<p>For about a month now I have been stuck between TCU, Tulane, and Alabama. My wish list for a school is for it to be in the south (check), have lots of school spirit, and that it will look great on resumes. I have received a scholarship from all three of the schools. For me, it's about $26,000 for Alabama, $32,000 for TCU, and $42,000 for Tulane. Tulane is the most expensive but it is the highest ranked. My parents said to not worry about the money but they said if I do choose to go to Alabama, they would give me all the money they saved since they are prepared to pay the price of a UC (since I am from SoCal). TCU has been my dream school for about a year now but now I'm really looking into Tulane since it has such a great reputation and is in an amazing city. I really like Bama since it has such great school spirit and I was accepted into the honors program.
Does anyone have some great suggestions about what to choose? Any personal experiences from any of these schools?
Help is greatly appreciated! :)</p>
<p>If it were me, Iād choose Tulane. I have visited all three of these schools and found faults in TCU and Bama, but not so much at Tulane. Iām from NorCal, by the way. I want to go to school in the south, like you. Bama was too big and too isolated for me. I didnāt like Fort Worth (I preferred SMU to TCU). Tulane is just perfect to me. In my opinion, thereās not too much of a reason to choose Bama or TCU over Tulane (unless money is a factor).</p>
<p>stillcantdecide. If I were you, I would delve deeply into the websites of each school. Look closely at the programs, majors, research opportunities etc in the areas that interest you. Read the course descriptions; read about the particular professors; are there opportunities to double major, do research, perform in a play, meet privately with professors, exhibit your own artwork? what kind of internships are available? look closely. You will be spending a lot of time in these classes. Does one school have more of what you are looking for?
I would then look closely at the social environment at each school. How big is Greek life (is that something that interests you? if so, when do you rush?- first semester, second, sophomore year? ). What is dorm life like at each school (are there a lot of floor wide and dorm wide activities?). What happens after freshman year in terms of on campus living? Do people stay on campus or does everyone move off?
Look at the surrounding towns, cities of the school. Is the school in the middle of everything or more isolated and what do you prefer?
Watch every U tube video you can to really get a sense of each school.
Then, after all that, I think that you will know what feels right for you. Good luck. I donāt think that you can make a bad decision here. College is great and you will love whichever school you choose.</p>
<p>Stillcantdecide - My usual advice for situations like yours is really think about what living situation you want for 4 years. What I mean is you have a pretty stark contrast in these three schools, but I will use Tulane and Alabama as the opposite ends, and you can fill in where TCU fits in your mind. I would ask you to expound on why TCU was originally your dream school, though. What was it that attracted you to that particular school originally?</p>
<p>But in general, it isnāt so much about academics directly. You will get a fine education at any of them. Normally one would question the level of ones peers at Alabama compared to Tulane, but in the Honors College I will assume that Alabama moves much closer to Tulane. The real question is what will make you happy outside of the academic sphere. You have the choice of a very large school (Honors College notwithstanding) versus a much smaller one, a school with big time sports versus one that is just starting to field competitive teams (we hope), a rural college town versus a very unique, larger city, and one where the Greek system plays a much larger role in everyday life at college versus one where it is certainly present but not dominant. There are certainly other factors as well, but that gives you the general idea. As far as school spirit, Tulane has plenty of it but it isnāt centered around sports, it is more just pride in the school overall. More subtle but absolutely there, and you can really feel it. But it is not trivial at all to take these factors into account. Being happy outside the classroom can definitely help improve your academic performance, and certainly being unhappy outside the classroom will usually hurt it.</p>
<p>In your case there are two more factors I suggest you consider. One is what you think you will do after undergraduate. If you think you will probably return to SoCal to try and work, then Tulane might be a better choice due to its academic reputation. Alabama will certainly be known by more people, but is probably thought of as a fairly average state school with a great football team, unfair as that might be. Those that know Tulane, and there will be a lot that do, will also know it is a very good school academically.</p>
<p>But, if you are thinking of grad school or professional school (medicine or law usually) then doing very well at Tulane or very well at Alabama isnāt really much different. And the financial savings could be very useful then. And while you cannot really know as a senior in high school what you will be doing 4 years from now with certainty, you can only go with what you think at this time.</p>
<p>Complicated, isnāt it? But those are the kinds of issues that make college choices good ones or not so great. In your case, though, I think I would focus on those issues that differentiate the schools and how you fit with those parameters. Maybe TCU is the best choice between all that, or maybe the college town experience of Tuscaloosa is really what you are looking for. Only you can sort out those factors as they relate to your personality and preferences.</p>
<p>(Cross posted with jozuko, similar lines of thought it seems)</p>
<p>stillcantdecideāas usual, FC and jozuko have brought such a well-rounded and thoughtful perspective.</p>
<p>I can only add that my son, like you, has acceptances from both Tulane and Alabama. My son is leaning Tulane, but we donāt have the luxury of just writing a blank check, so weāll have to wait and see bout the $$.</p>
<p>However, my sonās reasons for leaning Tulane might be completely different than your reasons for liking it. I can share that, having been to NOLA several times through the years (we live in an adjoining state and it is a favorite destination), there is no other city quite like it. The city is such a character in itself, it is very appealing to the budding artist/musician/actor/writer in my son.</p>
<p>However, whether my son goes to Tulane, Alabama or somewhere entirely different, he has resolved that he will make the college experience his own and it will be special no matter what. He is fortunate, and it sounds like you are too, that he does have several places he could see himself being quite comfortable.</p>
<p>Isnāt it good to know that there really is no WRONG answer here? Congrats on your great choices!</p>
<p>Iām just going to throw in my .02 for what itās worth and thatās probably not much. I went to TCU, but I live in Louisiana and my husband is from Alabama and a huge Bama fanā¦</p>
<p>I sort of wonder if you might feel like a bit of an outsider at Alabama. My daughter (a senior) looked at Alabama and has some older friends there. Some are deliriously happy and some have transferred, saying they felt a bit like outsiders since there are, of course, so many Alabama residents there. My daughter would have loved to have gone there (because her dad brainwashed her Roll Tide) but weāre not willing to pay the out-of-state tuition when the state of Louisiana gives us free tuition plus some.</p>
<p>Iām partial to TCU personally and there are more people from around the country there but still lots of Texans. Most people that I went to TCU with still live in Texas. I loved Fort Worth but itās totally different from New Orleans, which is a very cool city. Fort Worth really feels like āThe Westā. Lots of cowboy hats and the rodeo is big there but itās fun fun fun. Plus I loved being so close to Dallas (30 minutes).</p>
<p>I think of Tulane being a bit more diverse as far as having students from all over the country. It is a HUGE party school, Iāve heard, but it is New Orleans. Excellent reputation, preppy. My grandfather went to med school there a million years ago. I donāt think you could go wrong there.</p>
<p>Iām going to vote for either Tulane or TCU. Good luck!!</p>
<p>did you not apply to any UC ? i donāt know why you are so eager to get out of CA. If getting a good education is important, donāt understand the decision to cross off UC from the list. With that said, my son has also been accepted by Tulane with half of the tuition subsidized via merit scholarship. We are waiting to hear from UC and east coast schools.</p>
<p>What are you planning on majoring in? I would look at the programs at all three schools and see which is a better fit for you academically, not just socially. Good luck on your decision and having the choice of three very great schools!</p>
<p>Just my opinion, but I have to somewhat disagree about using major as a significant basis for the decision, with the only exception being if one of the schools didnāt offer the major you were considering at all. Otherwise, at the undergraduate level all these schools are going to have good programs in whatever major you decide to pursue. Unlike graduate level work, the undergraduate teaching will be far more similar than different as far as subject matter. Besides, when at least half of all undergrads change their major at least once, one can find that reason to be moot after only a semester or a year.</p>
<p>However, there certainly is such a thing as a good academic fit, and it has mostly to do with the academic level of your fellow students. If you find yourself to usually be one of the smartest in the class, you might not be challenged as much as you should be. That is why you want a school where most of the other students were similarly successful academically going in.</p>
<p>I honestly would go to tulane for anythingā¦ being deferred, and knowing my academic profile is in the bottom 20 percent of applicantsā¦ (stinks) I am going to pray this year, but honestly, TULANE HANDS DOWNā¦ there is no question between the twoā¦ A tulane experience is like none other.</p>
<p>Far be it for me to disagree with that sentiment, 13all94!! LOL. But in fact, while there is absolutely no disputing that being an undergrad at Tulane is one of the most unique college experiences, that doesnāt equal being a fit for everyone. A lot of students really want the big campus, major sports experience (major meaning actually being in contention for major bowls/chance at Round of 16 or Final Four, maybe even a national championship). Or they want a more rural, classic college town experience. Nothing wrong with all that, it just comes down to really deciding what it is that you want to experience. And of course the money.</p>
<p>This will sound incredibly racist but I know people who went to Tulane and transferred immediately because most people attending were Jews (which is absolutely fine just a little out of their comfort zone) as for Alabama, you can feel like an outsider very very easily there and would not recommend i. Out of those three schools TCU is a no-brainer to me, I am a senior at TCU right now and everything and everybody Iāve met have been the nicest and most fun things in my life. I would strongly recommend Texas Christian University for it has everything you could want</p>
<p>I do find your post a bit offensive, Willster, or at the least I find these people you know highly objectionable. Also your post/their reason is also incorrect in saying that āmostā people going to Tulane are Jewish. Just as a matter of record, Tulane is between 25-30% Jewish, as are a lot of schools of similar academic reputation.</p>
<p>Willster, I find your post incredibly offensive, ignorant, and anti-Semetic. Maybe TCU was a āno brainerā for you but you certainly did not learn how to use your brain. Itās āabsolutely fineā that Tulane has a large Jewish population - that is so generous of you even though we make the people you know feel out of their comfort zone. I am glad that the people you know transferred out immediately because I certainly wouldnāt want my daughter causing anyone discomfort by being a Jew.</p>
<p>You were right Willster92. It DID sound incredibly racist. </p>
<p>Shocking: there are still anti-semites around in 2014! Letās not hold Willster92ās ignorance against TCU. I am sure there are a lt of good people there and you can get a wonderful education there if you apply yourself. I was going to encourage us to ignore the post and advise the original poster, but then I realized that the question was raised 13 months ago, so stillcantdecide is well into his/her freshman year somewhere at this point! I for one, am impressed by the rich diversity of the Tualne student body, culturally, geographically, and even socio-economically, given the generous financial aid that Tulane offers. Yes, Tulane is the strongest academically!, but there is more to college than just how competitive and prestigious it is (See Malcolm Gladwellās āDavid & Goliathā, Chapter One) and many successful people have gone to all thee schools. It boils down to how comfortable one feels in a particular environment and how that affects his or her ability to thrive academically.</p>
<p>I hope we donāt have tons of people chiming in against Willster92 ā bigots love to stir things up like that so letās not indulge that.</p>
<p>How does one deal with all those Christians at TCU?</p>
<p>At least Willster92 had the courage (or stupidity) not to couch his/her anti-semitism in more acceptble terms. Just last year there were posters on Tulaneās threads bemoaning the āpeople from Westchester County, NYā, New Yorkers, long islanders, etc. In my experience those designations are simply covers for the speakerās anti-semitism. Willster92, on the other hand, came right out and unabashedly said it.</p>
<p>Apparently itās something people ānoticeā. I am a teacher, and Jewish, and I was talking to a student of mine (who is entirely guileless) about Tulane because DS is interested and my studentās sister attends. She said, āthereās definitely a Jewish community there. My sister is like the only Christian on her floor, and they have a menorah up at Christmas time.ā That said, no one in my family has ever lived in New Yorkā¦I still canāt determine if my son would be comfortable at Tulane from all of this infoā¦</p>
<p>I work at a small private university and one of the things I really like is the diversity, even on a small level. We celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and one of the most popular celebrations on campus is Diwali! I think more christian students attend Diwai than Hindi! Itās a beautiful celebration and so many students participate in our Diversity and Inter-Faith programs. I think that is one of the great aspects of college- getting outside of your comfort zone, meeting people of different races, religions etc. Being insulated with āyour own kindā for your whole life is dangerous and boring. Gives you a very narrow view of the world. I love learning about different cultures form my students. </p>
<p>@fretfulmother - what are your concerns about your son attending Tulane? </p>