Chances for Tulane EA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tulane University
1

UW GPA: 3.8/4.0
WEIGHTED GPA: 6.7/7.0
APs: AP Government (4), AP US History (4), AP Physics 1 (1), AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP Spanish
SAT: 1720
SAT II: 720 US History, 620 Math 1
ACT: 28 (30 E 30 M 27 R 26 S)
Course Load: AP Calc, AP Spanish, AP Stats, AP Chem, Expository Writing, Band
Awards: Swarthmore College Book Award, Fine Arts Scholar, ActionNow Network’s Superstar Hero Award, Outstanding Soloist Award

Extracurricular: Varsity Golf, National Honor Society, Sound Engineer for Live Events, Leadership Council, Spanish Honor Society, Farmers Market Paid Musician, Jazz Band, Band Council, CMEA Regionals Jazz Band (first jazz guitarist at my school to accomplish), Intern for State Senator and State Rep, Guitarist in a klezmer and a rock band

Summer Activities: Social Justice Seminar in DC, Guitar Teaching Business, Summer Finance Academy at UNH, Yale Splash

Volunteer: Music Teacher at Synagogue (200+ Hours), Spokesperson/Songwriter for the Rex Foundation, Multiple Political Campaigns

Intended Major: Economics
Essay will be about my street performing & musical development.

2

@hlsidle

Wow, your test scores are really out of sync with your GPA, although your ACT is certainly better than your SAT. I would say you have a very good chance of getting in. Your ACT will probably limit any merit scholarship you might have been offered. Which is a shame, because the rest of your resume looks really great.

3

@fallenchemist

Thanks so much! I plan on retaking SATs Saturday, but I may just submit my ACTs anyway. Is the ACT good enough to submit or should I consider retaking? I want to do whatever it takes to get in.

Also, is it true that if I submit my EA app today, I will get my decision earlier than someone who submits the day before the deadline?

4

@hlsidle

Just my opinion, of course, but I think you would probably get an offer of admission with that ACT=28. It is just below the 25th percentile for Tulane, but everything else looks very good. And that does still mean that 25% of Tulane students have an ACT of 28 or less, so that is a healthy minority. Your GPA is strong, your course rigor is pretty good with 7 AP’s by the time you finish, and to me your EC’s look really good. The biggest boost a 30+ would probably get you is possible merit money, so if you don’t mind taking the time to do the ACT again and study for it some before you take it, it could be worth the investment.

And yes, it is usually true that if you submit today, for example, you would likely get an answer by the end of the month, assuming all your other documents are in their hands, i.e. your file is complete. Obviously someone submitting just before the Nov. 15 deadline cannot possibly hear by the end of this month. Now if your application is borderline that can delay your hearing back. But IMO yours is not borderline, I think it is stronger than that.

Certainly I do not know you, but just looking at your resume Tulane does look like a good fit for you.

5

If you are just looking for admission then you should have enough to get accepted. If you are looking at merit awards than you should retake both tests. The reason they look at ACT/SAT along with GPA is because the ACT and SAT put people on the same playing field.

High schools aren’t the same and a person with a lower GPA but a higher ACT/SAT score may be considered before someone with a higher GPA but lower test scores. Meaning if you have a lower GPA at a more challenging school it may play in your favor than having a high GPA at an “easier” high school. The test scores usually are a better reflection of how the student is prepared on an even playing field - not all high schools are created equal.

6

Good point @dbcbs5

I would be thrilled to get accepted with or without merit. Even with the new US News ranking, is it still a good shot of getting in? I assume there will be many applications with better ACTs, but a 28 still seems to be enough to have a shot.

I’m taking SATs on Saturday, but it’ll be cutting it close to get them in before the EA deadline.

7

@fallenchemist What are some good things to include in the Why Tulane essay for an economics major?

8

@hlsidle

I am not sure there is anything in particular for an econ major, other than if you see a particular program Tulane offers that seems exciting to you, or a prof that is researching an area you find fascinating. Which is to say, econ related or not, just show that you know Tulane well enough to have a reason for having focused on the school beyond the superficial (“Tulane has an excellent academic reputation”) and the cliche (“New Orleans is such an interesting city”). Both are true but don’t show much depth of consideration to differentiate it as a choice from schools like NYU, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, etc. No one thinks you are not interested in other schools, or that Tulane is even the #1 choice in all or even most cases. But you should have a strong reason(s) for thinking you can be happy at Tulane should you not get into #1. I know it is more complicated than that in many cases, but you get the idea. Of course if it is #1 for you, it goes without saying there should be some fairly specific reasons why.

9

@fallenchemist

Just got my SATs: 2000 (680 CR 680 M 640 W)

How do my chances look now with a 3.8 GPA?
Also does applying EA over SCEA hurt your chances? Will it make it seem like I’m less interested?

10

That SAT boosts your chances somewhat, it puts you more solidly in the middle of Tulane’s stat range. I like your chances even more now.

EA is fine. Even though semantically and logically what I am about to say makes no sense, I hope you get what I am saying. SCEA definitely tells them the most about how interested you are in Tulane and therefore maximizes your chances given whatever stats you have. However, applying EA doesn’t really show less interest nor does it decrease your chances. I know, sounds like Alice in Wonderland talk. But there are a lot of practical reasons someone with SCEA type interest will still apply EA. You will be fine applying EA.

Congrats on the SAT scores. Hitting 2000 is a nice mark. Especially with all three scores solidly in the mid to upper 600 range. That is strong.

11

@fallenchemist

Thank you! I’m feeling confident. I’ll have the application in this week and I am hoping to hear a decision in November.

For early action applicants, does Tulane see senior year grades before making the decision? My semester does not end until January. Do they want term grades? And for that matter, do they see the course load aside from what you self report?

12

I am nearly certain they don’t see fall semester grades, and I suspect that when your transcripts are sent your current schedule would be included. If you have never seen a transcript, it isn’t just “GPA=X”. It actually lists the courses you took by semester, an indication if it was honors, AP etc., and the grade you received. Special circumstances might show up as notes on the transcript. Most show GPA for that semester and cumulative GPA.

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@fallenchemist

Just submitted the application. All materials are in. Do decisions ever come before the 11/15 deadline?

14

Yes, someone announced they got theirs today. However, since you just completed the application, your decision might come after 11/15.

15

@fallenchemist

All of my school documents are in and I submitted scores. It still says I’m missing scores and I sent them 6 days ago from College Board. How long does it take for Tulane to receive them?

16

They probably have them but have not updated the record yet.

17

@fallenchemist

Just got accepted. With a 2000 SAT, great resume, and a 3.85 GPA what kind of merit do you think I will receive if any?

18

@hlsidle

Congrats. No sense in speculating on merit, you will know by the end of the week.