fordham essay prompts 2022

Fordham University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action/Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 3

Fordham University 2024-25 Application Essay Explanations

The Requirements: One short essay of 300 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community , Why

You may choose to answer one (1) of the optional questions below.  Keep in mind that your response is a maximum of 300 words.  Choose the question that you think will help the admission committee get a better understanding of your unique perspective and potential contributions to our community.

At fordham, we expect students to care for and engage with their communities and be active citizens for positive change. please share an experience you had that caused you to develop a new perspective, change your point of view, and/or empower you to take an action or be courageous. your response should include examples of your personal growth (e.g., what did you learn, did your point of view change, did you develop new skills or strengths)..

This prompt will likely stand out for those of you who have a background in or meaningful experience related to volunteer work or community service. This is your opportunity to tell admissions about a time when you gave back to your community or acted as an agent for positive change. Maybe you’ve volunteered at your local soup kitchen every other weekend since you were in middle school and developed a deeper understanding of the hardships faced by people experiencing homelessness or surviving on low wages. Perhaps you canvassed for political candidates whom you believe will generate positive change for generations to come, and the experience empowered you to get more involved in local politics. Whatever your example(s) may be, be sure to reflect on what the experience meant to you, whether that be acquiring a new perspective, feeling motivated, or developing a new skill. Bonus points if you can connect your past service to the work you want to do in the future, hopefully at Fordham!

Fordham, as a Jesuit university, recognizes the dignity, uniqueness and potential of each person. A Fordham education is student-centered and rooted in close collaboration among students, faculty, and staff. Describe how you would contribute to our campus community as an actively engaged learner and leader. Specifically draw on your personal story, identity, experiences, strengths, and perspectives.

Odds are that this isn’t the first Diversity Essay prompt you’ve come across this year—even if the prompt doesn’t explicitly use the word. If it is, however, please read on. Fordham wants to accept students from a range of backgrounds who will contribute to a collaborative university community, so tell admissions about what makes you you and how you will engage with others on campus. Think about times when people have been intrigued by or curious about your identity, skillset, or background. Maybe you were a section leader for your high school choir and look forward to applying that leadership experience to help organize a tour with the University Choir. Perhaps you grew up in Singapore and you hope to design a lecture series about the different cultures and languages that mingle there. What do you hope to share with others about your lived experience? How will you incorporate this element of your identity into your college experience? Show admissions that you’re eager to contribute as an “actively engaged learner and leader.” We also encourage you to reference a specific component of the Fordham experience (think clubs, classes, volunteer opportunities, etc.) to demonstrate interest and fit.

Our motto is “New York is my campus, Fordham is my school.” New York City is a diverse and global city that provides Fordham students with a special kind of educational experience, full of both challenge and opportunity. What has prepared you to embrace the unique opportunity of living and learning in New York City?

This prompt is for all you applicants who are champing at the bit to study in New York City. (We at CEA totally get it—we live here!) In addition to offering your unique take on why an education in this “diverse and global city” is right for you, you’ll also want to make sure your response addresses what has prepared you to embrace this opportunity. How will living in New York affect you as a person? As a student? How will you grow? Your answer should be personal to you and, if possible, surprising. Remember that, while you have free rein to gush about how much you want to live in New York, a lot of your potential peers probably feel the same way. So, try not to focus on what you’d like to do or see. Instead, explain what your desire to move from your hometown to New York says about you and what has primed you to succeed in the city. Whether you’re trying to be courageous by leaving your small homogenous town with big dreams in tow or hoping to stay close to your family in Brooklyn, tell admissions a story that only you can tell.

Is there something that you are proud of that you would like to share with the Admission Committee?

This open-ended question gives you the chance to share something about yourself that hasn’t appeared anywhere else in your application. Think about a time when you acted on your personal values, helped someone in need, or achieved something that meant a lot to you. What you choose to write about can be as intimate as teaching your younger cousin to tie his shoelaces, as main-character as leading your Mathletes team to a state victory, or as brave as organizing a sit-in at Town Hall when your local lawmakers were voting to ban books in your school district. With only 300 words to use, keep the focus on why this event or experience was meaningful to you rather than on its broader significance in the world.

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Fordham University

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Want to see your chances of admission at Fordham University?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

Fordham University’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Select-a-prompt short response.

You may choose to answer one (1) of the optional questions below. Keep in mind that your response is a maximum of 300 words. Choose the question that you think will help the admission committee get a better understanding of your unique perspective and potential contributions to our community.

At Fordham, we expect students to care for and engage with their communities and be active citizens for positive change. Please share an experience you had that caused you to develop a new perspective, change your point of view, and/or empower you to take an action or be courageous. Your response should include examples of your personal growth (e.g., what did you learn, did your point of view change, did you develop new skills or strengths?).

Fordham, as a Jesuit university, recognizes the dignity, uniqueness and potential of each person. A Fordham education is student-centered and rooted in close collaboration among students, faculty, and staff. Describe how you would contribute to our campus community as an actively engaged learner and leader. Specifically draw on your personal story, identity, experiences, strengths, and perspectives.

Our motto is “New York is my campus, Fordham is my school.” New York City is a diverse and global city that provides Fordham students with a special kind of educational experience, full of both challenge and opportunity. What has prepared you to embrace the unique opportunity of living and learning in New York City?

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Fordham Supplemental Essays 2022-2023

Fordham supplemental essays: quick facts.

• Fordham Acceptance Rate: 58%— U.S. News ranks Fordham University as a more selective school.
• Fordham University Ranking: U.S. News ranks Fordham #72 in National Universities
• 1 (~150 word) short answer essay (optional)
• 1 (~250 word) COVID-19 response essay (optional)
• 1 (~650 word) additional information essay (optional)
• Fordham Application: Fordham University accepts applications via the Common App . Students are required to submit their Common App essay and all required materials when applying.
• Fordham University Essay Tip: While not required, each Fordham University supplemental essay is a chance to share something about yourself with Fordham admissions. Seize these opportunities and take the time to draft, edit, and refine each of your Fordham University application essays, just like you would your Common App essay.

How many essays does Fordham require?

So, does Fordham have supplemental essays? The answer is yes, Fordham gives students the opportunity to complete Fordham supplemental essays as part of their application. However, unlike at many schools:

Fordham supplemental essays are all optional . 

Fordham University requires the Common App Personal Statement as well as three optional Fordham supplement essays. So, if you choose to forgo the Fordham supplemental essays (which we don’t suggest), your only Fordham application essay will be your Common App essay. On their Writing for the Common Application page, Fordham provides their Fordham essay requirements. This includes guidelines for the Common App essay and information on the Fordham supplemental essays.

According to Fordham admissions, applicants will not be penalized if they do not submit the Fordham supplemental essays. While the Fordham supplemental essays are not required, they are a good opportunity to provide Fordham admissions with more insight into who you are and what you’d bring to Fordham’s community.

For most students, we recommend answering each Fordham University essay prompt to strengthen your application. However, answering the Fordham supplemental essays will not be a part of every student’s “how to get into Fordham” game plan . Students should only submit the Fordham supplemental essays if doing so will add to their overall application.

What are the essays for Fordham?

Now that we’ve answered the question of “does Fordham have supplemental essays,” let’s discuss the required Fordham essay and the optional Fordham supplemental essays. 

According to the Fordham essay requirements, there is one required Fordham essay and three optional Fordham supplemental essays. The Common App essay is required by all students applying to Fordham. The three additional Fordham University application essays are optional. Each covers a different topic: additional information, COVID-19 impact, and a unique Fordham question. 

Fordham University application essay prompts:

Short response (150 words).

At Fordham, we expect students to care for and engage with their communities. Please share a specific instance in which you challenged yourself or stepped out of your comfort zone in order to be an advocate for your community (for example, your family, friend group, high school, or town). Please provide an example that illustrates a facet of yourself that we would not find anywhere else in your application.

COVID-19 Response

Fall 2023 applicants will have the opportunity to tell us more about how COVID-19 has impacted their lives. Please feel free to use this section to discuss this topic as opposed to your essay. This response is optional.

Additional Information Essay

Is there something you’d like to tell us that just doesn’t seem to fit anywhere else perhaps you’d like to expand on one of your co-curricular involvements or let us know about an extenuating circumstance that impacted your academic performance. whatever the case may be, please feel free to tell us in this optional section..

Think of your Fordham supplemental essays as a chance to show your interest in Fordham and what makes you a good fit. Remember you have complete control over how you approach the Fordham supplemental essays. So, don’t let nerves keep you from getting a jump start on a Fordham University supplemental essay.

Below, we have outlined each Fordham University supplemental essay and how to approach it. If you’re planning to apply to Fordham, visit the Fordham University’s Undergraduate Admission website for a complete list of application requirements. Keep reading to learn more about the Fordham University application essays. 

Fordham Essay Requirements: Common App Essay

While each Fordham University application essay is a key part of your Fordham application, your Common App essay is arguably the most important. 

There are three main questions admissions will keep in mind as they evaluate each Fordham essay, including your Common App essay: 

• Who are you as a person, student, and community member? 
• How well do you write?
• Are you a critical thinker?

Your Common App essay is a key part of the Fordham essay requirements. Choose your prompt carefully, and make sure your essay highlights your strengths. The best Common App essays will show Fordham who you are, what makes you unique, and what you bring to the table. 

To complete the Fordham University application essay requirements, you’ll need to choose one of the Common App’s essay prompts to respond to. Admissions will want to see how thoughtfully and logically you address the prompt. So, be sure you answer the prompt wholly and structure your essay to be clear and compelling.

If you’re having trouble picking which Common App prompt to respond to, check out our CollegeAdvisor.com resources to help you jumpstart the writing process. Our resources can also help you address each Fordham University application essay.

Check out our articles on How to Write a Personal Statement and College Essay Examples to read sample college essays and learn more about why they work. For more tips to help you get started on your Fordham essay, check out our 39 Essay Tips from CollegeAdvisor’s Admissions Experts.

How to Write a Personal Statement – 5 Personal Statement Examples

How do I write the Fordham college essay?

As you start crafting each Fordham essay, think about how it adds to your personal narrative . Think about your personal narrative as the thread that weaves your application together. It should offer an overall sense of your identity that is greater than the sum of your individual essays, grades, coursework, or extracurriculars.

Remember that each Fordham essay is an opportunity to show admissions who you are, what is important to you, and what kind of member of Fordham’s community you’ll be. This starts with your Common App essay. Since Fordham does not offer in-person interviews , your Common App essay (alongside each Fordham essay) is an important chance to articulate who you are with your own words and in your own voice.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at each Fordham essay and offer some tips. These Fordham essay guidelines are helpful no matter which optional Fordham essay prompt you choose to respond to. Be sure to keep these questions top of mind when you go to write your Fordham supplemental essays.

Fordham Supplemental Essays: Optional Essays

It’s time to turn to the Fordham supplemental essays. We have provided the Fordham University supplemental essay prompts below, including tips on how to approach each one. As you complete each Fordham University essay prompt, think about the narrative you began to construct in your Common App essay. What kind of learner and student have you shown yourself to be? Additionally, how can you continue the themes from your Common App essay in each of your Fordham supplemental essays?

Fordham reviews each application holistically . This means that no element of your application, including each Fordham University supplement essay, will make or break your admissions odds. As the admissions team reads your Fordham supplemental essays, they want to imagine who you’ll be on Fordham’s campus should you be admitted. The Fordham supplemental essays are a chance to bring that image to life. Strong Fordham supplemental essays will help your readers picture you as a part of their student body. Each Fordham essay should show how you embody Fordham’s values and would add to their campus community and culture.

Now let’s review each of the Fordham University supplemental essay prompts and how to set yourself up for success when answering them.

Fordham Supplemental Essays #1: Short Response

This short response question is meant to help you reflect on your personal growth and consider how you might continue to grow at fordham: at fordham, we expect students to care for and engage with their communities. please share a specific instance in which you challenged yourself or stepped out of your comfort zone in order to impact your community (for example, your family, friend group, high school, or town). or, share a way you hope to do so at fordham. (150 words max).

This Fordham University supplemental essay prompt looks at how you will contribute to the Fordham community. Fordham University admissions looks for students who know how to collaborate with others and foster positive learning environments.

This Fordham University essay prompt gives you two options—describe a past experience or a future goal. The strongest Fordham essays will likely address a past experience. These essays will show that you know how to create the change you seek rather than just imagining what might be done.

Choosing a topic

To begin this Fordham essay, brainstorm a list of times when you impacted your communities. Prioritize instances when you spearheaded change and saw real results. Think about what experience will best add to the narrative from your Common App essay. If you focused on your academic work , use your Fordham supplement essay to introduce us to one of your non-academic communities. By contrast, if you focused your Common App essay on family and friends, introduce us to your academic or extracurricular communities.

If you do not have an experience that fits this Fordham University essay prompt, focus your Fordham supplement essay on one way you hope to impact the Fordham community. Since you are talking in abstracts, specificity is key here. What community within Fordham University do you hope to impact? You can also use this Fordham essay to give Fordham University admissions a sense of what communities you would join on campus. This helps them envision what kind of student you might be.

Writing your essay

In your Fordham essay, write in specific terms about the change you wish to create. This might take some research. If you want to join the theater community on campus, look at their current extracurricular theater opportunities. Is there something missing you would like to spearhead or a group you would like to start? Is there a club you would like to join and expand?

Whether you choose a past experience or a future goal, pick a challenge that made (or will make) you step out of your comfort zone. This shows that you carefully read the Fordham University essay prompt and illustrates how you hope to grow as a person and student.

Remember, you only have 150 words to write this Fordham supplement essay. This means that specificity is key for this Fordham University application essay. Be brief when describing how you made or would make an impact. Focus on the impact itself and, if applicable, the resulting change in your community.

Fordham Essay Reflection Questions:

• Does your response fully answer the Fordham University essay prompt?
• Do you clearly show what kind of community member you are?
• Does your response enrich the narrative you put forth in the rest of your application?

Fordham Supplemental Essays #2: COVID-19 Response

Fall 2022 applicants will have the opportunity to tell us more about how covid-19 has impacted (and continues to impact) their lives. please feel free to use this section to discuss this topic as opposed to your essay. this response is optional..

The next Fordham University supplemental essay prompt gives you the chance to discuss COVID-19 . It also asks applicants not to do so in the Common App essay or other Fordham supplemental essays.

This Fordham essay lets you discuss another key moment of growth or change in your life. How did COVID-19 impact your high school experience? What did it change about how you interface with your academic community? How did you learn about yourself? Finally, if you join the Fordham community, what will you take with you from this experience? In this Fordham supplement essay, focus on the impact of COVID-19 on your own life rather than its impact on the world.

You may struggle to focus on just a few ways in which COVID-19 impacted you—no doubt it changed much of your life. Again, think back to your application narrative . What version of yourself do you want to highlight in this application? Given the other components of your application, what part of your experience during COVID-19 should you focus on in this Fordham supplement essay? This is a great chance to show Fordham University admissions how you can overcome adversity.

This Fordham University supplemental essay does not have a word limit. Nevertheless, write with the same precision you brought to the first Fordham supplement essay.

• Does your Fordham essay highlight the personal impact of COVID-19 on your life?
• Does your response to this Fordham University essay prompt enrich the rest of your application narrative?

Fordham Supplemental Essays #3: Additional Information Essay

For this Fordham University supplemental essay, think about if you need to explain your grades and test scores. This would usually mean you had a serious disruption to your academics, such as a medical or family concern.

If this applies to you, describe the impact of that circumstance or event and how it impeded your ability to do your best work. If this circumstance has been resolved, explain how so and the improved student you have become in its aftermath. Alternatively, if it is ongoing, explain how you’ve learned to handle that stressor. Make sure to foreground how you will be able to meet the academic standards of Fordham University even as this circumstance persists.

If the above does not apply to you, you might use this Fordham supplement essay to round out your application and expand on a co-curricular you did not touch on in your other essays. Remember, a co-curricular is an activity that complements your academic courses, such as participating in debate society or mock trial team. Playing on a sports team , for instance, is not a co-curricular activity.

As you approach this Fordham supplement essay, remember the narrative you created in the rest of your application. If you wrote your Common App essay on how your passion for the arts has shaped your life, this Fordham supplement essay may be a good place to expand your experience as a member of your high school’s drama club.

Fordham Essay Draft Key Questions:

• If you need to explain extenuating circumstances that impacted your academics, did you do so clearly and explain how you have improved or will improve as a student?
• Alternatively, if you chose to expand on a co-curricular involvement, did you clarify how you will enrich the corresponding community at Fordham?
• Does your response to this Fordham supplement essay supplement the narrative you put forth in the rest of your application?

Does Fordham care about essays?

The answer: yes.

In short, each university cares about its essays. The Common App essay is required, so that is of course a must. However, to have the strongest application possible, you should also complete at least the first of the Fordham supplemental essays.

We want to reiterate that Fordham’s website states applicants will not be penalized for not answering the Fordham supplemental essays. However, completing the Fordham supplemental essays will show interest and care. Not to mention, the Fordham supplemental essays are another opportunity to enrich your application and show Fordham University admissions what kind of student you are.

Your Fordham University supplemental essays are an important part of your how to get into Fordham strategy. Besides familiarizing yourself with the Fordham University acceptance rate or Fordham University ranking, the best way to get into any university—besides striving for stellar academics , high test scores ,  and engaging extracurriculars that speak to your ambitions—is to complete all of the application carefully and thoroughly. For Fordham, that means answering each of the Fordham supplemental essays if they apply to you.

No matter your major, you can expect to do a fair amount of writing in your college courses. Fordham values writing and communication skills, and each Fordham essay is your chance to demonstrate those abilities. When you finalize your draft, make sure your final Fordham essay is free of any spelling and grammatical errors.

What is Demonstrated Interest?

Many universities like Fordham rely on something called demonstrated interest (DI) in the admissions process. Demonstrated interest is used by admissions to determine how interested a student is in attending their school. While you can show DI in small ways like visiting the campus or interacting with the school on social media, one of the biggest (and easiest) ways to show DI is through your supplemental essays. When admissions officers are looking at two similar student profiles—similar grades, GPAs , and extracurricular activities—then the deciding factor is often which student gives a stronger “why” for wanting to attend their school. For more information on demonstrated interest, check out this article in Forbes .

Research Fordham University and be sure you can clearly answer the question, “Why Fordham?” If you are simply applying because it is a competitive university or because you want to live in New York City, Fordham admissions will be able to tell. Make sure your Fordham essays foreground your particular interest in Fordham. There are many other competitive universities in New York City. What is it about Fordham, specifically, that feels like a good fit for you? Is there a field you want to pursue that Fordham specializes in? Do Fordham’s Jesuit principles appeal to you as a person and learner? Are you drawn to a specific department’s teaching methodology? Be sure you can answer yes to at least one of these questions.

Showing how you “fit”

Once you know why Fordham is a good fit for you, be sure you can answer why you are a good fit for Fordham. Can you meet the academic requirements ? Do you have something to offer to the student community, such as experience as a community leader or special interest in a certain area? Make sure to highlight this in your Fordham essays.

Finally, go above and beyond by writing all of the Fordham supplemental essays. This will show your increased interest, particularly since applicants can easily add the university onto their Common Application list without much thought. Writing the Fordham supplemental essays shows Fordham University admissions you are choosing Fordham specifically and would more likely attend.

Five tips for writing your Fordham supplemental essays

Fordham supplemental essays tips, #1- get your questions answered.

If you’re confused about any part of your application, including your Fordham supplemental essays, don’t worry! We have tons of resources on how to get started on your essays, including our Ask an Admissions Officer Essay FAQ .

#2- Plan ahead

Start early by creating a timeline. Ideally, you will start thinking about your essays the summer before your application period.

#3- Stay organized

Be sure to make an essay checklist to help guide you. Compile a checklist for each essay and evaluate your progress. Do you fully answer each part of the Fordham University essay prompt? Does your response contribute to your larger application narrative? Are your answers specific and true to who you are?

#4- Save time for editing

Editing is one of the most important parts of the supplemental essay writing processes, so make sure you leave time to thoroughly edit your Fordham supplemental essays. It is always ideal to have a second pair of eyes on your writing to catch any grammar or punctuation issues as well as to check for clarity and tone.

#5- Get an outside opinion

Before you submit your Fordham supplemental essays, ask a peer, mentor, parent/guardian, or advisor to l ook over your essay for you. They can give you advice on clarity, flow, and even catch any grammar or spelling mistakes you might have missed while proofreading.

Fordham Supplemental Essays: Final Thoughts

We’ve answered the question of “does Fordham have supplemental essays.” It does, and if you want to maximize your admissions odds, you should complete them if they apply to you. 

If Fordham is on your college list or is your dream school , you’ve probably thought about the Fordham supplemental essays. Don’t feel daunted by the Fordham essay requirements; instead, use them as a chance to highlight your strengths. 

Along with the Fordham University ranking, the Fordham supplemental essays may seem daunting, but don’t let that discourage you from applying. Fordham essays are one of your biggest opportunities to showcase who you are and impress Fordham admissions.  The Fordham University supplemental essays are the perfect chance to set yourself apart as an applicant. They are also a great way to supplement lower-than-average test scores or a low GPA .

Start early and have a plan

When you’re ready to tackle the Fordham supplemental essays, remember to start early . Plan out your Fordham University supplemental essay topics, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. An extra set of eyes or a partner to talk your Fordham essay ideas out with is always a good idea, as long as they ultimately help you construct the essay you want to write. Good luck!

This Fordham supplemental essays guide was written by Stefanie Tedards. Looking for more admissions support? Click  here  to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how  CollegeAdvisor.com  can support you in the college application process.

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How to Get Into Fordham University: Admissions Stats + Tips

What’s covered, how hard is it to get into fordham university, average academic profile of accepted fordham university students.

• What is Fordham University Looking For?
• How To Improve Your Chances of Getting Into Fordham University?
• How To Apply To Fordham University
• Learn More About

Fordham University is home to two campuses—one in the Bronx and the other in Manhattan—which provides students access to both the school’s rigorous academics as well as all the opportunities afforded by living in one of the world’s great cities, New York. The combination of academic excellence and incredible location are two of the primary reasons why Fordham University is considered among the most prestigious Jesuit colleges in the country. 

Getting into Fordham University is challenging. Fordham received 46,160 applications for its Class of 2025 and extended admissions offers to 26,925 applicants , which equates to a 58% overall acceptance rate . Although Fordham’s acceptance rate is low, your chances of gaining admissions depend on the strength of your profile. 

Collegevine can help you better understand your chances of acceptance at Fordham. Our free admissions calculator uses a variety of factors—like grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities—to estimate your odds of admission and provide tips to improve your profile. 

The average high school GPA of Fordham’s Class of 2025 is 3.77 . 

The middle 50% SAT score of Fordham’s Class of 2025 is 1340-1480 and its middle 50% ACT score is 30-34 . Roughly 60% of applicants admitted to Fordham’s Class of 2025 did not submit standardized tests.

The majority of applicants admitted to Fordham’s Class of 2025 graduated near the top of their high school class— 48% graduated in the top tenth of their high school and 84% graduated in the top quarter. 

What is Fordham University Looking for?

This idea of “more”— magis —is an underpinning of a Jesuit education and is a core quality that Fordham is looking for in applicants. Fordham students push themselves to improve in every aspect of their lives, demanding “more” from themselves and working to improve their surrounding community. Fordham students are participants and actively pursue what they’re passionate about, whether it’s social justice, climate change, or family. 

A Jesuit education is founded on the tradition of the cura personalis (the “whole person”), and a belief that a college’s role is not limited to a student’s academic success, but also their mental, physical, and spiritual health, as well as their growth as a member of the community. Consequently, Fordham wants students who are academically talented, but who also possess qualities like perseverance, integrity, and leadership.   

How Fordham University Evaluates Applications

According to their 2019-2020 Common Data Set (Fordham has yet to publish its 2020-2021 Common Data Set), Fordham University considers the following factors “very important” :

• Course rigor

These factors are “important” :

• Recommendations
• Extracurricular activities 
• Volunteer work 
• Work experience 

These are “considered” :

• Test scores 
• First generation
• Geographic location 
• Racial/ethnic status 
• Applicant interest 

And these are “not considered” :

• Religious affiliation

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into Fordham University 

1. achieve at least a 3.77 average gpa while taking the most challenging classes available.

GPA is “very important” to Fordham University admissions; the average high school GPA of its Class of 2025 was 3.77 and 48% of them graduated in the top tenth of their high school. To earn admission to Fordham, you’ll need great grades. Top-tier schools like Fordham use a tool known as the Academic Index to distinguish academically qualified applicants from those who are not. For your application to receive serious consideration, it’s critical to meet Fordham’s standard for Academic Index.     

If you’re early in your high school career and your GPA is below Fordham’s threshold, there is still time to raise it—check out our tips for increasing your GPA . If you’re a junior or senior, however, it’s more difficult to increase your GPA and the easiest way to boost your Academic Index is to get high test scores. 

Simply having great grades is not enough to wow Fordham’s admissions officers, you’ll need to earn them in the most challenging coursework available to you (course rigor is also “very important” to Fordham’s admissions process). It’s common for students admitted to highly selective schools like Fordham to have completed between five and 12 AP classes in high school.

2. Write engaging essays

Nearly every applicant to Fordham possesses an excellent academic profile. While establishing your academic bona fides is vital to gaining consideration, essays are the best area to separate yourself from other candidates and a factor Fordham considers “important” to admissions decisions. Fordham requires applicants to complete the essay part of the Common Application and also gives them the opportunity to craft a short (150-word max) response to the following prompt:

At Fordham, we expect students to care for and engage with their communities. Please share a specific instance in which you challenged yourself or stepped out of your comfort zone in order to impact your community (for example, your family, friend group, high school, or town). Or, share a way you hope to do so at Fordham.

The short answer essay is optional, but if you’re very interested in Fordham, you should plan on crafting a response. It’s an excellent opportunity to show how you fit at Fordham and how the college will benefit from admitting you. It also demonstrates your interest in the school—something Fordham “considers” when making admissions decisions. For help creating a compelling essay, check out our article, “ How to Write the Fordham University Essays 2021-2022 .”

3. Cultivate a strong extracurricular profile.

A Fordham education is built on nurturing the “whole person,” cura personalis , and extracurricular activities are the best way to show the university who you are outside of the classroom. Fordham views extracurriculars as “important” to admissions. It also highly values character, talent, volunteer work, and work experience, all of which are also “important” to admissions. 

Not all extracurriculars are created equal and competitive applicants typically have a highly developed interest known as a “ spike ” along with one or two impressive extracurriculars (among a portfolio of several other activities) . For example, an applicant who founded an organization or movement to fight against racism is a stronger candidate than one who took part in a Black Lives Matter march. Similarly, an applicant with an interest in STEM who won a National Science Foundation fellowship is more impressive than an applicant who was a member of their high school robotics club. 

The four tiers of extracurriculars provide a good guide to understanding how colleges value your activities outside of the classroom and how they affect your odds of acceptance.       

4. Get a really great recommendation

Recommendations are “important” to Fordham admissions. The university requires you to submit one recommendation, from either a teacher or counselor, but will accept additional recommendations. The person writing your recommendation should speak to your academics, but also provide a view of you as a member of your school community. 

Because the recommendation plays a considerable role in Fordham admissions and distinguishing yourself from other applicants, it’s important to receive a persuasive one. The nine rules for requesting letters of recommendation from teachers provide a good guide to the process and cover everything from who to ask, when to ask, and what you need to do to get a great recommendation. 

5. Aim for a 1480 SAT and 34 ACT

The middle 50% SAT/ACT scores of Fordham’s Class of 2025 are 1340-1480 / 30-34 . The university only “considers” test scores and only about 40% of applicants admitted to Fordham’s Class of 2025 submit standardized test scores—however, a strong performance on the SAT or ACT is an excellent way to demonstrate that you’re academically qualified for Fordham. The closer you score to the high end of the middle 50% range, the better your odds of admission. 

Fordham is test-optional for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 admission cycles and applicants are not penalized if they do not submit an SAT or ACT score. CollegeVine generally recommends submitting test scores if they’re within the middle 50% range of accepted students. You can get recommendations on whether or not you should apply test-optional using our free chancing engine . 

Fordham superscores both the SAT and ACT and taking one of the exams two to three times is a proven strategy to maximize your overall score. To improve your SAT/ACT score, check out these free CollegeVine resources:

• How to Get a Perfect 1600 Score on the SAT
• How to Get a Perfect 36 Score on the ACT
• More SAT Info and Tips
• More ACT Info and Tips

6. Apply Early Action/Early Decision

Fordham University has three admissions processes: Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), and Regular Decision (RD). Applying ED can significantly improve your odds of admission. For example, the 52% ED acceptance rate of Fordham’s Class of 2024 was quite a bit higher than its 46% overall acceptance rate . 

Applying Early Decision at Fordham is not without its drawbacks. Most notably, applying ED is binding, and when you apply through it, you’re committing to attend Fordham if accepted, which makes it best suited to applicants who are positive that Fordham is where they want to attend college. 

Early Action is a good alternative if you’re not prepared to commit to Fordham. It demonstrates your interest—which the college considers—but doesn’t tie you to the school if accepted. 

How to Apply to Fordham University 

Application requirements.

Fordham University accepts the Common Application. Other requirements include:

• High school transcript 
• Letter of recommendation 
• SAT/ACT scores (optional)
• Fordham writing supplement (optional) 

Learn more about Fordham University 

Interested in learning more about Fordham? Check out these other informative articles: 

• What is Fordham University Known for?
• What Does it Really Cost to Attend Fordham University?
• All 27 Jesuit Colleges: Which is Right for You?
• The 10 Most Underrated Colleges for Business/Economics in the U.S.
• 22 Top Colleges Without Greek Life

Want to know your chances at Fordham? Calculate your chances for free right now .

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