Fordham asks you to answer one (1) optional question from the four choices below, with a maximum of 300 words. Your choice should reveal a unique perspective and demonstrate your potential to contribute to the Fordham community.
1. At Fordham, we expect students to care for and engage with their communities... 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.
When I first started volunteering at the local food pantry, I saw myself as a helper and the people who came in as simply needing help. My perspective was one of charity. That changed one Tuesday when I met a woman named Maria. She was a single mother who worked two jobs but still struggled to make ends meet. She wasn’t looking for a handout; she was looking for a way to give her kids a healthy meal. Talking with her, I realized my view was too simple. The problem wasn't just a lack of food, but a lack of access, opportunity, and fair wages. My point of view shifted from charity to justice. I understood that handing out cans of soup was a temporary fix for a much larger, systemic problem. This new perspective empowered me to take action. I organized a "community resources" drive at my school, collecting not just food, but also information on job training programs, childcare services, and public transportation routes. I learned that being an active citizen isn't just about giving what you have; it's about listening to what people need and working to change the systems that hold them back. This experience taught me that true positive change starts with empathy.
2. Fordham... recognizes the dignity, uniqueness and potential of each person... Describe how you would contribute to our campus community as an actively engaged learner and leader.
Growing up, I was my family’s unofficial translator. This meant more than just switching between English and Spanish for my grandparents. I was the bridge between two cultures and two generations. I translated school forms, explained American slang, and helped my family navigate a world that was often unfamiliar to them. This experience shaped my identity as a connector and a problem-solver. My strength is in listening carefully to understand different perspectives and finding the common ground. I learned to be patient, to communicate clearly, and to value the unique viewpoint that each person brings to a conversation. I would bring this skill to the Fordham community as an actively engaged learner. In a classroom discussion, I would be the student who works to ensure every voice is heard, especially those that are quietest. In a group project, I would be the leader who helps mediate disagreements by focusing on our shared goals. My personal story has taught me that collaboration is not just about working together, but about understanding together. At Fordham, I would use my experience as a "translator" to help build a community where every student feels seen, heard, and valued.
3. Our motto is “New York is my campus, Fordham is my school.”... What has prepared you to embrace the unique opportunity of living and learning in New York City?
I grew up in a town with one traffic light and more cows than people. For a long time, my world was small. But I was always curious about what lay beyond it. My preparation for a place like New York City didn't come from traveling, but from my job at the town’s only 24-hour diner. The diner was our town’s crossroads. It was where I met long-haul truck drivers with stories from across the country, tourists who had taken a wrong turn, and night-shift workers from every walk of life. I learned to talk to anyone, to listen to their stories, and to find common ground with people who were completely different from me. It was a masterclass in human connection. This experience did more than just teach me how to make a perfect milkshake; it taught me how to be comfortable with the unfamiliar. It replaced my fear of the unknown with a deep curiosity. I am not just prepared for the diversity and challenge of New York City; I am actively seeking it. My time at the diner gave me a hunger for new perspectives and experiences that my small town could no longer satisfy.
4. Is there something that you are proud of that you would like to share with the Admission Committee?
I am proud of the fact that I learned how to bake my grandmother’s sourdough bread. This might not sound like a major accomplishment, but for me, it represents a year of patient, frustrating, and ultimately rewarding work. My grandmother’s recipe was not a list of ingredients, but a series of feelings. “Add water until it feels right,” she would say. My first ten attempts were disasters. The loaves were flat, dense, and sour. I was ready to give up, but I remembered the look of joy on my grandmother’s face when she would pull a perfect loaf from the oven. So I kept trying. I started a journal, documenting every variable: the temperature of the water, the humidity in the kitchen, the mood of the starter. Slowly, I began to understand the science and the art. The day I finally baked a loaf that had the right crust, the right crumb, and the right smell, I felt a profound sense of accomplishment. I am proud of this because it taught me the value of perseverance. It showed me that the most rewarding achievements are not the ones that come easy, but the ones that require dedication, a willingness to fail, and a whole lot of patience.
All the best
