<p>My DD got a wonderful scholarship to Tulane. We visited last year, before the hurricane, and Tulane was solidly at the top of her list. If the hurricane had not occurred she would probably be attending Tulane in the Fall. However, I have many concerns regarding NO and Tulane that have not been abated by this forum (and we haven't had a chance to revisit to see for ourselves). My concerns include upperclassmen transferring from Tulane, faculty quitting or being fired, Cowen looking for another position, NO infrastructure including medical, police, economy and the long-term impact of the hurricane and its aftermath on Tulane. I am reluctant to buy into the Tulane spin because I don't want my DD to be the "human guinea pig" of Tulane's 2010 class. However, the reality of her other acceptances on our finances is looming. </p>
<p>Short of a crystal ball, how are other parents/students dealing with this?</p>
<p>We visited one week before Katrina and two weeks ago. Other than minor differences here and there on campus it is hard to tell anything happened. Life on campus is pretty normal as is the surrounding area. We talked to many students and staff and all seemed happy (other than engineering). I did not get the feeling that there was going to be an exodus of upperclassman this summer, but it is hard to gauge this.</p>
<p>The CBD and the Quarter are pretty normal although certainly less crowded. Yes, we visited out by the collapsed levees and the devastation is beyond belief...but you could see signs of progress. </p>
<p>It was my feeling the safety, medical, police and general infrastructure to support the students was in fine shape. I do believe that NOLA will arise from the flood. I do not believe for a minute that it will be easy or happen overnight....I just do not doubt it will happen...and in a positive way.</p>
<p>Before our trip two weeks ago my wife was against my DD attending in the fall. She has no such concerns now. Either do I.</p>
<p>Might some upperclassmen leave...yes
Might Cowen leave....yes
Might some faculty quit....yes</p>
<p>Do I think that Tulane (and NOLA) is resilient enough to weather any of these....I have no doubt they can. The core of the University appears to be as strong as ever. (Yes, I have probably drunk some of the New Orleans/Tulane Kool-Aid....but I think I am able to look past it)</p>
<p>We talked through all of this after the visit. We think the upsides outweigh the downsides. She is planning on studing business and we think the rebuilding will offer unique opportunities.</p>
<p>My DD is down to two schools...one in the Northeast and Tulane. We feel safe letting her decide between the two. Most days Tulane seems to be in the lead. Her major worry about Tulane is the distance from home and friends.</p>
<p>We visited in March, 2005 and several weeks ago for Honors Weekend. </p>
<p>We stayed in the French Quarter while we were there. There is much to be done in the French Quarter, but there is much open and working. </p>
<p>It looks like the area around Xavier is beginning to come back to life.</p>
<p>The Garden District, which is where Tulane is located, looked great. Any damage has been repaired. The area that the students frequent (I don't remember the street names) are open and working. Audobon(sp?) Park is open and was full of families when we were there.</p>
<p>We all really liked the students we talked to and the professors. My daughter really liked the feel of the campus and the students she saw.</p>
<p>She is down to deciding between Tulane and Emory. Emory is the long time favorite (since 7th grade), but she has said that she thinks she would feel more comfortable at Tulane. Her biggest concern also seems to be distance from home.</p>
<p>I also think we have to realize that NO is a major port city and that alone will ensure that the city is maintained. I have lived in the Southeast my whole life. One thing I that I know happens after a major hurricane is that the local economy takes off, because there are so many jobs due to the rebuilding. </p>
<p>One of the things that was said over and over in NO was that they are now the safest city in the country because of their reduced population. The students all confirmed that they felt safe at Tulane and in New Orleans. They also told us that they really don't go into the French Quarter much for entertainment. They stay within a certain area which has restaurants and clubs.</p>
<p>^^^^that is very true - if you go to tulane you can always help by paying it off by working at mcdonalds down there- they are paying $10 an hour plus a weekly bonus-(my sister earn about that and she's a pharm tech at a hospital)- they are desperate for workers- and people are rushing in to the city to meet the demandfor labor---thus the rebuilding boon begins</p>
<p>heres what I have to say in response to the OP... if you are so concerned/unsatisfied with the attempted assurances about Tulane/NO, then DONT GO... the supporting evidence indicating that Tulane will recover/prosper is out there-it is your perogative to interpret it how you will... there will undoubtedly be some profs leaving, but I think just as many will come to experience the same educational opportunity that will draw students to the school (in fact, my friend spoke with a "star" prof-whos staying-and he indicated that the hurricane gave Tulane a once in a lifetime opportunity to get rid of tenured faculty "not pulling there weight"... if you look around at collegedirt/******* sites, there was a gripe about teachers being outdated-maybe Katrina will will bring in a fresh new wave of inspired profs)... as for Cowen, after hearing him speak at BU this winter, id highly doubt any speculation that hes leaving... in the end, it is your job to select a college that you feel comfortable attending; a place that you feel you can "expand your scholastic horizons" (or mayb just spend 40 g's to party idk)... if for whatever reason you don't feel like Tulane is the place for you, awesome-i wish you the best of luck finding that place... but please, dont come on the Tulane posts and state the obvious negatives/questions about tulane-it sounds like your sentiments about the situation are already pre-determined, so why bother posting? sometimes I question the sincerity of the posters on the Tulane forum-if you have legitimate questions (that you haven't already formulated your own answer to), I think many of us going/attending Tulane would love to help you out... but dont just post to rub the question marks in the faces of the people who have used the diligence to answer them</p>
<p>I think we need to be careful that we do not bash someone just because they have worries. With all that has happened in the past 8 months there are are lot worries still floating around.</p>
<p>That said...if the previous times these qustions have been asked and answered have left the OP with lingering doubts....additional posts are probably not going to make you feel any better.</p>
<p>There is probably only one way to clear up your concerns...Go to New Orleans and see it for yourself. After your visit I can almost guarentee that you will not be on the fence any more. (I won't promise which way you will feel....just that you will know the answer....for you)</p>
<p>Excellent response, BL1, though my emotional response was more with dipset. These questions HAVE been asked and answered repeatedly, and it does seem, after a while, that they continue to get asked as a way to cast doubt on the answers--and those who answer--rather than in sincerity. If you won't believe the answers, why ask the questions?</p>
<p>Go see. Believe your own eyes. Tulane and its people have been a source of happy surprises to our family.</p>
<p>We were recently there for Parents Weekend/Homecoming (the one that was supposed to be in the fall). My son is a freshman, and absolutely loves it there. The enthusiasm for the school is real and visceral. I'm not sure I totally understand it, but even my skeptic husband felt it.</p>
<p>I also agree that BECAUSE of the hurricane, new students/professors will be attracted to the unique opportunities of the situation. My son is very interestesd in public service, so this all enhanced his reason for being in a "place of consequence" (his words).</p>
<p>He showed us many of the places he hangs out--close to Tulane. He also showed us areas of the Quarter that we weren't familiar with (and I've been there several times). He and his friends visit the Quarter about once every week/two weeks. </p>
<p>He spends a fair amount of time in Audubon Park playing frisbee and running. The area around Tulane is vibrant and pretty. There's stilll work to be done, even in the Garden District, but then New Orleans' charm never was about perfection :)</p>
<p>I worried about sending my son back there, but felt completely comfortable after visiting the campus in Nov, Jan and now April. He's had quite a life in just 3 months and has never been happier.</p>
<p>I've been hearing exactly what you report, curiouser, and my daughter experienced similar when she visited last month. Seems to me that this is going to be an exciting time to be at Tulane, whether student or faculty.</p>
<p>I agree with a couple of other posters that there's no reason to browbeat those who have worries. And with others who say the questions have been answered enough by now -- just go have a look. </p>
<p>In fact, the overly worried folks are part of the house-cleaning that will leave Tulane more vibrant, IMO -- some former students who are timid or fearful will depart, and fewer new timid-and-fearfuls will enroll. That's good for Tulane, and good for everybody.</p>
<p>Evidently the levees are not being built any taller or stronger than before. They are being rebuilt to handle a weak Category 3 according to a report I saw about a week ago. That should worry everybody.</p>
<p>Sorry. If nobody's worrying about living in South Fla (where I grew up) or San Fran, then I'm not going to ask my son to give up his DSA. What's the point of this continual harping? It is not POSSIBLE to rebuild this year to any greater strength than that. (OF COURSE we should all be concerned enough to be contacting Cngress and all appropriate powers that be about the need for further work. Are you?) That hardly means no one should try to live in this critically important port city NOW.</p>
<p>Wow, you think that was harping? Maybe you should read my post again.</p>
<p>Also, look at the OPs thread title and then tell me where I am out of line. My post was a legitimate response to the OPs topic.</p>
<p>By the way, the national weather service is saying we are entering a 50 year cycle during which there will be more and stronger hurricanes. So the strength of the levee system is important. You can ignore or downplay the dangers, but that doesn't make them go away. </p>
<p>Re South Florida, I was unaware that it is also below sea level and required levees for its safety and security. Since you lived there, you know better than I.</p>
<p>Re San Francisco (or LA for that matter), there have been numerous earthquakes in the past years and damage has been minimal. None of the schools in SF, Bay Area, LA to my knowledge have ever had to close the campus for a quarter because of damage. Also, most of the buildings have been built or retro-fitted to new codes to make them more earthuake resistant. This is in stark contrast to the levees in New Orleans which are being built to the same inadequate levels as before.</p>
<p>Best of luck. Perhaps because of your sons scholarship you have become too much a cheerleader for the school and are no longer able to be objective.</p>
<p>Don't be obtuse. If you wanted to be objective, you would be able to acknowledge that S Fla has sustained terrible damage in recent years regardless of its relative level and that San Fran is said to be due for the same. Many other areas, including some in the state in which I now live, are also rebuilt repeatedly with taxpayer support. My objection is to the repetitive naysaying about NOLA when no one seems to be bothered by all the rest.</p>
<p>Call me whatever names you prefer. It's absurd to tell me and everyone else we should waste our time biting our nails because you chose to do so. I prefer to lobby those who can do some good for what will do some good.</p>
<p>cheerleader? of course shes a cheerleader you jerk her son goes there... i mean cmon WE GET IT.... everyone knos about the levies and the hurricanes-what ctyteacher is saying is that the potential benefits of attending tulane outweigh the risks for her and her son... i dont understand-do yall think you are being helpful by sharing this information?... its like a freakin broken record... its not like the kids at Tulane dont understand/know about this information-its out there for all to see... i think you guys are confusing being objective with becoming purely cynical</p>
<p>Perhaps if your son was still in the college selection process (instead of a continuing student) and you were being asked to pay the full $43,000 cost (instead of enjoying the DSA scholarship), you might be more concerned about the long-term stability of a University that is protected by compromised levees.</p>
<p>I will try to be objective so far as I can. D received the $22,000 scholarship and just sent in her online decline. However, several kids from her school in Baton Rouge also got scholarships and so far they are all planning on going (ie, D is the only one to say no). Qualify this with the fact that a lot of people in Louisiana have a tendancy not to set foot out of the state if they can avoid it.</p>
<p>There are lots of physical problems in NOLA now and some are just as scary if not more so than the levees. Example, there is almost no water pressure and they have lots of trouble putting out fires when they occur. People uptown (near Tulane) cannot take a shower 'cause of no water pressure. A friend of mine can't get his tenants to pay their rent 'cause they can't take a shower. (do any students know about this - surely the campus itself must not be having problems).</p>
<p>I don't know exactly why D turned Tulane down, but I don't think it was any safety reasons. She also got in Rice and Chicago and got two scholarships to Pitt. She just found out that Miami is giving her guaranteed grad school in biomed engineering as well as a scholarship (still waiting to hear from Pitt on guaranteed med school admission). I think D's decision is being based more on a desire to go out of state, especially to a large northern environment (Pitt may win out due to being essentially free), than to any safety concern.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your concern for NOLA and especially a desire to see it come back. Please help put the squeeze on your congressmen and senators. I think it will really help that Tulane attracts such a cross section of America. It means that other people will be asking for aid and seeing the value of saving the city besides just us.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, I have a female friend who graduated near the top of her class from Pitt in Mechanical Engineering. Companies were falling all over themselves with offers. Hard to turn down Rice, though. What a great school!</p>