Fordham's short response is optional: one of three questions, up to 300 words, about personal growth and community impact. A new perspective or a courageous action; what prepared you to live and learn in New York City; or what your future self would say you accomplished at Fordham.
Fordham says you will not be penalized for skipping its optional writing, and calls it a great opportunity to share what the rest of your application does not show.
Fordham's questions at a glance
| Question | Limit | Who answers it | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. A new perspective or a courageous action | 300 words | Optional: answer up to 1 of 3 | Community |
| B. Living and learning in New York City | 300 words | Optional: answer up to 1 of 3 | Why this college |
| C. A message from your future self | 300 words | Optional: answer up to 1 of 3 | Creative prompt |
How to plan the Fordham supplement
- 1Write it if you have a story of growth or community impact the application does not show.
- 2The New York City prompt is a disguised why-Fordham: be specific about learning in the city.
Optional short response: choose one of three questions (300 words max).
1. A. A new perspective or a courageous action
Fordham's wording · 300 words · Optional: answer up to 1 of 3Your choice of one of three short response questions (300 words max) is meant to help you reflect on your personal growth and community impact. How will you continue to grow and impact our communities at Fordham and in New York City?“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?).”
What it is really asking. An experience that gave you a new perspective, changed your point of view or pushed you to act or be courageous, with examples of your personal growth.
How to approach it
- 1Show the experience, then the growth with a concrete before and after.
- 2Fordham asks for examples: name the new skill or strength.
Mistakes to avoid
- Growth claimed but not shown.
Full guide: How to Write Fordham's "New Perspective" Short Response
2. B. Living and learning in New York City
Fordham's wording · 300 words · Optional: answer up to 1 of 3Your choice of one of three short response questions (300 words max) is meant to help you reflect on your personal growth and community impact. How will you continue to grow and impact our communities at Fordham and in New York City?“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?”
What it is really asking. What has prepared you to take up the opportunity of living and learning in New York City, in light of Fordham's motto, "New York is my campus, Fordham is my school."
How to approach it
- 1Show the preparation: independence, curiosity, comfort with difference.
- 2Name how you would use the city for learning.
Mistakes to avoid
- Tourist highlights.
Full guide: How to Write Fordham's New York City Short Response
3. C. A message from your future self
Fordham's wording · 300 words · Optional: answer up to 1 of 3Your choice of one of three short response questions (300 words max) is meant to help you reflect on your personal growth and community impact. How will you continue to grow and impact our communities at Fordham and in New York City?“At Fordham, we have a tradition of having our graduating seniors send a message to their younger selves. What will the future “you” tell the “you” of today about what you accomplished as a Fordham student?”
What it is really asking. What your future self, graduating from Fordham, would tell you about what you accomplished there.
How to approach it
- 1Write it as a message, with specific accomplishments and growth.
Mistakes to avoid
- Only career achievements.
More on this kind of question: College essay tips that apply to creative prompts
What our grader checks in your Fordham answers
Every answer is judged against a checklist for its kind of question plus one check written for Fordham's own wording. Each area comes back Met, Partly or Missing, and those verdicts (with the word limit) set the answer's readiness: Ready, Nearly there or Needs work. There is no score out of 100.
| Question | Fordham's own check |
|---|---|
| A. A new perspective or a courageous action | It connects the answer to Fordham's community and does every part of what Fordham's question asks. |
| B. Living and learning in New York City | Names what has prepared the applicant to take up living and learning in New York City. |
| C. A message from your future self | It does every part of what Fordham's question asks, in the college's own terms. |
The type checklists are on the supplemental essay grader page.
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