Donald Trump's Forham University Days: A Student's Perspective

Former US President Donald Trump's academic record has been the subject of much speculation, with the man himself fuelling much of the intrigue. Trump has directed his lawyers to threaten legal action against his high schools and colleges to prevent them from releasing his grades or test scores. Despite this, some details of his time at Fordham University have emerged, including that he was a commuting student and was described as a bit of a loner by his classmates. Trump's grades were said to be in the C+ range, and he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania after two years, where he would go on to earn a degree in economics.

Donald Trump was a commuting student at Fordham University

During his time at Fordham University, Donald Trump was a commuting student. He travelled to the university's Bronx campus from his home in Queens, and often commuted with a group of other students, including his closest friend at Fordham, Roger Gedgard. Gedgard and other students remembered Trump as being somewhat tight-fisted with money; they recalled that he would rattle his pockets and claim not to have the $0.25 toll to cross the Triboro Bridge.

Trump attended Fordham University for two years, from 1964 to 1966, before transferring to the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with a degree in economics. While at Fordham, Trump studied economics and played squash. However, he did not leave much of a mark on the university, and many of his former classmates remember him as being "a bit of a loner". Some alumni even tried to convince the university's newspaper, The Ram, that Trump had never attended the school.

Trump's grades at Fordham were around a C+, according to his former classmate John Malnati, although another friend, McMahon, placed him in the B range. Trump's academic record has been the subject of much speculation, and he has gone to great lengths to keep his grades and SAT scores private, threatening his high school, colleges and the College Board with legal action if they were to release his records.

Trump's time at Fordham was also notable for his successful draft deferments. He avoided serving in the Vietnam War by obtaining four separate deferments during his college career.

He was a bit of a loner and did not leave footprints at the university

Former classmates of Donald Trump at Fordham University described him as "a bit of a loner". In interviews with over 60 alumni, many remembered him fondly, and many more did not remember him at all. According to one source, Trump was a commuting student for two years, and often commuted with Roger Gedgard, the son of a real estate magnate. They would get lunch together every day, along with John Malnati, who knew Trump well through Gedgard. Malnati said that Trump wanted to pursue a real estate programme, which Fordham did not offer at the time, and that his mind was on "bigger and better things".

Trump's grades were about in the "C+" range, according to Malnati, although McMahon, another friend, said he was in the "B" range. Trump's former classmates also recalled that he would avoid paying the $0.25 toll across the Triboro Bridge by rattling his pockets and claiming not to have any money.

Trump's student records are protected by federal law, and his grades and test scores have never been made public. However, it is known that he attended Fordham University for two years in the 1960s, starting in 1964, before transferring to the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a degree in economics.

He played squash and golf and was involved in other school sports

While Donald Trump's performance as a student at Fordham University remains largely unknown, we do know that he was involved in sports during his time there. Trump played squash and golf, and was involved in other school sports. In fact, according to some sources, Trump's involvement in sports may have been one of the few things that left an impression on his classmates.

Trump's participation in sports at Fordham University is particularly notable because it provides a glimpse into his extracurricular activities during his college years. While his academic achievements and grades remain protected under federal student privacy laws, his involvement in sports offers a different perspective on his overall student experience.

It is worth mentioning that Trump's time at Fordham University was relatively brief, lasting only two years before he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania to complete his degree. Despite this, his involvement in sports may have been a significant aspect of his student life, and it is interesting to consider how this may have influenced his later life and career.

Trump's affinity for sports may have continued beyond his college years, as he is known to have a passion for golf as an adult. It is not a stretch to assume that his early involvement in sports at Fordham University may have played a role in fostering this lifelong interest.

Overall, while Trump's academic footprint at Fordham University may have been minimal, his participation in sports, including squash and golf, provides a glimpse into a different side of his student life and offers a reminder that his interests extended beyond the classroom.

Trump received draft deferments during his time at Fordham, avoiding the Vietnam War

During his time at Fordham University, Donald Trump received four student draft deferments, allowing him to avoid serving in the Vietnam War. Trump registered with the Selective Service System when he turned 18 in 1964, the same year he began his undergraduate studies at Fordham. He received his first educational deferment the following month.

Trump has long maintained that he was opposed to the Vietnam War but did not participate in any anti-war protests during his college years. Instead, he used his status as a college student to obtain draft deferments, ensuring he would not be called upon to serve in the military. This allowed him to stay at Fordham University and, later, the University of Pennsylvania.

After graduating with a degree in economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in the spring of 1968, Trump was reclassified as 1-A, making him eligible for the draft. However, in the fall of that year, he was granted a 1-Y medical deferment due to a foot condition. Trump described this condition as heel spurs, which made long-term walking difficult. He retained his 1-Y status until 1972 when he was reclassified as 4-F, permanently disqualifying him from military service in Vietnam.

Trump's draft deferments have been a source of scrutiny and controversy, particularly during his presidential campaign and subsequent tenure as President of the United States. While some have criticised his avoidance of military service, Trump has expressed that he would have been honoured to serve, despite his opposition to the Vietnam War.

He transferred to the University of Pennsylvania to finish his degree

Donald Trump's time at Fordham University was marked by a sense of indifference and a lack of significant involvement. He attended the university for two years, starting in 1964, and was described by his former classmates as "a bit of a loner." Trump's grades were reportedly around a C+ or B average, and he did not leave a lasting impression on the Fordham community.

Trump's decision to transfer to the University of Pennsylvania was influenced by his desire to pursue a real estate program, which Fordham did not offer at the time. The University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school, offered a prestigious business education that Trump sought. Trump's younger brother, Fred Trump Jr., secured him an interview with a Penn admissions officer who was a close friend.

At the University of Pennsylvania, Trump enrolled in the Wharton School of Business, where he would eventually earn a degree in economics. Trump has boasted about his time at Wharton, claiming in his book, "The Art of the Deal," that he graduated first in his class. However, this claim has been disputed, and it is known that he did not graduate with honors.

Trump has gone to great lengths to keep his academic records confidential, directing his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, to threaten legal action against Fordham University and other institutions if they released his grades or test scores. Despite this, Trump has celebrated his academic achievement at the University of Pennsylvania during his presidential campaign, often touting his status as a business graduate from an Ivy League school.

Frequently asked questions