<p>NEW ORLEANS - The mossy live oaks gracing Tulane University's lush green quads have reclaimed their pre-Katrina glory, their arched boughs now nearly brushing the ground. The city's beloved streetcars, sidelined for more than two years, are again gliding down St. Charles Avenue alongside the campus, their steel wheels rolling slowly past miles of stately Queen Anne and Victorian mansions.</p>
<p>Two-and-a-half years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, vast sections remain damaged and half-deserted, and many fear the Crescent City will never be quite the same. But Tulane has not only recovered from the storm, it has rebounded to new heights that place it among the country's most sought-after schools.</p>
<p>Drawing strong interest from students across the country who joined recovery efforts in high school, Tulane has seen its applications double this year from 17,000 to 34,000, a remarkable increase for an established institution that Tulane officials believe may be the largest jump in the country this year. Overwhelmed by the volume, the university stopped accepting applications in January, or thousands more probably would have applied.</p>