Fordham University Top Questions

A great thing about academics at Fordham is that the classes are really small. My largest class at Fordham was 30 students, and my smallest was 8, so you really get to know the professors. I am in a really small major (Middle East Studies), so I basically know most of the students in my program, but with larger majors, such as communications, you get to pick a concentration and really focus your studies. The only things about Fordham's academics that I have had a difficult time with are the core requirements. These are classes you HAVE to take to graduate. Fortunately, most core requirements (such as religion, english, and the sciences), have multiple options for the class that fits that specific core, so you have some freedom to study what you want.

One of the greatest things about Fordham is the small class size---roughly 20 students per class. All of my professors have known my name and been more than willing to helpall of their students. Class participation is encouraged and often a part of your grade. For some of the classes, professors even require that you come in during office hours for discussion. Students study just about the same amount as any college. Fordham requires a broad liberal arts core curriculum with classes ranging from theology, philosophy, science, social studies, to foreign languages so you get a feel for different subjects. The goal of the Jesuit education is for students not only to learn academic subjects but also to challenge students' way of thinking, especially in regards to ethics and social justice. This can be very interesting and helpful to those undecided on majors, but a bit restrictive to those who want to pursue double majors. Many students will have multiple minors however. I'm in the business school and its core does not require as many liberal arts courses, yet it is currently changing to a new core featuring lots of group interaction. Basically, students from the Class of 2015 on will take more courses but will go more in-depth in the subjects by covering half of what is normally covered in that semester. Many classes are 1.5 credits versus the standard 3. The business school does a phenomenal job of making sure students are prepared for internships and has an excellent alumni network. Its reputation is renowned in firms all over the city and slowly gaining acknowledgment nationwide.

At least I believe it's a typical Jesuit education...I haven't had any other experience with Jesuit education so I'm not 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure. But the education at this school is definitely geared towards making students well-rounded individuals who are passionate about others and the state of the world. There is a LARGE core requirement, which some people hate, some people love. Don't come here if you would like to take all practical classes that will put you on your desired career path...most people don't start taking classes for their major until junior year. The class sizes are also really small, and the professors will most likely at least recognize you, if not know you personally.

I've been impressed with the academics at Fordham. The class sizes are very small, no more then 25 in any of my classes. Feels like a high school class because they are so small. All my professors know my name. Student study habits vary on their major. The perception is that the business school is pretty easy, not requiring that much studying. Pre-med kids are always in the library. Regular liberal arts majors study a lot, but definitely have time to have fun. Really depends on your major. Communications is though of as the easiest. Class participation is common, many classes have at least 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of your grade come form participation. The core requirements are pretty annoying, especially for liberal arts majors. Its very extensive, with language, math, and science requirements. I'm in the political science department and I am very satisfied with the department and the professors. Education at Fordham, again depending on your major, seems to be geared more towards learning for learnings sake then for job preparation. I haven't taken it, but I know the school offers a class called Harry Potter and Philosophy, which is pretty unique.

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Fordham has a strong core curriculum, and as a inter-disciplinary major I have taken classes in a variety of fields. Fordham's academic appeal comes from its small classes and individualized attention. Professors are readily available and strive to make classes interactive, stimulating, and challenging.

Every class is small and personal and the professors usually know everyone's name. Class participation is greatly encouraged. Fordham offers a great Communications and Media studies program. It is one of Fordham's most popular majors. You can concentrate in specific areas. I am concentrating in New Media. It is a great program about the newest of our media technology, exploring how new media like social media outlets are changing the way we give and receive information

The faculty for the most part are wonderful. Two of my past professors and I maintained a friendship after the class was over. There are quite a few grad students who are teachers and they can go one of two ways: (1) we know what it's like and we recognize that this class is probably a requirement for you, so this will be no more or less than what it needs to be, or (2) we hate our lives and we want to make sure the admin are impressed with us, so have a 20 page paper on my desk next week which is worth 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of your grade. Competitive students. Erm, I guess that's up to individuals. I'm easily one of the most intelligent people in my classes most of the time, but I also never do any work. So... yeah there's always that kid in the class that everyone hates, but it's all mostly a pretty good balance of work to play time. My major, Communication and Media Studies is my best choice at Fordham. The faculty are great. The classes are extremely interesting ("Gender Images in the Media" "International Communication" "The History and Culture of Advertising"). The problem is one that you'll face after college. The major is extremely theoretical with very little obvious practical application. I wouldn't change what I study at all, but I would add a more practical field onto it, like a minor in Marketing or something.

Fordham's academics are somewhat challenging, so be prepared to study. That said, the professors tend to be very approachable, and every one of them encourages students to come to their office hours outside of class if they need additional help. As a student at the business school, I can definitely say that there is a competitive vibe around the campus, but I mean that in a good way. You'll be encouraged to do your best in the classroom in order to stand out, but also to go into Manhattan and get internships.

Professors for the most part are amazing, very friendly, and intuitive.

This is a seriously overpriced education. You will learn nothing past your last exam and you will not care because what you're learning is 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} Bullcrap. Why is that? Because you have to take about 20 Core Classes that you will never need, want, or like. Like three English classes, two history, a math, Biology or Physics, Chem or Psychology, a freshman seminar, a senior class, a fine arts requirement, two social sciences, a globalism class, a pluralism class and oh, the absolute best, an entire FOREIGN LANGUAGE CURRICULUM. That's right. To completion. And if you've never taken a language before, prepare to kiss any hopes for a good GPA goodbye because you will be expected to learn, comprehend, speak, read and write the language well in order to get to intro language to exit level on that language. That's another potential 5 - 6 classes. I hope you're ready to give your time and money to a buttload of classes you don't want to take, because that's what Fordham has for you. And also, for all those classes you'll be forced to take that you'll hate, you get to take a trip down to the Fordham Bookstore, which has a really awesome system that screws you coming and going. You'll get to pay hundreds of dollars a semester. This is not a joke or an exaggeration. Try anywhere from $200-$500 a semester. That's half a year. That means you can double that for each year you're at Fordham. And, okay, all right. You're right. Textbooks are going to be costly no matter where you go. But remember that's $1000 a year you're paying for books for classes that you're being forced to take. And the glittering jewel in the crown for the Fordham Bookstore has to be, absolutely has to be, Book Buyback at the end of each semester. Let me give you a little play-by-play on Book Buyback. What you're doing, is buying books from Fordham for your classes at their bookstore, using them for four months, and then, because you think you're the winner here and you're going to get some money back, you take them down, stand on line and return your books. No, not for full refund. Obviously not. Not for half price. Not even close. For a fourth of the price? We're getting closer now. It's fractions, FRACTIONS, of the cost of the book that you bought. So what is happening for Fordham, when they buy a $100 textbook and put it on sale for $150 and then sell it back to you for $20, they are making a $30 profit off books that they will take and resell again next year to someone else, making another profit. This is absolutely insane! You're paying their restocking fee! But you're going to do book buyback because you need that 20 bucks. And this, my friends, is called Academic Sodomy. You're being ripped a new one by a Jesuit Institution.

Class sizes are awesome. The students who show some maturity and develop a rapport with professors are almost always able to do so. I have been disappointed sometimes by classmates who want people to "ask fewer questions" in class and just "get through" the lectures so they can "get out of there", but I think there are folks like that everywhere. One favorite class - to my surprise - was Faith and Critical Reasoning with "Telly". Just awesome. Bruce Berg for Political Science intro, and John Davenport for Philosophy also stand out.

Grades are tough. Students are competative

Actually, most of my professors do know my name. I was actually surprised that my Gen Chem professor knew my name since are class is one of the larger ones at Fordham. But she did know my name and that really made my day. There is probably a tie for my favorite class between Gen Chem and Faith and Critical Reasoning. My Faith teacher was absolutely phenomenal and made the class ten times more interesting then any other theology class I had ever had. In terms of how long students study, it really depends on the student. My roommates freshman year rarely ever studied. I swear I never saw them crack open a book except around finals time. However, I also knew a couple of students who did anything but study and I rarely saw them outside of class. I think it depends on a student's major and work ethic. My major is Chemistry. I spend time with certain professors outside of class. Sometimes I go to discuss an interesting topic or argue with them when I feel like my point was not made during class. The professors always welcome you during their office hours and the one on one attention is great.

Academically, it is relatively tough. Especially tough if you don't take it too seriously. Balancing your social life with studies is a neccessity if you are looking to actually excel at Fordham academically.

Classes at Fordham are small. The largest class I have ever had was with about 60 students. Most classes are more along the lines of 20. Therefore your professor will learn your name and you will get to know a lot of the other students in your class. I study a few hours every week. The work load is hard but definetly managable. Class participation is very common. Participation is often times factored into your final grade. My major is Middle East Studies and it is still a developing department. However the professors in the department are awesome and it only continues to grow and get better. Fordham has a lot of academic requirements. If you have no AP credits coming in it will take you almost the first 2 years of school to complete them. However they can be useful for figuring out what you want to major in, or just for giving you the opportunity to learn something that you may not have tried otherwise. The education at Fordham is geared to helping its students become well rounded people. The core is set up so that students learn a little bit of everything because learning is the most important thing. However students, especially in the buisness program are geared toward getting a job as well and have great connections for getting them.

pre-med is an amazing cut-throat program

So far, every one of my professors has known my name. Class participation is crucial, almost all students, even the ones who don't seem like they would, take studying seriously. So far I have had mixed feelings about our core curriculum. While it's social science requirement has let me discover Anthropology, which I have decided to declare as my minor, it has also forces us to take two semesters of Philosophy and Theology. They say the core is so we can learn what we like and what we don't like, but after already taking one semester of each, I am certain that I dislike both and don't need another two semesters to assure me of that. The education at Fordham is a perfect balance of preparing students for jobs in the "real world" and learning for its own sake. The core is a big part of the second part, because it means we are taking classes we may never really "use" or "need" in the future, but that will always be interesting and nice to know. Fordham has TONS of opportunities for internships and guidance when it comes to preparation for the future. I'm only a freshmen and I'm not worried at all about not being prepared for the real world.

As I said before, simply beyond what I had expected. These professors are passionate about their field and completely captivating. They are able to change my way of thinking and challenge the world in ways I would have never expected.

All of the classes I have had at Fordham have been relatively small. The smallest was a seminar class of 8 people. There is always a lot of room for discussion in these classes. Professors are extremely helpful and want to get to know you. They encourage you to come to office hours and put in extra effort. My favorite class was my creative writing/ short story writing class. My professor encouraged us to be as free and creative with our writing as we wanted. I also learned to feel comfortable reading my work to a group of people as well as how to take criticism. The English department was a little limited in its course selection but I had good relationships with many of my professors.