Gabelli Business Core: Integrated Project

Consulting Cup Trophy

As a senior in the Gabelli School of Business, I am finishing up with my core and major classes this year. One of the key components of students in the business school is the integrated core curriculum. During sophomore through senior years, students are required to take a one-credit class called Integrated Project. This class is especially integrated into all the core business classes during sophomore year as a competition. Students use the knowledge gained throughout their classes to compete in the "Consulting Cup." Students are assigned groups and a company to research, analyze, and present a solution to a current issue the company is facing. Everyone is competing with each other for a cash prize and title of champions.

Consulting Cup winners my sophomore year, 2013

The junior year Integrated Project focuses a lot on financial modeling and also allows students to perfect their excel skills. While there isn't a full competition at the end, it also involves a final group project based on completing a full financial analysis and discounted cash flow of a company.

Simulation program

 Currently I am enrolled in the Senior Year IP. This class focuses on simulation learning. It is a great final class because it applies a lot of concepts we have learned over the past four years into real-life scenarios. Some concepts we have focused on are risk, return on investment, and marketing strategies. The simulations also allow students to make educated decisions that managements of companies have to make every day.

Sample prize!

Each week, we are given a case to read before class and then once we arrive there is a special program we login to in order to start our simulation. We have to input different financial decisions based off of industry and background information generated from the case and program. We see our results for each financial period in real time, as well as how the competitors are doing. Our professor also makes it a fun and friendly competition by giving away prizes to the top four students who generate the most revenue in each simulation!

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!

On the Court at RamTown

RamTown atmosphere

One of the biggest nights of the year on campus was pretty special for me. Ram Town is similar to a midnight madness event. It is the opening night of the Men’s and Women’s basketball seasons. Held in the Rose Hill Gym, home of the two teams, Ram Town is a night of free food, prizes, and contests to get students excited about the upcoming basketball seasons. As a member of the Fordham Dance Team, I got to actually participate in the planning and executing of the event, which most students do not get to experience.

The Fordham Dance Team at the start of RamTown.

The night started off with the women’s basketball team making their introduction onto the court. As last year’s A10 champions, they unveiled two new banners in the gym in honor of their success. As a part of the dance team’s responsibilities, we got to stand on the court and cheer with the team as the banners were released. When men’s basketball made their entrance about half way through, I got to stand right next to the basket as they showed off their own dunking skills.

The two new banners for the Women's team.

The Men's Basketball team entrance.

The highlight of my night, as a dance team member, was being a part of the annual dance off. It was Men’s Basketball and the Dance Team vs. Women’s Basketball and the Cheerleaders. The Women’s team went first with a mix of Flawless, This is How We Do It, and Anaconda. We followed up with a mix of Soulja Boy, Jerk, Teach Me How to Dougie, and OG Bobby Johnson. While it was unclear who the winner was, I’m pretty sure we won the crowd’s vote! Whether you’re a part of the action or not, Ram Town is an event you definitely don’t want to miss on campus!