<p>I suspect so…also I think that when you ask kids who have just completed an exhausting college application process to complete another optional application with EIGHT essays requiring some thoughtful effort…most will walk the other way…oh, and right in the middle of all their AP exams to boot!</p>
<p>I am really surprised that they asked the students to complete eight essays rather than 2 or 3 out of eight choices. That seems absurd to me, no matter the timing. Although clearly the timing makes it worse. Someone got out of control designing that application, from what you are saying. I haven’t seen it, but it just seems ridiculous, even if the essays are short.</p>
<p>The actual application essays can be seen in the link in my earlier post regarding the original invite email.</p>
<p>I brought it up to my son again last night - trying to entice him with the brand new dorm, suite style, all the amenities…but he is pretty adamant that he does not want to live by The Boot, plus he just does not have time to do 8 pretty serious essays. He has two more AP exams, a Physics project, a Theology project, and a report for Lit all due by Wednesday. And we have Athletic Awards Night, Track Districts, Academic Awards Night and May crowning in the same time frame! He’s going to sleep for a week after next week! </p>
<p>OK, I just read them and it doesn’t change my mind that it is overkill. Those could easily be cut in half, and really down to three. I would also suggest that whomever is responsible for this keep in mind the purpose here. This isn’t like winning the Rhodes Scholarship. It is an application for a dorm. I totally understand the desire to insure the students in the dorm have a certain level of desire to be involved in “Engaged Scholarship”, but surely they can make this assessment in 3 questions and the list of prior activity.</p>
<p>The first one (What type of civic engagement experience do you have?) is more of a list, so I will give them a pass on that one.</p>
<p>Technically, the way the 3rd one is worded (What does servant leadership mean to you and how do you apply it to the work you do for the Tulane and/or the New Orleans community?) it doesn’t even apply to incoming freshmen.</p>
<p>The 4th one (What is a change agent (social, political, environmental, etc.) and how do you work to become one?) strikes me as something more like what one would learn about in college and by being part of this kind of experience that Greenbaum hopes to promote.</p>
<p>The 5th one (What do you believe the difference is between community service and service learning?), the 7th one (Explain what engaged scholarship means to you and why), and the last one (In what ways do you believe academics and intellectual pursuits occur outside of the classroom? (This question does not refer to homework or studying, but instead to areas of interest, research, and intellectual curiosity)) seem to me as overlapping in intent. Sure there are shades of differences in those terms, but not enough to make students labor over the extra questions.</p>
<p>The 6th question (If you could create one class for every Tulane undergraduate student to take what would the class be and why?) doesn’t seem entirely fair for incoming freshmen that have no experience with what college classes are really like, especially service learning classes.</p>
<p>That’s my take on it anyway. It definitely might explain the extension in time to apply. Because it certainly seems like being in a brand new, suite style dorm would be attractive to students.</p>
<p>I just noticed the term “servant leadership” in #3. Am I missing something or is that clearly an incorrect word? Surely they meant “service”.</p>
<p>We had some of the same reactions to some of the questions that made us think that freshmen should not be applying since they didn’t have some of the experiences required to answer. </p>
<p>I think Servant leader and service leader are pretty much the same thing. Servant Leader is an often used Leadership Style description . </p>
<p>OK, it just sounds very odd to me.</p>
<p>We had the same issue here. My D wanted nothing to do with so many questions at this point in her senior year. </p>
<p>There is actually a term “servant” leadership, referring to service rendered where the giver has/gets absolutely no secondary gain (acclamation, etc) from the process of giving. My son had to google it before answering the question on the application.</p>
<p>Good to know, although even after having it roll around in my head for awhile, it still sounds like an odd term. I know that is an old argument anyway, if anyone can be truly 100% altruistic. After all, if helping someone else makes you feel good, then you are benefiting from the giving. There is presumably always some gain for the giver, even if it is all internal. I guess that is what is differentiated from “secondary gain”.</p>
<p>Well, learned at least one new thing today.</p>
<p>Just to clear some things up about Zimple/Greenbaum - I am living in Greenbaum next year as a rising sophomore - Greenbaum was originally intended as a LLC (living learning community). However, the turnout was extremely low. Because of this, housing opened up Greenbaum to all Sophomores and up, without the questions and application. I know a lot of sophomores were not happy with their options in other dorms (perhaps more upperclassmen chose to live on campus this year and filled up the more desirable dorms). Thus, they (and I included) saw Greenbaum as a better option (brand new, decent location, clean) than some of the “less” desirable dorms. Ive heard that one floor is still dedicated to the LLC, however I am not sure if this is true. Hope this clears some things up!</p>
<p>@TulaneFreshman - that is helpful, thanks. Sounds like they are just having a little trouble getting it off the ground. I imagine within a year or two it will be on track as they originally envisioned it. I think they just need to modify that application process so that it attracts more people. It is fine to want people dedicated to the theme of the dorm, but even the more ardent believers will only climb barriers up to a certain height.</p>
<p>My son corresponded with Tulane Housing to learn that the application outcomes for Wall and Greenbaum will both be released on May 26th. Accepted students will then have 48 hours to accept their spot by May 28th. This should work out nicely so perhaps during orientations he’ll be able to check around for roommates and hopefully check out the dorm he’ll be in come fall semester.</p>
<p>I just told my son that and he sighed huge and said “thats sooo far away”! lol. The generation of instant gratification has to wait two weeks…</p>
<p>May 26th is a holiday, wonder if these won’t come out until Tuesday now? </p>
<p>That seems likely. Doesn’t really make too much difference, does it? Have a fun holiday weekend. Looks like rain most of the weekend up here in New England.</p>
<p>Nope no difference really, just an anxious student! Looks like the rain will be missing us for the most part here in PA!</p>
<p>Then put one on the grill for me, I am on my way!</p>
<p>Gotcha covered! </p>