Members of the Ramily probably won’t be surprised to find Fordham on a list of 75 dream schools in a new book by the author of the 2020 bestseller Who Gets In and Why.
The New York Times named Jeffrey Selingo’s first work one of the 100 most notable books of the year. Now Selingo is out with a follow-up and companion guide, Dream School, Finding the College That’s Right for You, and names Fordham University a “new” dream school.
The latest book shifts the spotlight from how colleges pick students to how students can better pick colleges, with the goal of giving them “tools to discover their dream school,” the author said. Published by Scribner, it hit shelves this week.
Senior Madeline Curmi is living the dream. Going into her final year at Fordham, Curmi already has an auditing job lined up after she graduates and will work in Boston while earning her C.P.A. license. She plans to return to New York to work after a year.
“Fordham was my dream school because it offered the perfect combination of rigorous academics and its location in New York City,” said Curmi, who is studying finance and accounting. “I knew I wanted a university that would challenge me intellectually while also giving me access to internships and a diverse community. Fordham’s emphasis on cura personalis (care for the whole person) really resonated with me.”
The author, who is also co-host of the podcast Future U, said the 75 institutions listed “reflect the book’s core message: When we stop equating selectivity of schools with quality, dozens of college opportunities open up. My goal with this book is to help families see beyond the myth that there are only a dozen ‘good’ schools.” Selingo considered affordability, financial health, student engagement, geographic diversity, and career outcomes for his list.
Fordham landed in the “Large Leaders” category, along with the likes of Clemson, Michigan State, Oregon State, North Carolina State, Southern Methodist University, William & Mary, and Syracuse, among others.
Excerpt:
The university’s mentoring program formalizes connections between students and alumni through twenty-four hours of one-on-one engagement each year, leading to opportunities with employers like JPMorgan Chase and Citi. Fordham also maintains a strong global perspective, with 40 percent of students studying abroad through 125 programs in fifty-plus countries. Popular majors include finance, business administration, and psychology, and the theater program at Lincoln Center draws national recognition.
STANDOUT FACTOR
Fordham graduates earn $78,820 annually ten years after enrollment, outperforming baseline predictions, perhaps owing to the school’s strong placement rates in New York’s financial sector.
“We’re proud of this recognition and know that the opportunities, connections, and support we give our students—with the power of a New York City launchpad—make Fordham a dream school for so many,” said Fordham President Tania Tetlow. “Through those resources and our Jesuit values, Fordham prepares students for a future that truly matters.”
