President's Open House for High School Seniors!

Fellow blogger Taylor Engdahl and I ready to give tours!

The Rose Hill Gym for Father McShane's speech!

Father McShane greeting students and families

Just yesterday, high school seniors were invited to the Rose Hill Campus for our annual President’s Open House. The day began with check-in at 9 a.m. where students were given Fordham draw-string backpacks, campus maps, and their itinerary! Throughout the day, open house attendees were encouraged to post their pictures to Instagram using #fordhamoh. You can see many pictures from the day on our Fordham Admissions Instagram page! After checking in, families were directed to the tour line where they were greeted by our eager tour guides (all volunteer members of the Rose Hill Society) for a campus tour!

On the tour, students and families were able to walk the grounds of the beautiful Rose Hill campus. In the fall, the changing leaves and the orange, yellow, and red flowers really make the campus look its best! Our tour guides also showed Hughes Hall (home of the Gabelli School of Business), McGinley Center (our student center and home of Career Services, the cafeteria, gym, post office, Fordham IT, Campus Ministry and the bookstore), Walsh Library, and Keating Hall (a central academic building on campus). Finally, students and families were invited into one of the four freshmen residence halls, where they were greeted by members of the Office of Residential Life for a presentation about living on campus.

Students and families were also invited to 11:00 a.m. mass at the University Church before heading to the Rose Hill Gymnasium for President Father McShane’s Welcome Address. Reflecting back on my own visits to Fordham while in high school, Father McShane’s speeches were always a high point of the day! Father McShane began his speech by stating that “the Fordham Football team is the only undefeated Catholic school in the country,” to which the crowd responded with some hoots, hollers and a round of applause!

Our tour guides in action

After meeting Father McShane, lunch was served in the Lombardi Center (named after NFL football coaching legend and Fordham graduate Vince Lombardi!). While enjoying the lunch that was catered by Fordham’s current food contractor, Sodexo, students and families were able to mingle with various clubs and organizations on campus. In attendance were the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Ram Newspaper, the Fordham University Choir, and many more! In true Fordham style, there was also an opportunity for a photo with the Fordham mascot, the Ram!

Following lunch and the club fair, there were academic sessions for both of Fordham’s colleges, the Liberal Arts College at Rose Hill and the Gabelli School of Business. The presentations were led by the Rose Hill and Gabelli Deans who were able to share information about the different major options at Fordham. In Leonard Theater, prospective Gabelli students were even able to hear from a panel of current Fordham students!

The day ended with a presentation about Financial Aid back at the Rose Hill Gym before the last tour for the day departed at 4:15 p.m. All in all, it was a busy but fabulous day on the Rose Hill campus! Our tour guides were so excited to meet prospective students, and our Instagram account had over 250 pictures posted using #fordhamoh! We wish the best of luck to all seniors...don’t forget to enjoy your senior year in the midst of completing your college applications!