During the past few weeks, campus has been buzzing with talk about study abroad, as acceptance emails roll in. At the same time, current juniors are studying abroad right now, posting on social media and enjoying the start of their semester. According to Fordham’s website and the 2025 IIE Open Doors Report, over 50% of Fordham undergraduate students study abroad. But what about the other 50%?
Because of the glamor and excitement of traveling and studying in another country, it’s easy to feel like you have to study abroad in order to have a successful college experience. Often, adults in my life have talked about how much they regret not studying abroad, but, at the same time, many students deliberately choose not to go abroad and instead to remain at Fordham for all four of their college years. This half of Fordham students are not simply a shadow of those who do study abroad.
“If I had left for a semester, I wouldn’t have been able to gain the experience for the leadership roles I now take on,” said Sean Surovsky, FCRH ’27. Surovsky is very active on campus, taking part in groups such as the Campus Activities Board, Free Pizza Sketch Comedy, Orientation and the Senior Week Committee. He is the current captain of Sketch, a role he wouldn’t have been able to accept if he was away from campus for a semester or longer.
Surovsky chose to take part in Fordham’s “Documentary Photography” program in Rome where he was able to study in Italy for a month over the summer break. Many students take advantage of Fordham’s summer programs or independent study programs to get a taste of studying abroad outside of the traditional semesters abroad. “I realized that I only have four years in New York City, especially because I might never live here again,” said Surovsky. “I’d rather maximize my time here.”
Similarly, Clare Cummings, FCRH ’26, the president of the Ampersand literary magazine, reflected on her reasons for choosing not to study abroad. “I chose to be an English major at Fordham University in New York City,” she stated. She had considered attending Fordham London at one point, but eventually decided against it because of her love for Ampersand. “I really wanted to lead the club,” she said. Due to their roles, the president and vice president of Ampersand are unable to study abroad during their term because their presence is required at every meeting.
Sophie Maselli, FCRH ’26, the vice president of Ampersand and former production editor of The Ram, agreed with Cummings. From the beginning of her first-year, she knew she wanted to be on the staff of The Ram. Like many leadership roles, being on the staff of The Ram requires in person collaboration. “Another one of my goals was to get an internship,” Maselli added. Though one can obtain an internship and study abroad, it’s a lot harder when a chunk of your college experience isn’t in New York City.
As Maselli and Cummings approach the end of their time at Fordham, I asked if either of them regretted not studying abroad. Almost immediately, Cummings responded, “No. I loved leading Ampersand.” For Cummings, the connections she made through Ampersand and Black Sheep Poetry never made her feel like she was missing out as one half of her peers studied abroad. “It definitely would’ve been a great experience and I do think you learn a lot about yourself by studying abroad, but I don’t regret not going,” she said. She also added that for her, London would always be there, but her time at Fordham wouldn’t be.
Maselli agreed and mentioned her experience at the recent Ampersand retreat to the Fordham Goshen house. “Going on the Ampersand retreat and spending a weekend with people I don’t usually hang out with almost felt like a mini study abroad experience,” she said. Fordham offers many similar retreats throughout each semester and also offers “Study Tour” classes. These classes are structured around a specific country or city’s culture and then include a week long trip to said city during spring break.
For Surovsky, Cummings and Maselli, choosing not to study abroad for a semester wasn’t a difficult decision. The opportunities and connections with both their peers and New York as a whole were well worth sticking around. The good news is that no matter which path you chose, you will be surrounded by unique opportunities and communities to make your four years at Fordham special, whether that is remaining in the city or traveling abroad.
Kate Herbert, FCRH ‘2028, is an English and German literature/language double major from Baltimore, Maryland.
