Rutgers Newark to Fordham (Evening Programs) Forum

[Riles246]

Hey all,

I was recently accepted to Fordham as an evening transfer. I'm currently at Rutgers-Newark, and am doing well there. In my mind, Fordham seems to be a big jump, but after reading the forums some people seem to think it isn't worth the extra $$$ over Rutgers. Money isn't a huge issue- I won't be taking out loans; but that doesn't mean that it is free. Fordham is a slightly longer commute for me on some days, about 20 mins, but about half the time I work out of NYC anyway so its kind of a moot point.

Obviously it will be a considerable hassle to transfer- new school, new people, new surroundings, etc., but after the first few weeks (and first exams), I'm sure I'll adapt just fine. I'm most interested in tax law and possibly a career in politics, and school name recognition is of some importance to me. I'm really diligent so I'm sure I'll do fine wherever I'm at, but can someone confirm that Fordham is a worthwile jump?

I'm still waiting to hear from GW, although now that I've been rejected by GULC my wife admitted to me that she wasn't super interested in uprooting the family and moving to DC, so I think GW is probably out even if I were to be accepted.

[audrey hepburn]

How are you doing at Rutgers? If you're in the top of your class at Rutgers, don't you feel like you'll have good opportunities, if not better, than if you were in the middle of your class at Fordham? Also, I think I read somewhere that Fordham transfers don't get to participate in OCI? I would find out about that.

[Riles246]

How are you doing at Rutgers? If you're in the top of your class at Rutgers, don't you feel like you'll have good opportunities, if not better, than if you were in the middle of your class at Fordham? Also, I think I read somewhere that Fordham transfers don't get to participate in OCI? I would find out about that.

I'm doing well there (3.8/4.0, 3.0 curve), but I'm not really concerned about getting a job out of school since I'm already working in the job that I will have after school (law school will provide me with a pay bump after graduation). But, who knows where my mind will be in three years, so I can't say for sure that I will definitely continue in my current field. I'm also not at all interested in OCI since it will be years before I consider a career change.

Of biggest concern for me is my future- portability of the degree across geographies and work fields, and hopefully a stab at elected office. I'm really hoping to get a great education, with a great name attached to it, but I'm also very mindful of the competition in the class and I feel like I'd learn more at a more selective/competitive school. Perhaps this is not so? I'm not sure, but I want to take advantage of every opportunity I've created for myself.

[audrey hepburn]

With your grades, it seems like maybe you had a chance at NYU or Columbia? did you try applying there? It sounds like you care about the level of prestige of your school so maybe you should go to Fordham if the cost is not a problem for you.

[OperaSoprano]

How are you doing at Rutgers? If you're in the top of your class at Rutgers, don't you feel like you'll have good opportunities, if not better, than if you were in the middle of your class at Fordham? Also, I think I read somewhere that Fordham transfers don't get to participate in OCI? I would find out about that.

OP, it sounds like you need to stay PT, from the schools you've applied to. To answer Audrey, transfers can participate in weeks 1-8 of OCI, but our bidding for Early Interview Week (EIW) is already finished, so that is the part transfers aren't able to do. EIW is when most of the biggest firms come. If OP wants a V100 job, he may actually have an easier time getting one if he stays. For just about anything else, his prospects will be better at Fordham. It isn't quite true that employers will see him as a median student. True, he'll lose his stellar GPA, but he'll be able to refer to his former rank and honors at Rutgers on his resume if he comes here. Because cost isn't a huge factor, I think it will come down to what OP wants to do post graduation. If he is interested in the employers coming to Rutgers OCI, he'll have a good shot at them. If not, he'll have a reasonable shot at our fall OCI employers, though obviously not the same shot that a 3.8 here would have (that's at least top 5% at Fordham, and it's probably higher at Rutgers, given the curve there.)

As far as experience goes, I have loved being a Fordham evening student. I cannot now imagine having lived my 1L year any other way.

[b1ue]

I cannot now imagine having lived my 1L year any other way.

Imagination fail.

[afterglow99]

How are you doing at Rutgers? If you're in the top of your class at Rutgers, don't you feel like you'll have good opportunities, if not better, than if you were in the middle of your class at Fordham? Also, I think I read somewhere that Fordham transfers don't get to participate in OCI? I would find out about that.

Rutgers OCI doesn't look that great. For early interview week they have 45 firms, with many from NY just doing resume collect. There's about 8 or 9 NY firms actually showing for interviews.

[Riles246]

At this point I'm also debating staying at Rutgers for another year then applying for transfer to full time programs like Columbia. I got rejected from GW and GULC, although I'm positive my academic performance was sufficient. The only distinguishing factor between myself and those admitted is my part-time status- I only have 18 or so credits completed, whereas a typical transfer student should be around 30. So I'm also considering maybe staying another year, keeping my grades up, then reaching for the stars again next spring.

Is this dumb when I could just go to Fordham right now?

________________________________

Edit: Eh, I'm making life too tough with all of these decisions. I'm just going to check out Fordham this weekend to make sure the commute isn't much worse than my current situation then I'll probably drop in the deposit on Monday.

[king3780]

At this point I'm also debating staying at Rutgers for another year then applying for transfer to full time programs like Columbia. I got rejected from GW and GULC, although I'm positive my academic performance was sufficient. The only distinguishing factor between myself and those admitted is my part-time status- I only have 18 or so credits completed, whereas a typical transfer student should be around 30. So I'm also considering maybe staying another year, keeping my grades up, then reaching for the stars again next spring.

Is this dumb when I could just go to Fordham right now?

________________________________

Edit: Eh, I'm making life too tough with all of these decisions. I'm just going to check out Fordham this weekend to make sure the commute isn't much worse than my current situation then I'll probably drop in the deposit on Monday.

Congrats on the acceptance and the grades. BTW, hope you weren't hoping to be anonymous with that username. (I'm a classmate of yours) Lesson for those that haven't heard yet: it's not the gunners you have to watch out for, it's the quiet ones like Riles.

[Riles246]

Congrats on the acceptance and the grades. BTW, hope you weren't hoping to be anonymous with that username. (I'm a classmate of yours) Lesson for those that haven't heard yet: it's not the gunners you have to watch out for, it's the quiet ones like Riles.

Haha thanks. I gave up on anonymity after the first or second post. Even being as vague as possible, my username pretty much gives me away. The classmates are one of the things making the decision tougher, though- I don't like the idea that I'm going to have to meet people all over again, after having a whole year to get to know everyone. I feel like our class breaks the mold (or at least the stereotype) of a law school class, since everyone is helpful and friendly rather than cold and competitive.

I'm glad LRW is over though- if there's one thing that being a quiet accountant sucks for, it's oral arguments.