<p>In years past students who performed well on the PSAT (Iguess) were prime candidates to receive the free application directly from Tulane. At that point the application was also free. I'm not sure if it was free for everyone else. Now it is, but did Tulane still send out free apps to top candidates?</p>
<p>The application has been free at least since Katrina (2005) and I think before that. For everyone. But I know what you are talking about regarding a “special” app that some high stat students got that made applying almost as easy as filling out a short post card. I know your S and my D are about a year apart and they both got that 4-5 years ago. I am not sure they do that any more.</p>
<p>I got a series of emails saying that I am invited to apply in July and then got another series of emails with login credentials and a link to apply online. Don’t know if that is what you are talking about or not…</p>
<p>Yes, they are still offering that special app. Invitation to apply using that app was mailed out over the summer.</p>
<p>@joshp1211 and @iampia Cool. Thanks for the info.</p>
<p>@fallenchemist, on the Tulane live chat last night, the admin counselors mentioned letters of rec several times and their importance in the admission process. Letters of rec were not required or requested with the “special app” and I can’t help but wonder if they would have helped in the consideration for merit awards. Your D used this same app and everything worked out right?</p>
<p>@iampia - Indeed she did, and no letters of rec were sent in her case with this application. She received the top award from this part of the process, the Presidential Scholarship. Later she did have to send in a letter of rec with her DHS application, but that was a month or even almost 2 months later, long after she had received her initial acceptance and merit award.</p>
<p>Tulane is very fair about this, and if you are such a high stat student that you were asked to apply this way, then not having letters of rec will not hurt you. I suspect the emphasis placed on them last night was aimed more at the vast majority of applicants that don’t have the very high stats that make letters of rec somewhat less meaningful. Wait and see what your merit award is. If you think it should have been higher, then you can follow up with admissions at the right time and include some recs.</p>
<p>The regular application does not ask for teacher recommendations either. I think they are the exact same thing. It’s the marketing dept that send out “special app” invitations. I read an article about this last year, it’s just a marketing ploy and has no bearing on if you are admitted or not. </p>
<p>That is confusing, then. If @iampia is correct about what was said at the live chat, why would the admissions people have said that? Is it possible they starting asking for letters of rec this year? That is what I assumed from the question.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your comments.</p>
<p>It doesn’t say anything about recommendations on the application website. Maybe they meant the guidance counselor report? </p>
<p>STEP 4: Review the application checklist, submit supporting application materials, and check your application status online.</p>
<pre><code>Application (including your personal statement and list of extracurricular activities)
High School Transcript
Secondary School Report/Guidance Counselor Recommendation*
SAT or ACT Scores
Tulane’s SAT Code: 6832
Tulane’s ACT Code: 1614
Optional: Additional portfolio or audition materials
</code></pre>
<p>*We do not require teacher recommendations (we only require a guidance counselor recommendation), but we are happy to review additional recommendations you submit. We do not have a specific teacher recommendation form, so we are happy to accept extra recommendations in any format.</p>
<p>Letters of recommendations were definitely discussed but perhaps not in the sense that they were required. They were mentioned when they discussed the holistic approach that the admissions team takes. They were also discussed when students/parents asked how many they could/should send. They discussed gc recs, letters from teachers and also employers. Perhaps students are sending them on their own accord and the adcom is happy to review them?</p>
<p>Well yes, they will certainly look at them. But still, to go back to your original question/apprehensiveness, it definitely won’t hurt you not to have them. Besides my D’s experience, I have known many students that got the top awards without sending in rec letters. Like I said, Tulane has always seemed very fair in this process.</p>
<p>Having said that, if you have teachers that have already written you letters for other schools and presumably it wouldn’t be much of a burden for them to do one for Tulane, you could certainly still send them.</p>