Why I Want to Attend Fordham University - Admission/Application Essay Example

 Why I Want to Attend Fordham University I am a U.S Army man, deployed in Afghanistan. My ambition is to get accepted to Fordham Law School and get a degree in law. In fact, I have understood during my years of service in the Army that to serve my country and people, it is necessary to have solid education as the base. Also, I understand the importance of joining a well-reputed school to fulfil my dreams. In fact the beginning of my education was not so good. I started my education at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. However, my grades were not so good. In fact, even my entry to Marist College was the result of my Football Scholarship. Admittedly, at that time, I was more like a social butterfly than like a student. Instead of concentrating on my studies, I was happy enjoying the newly found freedom. In fact, my parents are married for more than thirty years and this orthodox mentality was visible in their decisions regarding my education too. They afforded me very little freedom and wanted me to become a professional football player. However, I failed to meet the expectations of my family as I concentrated neither on my football nor on my studies. The result was that I failed in both. However, things turned right as I met the woman who has become my wife. It was my time with her that opened my eyes for the first time. In fact, she was from a family of first generation immigrants and they had to struggle a lot to improve their social position and to earn a normal living. Listening to her story, for the first time in my life, I understood how important it is to have good education to lead a respectful and useful life as a husband, citizen, and a good human being. Thus, I restarted my education by enrolling at SUNY Orange in Middletown, New York. This time, I selected the course carefully. As I was interested in law from the very beginning of my life, I selected Criminal Justice. Thus, my matriculation was in Criminal Justice. With my enlightenment, my score improved considerably. I secured 18 credits in my first semester and entered Dean’s list with a 3.8. Admittedly, this would not help me erase my poor beginning. However, it helps me show others that I have changed in my outlook. Also, the good score gave me enough strength and confidence to surge ahead towards my goals. Soon, I joined the U.S Army Reserves. In fact, I was getting more and more insights about my aim in life. During my years in the army, I observed and learnt a lot about the different people in my society. I got more knowledge about the wants, struggles, needs, and dedications of people to not only their family, but also to the society and the country. This resulted in the realization that I have to gain more education if I want to serve my nation. With this renewed motivation, I continued with my studies by enrolling at Devry University online before leaving for Afghanistan. During my deployment in Afghanistan, I continued my studies and managed to complete 26 credits with a GPA of 3.68. Now my intention is to complete the next semester with a GPA of at least 3.8. Now, I am back and it is necessary for me to complete my bachelorette degree in order to enter the prestigious Fordham Law School. Now I want to enter Fordham University because it is one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. There was interruption in my bachelorette studies as I was in Afghanistan serving the US Army. Still, I managed to maintain a GPA of 3.68. I am sure that now back, I will be able to perform much better. Also, I think it is now necessary for me to complete my bachelorette and start the next stage in achieving my goal by entering the Fordham Law School. Admittedly, my dream is to enter the Fordham Law School for my further studies. I am sure that this is a wise decision considering the fact that Fordham is one of the best Universities in the world, and the Fordham Law School is ranked 29th in the U.S according to the 2013 edition of ‘America’s Best Graduate Schools’ by News & World Report (Fordham University). According to the report, the University’s education is worth for not only the recognition it enjoys around the world but also factors like the presence of experienced and dedicated staff, excellent infrastructure and research facilities, and the vibrant and multicultural campus life it offers. Evidently, Fordham is the dream of all students who want to get the best in the field as the University is well known for its diversity. Also, every student who wants to get a degree in law would give first preference to a law school like Fordham. As the Law School website itself declares, what Fordham offers is a complete legal education, and it is this feature that makes Fordham law education different from others. To illustrate, Fordham makes sure that the solid legal theory is balanced with hands-on learning about the art of lawyering. That means a student who comes out from Fordham will be able to practice law from the first day of his professional life. That happens because Fordham Law School offers simulation exercises which offer the students a chance to practice new skills. This comes in combination with the help of professional actors who will help the students improve their presentation skills. In addition, in order to improve the critical thinking capacity of the students, there is the Legal Writing Program. There are a large number of other advanced lawyering skills development programs which are unique for Fordham. For example, the Dispute Resolution Program of the School is ranked 11th in the US (Fordham University). Also, the school has its own Dispute Resolution Society which takes part in national and international mediation and arbitration competitions. In addition, there is the Clinical Legal Education Program which is ranked 15 in the world. This program is intended to allow students to develop professional judgment and legal skills in real practice setting. Also, there is the Moot Court Program of Fordham, which is considered 8th best in the country (Fordham University). This helps in developing the future advocates in writing and oral skills. Finally, I have to mention the Brendan Moore trial Advocacy Program which promotes the students’ presence and composure in the courtroom. Another vital point that attracts me towards Fordham is the high degree of attention it pays to ethics. As I came to know, the Law School ensures that the students engage in meaningful discussions on various ethical issues. As a result, a student who comes out of the Fordham Law School will be able to take tough decisions in situations where ethical dilemmas are involved. For example, the School has the famous Louis Stein Center for Law and Ethics, the Feerick Center for Social Justice, and the Institute on Religion, Law and Lawyer’s Work. These various centers will help a lawyer to become familiar with ethics and ethical issues in advocacy from various aspects. In total, it becomes evident that the best way out for me at this juncture of my education is to enter Fordham University to complete my studies. My goal is to get my graduation in law. As already discussed, my intention to pursue law is not a fad but the result of years of thought and observation. I have been to places like Afghanistan as a part of the US Army, and as I came to know about various people and their issues, I realized the fact that with more knowledge about law, I would be able to serve the society in a better way. References Fordham University. (n. d.). Fordham Law: Reputation for Excellence. Retrieved from http://law.fordham.edu/about-fordham/top-law-schools.htm Read More