Making the Most Out of Fordham's 135 Clubs

Are you the kind of high school student who is an all-season varsity athlete, NHS scholar, after school volunteer at a local nursing home, school newspaper editor-in-chief, president of both French Club and Painting With Watercolors Club, and an active member of the Chess Club and Grecian Club even though you’re 100% Irish?

If you can relate, have no fear, most Fordham students were also stupidly over-committed in high school too.

Being involved in so much isn’t necessarily a bad thing- it usually means that you’re passionate about a lot of things and have a wide array of interests, which is an extremely respectable quality to have. It also helps you master the art of time management, and allows you to meet new people with similar interests as you.

However, being over-committed, especially in college, can also be a curse. If you take on too much, you not only overwhelm yourself, but also lose the opportunity to really immerse yourself in what you’re involved in. College can be a big adjustment for some people, so between classes, homework, internships, having fun with friends, exploring New York City, and getting enough sleep, it’s important to remember to only join things you think you will have time for.

That being said, I will now tell you that Fordham has 135 clubs and organizations for undergrads. That’s everything ranging from the Finance Society, to club sports teams, to Fordham Experimental Theatre Group to the Paranormal Society. You can pretty much find an organization geared toward anything you’re interested in; but if not, you can always submit a proposal to start something new!

At the beginning of every semester Fordham hosts a fair (in the fall around Eddies and in the spring in McGinley 2nd) to showcase all of the different clubs. It’s literally like a scene out of Pitch Perfect- the performance groups are singing and dancing at you, and every group in between is offering you candy and trying to get you to sign up for their organizations. 

Fall Club Fair Around Eddies

My advice to freshmen would be to get a feel for all of the clubs first. Talk to the people representing the club at the fair, take tons of brochures and flyers and free food, and do a little bit of research. Whatever you do, don’t sign up for a club right on the spot because if you end up not joining, you’ll still get tons of emails from them until you graduate anyway. After you’ve thought about it and figured out which clubs’ schedules fit into your schedule, join one to four of them. Join some that you know you’re passionate about, and maybe one that you’re curious about. You might learn something new, and meet different people. Also, be active in your clubs! Attend meetings, volunteer to work events, and maybe even run for an e-board position. Getting involved is such a great way to meet great people and truly feel like a part of the Fordham community. 

Expressions Dance Alliance at the Fall 2014 Club Fair

For a full list of the clubs and organizations offered on campus, click here!

Weekend Update

Marisa Diaz

This past weekend, I went pumpkin and apple picking at Wilken’s Fruit and Fir Farm in Yorktown Heights, NY. After finding the perfect pumpkin and picking a peck of apples, my family and I waited on line for an hour just to get a dozen of the delicious fresh baked cider donuts. It definitely got me ready for the fall season!

A beautiful day for pumpkin picking

Abby Collins

Visiting the Central Perk replica in SoHo

This weekend I traveled down to SoHo with a couple of my friends from Fordham. Getting to downtown Manhattan from Fordham’s Rose Hill campus is incredibly easy! We took the Metro North down to Grand Central and then took the subway the rest of the way. We went to go see the replica of Central Perk that sprung up recently in honor of the 20th anniversary of the first episode of “Friends”! The line was about two hours long but it was worth it in the end to see the iconic yellow couch that was in almost every episode of the show! After wrapping up in Central Perk, we strolled around the streets of SoHo until we came across a large Italian festival that was going on, in honor of San Gennaro. The festival went on for about fifteen blocks, all of which were full of celebration. There was enough food, music, and liveliness to brighten my whole weekend!

Nicole Cruz

On Sunday, Fordham hosted its annual Senior Open House.  Thousands of prospective students and their families attended various events throughout the day to learn more about Fordham.  As part of the Rose Hill Society, I helped in getting the families where they needed to be and showing them around campus.  We had a lot of fun!

Future Fordham Rams

Go Rams!

Nicole Chiuchiolo

Fordham was bustling with activity this weekend! There was so much going on. On Friday night my friends and I had a blast at Ram Town. Ram Town is the kickoff to the basketball season where they introduce players and give out free food and prizes! On Saturday I attended the Theatrical Outreach Program’s production of “Our Town” in Collins Auditorium. Not only was it an amazing student produced and student directed show, it was also free! On Sunday I had a blast at Senior Open House! I was able to give tours, interact with prospective students, and hang out with the Fordham Ram!

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!

Free Stuff for Creative Students

If you're reading our blog right now you must be a) a high school student and b) interested in Fordham and thus, New York City. If this is you, and you're a musician, and you like free tickets to see amazing Broadway performances, listen up.
Here's the deal: WFUV (the NPR-affiliate radio station on the Rose Hill Campus) is pairing with the musical Memphis (a fabulous Broadway show featuring recent Fordham grads Ephraim Sykes, FCLC ’07) and Vivian Nixon, FCLC ’06) to give young musicians a chance to showcase their talents and experience a Broadway show.

They're inviting high school vocal and instrumental groups (you!) to submit a short video performing a song that captures the rich musical heritage of Memphis, Tennessee. The winning group will receive a block of tickets to see 'Memphis' on Wednesday, January 26th at The Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th Street in NYC.
Sound cool? Learn more here