<p>This is a way of making the school's selectivity percentage look as though it's a difficult school to get into thus a way to help boost it in the rankings. They send out thousands of emails with priority applications. Because it's free and easy to fill out, tons of kids apply for the heck of it. It's a win win situation for everyone. The school gets to say that they've had "increased" or "record" numbers of applications, they accept their usual amount of students but based on the large number of applications the percentage of those accepted appears lower on paper, and the applicants get to send out a free and easy application which usually results in a quick yes or no. What people tend to forget is that a college is not only an educational institution but also a business.</p>
<p>iambored-
This is no scam, nor is it "sabotage". As nysmile said, this is a business. Obviously it worked, since Tulane had a 100% increase in applicants last year. However, their yield was low (only about 16% if I recall) so IMO they need to do their work to increase yield. MY s was also one who was initially going to consider Tulane a safety, but he very much enjoyed the local presentation, had a nice chat with the regional rep when she visited his school, and <em>really</em> liked it when he visited. He heard from Tulane very quickly (they had accidentally set up 2 files on him, and when they finally realized it and combined the 2 files, he heard back in 3 days!). It was very comforting to have an acceptance so quickly and so early. Also, he'd applied to 3 other schools, but there was a 5th application that he was almost finished with, but it required a bunch of additional essays. Once he was accepted to Tulane with the first of the scholarship offers they made to him, he decided that while he liked the 5th school, even if he got a scholarship to go, he probably wouldnt choose to go across country, so he didn't finish the application to that 5th school (despite their sending multiple emails to encourage him!). So, in that sense perhaps you could say they "sabotaged" his last application, but it was his choice, not Tulane's.</p>
<p>In all fairness, I must admit that the almost $38K in scholarship $$ that DS is getting from Tulane was a large factor in his choosing Tulane. That said, he genuinely loved it when he visited (in the fall and again for the honors weekend, including an overnight). No matter how much money they offered, if he didnt like the school he wouldnt have gone. </p>
<p>When we went to a local alumni event just before taking him to school in August, they said something like 94% of students who accepted Tulane's admission offer had visited campus, and over 90% of those who declined it had not visited campus. I found that interesting. And, to me it says they are well aware that many fill out the quickie easy application to have a school under their belt. But, their strategy paid off for my son. He turned down other schools, he is there, and he is happy.</p>
<p>So in sum, (z) fill out the application and GO VISIT. See what you think, and good luck to you!</p>
<p>Besides Tulane and Fordham, is anyone aware of other colleges which offer a fee waiver like this?
Thank you.</p>
<p>it is worth applying early....it seemed to me that T was generous with monetary offers, especially in the beginning of the app process. I am aware of some students who tried to get on board late is the game after hearing of scholarship offers and reports of how much admitted students loved everything about T but were not as lucky with scholarship offers. After visiting I was sold.</p>
<p>If you are interested in the school, by all means fill out the application. Then go visit. Many of those who did not accept the admissions offer did not visit the campus.</p>
<p>elihoff,</p>
<p>My D got another such fee waiver from Rice. The email said it was due to AP scores.</p>
<p>D received one of these no fee applications last year. We had to talk her into submitting the application, as she had no intentions of attending college in the South. Well, she was admitted with a very nice scholarship and, upon visting the campus, she fell in love with Tulane and New Orleans. She is now a freshman at Tulane's Freeman School of Business and is very happy with her choice. Had D not received one of these applications she would never had applied there.</p>
<p>S has a similar story. He applied, at my insistence to open up his options--I felt he ought to look at a different type of school I had been to the campus the previous year when D visited and felt it might be a fit for him.</p>
<p>When he learned about some scholarship money, he agreed (with some reluctance) to visit the campus, although he felt pretty certain he would attend our flagship state school. So off we went. Last college visited. What he heard and saw that weekend seemed to excite him in a way he hadn't felt previously at any of our many college trips (8-10). So Tulane was the one. </p>
<p>If it hadn't been for the free and relatively easy application process, I'm quite sure he wouldn't have attended. He's a senior now and can't believe how fast the time has gone. Even after suffering through his 1st semester as a "Katrina Kid", he has never regretted his choice--and that was after he ended up attending his original 1st choice for his Katrina semester.</p>
<p>As others have said, it's imperative to visit the campus and the city. New Orleans is definitely not for everyone, but it might be right for you.</p>
<p>willamette also has a free app. </p>
<p>so basically they look at everbody the same? a little too deceptive if you ask me..</p>
<p>What do you mean they look at everybody the same? </p>
<p>They admit/reject applications just like any school, based on sats/gpas/class rank/essays/etcetera.</p>
<p>If you mean they look at everybody the same regardless of when they turn in the application, not true, the earlier you turn it in the better your chances. </p>
<p>There is no deception. It's a win-win situation for the college and the applicants both.</p>
<p>Agree with atlas on this one. As I mentioned above, my s had his acceptance a few days after they merged the 2 application files they had on him. He might have heard sooner if they had caught their error sooner (they kept telling him the file was probably "downstairs") anyway-- it got fixed and he heard quickly (BTW he ended up using the common app, not the quick personal app). Early = good!! Less competition.</p>
<p>They do send out many to students but if Tulane is a school that interests you why not use it. No fee, waive many requirements, and quick response for money and acceptance? Go for it.</p>
<p>they clock it from the time they "post" that your application is complete--that is, the application AND the stuff from your guidance counselor. this "stuff" can sit on someone's desk for a while before they actually post it. although my D sent her app in on 9/8, it was posted as complete yesterday. therefore the clock starts ticking now and she will hear within 4 weeks of yesterday.</p>
<p>has anyone out there heard from tulane yet?</p>
<p>My DS applied on 9/9 and was accepted yesterday. His materials were in last Friday, so it was really a quick decision. paperwork is in the mail, they say.
We shall see...</p>
<p>I think that getting accepted early is a great confidence booster for the entire family. Early acceptance also gives the student the sense that she/he is now "playing with the house's money." In D's case last year, having an early acceptance from Tulane and another school definitely reduced her anxiety level and took some of the emotion out of the difficult college selection process.</p>
<p>Im so confused! How could there alredy be an admission decision? Doesn;t the school have to see your first quarter marks before evaluating you?</p>
<p>DinDune, did they send your son's acceptance to his e-mail address?</p>
<p>fendrock--i am pretty sure that you check about the acceptances on the tulane admissions site with your child's social security number.</p>
<p>I checked the website link to see the status...all I needed to put in was the SS #. It said that more info is in the mail. A local friend's DD just got in as well. She applied a few weeks before my DS.</p>