<p>THe programs I am referring to have to do with speakers and the the like, not classes, but for MY D that is what she is interested in.</p>
<p>when you look at the schools in the consortium, it is impressive, and the fact that they accept those Fordham students into those programs, and classes shows that Fordham indeed is respected by those institutions for the caliber of student</p>
<p>yes, it is grad school, I understand that, it shows that Fordham is taken seriously in that "realm" along with Columbia, Yale, Penn, NYU< Princeton, etc</p>
<p>Fordham is (currently) #4 on Twin 2's list; <em>I</em> want to know, just how bad is the neighborhood? This is coming from someone who doesn't even own a key which would lock the door! We have literally no crime (2 really ugly dogs though) and this mother is nervous.</p>
<p>fencer....</p>
<p>My son was offered a NMF scholarship from Fordham and he really wanted to go. The area is not good, but they do spend $ on security and the campus (Rose Hills) is fenced. We didn't like the dorm situation - some seemed pretty dingy. This school does seem to be "rising" in rankings. </p>
<p>My son is also not "street savvy" so that was another factor in not sending him there. He would definitely be a target for crime (He doesn't "look around and pay attention" while walking). We live in a low crime area so he's just not "clued-in" as to what to be careful of). </p>
<p>If your Twin 2 is the "self-sufficient" and "can take care of herself" type, then go for a visit and check it out. Is your D a NMF? If so, she'll get full tuition.</p>
<p>S is fairly aware and could undoubtedly take care of himself, but I am worried, as his mother. I want to discourage him from this school because it is my idea that he won't be able to goof around outside at night, as can my S at Hillsdale in rural Michigan. While all NYC would be there at his disposal, all NYC would be there at his disposal! (if that makes sense) </p>
<p>Did you see evidence there of a drug problem? I am not quite so naive to think that only schools in cities have drugs & heavy drinking, but if there is an attitude of acceptance, or turning a blind eye to a problem, I'll be fairly reluctant to send my child there (I think NYU turns an institutional blind eye to the world around them sometimes). Anyway, it is just in the back of my mind. </p>
<p>As far as merit aid, we are awaiting award.</p>
<p>fencersmother- as far as I know drugs aren't widespread at fordham. a friend goes there and says it happens but is pretty hush-hush. fordham is pretty strict about drinking, but of course that happens too. most parties are off-campus, so it's not like your son will be forced to drink, or he has to be around it.</p>
<p>um, the campus is about as safe as you can imagine, it is totally enclosed, there is security</p>
<p>to each his own I guess, but my D was teling me about going into manhattan, seeing a show, going to a dance club, etc, </p>
<p>All street savvy is isnot doing stupid stuff, going to bad areas, and not look for trouble</p>
<p>Goof around? Whatl like hang out in the park at midnight? As a 19 year old?</p>
<p>Sorry, but as a citygirlsmom, I must defend cities= sure some bad neighborhoods, but also some pretty amazing stuff to see and do besides just hanging around on the corner</p>
<p>fencersmother,
I'm a Fordham alum, and my son is a sophomore there now (Rose Hill). He grew up in the Virginia suburbs, and he's adjusted just fine to life in The Bronx. He goes into Manhattan just about every weekend -- either via Metro North or Ram Van. Sometimes he'll take the subway, but only when he's w/ a larger group and is sure he won't be coming back late at night.</p>
<p>This topic has been discussed quite a bit on previous threads. If you do a search of the forum archives for the past year, you'll find every thread that's been discussed. You can find the search box if you scroll down to the bottom of CC's Fordham Forum page -- just request all topics for the past year. It will be worth your while to read many of the discussions -- not just those about security.</p>
<p>Fordham is a very safe campus. As he would be in any city, your son should travel in groups when he's off campus and not make himself a target. It's not that hard!! :) Fordham kids aren't afraid to go off campus, especially to the adjacent Arthur Ave. area (Little Italy), where all the restaurants and bars are. Not that my son goes to the bars.... :)</p>
<p>You really need to visit the campus before you decide. The head of Fordham's security is a retired Capt. from the NYCPD. Can't do much better than that! Many of his security team are also retired NYPD, and they have a very good relationship with the local NYPD precinct. He'll give you the complete run down of security procedures if you go to an accepted students open house. You'll come away certain your child's safety is a top priority!</p>
<p>Yes, stuff happens. Stuff happens everywhere! No campus or location will ever be one hundred percent safe. Most of the crime on Fordham's campus is, unfortunately, theft (ipods, laptops, etc) by other Fordham students. It's tough, though not impossible, for people who don't belong to get on to the campus. Guards are posted 24 hours at every entrance point, and they check ids. (This was not the case when we took d to visit William & Mary this summer, which left me a bit disturbed. Anyone can get on that campus anytime. Same thing with Syracuse). Also, Fordham is a smaller campus (84 acres, I believe) so it's easier to control access and patrol the grounds.</p>
<p>I'll be happy to answer any more questions!</p>
<p>Oh, thank you all for your impressions and words of advice and wisdom. I think that I think my kids are more naive than they really are (maybe it's that <em>I</em> am that naive!). I talked it over with Twin2 today and he is fine with the area (which he saw this summer). He just said the same things you have mentioned - travel in groups, don't make yourself a target, etc. As for hanging out in the park at night, that's what <em>I</em> did !!! I thought it was so swell being in a town after growing up on a farm. Boy howdy, in our town now we are burgeoning with over 6,000 residents! Call the city planners!</p>
<p>I'm considering Fordham for my son and I came upon this thread.</p>
<p>The idea expressed by some that Emory is a better school than Fordham because of the rankings is the sort of thing a young person might think.</p>
<p>I work in finance in NYC and I know for a fact that the Wall Street banks and law firms are filled with highly successful grads of Fordham College, Law School and Business School. In contrast, I can think of only a handful of people on Wall Street that went to Emory (or Furman or Wake Forest, etc). </p>
<p>Now I know that making a gazillion bucks on Wall Street is not everyone's definition of success, but someone wanting to make money after graduation would be well served by attending one of the schools at Fordham University. </p>
<p>Someone who wants to work after graduation in Atlanta would probably be better served by a Southern school. And certainly, the Wall Street firms cast a wide net to recruit these days so a determined kid certainly could make the trek north. But don't make the mistake of thinking that anyone with an Ivy League bias (and there are lots of people like that on Wall Street) are going to be any more impressed with a degree from Emory than one from Fordham.</p>
<p>Amen to that!</p>
<p>very true.</p>
<p>Hey everyone,
I'm a Fordham Student who transferred here from a few different schools, including the Fashion Institute of Technology and UVM.<br>
I can tell you that Fordham has a beautiful campus, great faculty and really friendly people going here. The Bronx is a little on the sketchy side, but Fordham Security is really helpful- if you are ever in trouble they will leave campus and come get you. Even if you are just lost somewhere in the Bronx, and cant get back to campus. They also run a van outside of the D train at night so that you don't have to walk on Fordham road.<br>
The core curriculum is really not a big deal. I'm talking core classes right now, and they are all very interesting. There is a lot of reading involved with them though.<br>
I should tell you that I am not a Catholic, and that I am not even religious at all. I grew up with one atheist parent & one agnostic parent. Religion is prevalent on campus, but not in a negative manner. It isn't a matter of "become a catholic or face the hell fires", it's more of a quest for knowledge of the self and understanding of people. The idea that you HAVE to be catholic to go here or you'll feel uncomfortable is just plain wrong.
Fordham has a pretty diverse student population, with very active clubs and stuff like that. It is not by any means a hugely diverse school, but it isn't like it's all one type of person who goes here.<br>
There was a post a while back about how fordham has a vocal pro-life group on campus, and yes they are here. BUT there is also a very vocal Pride Alliance & College Democrats Club. And it should be noted that the pro life people are not the only club that puts an obnoxious amount of posters up around eddies, a lot of clubs do that.
Fordham is by no means a perfect school, the food in the caf is a little on the gnarly side, there is always a line in the bookstore, there are a lot of wealthy kids from westchester, but if you can get over the little stuff you will see that Fordham is a great school.<br>
Fordham may not be ranked within the top 50(yet), but it is certainly getting there. It's a great school, with great people, and really stunning facilities.
I picked Fordham because of it's proximity to new york & because they are one of the few schools that I visited that really values learning. And I don't just mean the faculty, I mean the students.
I hope that I was a little bit of help,
thanks, Caroline</p>
<p>Hi everyone,
I stumbled upon this forum and felt compelled to join the website and ad my two cents. I am graduate of Fordham (both undergrad and one of the graduate schools). I graduated relatively recently, have worked in the finance world, and am now at a top 20 law school. (Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the school other than being a proud alum).
I just wanted to avail myself of any questions you may have. I know this is a particularly stressful time for high school seniors as they begin the admissions process (or should be well underway if they are applying early decision).
Regarding the prestige of Fordham, from the time I entered, the University has undertaken an amazing campaign and capital improvement plan to enhance the quality of education, facilities, and the university experience as a whole. I came to Fordham not because of rankings (I had a 1350 on my SATs and was in the top 5% of my high school class), rather I chose the University because of the congeniality among the students, the Rose Hill campus, and the amazing opportunities afforded to you as a New Yorker. The experience at Fordham is seemingly second to none: you have the feeling of being at small liberal arts college, the benefits of a major research university, and access to all the region has to offer.<br>
I can go on and on, and will offer my views on any questions you may have, so please feel free to post.</p>
<p>I've noticed that many of the posts talk about the students going into the city a lot - going to clubs or shows. I guess I like the idea of my D being able to go to the city, but I don't want it to be every weekend. What is the social life like ON campus? Do the students go to the football or basketball games? Are there many school sponsored activities, or just regular college dorm parties?</p>
<p>Ncram:</p>
<p>Emory is a target school for Goldman, Citi, Houlihan, JPM, Bear, etc. ibanks and a top ugrad program ranked in businessweek and usnews (#4 and #11 respectively). It also means a lot more when these firms make the trip down to Atlanta to recruit just at Emory (ie. a target school). This is the objective data, but I appreciate your subjective input.</p>
<p>dcathoops:</p>
<p>IMHO, it's up to the kid. Back when I was in Fordham (80s), I rarely went into the city on the weekends because I coudn't afford it! Seriously. Plus, I just liked staying on campus with my friends. I never felt like the campus cleared out on the weekends, even back then. There were plenty of campus activities, too, and parties (when the drinking age was still 18).</p>
<p>Today, I have an S who's a soph and he's one of those kids who always seems to head into the City on weekends. He is very into indie music and I think he's been to a concert just about every weekend with a core group of friends who share the same interest. He also has a lot more discretionary income than I was ever able to save! And Fordham sells reduced-price tix to B'way shows and museums for kids who want to go downtown. </p>
<p>Honestly, I tell him I wish he'd stay on campus more because there are lots of activities on campus. Movies, comedy shows, concerts, etc. The football team is good this year and I know attendence is up as a result. The basketball team is also projected to do quite well this season, and those games are always well attended. There's a very active Sixth Man club that charters buses to away games and charge students very little to go.</p>
<p>As far as parties, I'm pretty sure that all occupants of a dorm/suite/apt have to be over 21 if they plan to serve alcohol, and I think they have to have approval. And there is a an active bar/restaurant scene on nearby Arthur Ave. for kids who want to stay local.</p>
<p>Bottom line: whether a kid stays on campus or goes into the city is really a personal choice.</p>
<p>My Freshmen D, who has a superb work ethic and is doing exceptionally well (has been pulled aside by several professors for private commendation), has an active social life on campus. She has been into the city 3 times in approximately 8 weeks of school. They go in large groups. They also have socials/dances that are informal in the dorms. Some dorms are reportedly more party oriented than others. But regardless, students who are academically oriented dont have trouble studying. Its NOT a party school. They attend all the home football games and some plan on attending nearby away games, like Marist College up the Hudson a piece. She reports that students are very tight and look out for each other. As at any college, there will always be kids who are too immature to handle the newfound freedom or kids who just misbehave because they are undisciplined. But on the whole, she reports most kids in her dorm are very well behaved and study more often than not. The work load is not easy. She writes sometimes 3or 4 papers a week. There are TONS of clubs for every interest and social or political persuasion on campus. She says Rose Hill Campus is extremely active and really the center of their life. Granted, she is a freshman and so has only been there since September 2, so her comments are just that of a young neophyte. She also reports that some kids who started off on the wild side have calmed down and are buckling down. Those first 2 or 3 weeks they were being silly and immature.</p>
<p>Like all colleges, alcohol can be found on campus if you are looking for it. My D took a pledge not to drink and sticks by it. In fact her dorm is a no drinking pledge dorm. Most kids are faithful to that pledge but some are just bound and determined to break the rules. But its NOTHING like the stories we are getting from her friends at other colleges, some of them in the south.</p>
<p>She has a new boyfriend....seems like a nice young man and very ambitious. She reports that the vast percentage of boys in her class are bright, well behaved and ambitious.</p>
<p>They often go in large groups over to Little Italy to have dinner and cappuccino...for example when one of their friends has a birthday. THere are more activities on campus than she has time for. She considered trying out for crew but waived that off because of time constraints and she didnt want to rise at 445am every morning! LOL. There is band, orchestral ensembles, school plays, etc. They have been to the Zoo (which is free) and the Botanical Gardens a few times while the weather was nice.</p>
<p>THey seem to get along with other people from other dorms, so its not particularly clicky.....though there is a natural affinity to hang with the friends in your own dorm...dance with the one who brung ya so to speak.</p>
<p>She also reports that the reviews of the food service on Princeton Review are dead wrong. The food is fine. Lots of choices.</p>
<p>a telltale sign of someone who is not adjusting too well is a kid who is needy and calls home ten times a day just to talk or who calls old friends from high school on the cellphone all the time or who uses facebook to ping old high school friends at other colleges 24/7...beyond the usual and normal curiousity. My D has not done that. She has made so many new friends that she really enjoys, and she is so busy and she is having so much fun that she really doesnt have time to live in the past. (I know some of her friends at other schools are really acting like they are still in high school.) Maybe she is a little more mature, maybe she was ready to move on, maybe its just that Fordham has been a really good fit for her.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>My D is similar to friedoka's, except for one thing</p>
<p>My D goes into Manhattan at least twice a week- usually over the weekend- went to a jazz club and then for the BEST burgers ever, and for shopping</p>
<p>She was antzy one Friday, so searched around the dorm and found someone to go with her to the movies</p>
<p>She is REALLY busy on campus, but wants to take advantage of Manhattan and going off campus while the weather is decent</p>
<p>Her experiences are similar to Friedoka's D. when it comes to other students, etc.</p>
<p>I would definitely have to say that there is not a mass exodus of kids to the city on weekends. There is always stuff going on around campus that you could spend the whole semester without going there. I had some friends who by senior year still weren't all that acclamated with the subway system. The best advice I have for any incoming freshman is to be open to everyone---make new friends, be active in clubs, etc.</p>