my son would love to go to TUlane, but I’ll be honest and say it’s a reach for him. He also is just now getting his application in and really doesnt have time to craft wonderful essays for the 2 optional essays on the Tulane application. He does have a really great Common app essay and feels at this point it might detract from the reat of his application and accomplishments if he submits sub par essays . So is not submitting the optional essays going to blow him out of the water automatically? Or do you think he will get a fair look at what he submits since the other 2 essays are optional?
Tulane is a reach for most students. I strongly encourage your S to complete all three supplementals (one is in the Activities section, two in the Writing section). These are not really optional considering how important demonstrated interest is in Tulane’s admission process.
The Activity essay is only 250 words and should be straightforward.
The first essay in the writing section, the “Why Us?” one is really important, and should not be considered optional…but doesn’t have to be the full 800 words. Hopefully he has participated in their various virtual programs, these should help him complete this essay. Has he been demonstrating interest?
If he has to skip any of the 3 essays it should be the identity one, with that said, many applicants will complete all 3 supplementals. It will be tough to have a competitive application without all 3 essays.
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Tulane offered admission to less than 10% of applicants - and many of them are ED/EA. It’s a hugely difficult school to get into. Some get into much higher rated schools and turned down here.
So yes, you need to apply by tomorrow - but yes, you need to do the essays - especially the why tulane - and it’s not because i want to be in New Orleans. How will your son add value to the campus?
The identity one - he may have already written for other schools - my daughter had one and I swear she used it (with minor tweaks) for 7 or 8 schools.
You can still apply - but the odds are likely slim to none without the essay. Colleges want kids that want to be there -and you have to play the game and inform them you are.
While I think RD greatly reduces your chances, I’d encourage your son if he can’t get something out tomorrow night and that wouldn’t be good - perhaps wait for RD, learn about the school, how he fits, and craft a complete application.
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These are really not optional unless you are an exceptional candidate.
If the prospective student won’t take the time to fill them out Especially Why US its an easy no for the AO
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At Tulane, the “optional” essay is anything but. Reinforcing that is this post from Jeff Schiffman, Tulane’s recently departed Director of Admission. It also contains helpful tips on how to approach writing a “why college x” statement if he decides to write one.
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Your son does not have to write a creative essay for these. If writing them is difficult, ask him the questions and have him answer out loud, dictating to you while you write it down. Or he can record himself. The essays can be straightforward, almost conversational.
For the why Tulane, he can mention location, size and “vibe,” write about some of his academic interests and any clubs or organizations he might want to be part of. You can ask him , “Why are you applying here?” and write down everything he says. Or he can record it.
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I agree, the optional essays don’t have to be eye-catching. But they do need to communicate worthwhile, relevant information, in a clear, straightforward, coherent manner. If your son’s first choice is Tulane, he needs to show them that, by making a visit that the admissions office is aware of, and taking an in-person tour, if allowed, and otherwise by taking an online tour, and attending whatever online informational sessions they offer. He should reach out to the admissions office another couple of times in the next month or so. He should write both optional essays, and tell them very specifically why he wants Tulane; for example, he could tell them which major he is interested in, that Tulane has and is proud of.
You say that Tulane is a long shot for him - it will definitely be a rejection if he doesn’t write the optional essays. These are his opportunity to persuade them to take a chance on him. Honestly, if he doesn’t want to do them, perhaps that says something about how much he does or doesn’t want to go there.
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The AO on our tour made it clear that the Why Tulane essay is really not optional! The other optional essays weren’t mentioned in my recollection.
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I will be blunt and say that not submitting optional essays will almost certainly land him in the rejected pile.
He needs to do them. They are optional, in reality, for very few students. Hooked kids, or some special circumstance in which the college would want them regardless. Your son probably doesn’t fit any of those exceptions.
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Thank you to everyone for your advice. I understand and he will do the essays, but I just want to say this in case any college admissions people happen to read:
I hate games. If the “optional essay” is “anything but optional” then make it required. Be upfront, don’t be passive aggressive and play games. This is a small example of just about everything wrong in the world right now. Things should be on the level all the time. These are just kids. Kids in school (at least our public school system) have been beaten into submission with rule following their whole lives. Especially the boys. When a rule following, take everything a face value, kid is told something is optional…even if he has more passion to attend Tulane than any other applicant…and he has a very strong application already, he is going to trust that it is TRULY OPTIONAL as they said and feel that he will be judged solely based on what he has submitted, and not all the “hidden psychology” crap behind the curtain.
SAT scores are also optional at most schools this year. He has excellent SAT’s but feel his academic record and extra curriculars speak much more about the type of student he is than his standardized testing scores. So we called several admissions offices to ask “if he doesn’t submit his scores will that hurt him” Each said , “No it cant hurt , we can not hold it against him in any way as they are OPTIONAL this year.” So that is how he felt about these OPTIONAL essays. He didn’t feel he had time to do his best work and decided to let the rest of the application speak for itself and shine on it’s own. He didn’t feel he could improve or build upon what was already ready to submit.
Some people still value the English language and the definitions of words used in communication. If you are going to make it “Optional” Then truly make it OPTIONAL .
They are optional.
Think about this: John and Jim both apply to Tulane. They are both ORM students from solid middle to upper class suburban high schools. They have similar grades, scores, recs, activities. John does all the optional essays. Jim doesn’t.
According to section C7 of the common data set, Tulane considers interest. John’s essays give the AO’s more information about him. The fact that he did them shows he is interested enough to do extra work. What does it say about Jim that he wasn’t interested enough to do them? Clearly, John took advantage of an extra tool and it worked in his favor. Jim chose the easy route and it didn’t work out for him.
Putting it another way, why would you NOT want to take every opportunity to show the college who you are? Tulane is very selective these days. Any applicant who really wants to get in needs to put the most effort they can into the application, including optional essays.
I have no issue with optional essays not being really optional. That’s not anything official, but it’s conventional wisdom here on CC. Tulane isn’t being sneaky or opaque. They give the student a choice. It’s up to the student to choose wisely.
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The only thing I will add is that in every single admissions session Tulane talks about how important the Why Us? essay is, and that it’s not optional. Someone linked above to Jeff Schiffman’s blog post that states the same thing.
I don’t disagree that some colleges play ‘games’. Most don’t. The ones that do are pretty transparent about what’s important to them, and Tulane is an example of that. The information is there for the students who research the schools…and researching schools is time well spent for many reasons. If your S hasn’t done a virtual admission session yet, have him do one this week. Good luck to him with his admissions.
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Tulane doesn’t like to be viewed as a back up plan, or a safety. They have been quite transparent about their desire to improve their rankings.
While it seems frustrating, I don’t have a lot of sympathy. To the OP it may seem like games, but to Tulane, it’s the very real goal of protecting their yield. Again, using the example of John and Jim above, why give the seat to Jim, who is not as likely to attend as John, who clearly showed interest? They want bottoms on seats. They are going to give the seat to the student more likely to pay tuition for four years.
They aren’t playing games. They are protecting their interests.
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With a 10% acceptance rate, Tulane hasn’t been a safety for anyone for a long time. I agree they have been very transparent that their USNWR ranking is important to the admin and trustees, I directly heard Jeff Schiffman state that. Who knows how things might change in terms of transparency now that Jeff isn’t there anymore.
They already fill a large proportion of their class in ED, so I don’t think yield is an issue for them in EA or RD (nor is yield part of USNWR’s ranking methodology). The issue with their practices is that students who have relatively less college admissions support are less likely to be able to figure out what is really important. So, many students don’t know they have to do an admissions session, or that the essays aren’t optional. Sure we can say it’s on them, but I think we should take a careful look at what those applicants look like…they likely aren’t white, or Asian, or affluent.
What’s going to happen sometime in December is a bunch of Tulane EA applicants are going to be asked by Tulane to change their app to ED2. Oh, and the ED2 round this year at Tulane had been done away with…only to make an appearance two weeks ago. Asking applicants to change their admission round drives counselors, parents, and applicants crazy…because there is a dearth of information out there regarding how best to approach that decision. No data on acceptance rate if one makes the change, or acceptance rate if they stay put. And really only those who can commit to Early Decision financially can even consider the change.
I agree Tulane, like all schools, is protecting their interests. But, their practices have been criticized by some, and I do understand why.
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Thanks for clarifying, and what you say here is true. For the applicants who aren’t those things you listed, it is probably fair to say that the optional essays are more optional. But in the space for optional essays, they can’t say what you and I have just said. No college can.
As for the confusion around ED2 being gone, and then returning, yes, I can see that that will annoy a lot of people. It does seem wishy washy. Will it backfire? I suspect that for students and/or parents who are motivated by prestige and rankings, it won’t matter too much.
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There are quite a few layers on this subject, and Tulane in particular (!)…you and I are in agreement. Good thing CC pays us the big bucks for doing deep dives on Tulane’s admission practices 
FWIW I do think it would be easy for Tulane to remove the word ‘optional’ from those 3 CA supplemental essays.
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Having optional essays not really be optional is one of the more annoying things about the application process. If a school wants something answered they should make them required. At some point parents need to start calling out these ridiculous admissions process requirements. Passing some “secret test of commitment” is not something prospective students should be worrying about.
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Yes, there are lots of questions. Their marketing is confusing for families who do not understand Tulane’s goal of driving up the numbers. The relentless info they send makes them think they have a shot.
The reality it is waitlist letters prior to May 1 with blackmail level language trying to gauge demonstrated interest from students with much better offers already on the table. It makes many parents feel very uncomfortable.
I think they are “optional” - my son had this with CSM and U Minnesota. Pitt had it too (in past years). Can you get in without them - yes. Are your odds great - probably depends on the kid but certainly they are less than they would be if you did them.
Again, the schools aren’t just looking for people applying for sake of applying. Well they are - those are who they say no to - it helps them lower their acceptance rate.
The OPs son can apply with no essay or one additional essay to Tulane - and who knows - he can get in. I’m sure someone will who does this.
But if the acceptance rate is 10% overall - so you know they’re likely lower than that for RD. Then the OP in her initial message implied maybe his overall portfolio likely wasn’t up to Tulane’s level - i.e. it’s a reach for him.
So now, you have lower than 10% admission chances, I’m assuming his #s likely below the mid points, and then you have a chance to show yourself off - but you decide not to take it.
Even if you did take the essay chance, the deck is still stacked against you based on the difficulty of getting into the school. But if you’re already borderline at best - it’s like being a B+ student and the teacher offers extra credit to maybe get up to an A- but you don’t take it and stick with your B+.
I know they don’t put out stats but I bet internally they know - at all these schools - who does and doesn’t do the optional essays (by % of admits). And I have no doubt that there are some kids at each school (including Tulane) that get in without the optional work.
But given Tulane has optimized admissions as well as anyone - going from more than 25% accepted in 2016 to 10% today (while increasing the overall applicant pool) - it’s likely few who achieve this - perhaps definite Ivy Leaguers that they want to grab.
OP asked a question - no one here is making a political statement. They are simply providing OP the info. After all, none of us are Tulane admissions. We are simply trying to provide guidance.