Why I Became a Fordham Ram

1. Strong Academic Reputation

One of the reasons why I chose Fordham is that I knew I would be challenged academically. Fordham offers a high-quality education no matter what you come here to study, and it keeps improving: the University moved up in the 2014 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings to 57th for national universities and the Gabelli School of Business moved up to the No. 38 spot in the 2014 Bloomberg Businessweek ranking of U.S. undergraduate business schools. In addition, the core curriculum has allowed me to explore my strengths, weaknesses, interests and dislikes. My core classes have been some of the most intellectually stimulating classes I’ve taken while at Fordham.

 

St. Ignatius statue and Hughes Hall,
home of the Gabelli School of Business

2. Jesuit Tradition

Having attended a Catholic high school, I was interested in attending a Jesuit university because of the Jesuit tradition's strong values. The Jesuit philosophies of cura personalis (“care for the whole person”) and homines pro aliis (“men and women for others”) resonate heavily throughout the Fordham community. Over the last three years at Fordham, I have interacted with professors and administrators who truly care about my potential as both a scholar and a person. Fordham has not only prepared me for a career, but for life. When it comes to the philosophy of “men and women for others,” Fordham offers many community service clubs and volunteer activities. This philosophy is even evident in the way students always hold the door open for one another on campus.

3. Perfect Size

I wanted a school that wasn’t too big but also wasn’t too small. At Fordham, I love how I am able to walk to my classes and always run into familiar faces but, at the same time, I feel that I am constantly meeting new people around campus. The small class size, usually around 25 students, creates an intimate classroom setting. My professors able to know me on a more personal level and my relationships with my peers have lasted beyond the semester and turned into friendships.

4. The Best of Both Worlds

I wanted a campus but also a city nearby. If playing Frisbee on Eddie’s lawn, eating delicious Italian food from Arthur Avenue (“The Little Italy of the Bronx”), spending a day for free in the New York Botanical Garden, or seeing polar bears at the Bronx Zoo aren’t enough for you, New York City is also right in our backyard. New York City provides endless cultural experiences, internship opportunities and so much more.

5. Diversity

I wanted a school that was diverse. At Fordham, I have met people from all across the United States and the globe. While we recognize and appreciate our differences, we also embrace our many similarities.

For those of you who are Admitted Students, I wish you the best of luck with your decision and I hope you choose to join our Fordham “Ramily” this fall!

Why Fordham?

Three years ago, I was in the midst of making the big college decision.  I never had my sights set on one dream school or an ideal program.  I had ideas about what I wanted from my college experience, but I had a lot of trouble deciding which school would actually transform those expectations into realities!

Initially in my college search, I had written off Fordham, because my sister had attended, and, being the headstrong youngest sibling, I didn't want to follow the same collegiate path she took .  Once I looked past my silly worries and allowed my mom to convince me to visit Fordham for a tour, I saw that it had all the things I was looking for in a college experience (and more!).  It was right under my nose the whole time once I was ready to see it!

When attending my sister's graduation from Fordham in 2010, I never expected that she'd be doing the same for me in a few years!

City Life AND Campus Life

One of the few things I was sure of in choosing a school was that I wanted to be in (or near) a city, but I still wanted that traditional campus feeling.  Fordham won me over, for I knew that in 20 minutes I could travel on MetroNorth from bustling midtown Manhattan to the shady respite of the Rose Hill campus.  I'm able to easily travel to the city for concerts, Broadway shows, shopping, meals, and simply to embrace The City That Never Sleeps while still knowing that on a nice, sunny day there's plenty of space on the Rose Hill campus to lay out and read or play frisbee.  Plus, there are tons of opportunities to experience some of the city's best offerings for free or for less through Fordham programs!

Recently took the D Train from Fordham Rd to 34th St. to see an Arctic Monkeys concert at Madison Square Garden

Take the 4 train from Fordham Rd to the Upper East Side & the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Or just stay on campus to enjoy the nice weather

Ability to take a wide range of classes

Since I was unsure of what I wanted to major in, I was always a fan of Fordham's core requirements.  I knew this would enable me to take classes in different disciplines without worrying about falling behind in major requirements by entering my studies without a declared major.  The core helped me realize that I wanted to major in Communication and Media Studies, and my enjoyment of my lower level, core English classes led me to pursue a minor in English.

Arthur Avenue

Last but not least: I wouldn't be telling the whole story if I didn't admit that Arthur Avenue played a large role in my decision to come to Fordham.  I would always look forward to a trip to Tino's with my family and knowing that I could have all that delicious Italian food so close all the time definitely pushed Fordham over the edge!

As cheesy as it sounds, you wind up where you're meant to be.  Best of luck to all making their difficult college decisions!

The Benefits of Living on a Beautiful Campus

It’s midterm time again here at Fordham and this year, I have been particularly swamped. Finals are typically more stressful because they cover a semester’s worth of material. However, I actually prefer finals because they take place in the spring.

If you’ve ever visited Fordham’s campus in the spring, then you already know what I’m talking about. Fordham in the spring is honestly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. The bare branches of winter give way to big, pink blooms, Eddie’s goes from barren to taken over by students playing Frisbee or soccer and the beautiful fountain by Dealy Hall get’s turned on again after its months of hibernation. So even though finals can be difficult, there is beauty everywhere I look and it is so comforting to be able to take my books out on Eddies or even to the Botanical Gardens right across the street.

Midterms, however, don’t have that silver lining. Yes, Keating always looks stunning during the snowfall and my friends and I had an amazing snowball fight this winter. But I miss being able to just unwind somewhere beautiful without freezing in the cold. So last week, as I trudged back to my dorm with only papers and projects to look forward to, I talked about it with my friend who had a similar feeling. However, she suggested that we go visit the blue chapel.

The blue chapel is a chapel tucked away in Keating Hall. My friend and I first stumbled upon it after we finishing a particularly difficult exam our sophomore year. The inside was beautiful, covered in light blue curtains and tan stonewalls, it felt like (however cheesy this sounds) we had gone back in time. We sat and relaxed after our hours of cramming which gave way to some silent prayer and reflection. Soon, we were sitting by the window, looking out over the grand steps of Keating and discussing everything on our minds, from the philosophical to the personal. It remains a favorite time in our friendship that I have never forgotten.

So during this midterm stress season, we are making an effort to visit all the beautiful chapels and rooms tucked away inside Fordham’s beautiful buildings. And there are tons of them. It’s been a fun experience, discovering all sorts of nooks and cranny’s in our school while the winter wind howls outside. I’ve even found my studying to be less stressful, as I sat next to one of the giant, floor to ceiling windows in our library that looks down on the bustling city streets outside. And it is nice knowing that, with a chapel in most of our academic buildings, there is always a place to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Finding Adventure in My Fordham Home

As a senior in high school, a big debate for me was whether or not I wanted to be close to my home in Central Jersey. The adventurer in me said that I must go far, to truly explore myself and push myself into becoming a more mature person. The frightened girl inside me told me that I needed the support of my parents, and a haven close to school for when things got too tough. Eventually, the adventurer won out, which is why I was particularly hesitant to choose Fordham as my final destination. It was only an hour away from my home, in a city that I already knew very well. How on earth could I grow in a place like this? I could not have been proven more wrong.

First, being close to home does not mean that you are weak. Being far from home is also not a bad thing. Choosing your comfort zone is entirely up to you, and will ultimately benefit your personal needs in the best way possible. The great thing about Fordham is that it is in the heart of the city; therefore, all manners of transportation are at the disposal of all its students. Whether your home is a train ride away or a transcontinental flight through JFK, the possibility of getting home when need be is always there.

Second, just because you think that you know New York City well does not mean that there is still more to discover during your time at Fordham. NYC is not just the Manhattan of every Gossip Girl's dream, there are so many places to explore and see. Each time I go into the city, a whole new experience and perspective unfolds. Just when I think I've seen all that the city has to offer, it surprises me again. There are endless possibilities here, if you open your eyes enough to see.

Choosing Fordham is not just about what looks best in terms of academics or residential life. It is a personal experience that you must choose for yourself. Do not second guess what the school has to offer if you think that its advantages are not at the top of your list: it will surprise you. Ultimately, the decision is yours. Though it is my home, and I therefore clearly have a biased view of the wonder that is Fordham University, I truly believe that it can be a home to you too, a place to adventure and find comfort: the haven I thought I'd miss.