<p>My top choices are currently Vanderbilt, Duke, and Washington University St. Louis. I would love a school that has a nice campus feel, nothing city-like like NYU. I am serious about academics, but I also want a school with a strong social atmosphere like Vanderbilt. I am applying as an economics major, but am considering double majoring in chemistry. Does Tulane share any of these qualities that would make it a good fit for me? Thanks for the help :) </p>
<p>Tulane is very similar to all those schools. Similar size, similar campus “feel”, private, has associated law school and med school, etc. WUSTL is D3 athletics, while the others are all FBS. Duke is the only one of the 3 not near a more major city, but the close presence of UNC and NCSU counters that somewhat when it comes to attracting entertainment. New Orleans is certainly one of the most unique places there is. Tulane is the least selective of the 4 when it comes to admissions, but is still considered very highly selective. It is still top 30-40 nationally when it comes to the academic record of their incoming classes among national research universities. Another difference is that Tulane is definitely the most undergraduate oriented of the 4. That makes it easier to get involved in research early on, if you want. I am not saying you couldn’t at those other schools. I am sure you can. Tulane just makes a bigger point of getting undergrads involved that way, and the profs tend to devote more time to the undergrads.</p>
<p>Still, the differences between these schools is much less than their similarities, IMO. One other thing about Tulane is that it is much more generous with merit aid than those others. Depending on your family’s financial circumstances, that may or may not be a strong differentiating factor.</p>
<p>What about New Orleans as a city? My parents have feelings of it being a little rough, but they haven’t been there post-Katrina. I don’t really feel overly worried about living in New Orleans, but I have lived in California almost my whole life, and currently live abroad in Finland. Helsinki is a really quiet and somewhat boring, and I think the liveliness of New Orleans would be nice, is it any similar to Nashville? </p>
<p>im applying i love it i really hope i get in, Tulane and William and Mary are really the only 2 schools i want to go to </p>
<p>Depending on which crime stats you look at, St. Louis and Nashville rank on many measures as more dangerous than New Orleans fyi. But in all those places, you really need to look at the immediate campus neighborhood which is where you will spend almost all of your time. Rather than look at the stats for the whole city. </p>
<p>Tulane’s campus is in a very upscale city neighborhood with lots of 7 figure houses. To me, it seems a lot more tame of a location than many other urban campus neighborhoods that kids /parents choose with no qualms – USC, Columbia, Penn, Hopkins, etc.</p>
<p>New Orleans has improved a lot since Katrina. There are still crime issues for sure, but those are very concentrated in a couple of areas away from Tulane. Tulane is in a very upscale neighborhood. Drew Brees, the QB for the Saints, lives next door in a gated community. Crime immediately around Tulane is lower than many Ivies and other high profile schools, such as Duke. As at all schools, common sense has to prevail.</p>
<p>There is some similarity between Nashville and NOLA, although Nashville is bigger. There is just no place like NOLA, though. It has a feel and charm that is unique. You just have to experience it to understand.</p>
<p>I will advise you that if you want to apply for their full tuition merit scholarships, you have to apply to the school EA or SCEA, which means by Nov. 15. The applications for the DHS and/or Paul Tulane Award are due by Dec. 15. The application is free. I would suggest applying, and if you get into these schools arranging a trip (obviously no simple thing in your situation) where you get to visit them all and see for yourself what you think.</p>
<p>I sent in my application today, thanks for the help! I applied early action, so hopefully I will find out soon. I think that if Tulane ends up as a serious option for me I would make the flight out to visit. </p>
<p>I just got admitted to Tulane last week! I’m applying to Vandy as well, and the first thing I noticed about Tulane’s campus when I finally did an offical tour in September (I live in south MS so I’ve been to NOLA a thousand times) was that the campus reminded me a lot of Vanderbilt’s-- very green, college-y, and like a little haven in the middle of the city. I wouldn’t necessarily say that New Orleans is like Nashville, though. Nashville feels more city-like to me, while New Orleans is so different and full of unique personality and culture and such a rich diversity that it tends to have a more local, while still city-like, vibe. Plus, for the social stuff, you would never run out of things to do in New Orleans, for sure. It’s such an exciting, interesting city; also, I know a pretty good amount of students do Greek life if you’re interested in that. I love both schools but if you get admitted, definitely pay Tulane a visit!! It’s really an amazing school and I’m sure you’ll be just as torn as I am. :)</p>
<p>I can tell y’all that my son thought he would be spending a lot more time in the FQ than he actually has. Since he arrived in August he has left campus a handful of times that were on his own and not class/community service related. He is extremely busy with classes, home work, his job, clubs and activities on campus. I know he went to two concerts downtown, was an extra in a tv show one day, and went to VooDoo fest. He does go to Oak St. more than the quarter but that’s where his barber is and Po’boy fest is up there next weekend. He’s also gone over to Magazine St maybe once or twice. You will never be bored at Tulane! </p>