigious schools...all of them private schools....in the Northeast, and at THAT time, there was still a very serious social stigma against Roman Catholics and Roman Catholic colleges. I also stated that Fr. McShane has a very ambitious (and I believe positive and attainable) goal of making Fordham the number one Catholic college in the United States by the year 2016. A ten year plan, if you will. To call his plan, "bogus", was beyond the pale in my opinion. Fr. McShane is a man of immense character, integrity, ambition and skill. I dont believe anything he says or does is "bogus." And I will do my part to help him attain his objective, in a civilized and professional manner....by spreading the POSITIVE word about Fordham University and all it has to offer prospective students and families.</p>
<p>Because THIS FORDHAM FAMILY IS A PROUD FORDHAM FAMILY and I make no apologies to anyone for that.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Now, finito la comedia!</p>
<p>FriedOkra,</p>
<p>Well said....</p>
<p>Thanks. I am far from a perfect human being. Just feisty!</p>
<p>Hiawatha:</p>
<p>I've never (ever) said/implied that not getting into NYU or Columbia will mean the end of the world. I've only (and frequently) said, in order to balance out some of the posters here, that getting into Fordham is not in the same realm as getting into Harvard, and that the notion that Fordham is flawless and grossly undervalued is patently false.</p>
<p>Your D will do well at whichever school she attends, and if she chooses Fordham, she should be well informed in advance that her experience at Fordham will not be identical to NYU or Columbia; I certainly wish I knew this in advance before I decided to go to Fordham instead of forking out 37,000 to go to NYU. Thinking outside of the box is something that I absolutely hated not being able to do while I was a Fordham student...</p>
<p>@ citygirlsmom</p>
<p>How many times will your posts have to be edited/deleted by the mods before you stop personally attacking me? I have yet to sling mud at you or your Daughter...</p>
<p>If you'd like to feel better about your $40,000 investment by attacking me and my posts, it would be nice if at the very least there was some evidence behind it, other than "I don't like what you're saying, greg".</p>
<p>I've provided lots of specific points behind each of my posts and since you think homophobia/hate speech is OK, as evidenced by your "It's just posters being put up" reply, then you should be ok at Rose Hill.</p>
<p>Regarding the 10 year plan to become the #1 catholic college:</p>
<p>Fordham's most recent endowment figures are at around $372 million. Boston college increased its endowment by more than that amount, within the past year.</p>
<p>To think that this plan is attainable in 10 years is to suggest that all other [catholic] universities will stop advancing and wait for Fordham to play catch-up. Realistic? I think not, but it never hurts to try.</p>