Has anyone written the essay and finished it yet? Any ideas? I’m having a bit trouble understanding what they really want. How is it about something we are passionate about, but not something about us?
Also, what are my chances of getting it with an ACT score 28?
Thank you!!
Honestly, the first questions you ask are moot because with an ACT of 28 you chances are virtually zero. Sorry to be so blunt, but there is little choice. An ACT score of 33+ or SAT of 2250+ is generally considered the minimum.
…oh. I appreciate the honesty. Thank you (:
Also, are the applications reviewed in the order they were received?
No, Tulane isn’t rolling admissions. It can be (or at least seem) pretty random.
@melonstarbursts - have you already been admitted?
Also, have you read through all the scholarship descriptions? If fallenchemist has dissuaded you then perhaps one of the others might speak to your strengths?
The only other scholarship from Tulane that requires a separate application that I can think of offhand is the Community Service Scholarship. Certainly if that plays into the strengths of @melonstarbursts then that would be a very good thing to apply for.
I have not been accepted yet, but with guaranteed admission I should receive an acceptance letter any moment. The issue is having to pay… I’ll look into it and the other available ones to see if they suit me. I certainly do a lot of community service.
Oh, you are a Louisiana resident. That opens up one or two more scholarships from the state, such as TOPS. A very long shot but have you looked into the scholarships available from each state legislator? Where in Louisiana are you?
fallenchemist - My son was going to apply to the Tulane Dean’s Scholarship. I’m disappointed that his 2100 SAT would be considered too low for consideration. While he has some difficulties with standardized SAT testing, he is doing cancer research at a national government lab and he spent the summer implementing STEM programs for a national summer enrichment program. Does poor SAT testing really preclude him?
@fallenchemist does the project have to relate to a “box” in a significant way? My project has nothing to do with a box, but in my essay I talk about a box in a metaphorical way. Is that enough or does that not meet the criteria for the project?
I truly appreciate the question and the situation, but let me be very clear about this. I do not work for Tulane, and I have nothing to do with the judging of any awards. I can only tell you that the pages that currently outline the criteria for DHS applicants until recently clearly stated that 2250 for SAT and 33 for ACT were the kinds of minimum scores they were looking for. I don’t remember the exact wording, although I suspect they are probably in an old post on here someplace. But those exact numbers were definitely used. Now they use wording that is vaguer.
https://tulane.edu/financialaid/grants/dhs.cfm
Actually, that is not very well worded. Clearly what they mean to say is “…and score at or near the top of the range in a college admission test”. I will leave it to you to decide if 2100 is near enough, and if his other talents can be convincing enough. They obviously made this change for a reason, and I won’t pretend to read their minds. I mean this with utmost sincerity, I have no doubt at all that he is already an outstanding young man that could quite possibly hold his own with other applicants. It is simply my opinion that those scores still represent the benchmark they look for.
You also have to put yourself in the place of the people asked to make the final decisions on who gets these awards. It might be different if there were about as many candidates as there are awards, but the reality as it has been told to me is that there are about 10 people with qualifying stats for every award available, including test scores “at or near” the top of the range, i.e. the top 1%, which is exactly what 2250+ and 33+ have generally represented. Given the intended purpose of the awards and the criteria as stated, even if a bit more vague than before when it comes to test scores, how do they justify not giving an award to other applicants who also have the high GPA like your son and also did things outside of the classroom that compare exactly with what you describe, but also scored in the top 1% on the SAT or ACT? That is they key, I think, is that you have to realize there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of such outstanding students that apply for these awards.
So I tell you all that in the spirit that what I strive to do is be a source of information, and in some cases gentle guidance, based on knowing a lot of the history and the current situation as it pertains to whatever the questions are. I can only tell you what I have seen in the past and how things tie together at Tulane based on my experience and that of my daughter up until very recently. I believe my information to be accurate, of course, and I think many can tell you that my track record is, being frank, quite good. But I would never discourage someone from trying for the DHS or PTA except in extreme cases, like the person with the 28 on the ACT. That is just too far from the norm (the norm being Ivy level in this case) to be realistic. But otherwise, I can only lay out the facts as I know them. The final decision is yours and your sons.
In fact, my general advice is to be bold and go for it, because nothing is gained by not trying. There is nothing noble in regret in not having made the effort. I just also don’t want to see people have unrealistic expectations, and therefore be bitterly disappointed if it doesn’t work out. Trust me, I have seen people after the decisions came out (and who never asked for advice before applying) go ballistic when their child didn’t win, even though they had a 29 ACT and a 3.4 GPA. They simply never read the criteria (and they were more specific back then as I said) and didn’t understand the purpose of the awards. I hate to see that as well, but I more hate to see someone not try. I just don’t want them trying oblivious to what the chances seem to be, if it can be avoided.
@fallenchemist How can I see the scholarships the legislators have available for me? I’m in Jefferson Parish
In my observations of past projects, including winning projects, the ties to the “box” can be quite tenuous. Trust your instincts. If you are happy with the project and used the essay to corral the box into it somehow, you should be in good shape. One can never know what made one person win and another not, so if you have stayed true to the spirit of the project, which is to be creative and express something important to you, then you have done all you can.
Here is the list of students current at Tulane on the scholarships. http://tulane.edu/government_affairs/upload/Legislative_Scholarship_Recipients_2015-2016.pdf Find the person that represents your home area and contact their office.
I know I have no chance at one of the full tuition scholarships (29 act 1930 sat 3.81 uw and 4.55 weighted) but I have been working on the PTA, and was wondering if submitting it could possibly help my normal admissions chances by showing that I am really interested in Tulane? Thanks
@fallenchemist
Thanks, fallenchemist. I’ll have him apply and I’ll report back the results:-)
It would sure say that to me! Anyone that takes that kind of effort in support of being able to attend a school is tlling me that school means a lot to their future.
Given that we can expect about 600-1000 applications to the DHS who meet the criteria to qualify in terms of ACT/SAT, ECs and so on, how is it that the committee headed by the the 5 deans of the undergrad schools able to review all the applications. Do they split them up? Are some not even reviewed? Is the written commentary have to pique their interest in order for them to investigate further? I’m just thinking the logistics of reviewing that many projects is not feasible. Sure, they have from Dec 6 to Feb 15ish to decide, but something in my gut believes not every project is looked at.
Can anyone prove or disprove this thought? I really am just surmising, but I’d love to hear y’alls thoughts.