Why I Chose Fordham

One of the most frequently asked questions I get as I give tours on campus is, "Why did YOU choose Fordham?"  As the decision deadline approaches rapidly, the answer to that question becomes especially important.  I'd like to share with you my honest answer to that question, which I share with all of my tour groups as well.

First of all, I should admit that I am from nearby Long Island and couldn't wait to move away from the suburbs I've known my entire life.  The thought of going to school somewhere brand new to me like Boston or Washington, D.C. was exciting.  I applied to Fordham mostly to appease my mom, who didn't want to see me flee so far away.  She was more excited that I was when I received my acceptance letter.

The famed Keating Hall in fall at Rose Hill!

I finally visited Fordham barely two weeks before the decision deadline--right about now, three years ago!  It was miserably rainy outside: we were quite literally trekking through torrential downpour as we toured campus.  Despite getting soaked from my hair down to my socks, I left campus with the biggest smile on my face.

I felt something at Fordham I hadn't felt at any other college I had visited.  I met some of the nicest people that day and felt welcomed with open arms.  There was a positive atmosphere and a strong sense of community on Fordham's campus that I hadn't noticed at any of the many other schools I visited.  From spending one rainy day at Fordham, I was able to picture myself there for the next four years.

A snapshot from Columbus Circle, minutes from our Lincoln Center Campus

Three years later, I still absolutely love living on this sprawling green campus at Rose Hill in a community that is so welcoming and supportive.  Though New York was not a new city to me, it has been incredibly eye-opening to continuing exploring and discovering all that NYC has to offer.  I've worked two internships in Manhattan, visited museums, attended the ballet, and seen Broadway shows. As Fordham students, we are so lucky to have the best of both worlds here--a classic college campus in one of the greatest cities in the world.

As I finish my junior year at Fordham, I am so thankful for that fateful rainy day three years ago.  Now I couldn't picture my life any other way.

I love the community at Fordham and being a member of Rose Hill's classical ballet group The Jetés.  Here we are posing outside the Metropolitan Opera in NYC!

Views: The Empire State Building

View of the ESB from the Flatiron Building.

There is no better symbol to represent New York City than one of the tallest buildings making up the skyline itself: the Empire State Building. People come from all over to both see the Empire State Building from below and climb it to see the view of Manhattan from 102 stories. When you're a Fordham student, there's no shortage on amount of times you'll get to see the Empire State Building, but it heeds the same amazing feeling each time - and from each place!

View of the ESB from MSG - unreal.

The Flatiron District, located surrounding 23rd Street, is home to Shake Shack, Argo Tea, and the Flatiron Building itself.  But, it also provides a stellar view of the Empire State Building.  Eating your Shake Shack while gazing up at one of the most famous buildings in the world is an experience that never gets old.

One of New York's other major selling points is Madison Square Garden, home to so many performances over the years by Billy Joel, Radiohead, Justin Bieber... pretty much anyone you can name! Going to a concert or a Ranger game at Madison Square Garden is somewhat of a right of passage for living in New York, and the view that hits you as soon as you exit a Madison Square Garden event is unparalleled.

There are so many other great places to see the Empire State Building, whether up close or far away, but my personal favorite view will always be from right here in O'Hare Hall on the Rose Hill Campus.  I always have to take a moment when I walk by the 5th Floor Lounge to appreciate how lucky I am to go to Fordham, so close to so much opportunity.

NYC view from O'Hare Hall at Fordham Rose Hill.

Rose Hill & Lincoln Center: Making the Best of Both Worlds

Fordham University is comprised of two undergraduate campuses: one at Rose Hill in the Bronx, and one at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Taking classes at two very different campuses may seem like a daunting task, but Fordham makes it quite easy by providing students with transportation through its Ram Vans.

Ram Van at the Lincoln Center campus

Students have access to both campuses thanks to the Ram Van service. Ram Vans run between both campuses every half hour. Seats for each Ram Van can be reserved online ahead of time. One can purchase tickets for the Ram Van at both campuses: in the front lobby at Lincoln Center, and in the Ram Van office next to O'Hare Hall at Rose Hill. However, if you are registered for a class at either campus, you will receive two free Ram Van passes for each day that you have class.

As a New Media & Digital Design major, most of my classes are based out of Lincoln Center's campus. Thanks to the Ram Van service, it is possible for me to live on the Rose Hill campus while also fulfilling my course requirements at the Lincoln Center campus.

Ram Van at Rose Hill

Ram Vans are not only for students taking classes. They are also an easy and relatively cheap way to get into Manhattan. A Ram Van ticket will run you $3, which is only a little more than a subway ticket and significantly cheaper than a Metro North ticket! Ram Vans make it possible for students based out of Lincoln Center to catch a football game on the Rose Hill campus, and for students based out of Rose Hill to see a performance at the Lincoln Center campus. Because of the Ram Van, Fordham students really do get the best of both worlds. 

Baseball in the Bronx

Blog by Michelle Dastur

As exciting as it would’ve been to be at Game 7 of the world series last night, I’m still content with the game I did get to go to this year, thanks to CAB at Fordham. CAB stands for “Campus Activities Board” and gives students many opportunities on and off campus, throughout the year. Once a month they hold raffles where students show their student ID, receive a raffle ticket, and are entered for a chance to win up to two tickets to one of 3 or 4 exciting events. These events are usually a broadway show, comedy show, tickets to the Top of the Rock or Empire state building, or tickets to various baseball and basketball games.

The golden tickets!

The September raffle during the end of the first month of school granted me $20 tickets to the Yankees vs. Sox game on September 27th. As a Sox fan, this was especially exciting to me, because I knew this would be one of the last games Big Papi would ever play at Yankee Stadium. When I called my parents to tell them, they were even more excited than I was, and

ended up telling many of their friends what section I was sitting in and to watch out for me.

Being a student at Fordham, we’re lucky enough to be able to get virtually anywhere with multiple transportation options only a few minutes off campus. So at 6pm on that warm September evening, my roommate and I made the quick trip up Fordham Road and hopped on the subway (the D train), towards Yankee stadium. In a short 15 minutes (during which we saw other Fordham students and fellow Sox fans) we were at the stadium!

Not a bad view, eh?

Though the seats were inexpensive thanks to CAB, the view was not. We had great seats in the 200s section, close to the jumbotron, and close enough where we could still sort of make out the names on the backs of the players’ jerseys. Though it was pretty weird to be a Sox fan in a sea of Yankees fans, we somehow landed ourselves in a section with other Sox fans, and it wasn’t as weird to cheer when everyone else booed. When Big Papi came out, we cheered as loud as we could every time.One of those times even cost me a ketchup stain on my favorite Sox shirt, but it was entirely worth it.

Biggest Sox fans ever!

We even got to see a marriage proposal, waiting in line for our famed Nathan’s hot dogs and cheese fries! This became a proposal much of the US would come to see that night and over the next couple of days, after the man proposing dropped the ring mid proposal. We watched with wide eyes as everyone in his section managed to pull their weight and someone luckily found the ring. They were even interviewed on Ellen the next day!

Though this had to be the one game the Sox lost at Yankee stadium, it was still a great night for baseball and a great night to be a Sox fan. I’m so glad I’ll get to say I saw one of Big Papi’s last games at Yankee Stadium, and got to cheer loud enough for my friends and family back home.  

Here's a link to the video of the couple on Ellen!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKqOouC_sBw