New York is My Campus, Fordham is My School
“Where in Florida do you go to school?” “Oh, no sorry, I said Fordham. Like in New York City?” “Oh sorry, my mistake.”
Anyone who has attended Fordham University, whether it be in the Bronx or Lincoln Center, is almost guaranteed to have had this conversation. It comes with the territory. And while it can be awkward or annoying, it's worth it.
Everything about my experience applying to Fordham happened by coincidence. I toured the school because it was close to another one I was looking at, and found out I got in while checking the portal of another school.
I went to accepted students day because it was the same weekend I was going to visit a school nearby. I didn’t actively want to go there until I sat down with myself and was honest about what I wanted out of my college experience. But once I decided Fordham was what I wanted, I fell hard and fast.
One of the biggest draws to the University is it’s New York City location. There is a campus at Lincoln Center in Manhattan and another in the neighborhood of Belmont in the Bronx (the latter being my home). I have always loved visiting the city. Throughout my college search, I always knew it was where I wanted to be. I love the fast paced lifestyle, the culture, the diversity, and most of all, the opportunities.
Living in New York City means that you can go to class at 10 a.m. and be on a subway headed to The Met at 12 p.m. I have seen more plays in my two years at Fordham than I think I ever have. I have visited museums that hold the world's treasures, attended New York City’s annual women’s march, tried bubble tea for the first time in koreatown, and so much more.
The New York Botanical Gardens, the Bronx Zoo, and Little Italy are all within walking distance of my campus. Fordham students joke about the school’s slogan “New York is my campus, Fordham is my school”, but it’s message actually holds up.
A lot of people don’t know this, but Fordham is actually a Jesuit University. Our University president, Father McShane, is a Jesuit priest and many priests teach at the school. Because of it’s Jesuit background, the curriculum and community embody certain values. I love that my school values knowledge, love, and service above everything else.
There are so many ways to engage with and give back to the community and the world at large. I have volunteered on a smaller scale at local soup kitchens, but I have friends who have traveled around the country to places like New Orleans and Alaska on service projects through Fordham. At the end of the day, everyone respects the jesuit values our university has.
The most important reason I love Fordham is because of the community. The school isn’t small, but it feels like it is. There are communities for all different types of interests and I was lucky enough to find mine early my freshman year.
Fordham always comes together and supports each other, whether it be in times of crisis or times of celebration. I am surrounded by some of the friendliest, smartest, most loving people I know at Fordham. Even after touring the campus as a high school senior, I could feel the sense of community and how tight knit the student body is.
My name is Sarah Huffman, I am a rising junior and a journalism major and these are the top three reasons I have no regrets about choosing Fordham.