Fordham University Top Questions

What are the academics like at your school?

Molly

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.

Katie

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.

Julia

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.

Mike

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.

Jennifer

n/a

Jennifer

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.

Alyson

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

Alexis

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.

Matthew

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.

Liz

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

Missy

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.

Alex

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.

Charlie

Grades are tough. Students are competative

Amanda

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.

Pat

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.

Tate

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.

katie

pre-med is an amazing cut-throat program

Catherine

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.

Alana

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.

Sarah

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.

Nico

Fordham's academics are both great and horrible. The extensive core allows students to get experience in many academic areas. However, the extensive core can sometimes inhibit students from beginning their majors. It has both pros and cons. The class size at Fordham is great too. The classes are small, so the professors do learn their students' names. The one thing about Fordham that is very difficult too, is the division between the Business school and Fordham College. The business school is heavily, heavily catered too; however, the Fordham College students have to work much harder to get internships, and get prepared for the outside world. Also, the Fordham College Administration is very frustrating. It's a constant run around. No administrator can answer any questions, they constantly send the students to someone else. It's very difficult to get things done.

Charles

they are great classes to teach you important thigns about life and to get you ready for getting jobs.... free bears!!!!!

Vick

All of my professors know my name and the classes are pretty small. I had one great English class where there were only 10 of us and the conversations were amazing. It is almost impossible to hide here, though, and if you aren't into that doing classwork thing, this isn't the place for you. My favorite class is my intro to media industries class because it's really practical information, stuff you'll actually use if you are a communications major, and its fun and current. Fordham has a lot of annoying requirements (like the giant core I'm sure you've heard about). It's hit or miss really - my chemistry class is amazing but my philosophy class was torture. Both are required and then some. It is cool to see a movie and then realize how Kantian it was, but if you're not into that, again, you'll be pretty miserable. Fordham is definitely more geared toward education for education's sake and NOT toward getting a job. After all, a lot of students are studying philosophy and theology. One perfect example is how students aren't allowed to do internships for credit until their junior year; well, I've already had two and I'm only a sophomore. So, it's possible, but it's hindering to not receive credit because you will have a full course load on top of an internship.

Andrew

Academics at Fordham are not as hard as you might think. As with any college it basically depends on the professor you get. The first semester you basically have no choice but after that you make your own schedule. My professors all know me by name but I rarely go to their office hours because its not necessary for me. I dont really hear intellectual conversations outside of class, but the people who I hang out with really aren't like that. And no, I find that students really aren't competitive- someone is always willing to help you out if your having a hard time studying for a test. I'm actually filling this thing out now because I don't want to write a paper...

Jake

Professors are extremely approachable and classes are almost always extremely small-- Core classes are generally really good, but sometimes people get stuck with a poor teacher, most of mine were great though.--Studying does not take over people's lives, but people have to buckle down around finals and midterms. --Class participation is certainly welcome, but probably just about average.--I have frequent intellectual conversations outside of class, but I'm in the honors program, so that might just be the nature of my friends.--Students are competitive, but the goal is always for everyone to succeed.--I took an Honors Class called "Honors Global Business Readings" and it was essentially a graduate class with a graduate professor, it was awesome. We read a lot of interesting business books and had very challenging discussion.--I love to frequent office hours, especially when I am not doing as well as I'd like, and they're always welcoming.--Fordham's core is well rounded and really good.--Fordham is very focused on teaching "the whole person" (a Jesuit ideal), but jobs and internships are still very relevant, especially being in NYC.

John

THe courses at Fordham are very good.

Nick

The advising program is HORRIBLE. My advisor wouldn't meet with me until I called his boss.

Tom

Classes are small, and if you put in the work you can certainly do well. Not that there are grades based on effort, but there is help in the right places and the teachers explain things well. A lot of emphasis is placed on participation in English, foreign language and other classes that are discussion based.

Brian

The faculty is mostly helpful, with a few notable exceptions. Ask someone about a professor before you take a class so you know what you’re getting into. If you get into the honors program you should do it. You’ll work your ass off, but you’ll get a good education and it makes core alot easier to finish, as you’re pre-registered for classes.

McLovin

all of professors know my name my favorite class is probably intro to biology II least favorite: Composition and Rhetoric students do study often here, especially if you are premed class participation is common yes fordham students do have intellectual conversations outside of class students are not competitive with each other, they are there to help each other out unique class: philosophy of the human nature I am a biological sciences major, while being premed, the department is very good, except it is soooo much freakin work. soo much I do spend time with my professors outside of class in office hours Fordham has a ridiculous Core requirement. its like 18 classes!!! soo much, it takes to long to finally be able to take classes that you want education at Fordham is based on the Jesuit tradition. FU is making great people for the outside world

Alex

Fordham is very rigourous in terms of work load. You will be busy.

Reena

Regardless of core classes, humanities, or theology, all the professors at Fordham know their stuff and know even better how to profess it! Even in my first year, my professor are teaching me how I can apply my knowledge to my respective major of Finance-even philosophy! After just two semesters, I really feel like a much more receptive and open minded person who can think outside the box!

Kristen

I would definitely have to say that most of the teachers that I have learned from at Fordham teach us for the pure joy of teaching/watching us grow as students. The two Graduate students that I have had (both english prefessors) surprisingly loved their craft more than any teachers i have ever had before in my life! It was really uplifting to see them during the week, and I could really tell they loved coming to class. On the other hand, CBA is geared to learning for its own sake, but definitely reminds us as students that we should have internships to get us ready for a job in the long run. The professors do not necessarily push the sole idea of getting a job to us during class, but they are always available to talk about careers after class or through e-mail. I also really love how on top of things my dean is. He sends us many e-mails about job opportunities and internships that have been a great help to me. It's almost like i have a sixth teacher every semester because of how available he makes himself to me!

Ann

Yes, professors know your name

Amen

do professors know my name -Yes Favorite class - Invitation to theatre, my teacher is awesome and really cares Least favorite - Math methods in Business, Fordham is realy bad at getting good math or science teachers. How often do students study -Theres a few people that are studying 24/7 but on average maybe an hour or 2 for each class is class participation common - Yes Do fordham students have intellectual conversations outside of class - Yes all the time, I love it Are students Competitive -Yea What is the Most unique class I've taken -Stats 1 my teacher is off the wall About my Major - I want to study Marketing with a minor in theatre. Do i spend time with my professors outside of class - Yes how do i feel about fordhams academic requirements - its hard and it doesn't allow me to look into things that i am interested in. is the educatio at fordham geared towards getting a job or learning -No

Chris

Some of my professors know my name, the ones who don't don't seem to make much of an effort to learn student names. My favorite class right now is actually Introduction to the New Testament, because my professor is great. He is probably the best professor I have had and even the best teacher I've ever had. I wish my other professors were like him. My least favorite class is Statistical Decision Making. I have a hard time understanding it and while my professor knows his material very well, he isn't the best at teaching it. Students usually only study before quizzes and tests, so how often they study depends on how often they have quizzes or tests. Class participation varies from class to class. In some classes many people have views to expound, whereas in others people can't wait to get out of class or are just uninterested. Intellectual conversations outside of class occur, but they are not by any stretch the norm. Students are always competitive, and it is no different at Fordham. My major is Accounting, which will completely fill my schedule with coursework because it is the most rigorous business major at Fordham. I am only in my second accounting class so far, but I really enjoy it. I almost never spend time with professors outside of class. I feel that Fordham's academic requirements are reasonable. The education at Fordham is a mix of both learning for its own sake and helping you get ready for a job.

Kat

Professors will absolutely know your name- and if they do not, they will die trying. Only in lecture halls of 100+ students this may be an issue, but the general class is usually less than 30 students. My favorite class was my English Freshman core requirement class. I had professor Mary McElligott and she was just such an inspiring woman- i took her again my sophomore year because I enjoyed the class so much. Professors definitly strive to get all students to participate in class but it's a two-way street. No one is going to baby you- or harp on you to hand in work. Even though I've complained a time or two over grades I've recieved, professors are pretty unbiased and fair in their grading. If i could suggest one thing to all incoming students it would absolutely be to attend a professor's office hours at least once in the beginning of the semester. Not only will you show that you're interested, but professors are people too, and they are smart- if nothing else, just have a conversation and see where it leads. I had a professor explain to me once how I should attend Law School and it changed the path of my college career. I've had a number of memorable conversations with teachers in their office hours so I'd say it's worth a shot. A lot of people complain about the core requirement at Fordham. It is pretty rigorous and it can be annoying at times, but the classes are there for a reason. There are two history, two english, two faith/religion, two philosophy, an art, and a math within Fordham College's requirements. If you can take nothing else from these requirements, at least you're getting a taste of what else is out there. The Jesuit way of learning is meant to develop the whole person and I feel that the core really helps this.

McLovin

professors absolutely know my name fav class: biology lab least favorite: english composition and rhetoric study: the students here are smart and they don't study every night, but definitely they put in time during the week participation: very common intellectual conversations: quite often, regarding politics, ideas, policies, its very common competitive: not at all!!! in my experience, all of the students are here for each other, unlike at the ivy league schools where competition is rampant. the students here want you to do better which is wonderful!! unique class: close reading and writing through Jazz Major: biological sciences is my major, and I am a pre-med kid. it is a very demanding major. but the pre-med program at fordham is one of the best in the nation. it is an extremely rigorous program, but it ultimately has one of the highest rates of medical school acceptances. the department is good, we have a pre-med advisor and the bio/chem departments are very strong. time w/ professors: I will go see my professors during office hours when I have a question, need something proofread, my professors are very flexible and always available and are very quick with email requirements: Fordham has a HUGE core system. it is a little to big for me! definitely look at the core system here because it does take a long time to fulfill all of the requirements. so most students have to work to complete the core before they can focus on their major. education philosophy: Fordham has a great philosophy, it is said in really good words, but i cannot recite it. fordham definitely teaches students how to think for themselves and really learn. we have a great career services at fordham which works very hard to get fordham high paying jobs right out of college. fordham creates intelligent, moral, and street smart (from living in the bronx) students.

Paige

All of my professors can address me by my first name and some even by my first and last name. My absolute favorite class is English, in each semester. But then again, I am a Communications major so that's to be expected. My least favorite is the foreign language classes. Class participation fluctuates from class to class. In some classes everyone is fighting to speak. In others, the professor rants for an hour and fifteen minutes without even letting their students speak. Some students definitely take their knowledge outside the classroom. Most students are very competetive with grades, again the ego taking over. The most unique class I have taken was English Composition and Rhetoric with Professor Greenidge-Copprue. The man is a genius and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed his class. I do not spend time with professors outside of class unless I am having trouble with the material and need to see them for office hours. The education at Fordham is 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} geared towards getting a job.

Kerri

Most of my professors take the time to get to know my name and face. In my favorite class, my professor allows class discussion and is open to opinions of the students. My least favorite class, however, does not have room for debate. The professor is right and there is no way around it. Class participation is fairly common. I don't spend too much time studying, but I do know a lot of students that study a lot. It depends on the individual. Education here will help you get a job, but it is more than just that.

Brett

Most professors know my name. My favorite classes were my English and Marketing classes. Least favorite was Financial Management. Studying varies from student to student. Class participation is very common and very much encouraged. Students are competitive, everyone wants a 4.0. Most unique class I took was Business Communications, because it focused on our future career, how to obtain our goals, and making connections in the business-world rather than grading us on things we learned in class. I am business major/marketing concentration/GLOBE and communications specialization. I go to office hours sometimes, but not too often. The academic requirements are great because it keeps you knowledgeable in all aspects of the business world, but it is a little intense sometimes (too many core classes). Definitely geared toward getting a job.

Claire

Every morning I wake up looking forward to go to class. I think that is something that many college students cannot say. Whether it is my Life on Planet Earth class in which I dissect small sharks and look at bacteria under microscopes, or whether it is my Intro to Sociology class where I talk about the influence of Facebook on cultural interactions, Fordham’s academics are really outstanding. I have had a great experience so far in all of my classes. My academic experience at Fordham is like a big box of chocolates. Each piece has a different taste and feel, some may be sweet, some may be tangy. With my classes, I learn something new every single day. My favorite class this year has been my Philosophy class during the Fall semester. My teacher, a nun named Sr. Mary, made the material interesting, fun, and exciting. I had to think, but not too hard. I loved learning about the material, which was something I had never been taught before in high school. Descartes, Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas. Each day of class left a new and delightful taste in my mouth. And the best part about it was, not only did I learn a lot, I did well. Fordham professors will not hesistate to reward hard work. This seems like something simple, but I guess it isn’t universal. As always, there are those coconut-filled pieces of chocolate that I hate in every box, just like how there are those sporadic few classes which I have disliked at my time at Fordham. For example, this semester I am taking Faith and Critical Reasoning. Just the name makes me cringe. What I’ve found so far about being in that class is that the subject material is taught in a bland way. No spice. No filling. Just blah. My professor tries hard to get us engaged, but nothing seems to work. The hour and fifteen minute class seems more like five hours. The subject material is boring. That’s all there is to it. Granted, I’m only halfway done with the semester. But, so far, I see no change in pace. Just a boring, old, piece of moldy chocolate. I love the academics at Fordham because of the never ending variety. Students are encouraged to take whatever they desire, whatever makes them happy. Jesuit education seeks to educate the whole person, from the inside out, on every possible platform. That is why Fordham is different from other colleges, and in my opinion, much better.

sara

-No, in fact, when i visited Fordham before applying here, I was told that class sizes were very small so you could receive the proper amount of attention. I have been in science classes with at least 50 other people. So, no, I do not feel like professors know my name... and that stinks because I NEED recommendations for med school! -Least favorite classES include anything related to science. -My friends (who are mainly premed students) study often because of our rigorous classes and work load. -Class participation is not as common in my science classes as it is in my core classes -I havent had many "intellectual" conversations outside of class. -I do not feel a sense of competition amongst Fordham students. -The most unique class I've taken is Drawing I.. which is my ABSOLUTE favorite class ever!! Such a breath of fresh air compared to my normal schedule. -My major is pre-med. It is VERY competitive. The prehealth advisor is very discouraging... especially in my case, being not one of the top students in my major. I often feel very discouraged with my major... I used to have such a passion for science, but my classes offer nothing interesting, and only result in less than exceptional grades despite my constant studying. -I do not spend time with professors outside of class -I feel that FOrdham's academic requirements are fair. -I feel like the education is geared toward getting a job.

Maureen

Professors almost always know your name. My favorite class was Terrorism and Society... the topic is pertinent to the world today, the professor was tremendously knowledgeable, and because it was an elective, all the student were really interested in learning more about the subject and how it has changed the world in which we live. Least favorite class was Philosophy, by far. Give me math and a concrete subject anyday!

Paige

Professors at Fordham are generally good. They have all, but one, learned my name and my classes have never had more than thirty people in them. My favorite class was my Crusades class. It was the best class I have ever taken in my life with the best teacher I've ever had. My least favorite class is my Medieval Sin Sinners and Outcasts class right now. It's so painfully boring and we don't even have assigned reading. It's bad. Students study fairly often, but most students don't take the over-inflated tuition seriously and do poorly in classes that are very easily. Class participation is common with a few students. In some classes, where the teacher is provocative, more students will participate than on average. This is seen with my Byzantine Christianity class. Some Fordham students have intellectual conversations outside of class but they normally don't revolve around class material, just other topics. When I want to talk academics I call my friend from home who goes to Penn because we always talked academics in high school. Students are not very competitive. The most unique class I've taken is Byzantine Christianity. I am a medieval studies and theology major. Medieval Studies is an interdisciplinary department which means the teachers focus on medieval history, theology, philosophy, language, art, music etc. It is EASILY the best department in the school and I don't find it coincidental that many of the best and most well published professors are in that department. I have never really spent time with professors outside of class. Fordham's core curriculum is too stringent, but it's actually a fairly tough-grading school and it is reasonably hard to do well. Fordham's education is both geared for a job and toward learning for its own sake. Fordham's core curriculum is learning for its own sake in its purest form. Many majors, like medieval studies and theology, clearly do not orient one toward a job. Still, the undergraduate business school is a rising star in the country and that hooks a ton of students up with impressive internships. The communications department as well gears many students toward jobs and many Fordham students have internships at NBC, CBS, ABC etc.

Tristan

very hard but if you put your mind to it you'll be ok.

Bevan

The academic reputation of Fordham and its committment to excellence is a main reason as to why I chose this particular university. It also boasts a student to faculty ratio of 12 to 1, which is quite impressive. Professors all have office hours twice a week and lend themselves to the students by giving out home phone numbers and personal e-mail addresses. I have had professors go so far as to meet with students outside of class and one took a group of us to dinner in a very informal manner. Students are expected and encouraged to participate in class, especially when there are less than 30 students per classroom. Students want to achieve personal success, but are also open to help one another meet Dean's List requirements or prepare for the next exam. The Fordham education is meant to educate the whole person and make its students dedicated to changing the world upon graduation.

Alisa

Fordham is great if you know what you want to do. If you are in a specific program such as Visual Arts, Theater, or Medieval History, then there are lots of great classes and the Professors are attentive and help you to do pretty much whatever you want. All the other classes are pretty much terrible. The professors are often under qualified (especially in the language dept.). This wouldn't be such a huge issue but you are required to take many of these courses because of the "Core credits" and they are slow to respond to complaints. However, I definitely think it is worth it if you want to do Theater or Visual Arts because the Professors are amazing and the classes are small in these departments.

Casey

I'd say about 95{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the professors I've ever had knew my name. It was nice to really get to know some of them. I'd say my favorite class at Fordham was Cultural Anthropology. It truly woke me up. It made me realize that we all see the world through different lenses, none of which can be completely removed. As an English major, I was lucky to be in small classes where discussion was emphasized by professors. Though I cannot speak for all students, I'd say I've had my share of intellectual conversations outside of classes, but only with a select few students. I haven't spent much time with professors outside of class aside from office hours. This, however has enabled me to get to know them quite a bit. Fordham's academic requirements are quite different from most schools, as the core curriculum is very broad. However, I feel as if it has been to my advantage. The flexibility of the English major has also allowed me to explore various time periods and authors. Depending on one's major, job-seeking and learning are both objectives of the Fordham experience. I'd say CBA students are more inclined to focus on getting a job, while liberal arts students are geared toward learning, since most of them will pursue graduate degrees anyway.

Cody

There are a number of great professors at the school and by sophomore year, it becomes fairly easy to figure out who they are. Even in classes taught by great professors, one is surrounded mostly by students who just don't give a shit. I'm sure this is standard at most schools, but it seems particularly noticeable at Fordham, hence the popularity of the Communications major). Fordham simply isn't the place for a student seriously interested in study. I've been told there are good job placement/internship programs, I don't know firsthand if this is true, but it makes sense; for most students, Fordham is a means to an end.