<p>When applying to schools, I had a strict set criteria of what I wanted. A metropolitan city, at least 6000 students, warm weather and a great social atmosphere. I applied to Tulane because it had all of that and New Orleans has a repuatation of being a vivacious city. However, it is no secret that diversity at Tulane is seriously lacking. I am African American and live in South Africa, attending an international school here where 127 different countries are represented. I can't do campus visits because of my location, and am very skeptical to attend Tulane because of its notorious reputation for having only 5% African Americans and 5% Hispanics. </p>
<p>Can anyone tell me the cold, hard truth about diversity at Tulane? And will being part of the vast minority make me not want to attend Tulane?</p>
<p>When you said about Diversity. Are you talking also about gays/lesbians, asian minority? </p>
<p>Also have you compared “black diversity” at Tulane vs other schools like MIT, Cal-Tech, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, etc?..do a little research, will yeah…</p>
<p>Personally, I dont think the Office of Admissions will determine your admissions based on the color of your skin, etc. Well, perhaps in South Africa you can do it but NOT in the US as it is against the law. </p>
<p>We have a bunch of laws that will protect minority (s) and if Tulane has done discrimination against blacks, asians, hispanics, native americans AND you can bet your million dollar that Rev Jackson and Rev Al Sharpton will be the fist once to throw a stone (or book of laws) at Tulane.</p>
<p>Then again if you have the proof that Tulane has done discrimination, you can send your complaint to United Nations.</p>
<p>First off, ever heard of affirmative action? That literally is looking at skin color to help determine admissions… I think the above poster is slightly misinformed on college admissions. </p>
<p>I think the OP was talking more about diversity within the school, not discrimination in the admissions process. From what I’ve seen, Tulane does have the typical northeast upper middle class students that you would find at any expensive school. But they are not an overpowering majority. Loyola, a university next door to Tulane, is, to me at least, more diverse than Tulane and has more black students but that does not make it better or worse than Tulane. </p>
<p>Every school will have some type of majority. The goal for you should be to not get caught up in that. You’ll make friends regardless of your background, no need to worry what the rest of the school is doing.</p>
<p>I agree with Scutrules. Tulane is majority white obviously, but like most college campuses it is reasonably color-blind when it comes to the social aspects of daily life. Besides, if more people like you don’t choose to attend Tulane because it is already underrepresented by (USA) minorities, then how will it ever get better represented? I say USA minorities because obviously you are not a minority race in your home country.</p>
<p>Tulane and New Orleans has a strong history of acceptance. Is it without blemish? No, like all southern schools (and many non-southern ones) it has aspects of its past that today are nearly universally considered reprehensible. But no one can change the past, and now Tulane has a strong African and African-American studies department and a high-profile professor in this area, Melissa Harris-Perry. If you have not looked her up yet, you should. Better yet, I strongly suggest you write her and ask her opinion on coming to Tulane in your situation. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything, she will give you a very straightforward answer. <a href=“mailto:mperry6@tulane.edu”>mperry6@tulane.edu</a></p>
<p>I work for Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) at Tulane. And we do a pretty good job making sure the students feel included and we program to encourage diversity. Although there might not be a big multicultural population on campus, we are very strong. This year, half of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Executive board represent and want to promote diversity at tulane. We also have at least 5 USG senators elected who want to focus entirely on the diversity issue and want to represent the multicultural student body.
I think if you come to Tulane, you will find included. Although it might be majority white, the diversity culture is growing everyday as the student leaders are stepping up big time.</p>
<p>Tulane is lacking in diversity as far as color goes, to be honest.</p>
<p>But I feel like that whole idea is a bit silly. I don’t know. I’m from NOLA and obviously have been around a whole mix of people my whole life. Color isn’t really something that people care about on campus. </p>
<p>I feel like I’d never pick a university based on the color of its student body. I feel like that’s a bit off.</p>
<p>tulane is definitely lacking in racial diversity compared to some other schools, but there are still pockets of different types of people. when i was there, there was at least one black fraternity and one black sorority on campus. the asian student groups were also really active. most of the students with hispanic/latino background i met came from south america.</p>
<p>smchls - i don’t really think it’s necessarily “off” to pick a university based on the types of people that attend there - be that racially, ethnically, regionally, theologically…etc. after all, it’s these things that help you identify with others that may have similar interests and backgrounds as you and provides comfort, familiarity, and the promise of making new friends in a new environment. obviously, college should be about expanding your horizons and meeting all types of people who are different from you, but i see nothing wrong in wanting to make sure the college you are attending has other students that may be similar to you whom you can make friends with or celebrate your backgrounds with. </p>
<p>i came from a very racially diverse high school (about 40% black, 40% white, and 20% other including hispanic, international, asian and a very large number of mixed-race students), so tulane was a huge culture shock to me. i won’t lie that the lack of racial diversity was strange to me at first and a little off putting (i’m a mixed heritage minority), but i eventually found my groove with a group of friends of all different religious and racial backgrounds.</p>
<p>so although there is not a lot of racial diversity, it is still there. i think, alreadythere3, you might experience a similar culture shock as i did. BUT that doesn’t mean you won’t find your friends, enjoy your time there, and end up loving the experience and school like i did. and the fact that it is in new orleans, well, the city more than makes up for the school’s lack of racial diversity.</p>
<p>OP: seriously where in the US from coast-to-coast you will find any US Universities (not High School or college prep school) that will have 127 different countries being represented just like your High School?</p>
<p>I am very curious and would like to know. Therefore, please do a little research and let me know. THANKS.</p>
<p>The OP never said they required a school that had 127 countries represented, they were simply describing their current situation as a point of reference. It emphasizes their desire to attend a university that is, if not as diverse, then at least accepting of diversity.</p>
<p>Although that does make me ask a question. It seems to me there are universities in the UK that are probably very diverse that have entrance qualifications similar to Tulane, such as St. Andrews. Now I actually have no idea how diverse their student body is, but I know it is a very good school that accepts a lot of international students. Have you looked at any of those schools?</p>
<p>Statement: " “they were simply describing their current situation as a point of reference”</p>
<p>My comments are: I got the point of reference. In fact, lots of people “exagerate” their point of references in order to make the point.</p>
<p>However, if her/his HS is being represented by 127 nations THEN of course she/he wants to have her/his College to be at least represented by 100 nations if not more. And she/he does not want college only being represented by 5 nations…</p>
<p>She/he probably will not like any US colleges that only being represented by 5 nations, or 10 nations or even 25 nations…</p>
<p>So, that’s why I told OP to find any US Colleges that have similar representation (or at least being represented by 100 nations) so OP can be happy.</p>
<p>More importantly, why bother going to school in the US if OP can find such college in her/his country?..if they have High School being represented by 127 nations THEN I am so sure they have also colleges in OP country with similar representation.</p>
<p>Otherwise, if there is no such college in OP country with 120 nations then where will those HS students go to after finishing their HS? will they go to their universities with only 5 nations being represented?..just wondering.</p>
You have absolutely no basis for this assumption, or any of the others that follow. You cannot read their mind or know what they want to that extent. You have taken this on a bizarre tangent, let’s just stick with what the OP actually asked.</p>
<p>I already know what OP wants and that is: “and am very skeptical to attend Tulane because of its notorious reputation for having only 5% African Americans and 5% Hispanics.”</p>
<p>OK and let’s stick to with what OP actually asked and this is OP’s question/concern: “And will being part of the vast minority make me not want to attend Tulane?”</p>
<p>My answer will be: IF Tulane only being represented by 5 or 7 nations THEN OP will be skeptical if not alergic coming to Tulane.</p>
<p>Then if not Tulane, OP needs to find the “right college” for his habitat, dont you think so?..just wondering…</p>
<p>There were 13 foreign countries represented in the most recent entering class. I think the number counting all undergrads is closer to 20, and counting grad students between 25 and 30. Except for the 13 stat, I have estimated the rest based on past postings by Tulane.</p>
<p>IMO, the OP is really just asking if Tulane is an accepting and comfortable environment for those that are not in the majority, and I will continue to maintain the answer is an emphatic yes, assuming the person that is of a minority category is personable and reasonably outgoing, or at least not completely introverted.</p>
<p>Some of you guys posting seem to take offense at the idea that a person of color wants to go to a university that is diverse, accepting, and has a population with some students that look like her. There is nothing wrong with that. I am pretty sure that she is not worried about how many nations are being represented. If you are not a minority, you may not understand how it feels to be racially isolated. OP, I am AA and I too took race into account in my college search; I do not want to be one of a handful of blacks on a campus. I do not want to be a one of a handful of students of color on a campus.</p>
<p>OP, definitely email Melissa Harris-Perry; I like her talk show about issues affecting the Black community, and I am sure she will give you her honest opinion.</p>
<p>I don’t detect any posts where people “take offense at the idea that a person of color wants to go to a university that is diverse, accepting, and has a population with some students that look like her.” smchls is the only one that said they wouldn’t use that as a criterion, and he/she certainly didn’t make it sound like they thought it was offensive. After all, don’t we all wish it never made any difference to anyone? MLK Jr. said just that about 50 years ago.</p>
<p>I completely understand the innate desire to self-segregate by ethnicity. Even at schools that have much more balanced numbers, there is endless talk about how all the ethnic groups hang out with each other the vast majority of the time. Seems to defeat the purpose of having a higher minority population. In any case, I guess I just continue to wonder how the numbers ever get more in balance if minorities only choose schools where there are already a lot of minority students. Seems like an endless loop.</p>
<p>Well, we live in SoCal in a highly Asian upper middle class public school district( we are Caucasian). in fact, my oldest boy was the only Caucasian boy in his kindergarten class. I am not kidding…our HS is 85% Asian…so my kids still are by far a minority but a little more diverse…
It was first weird for me when I moved into the area…it was never weird for my kids and now most of my adult and my kids’ friends are Asian and I don’t even notice it anymore… My daughter will be now part of the Caucasian majority at Tulane…which will be a first for her.
I think being a minority is not a big issue… I think it has been an enriching experience for my kids being one…</p>
<p>I am not trying to be sarcastic or anything. However, IF there is a college in Mars (yes planet mars) and all the students are martians and I am the only earthen. THEN, I would not mind going to that college in that different planet.</p>
<p>It would expand my horizon and liberalize, open my mind to learn their martian culture, knowledge, skills, etc.</p>
<p>So, if I am not afraid of going to college with martians THEN OP should not be afraid, scared and feel awkward or out of place in studying at Tulane.</p>
<p>PS: sometimes exageration is needed to make a point? who knows…LOL</p>
<p>We just returned from Tulane and attended Destination Tulane on Saturday, 3/16. I will admit that I was surprised at the lack of diversity on campus. I didn’t notice it on our first visit, but school was not in session back in June. My son, who is black, wasn’t bothered by it but did take note. He fell in love with Tulane and made some new friends and is itching to commit. The % of black students is equivalent to his current boarding school and also to Dartmouth, which he is still waiting to hear from. Like he has at his High School, he will seek out friends he is comfortable with and join diverse organizations.</p>
<p>I will say that I was a bit disappointed at the lack of diversity in the tour guides selected for Destination Tulane as well as the student panel discussion. I gave that feedback when filling out the comment card.</p>
<p>Sounds like it was a great trip, ExeterMama. Glad you took the chance to make that comment to Tulane, and hopefully it will spur them to take some action on that, although it could well be that other panels have more diverse representation. With so many DT events in March and April, there are various mixes of who is on the panel on any given day.</p>
The % of black students is equivalent to his current boarding school and also to Dartmouth, which he is still waiting to hear from. Like he has at his High School, he will seek out friends he is comfortable with and join diverse organizations.</p>