The Early Action Deadline is November 1st!

Colorful folders make organizing application material way more fun!

It's seems like just yesterday that I was completing my application for Fordham University...but it was actually 4 years ago! Yikes! Time really does fly by. So for all of you prospective students, relish every moment! For me, applying to college was the most exciting time of my high school career. Organizing and crafting every piece of my application was like putting one foot toward my future.
Now I am jumping toward my future by applying to graduate schools and fellowship opportunities for post-graduation!! This means writing another personal statement, and taking another standardized test, and making sure I get all my letters of recommendation. Fordham has been such a great help in getting me ready for grad school. I have taken practice free GRE tests rights on campus, and my advisors have been continuously critiquing my personal statement. While applications seems tedious now, I know that pursuing further education and fellowship experience will make me the ideal candidate for competitive job positions in the future. I hope to pursue an MA in Public Policy which will, hopefully, allow me to work within legislative government, or just let me leap right into the White House ;) Wish me luck! And good luck to prospective students! May the odds be every in your favor. 

Almost as daunting as the SAT!

Just a few reminders to myself.

THE EARLY ACTION DEADLINE FOR FORDHAM UNIVERSITY IS THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST! 

Completing your application for early action is a non-binding commitment, but a good way for the admissions staff to get a jump on holistically reviewing your material. It shows your interest in Fordham and allows for an early admission decision. You still have until May 1st, the national decision deadline, to make your final decision.

You can follow Fordham admissions on Instagram: @fordhamadmissions
and on Twitter: @fordham_admis
and don't forget to join Varsity Outreach: apps.varsityoutreach.com/fordham

These platforms will allow you to get the most up-to-date information on Fordham and the admissions process, as well as allow you to ask questions to current students!

Back in the Swing

The Fordham Campuses are quickly filling up with students once again as classes quickly approach. Here at the Rose Hill campus, students are looking forward to more than just classes. On campus there are already a variety of activities going on. Many students are moving in early to prepare for the incoming freshmen and to prepare for the university clubs and sports. And just as quickly as students are moving in, posters are already going up to advertise upcoming events like the Annual President’s Ball. 

Poster advertising the upcoming President's Ball on September 12th.

I am a senior with a double major in political science and women’s studies. I just moved into Campbell Hall on Wednesday. My on-campus apartment is located on the sixth floor of the building and I have a great panoramic view of the Bronx. I am lucky enough to be spending the next nine months living with my three best friends before we all graduate! It goes by so fast! I moved in earlier than the rest of my peers to participate in training for the Rose Hill Society. RHS consists of about 180 volunteer student ambassadors who become experts on the ins-and-outs of Fordham in order to share our knowledge with prospective students. At our training, the society hears presentations from a variety of departments on campus. We are always up-to-date on the most recent changes and campus happening.

 

My single room in Campbell Hall!

Along with the Rose Hill Society ambassadors, students who are New Student Orientation leaders, student athletes, and residential assistants are back on campus preparing for the upcoming year. Even with all of the orientations going on, students still seem to make time to hang out of Eddie’s.  I even had a free moment to check out the new freshmen dorm building, Loyola Hall. The building has been completed renovated in order to house about 120 incoming freshmen. It is BEAUTIFUL! The first floor study lounge is very Hogwarts-esque.

It is great to be back on campus and to be surrounded by my friends and peers once again. The Fordham community is outstanding and it feels good to have everyone back on campus. It feels like home. And what better to kick off the new school year than with the first Fordham football game on Saturday?! Fordham will be versing Saint Francis University this Saturday at home. Hopefully they can do even better than their 12-2 (wins-losses) record from last year! It is good to get back into the swing of things.

Students lounging on Eddie's in between orientation and training!

Spring Preview 2014

The Rose Hill campus felt a little cramped on Sunday, April 13, as thousands of admitted students and their family members flocked to the Bronx for the annual Spring Preview. With the May 1 deadline looming on the horizon, the Spring Preview provided the perfect opportunity for the high school seniors who have yet to make a deposit at their university of choice to get answers to any last-minute questions.

Rose Hill tour guides ready to go!

          There was a full schedule planned for all who attended, beginning with campus tours. Led by Rose Hill Society Ambassadors, the tours included a peak at a classroom, a freshman dormitory, the Rose Hill Gymnasium, the Gabelli School of Business at Hughes Hall, and the McGinley Center. Fordham tour guides love giving tours during Spring Preview because the attendees have already been admitted, which means they are already enthusiastic about Fordham and have lots of questions!

The Welcome Address

Father McShane, the president of Fordham, gave his legendary Welcome Address at noon in the packed Rose Hill Gym, reminding the audience that "New York is the capital of the world and the greatest city on the face of the earth," something you never forget if you attend Fordham! The speech was followed by the Faculty, Administrators, and Student Club Fair and Lunch in the Lombardi Center Fieldhouse, where representatives from the deans’ offices, various academic departments, and student organizations were on call to answer questions.

Academic presentations by professors in a variety of fields began at 2 pm. Some of the more popular lectures included "Harry Potter and Philosophy," given by Dr. Jude Jones of the philosophy department, and "Gourmet Chemistry: The Elements of Chocolate," by Dr. Amy Balija of the chemistry department.

Shannon and I are seniors, so this was our last Spring Preview!

The afternoon concluded with more tours, as well as student life panels. Each prospective student was assigned to a different classroom, where groups of Rose Hill Ambassadors were ready to answer tough questions and to talk about their own Fordham experiences. This was an especially poignant moment for me, since I am a senior and would give anything to be back in high school with four years at Fordham ahead of me! All in all, Spring Preview was, once again, a success. It was a gorgeous day, and the students, parents, and tour guides were in high spirits. Check out the hashtag #Fordham4Me to see more photos!

Two tour guides take a quick pic on Eddie's with their tour group!

Confirmed by Eggplant Rollatini: Why and How I Chose Fordham

Spring Preview 2012 awaiting my eggplant 

I chose Fordham for the eggplant rollatini. The exact moment I knew Fordham was for me I was sitting in Amelia’s authentic Italian restaurant on Arthur Avenue just outside campus. I was a senior in high school, still deliberating between Fordham and Boston College, and my family and I decided to venture off campus for dinner after attending Fordham’s Spring Preview event for admitted students. Well, let’s just say that ordering that eggplant rollatini was ultimately the best decision of my life so far.

Students playing on Eddie's green

Now, the deliciousness and abundance of off campus food was certainly not my only factor in choosing Fordham to be my home for the following four years- it simply confirmed my decision. Since I did not know what I wanted to major in, I knew that a Jesuit school would give me the opportunity to take a wide variety of classes to help me figure out my interests and strengths. I applied to a variety of Jesuit schools, among others, and visited each campus. I remember being absolutely struck by the beauty of Fordham’s campus and I loved that students were outside lounging on the grass on such a beautiful day. I really sensed a community. Two years later as I walk to class everyday, I always look around me and think how beautiful Fordham’s campus is and how lucky I am to be a part of this community.

Sunday morning run in Central Park

Another important factor that contributed to my choice to come to Fordham is its location in New York City. I have lived in suburbia Connecticut my but the “hustle and bustle” of city life has always appealed to me. What makes Fordham so special is that it really is the best of two worlds- providing a green campus and community to live in, and also providing close access to New York City. This makes Fordham truly a unique university. Having New York City right at my fingertips has lead to so many opportunities and experiences that I would not have been able to find elsewhere. For example, I intern two days a week on 7^th avenue at GroupM ESP, a sports marketing company. I’m not sure how many college sophomores have the opportunity to have such real work experience during the school year. Additionally, I have attended multiple Broadway shoes, went to many concerts, and ate at some truly amazing restaurants- all just a subway ride away.

One of my favorite weekend activities is to go for a run either right outside campus in the Botanical Gardens, or take the Ram Van down to Lincoln Center and go for a run in Central Park. Each time I do this, I realize how beautiful New York City is and how unique it is that I am a part of not only Fordham’s community, but also a part of New York City’s vast community. 

Now, would I have chosen Fordham without the most delicious mozzarella laden eggplant dish that I have ever tasted? Yes, but the deliciousness certainly confirmed my good vibes about Fordham, New York City, and my day at the Spring Preview. Palumbo’s, the bakery we went to after dinner for cannolis, might have also have been contributing factor….

Did I forget about the desserts???

Fordham Fall Preview for High School Juniors!

Taylor Engdahl, Jill Diehl and I ready to give tours!

Just one day after the Fordham Football team defeated Bucknell in a thrilling game that came down to the last two seconds and a blocked field goal attempt, the Rose Hill Campus welcomed over 600 high school juniors and their families for the Fall Preview Open House. The day began with check-in at 10 where prospective students and their families were welcomed by our admission counselors and volunteer student ambassadors. After receiving a Fordham drawstring backpack (still one of my favorite pieces of Fordham gear!), itinerary, and campus maps, students were invited to join a tour led by one of our eager tour guides! Throughout the day, students were also encouraged to capture their favorite memories and share them on Instagram using #fordhamfp.

Campus Tours!

As students toured the Rose Hill campus they heard all about life at Fordham from the history of Keating Hall, which was completed during the Great Depression in 1936, to some of the differences in the core curriculum requirements of Fordham College Rose Hill and the Gabelli School of Business. Students were also able to see one of the four freshman residence halls and a presentation from the Office of Residential Life which included the opportunity to see a dorm room, information about our freshman integrated learning communities, the role of Resident Assistants, security on campus, and the free laundry services available in each hall (that’s right, no quarters necessary for laundry at Fordham!) Morning tours concluded at McGinley Center, our main student center on the Rose Hill campus. Inside McGinley you can find the gym, post office, cafeteria, Campus Ministry Office, IT Services, Career Services, Office of Multicultural Affairs and of course, the University Bookstore!

College Presentations!

Promptly at noon, juniors interested in the Fordham College at Rose Hill (our liberal arts college) were invited into the Rose Hill Gym for a college presentation on Academic Excellence and Outstanding Opportunities at FCRH. Presenters Michael Latham, Dean of FCRH, and Robert Parmach, Assistant Dean for Freshmen, spoke about the value of a liberal arts education in helping students to realize how they can use their talents and abilities to have a positive and progressive impact on society. In addition, the advising program for FCRH students and some internship opportunities that current and former FCRH students have had were discussed. Concurrently, students interested in the Gabelli School of Business were invited to the Keating First Auditorium for a presentation on the Transformative Business Education. Presenters Donna Rapaccioli, Dean of GSB, and Harry Kavros, Associate Dean of GSB, spoke about the value of a liberal arts core for students planning to obtain an undergraduate degree in business. The presenters stressed the emphasis Fordham places on doing business to help the community and greater society (a reflection of the Jesuit value of being men and women for others) while also giving students some helpful tips on what to look for in the college search process (NO WORRIES IF YOU MISSED IT! Be sure to look at what classes are included in the core curriculum, what electives students have the opportunity to take, where the university is located, and what opportunities students are pursuing after obtaining their degree to help find a program that is the right fit for you!)

Student Ambassadors at Lunch!

After learning a bit about each of Fordham’s different schools, students and families were invited to enjoy lunch catered by Fordham’s current food contractor, Sodexo, in the McGinley Center. While our guests enjoyed sandwiches, chips, fruit, freshly baked cookies (my personal favorite!) and refreshments, student ambassadors sat at each table to help students and families get to know a little more about life as a Fordham student. In preparing for this Fall Preview Open House, the student ambassadors were thrilled to have an opportunity to interact with our prospective students outside of giving tours!

After lunch, students and families were invited to attend one of three academic experience sessions. In the basement of Hughes Hall (home of the Gabelli School of Business) students heard from Gabelli faculty and administrators about some of the major options in GSB including accounting, finance, marketing, information systems, and management. In the this floor auditorium of Keating Hall students heard from Dean Parmach about the Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts of Fordham College at Rose Hill including the English, philosophy, theology, history, modern languages and literatures, political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, and communications majors. Finally, in the first floor auditorium of Keating Hall students gathered to hear from deans and advisors of the science and pre-health programs including the biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, math, and psychology majors.

A beautiful day for Fall Preview!

The last presentation of the day included two workshops; one focused on financial aid and one focused on the college admissions process (HELPFUL HINTS: be sure to devote time to your personal essay, challenge yourself with the advanced/college prep classes offered by your high school, get involved in extracurricular activities, and provide strong letters of recommendation!). Students and families also had the option to join in the last campus tour for the day which departed at 3:15pm.

All in all, it was a wonderful day at Rose Hill! While this concludes the large admissions events for the fall semester (daily tours for the fall semester will conclude at the end of November), we are already looking forward to some of our spring admissions events! Be sure to check out our Instagram and #fordhamfp to see more than 90 pictures posted from the Fall Preview event! Best of luck to all juniors during this exciting time as you begin your college search process!

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!