I know the sessions are underway, so if any one has any feedback, reviews, travel notes, etc. let’s hear them here!
I’ll be going in 2 weeks!! So I’ll post a recap/review when I get back 
DD just finished up her session this afternoon. She had not visited Tulane before committing, but had a very good feeling about it prior to making her decision… well, she loved it - the campus, the little she saw of New Orleans and everything Tulane has to offer. She’s looking forward to calling it home for at least the next four years. There wasn’t anything she didn’t love, from the food to the dixieland band greeting them the beginning of orientation. She’s a double major, Finance & Asian Studies with a minor in Chinese.
My wife also loved everything about it. She stayed at the Park View Guest House, a short trolley ride from Tulane (maybe the closest hotel to the school?) She LOVED the grits (as did my DD). Both being foodies, they were in heaven.
I can’t wait to make the trip move-in week. I’m looking forward to finding any excuse to go visit.
thank you for posting this!
I am currently on the way back from orientation so I figured I could give a quick debrief. Basically it mostly consisted of powerpoint presentations and group activities for students. We would watch a powerpoint on housing, for example, then go meet up with our subgroup for a scavenger hunt. Most of the information provided was common sense and in all honesty the purpose of orientation felt more as if it was for networking and getting used to Tulane life as opposed to learning a lot about academic schedules and whatnot. The highlights I’d include are Bowling the first night, signing up for classes, and the opportunity to sleep in Butler and meet everyone. Definitely was worth the experience!
I loved orientation. I went to the June 8 and 9 session and although it was awkward initially, it was a bunch of fun. Also to note, it was only awkward because a great majority of incoming students did not know the other incoming students. After the initial awkwardness wore off, it became very enjoyable.
The orientation counselors were very informative and kind. I could definitely tell that they were excited about being current students at Tulane. The leaders ranged from being sophomores to seniors. For example, my orientation leader was a sophomore.
When arriving to campus, students must go into Butler and receive a room key and an electronic housing card. The key can then be used to place items in the room assigned to the student. One can then meet the other roommate if they are there as well. My roommate was kind and very trustworthy.
Next, everyone goes to the LBC to register. In the Stibbs room, registration is completed and students receive a name tag and a tie-string bag containing a pen, two “books”, and the summer reading program book “Men We Reaped”. The two “books” aforementioned were “New Student Oreintation 2015” and “First Year Student Academic Planning Guide 2015”. These must be on you at all times. They are super helpful. The NSO book contains the schedule for the two days, information about living on campus, organizations, dates and deadlines, and other various resources. The APG describes what classes are required to take based upon the school you may enter and what courses are required for freshman.
After that, everyone met in the “Kendall Cram Room” in the LBC (213) for a unique welcome (I don’t wanna spoil this) and a message from Dean MacLaren. Then we were all split into 8 (or maybe it was 9) groups. I was in group 7.
We proceeded to go into another room to introduce ourselves, and go over the schedule. We shared phone numbers so that our group leader could text us where to meet next if we had a break or if we were out doing something when he was elsewhere.
Next, we arrived at the Freeman Auditorium to go over how to schedule classes so that we could be able to do it the next day.
A unique scavenger hunt was after this in which we walked around campus and took pictures at places where we were to explore. Each group split up into 4 more mini groups for this game. I wasn’t a fan of the scavenger hunt, but only because I was in a group with people I hadn’t connected to.
After this, we had free time and ate snowballs. In the academic planning guide mentioned above, we were to fill out a page with our interests that surround the specific schools of Tulane and to fill out some information for us to be placed in certain classes. It was common during this time to fill out these pages.
Just a note, I would recommend choosing some classes before you come for orientation because it makes the process easier. Tulane has their freshman academic planning guide online in a pdf, and it is the same as the one we received during orientation.
Dinner was next. It was in the LBC in two places, the 1834 Club and the Qatar Ballroom. After that, the orientation leaders put on a couple of skits of what might happen to you in college, and then we went to Rock 'n Bowl. Every group either goes to Rock 'n Bowl or Mardi Gras World. It alternates.
Anyway, you get back around 11 and they set up some games and movies in Butler, but you have the option to go to bed, which I took advantage of because I was exhausted.
We had breakfast at City Diner (rat) in the LBC for the next day.
The next day contained more academic related presentations and PowerPoints with informative information. Every group goes in a different order with this day, but everyone goes to the same stations.
These presentations included a PowerPoint on campus health and the resources available for both physical and mental health, a presentation from the Tulane Police Department about safety and security, and a presentation about housing and organizations offered at Tulane.
All the sessions also went to get their splash cards (student IDs), choose their meal plan, and sign their mailbox agreement.
There is also a 40 minute panel with your group assigned orientation leaders in which they review over organizations and other random things that are important to know. This is also a chance to ask questions about student life and for help if the group needed direction.
Throughout this we had lunch in that LBC in which they provided us preloaded cards with $12 on them.
Academic advising was last for my group. This is where you choose your classes and meet with an advisor (not your assigned one) that is assigned to a specific major or program. I chose exploratory. I had already picked out my classes before I got there, so I didn’t really need any direction. This was actually good because I got a very rude advisor that talked down to me as if I were a child. This was not common, but it did make the end of orientation disappointing for me. I was able to get all the clasess I wanted though, so that worked out well. I do not want to go into detail, but I was with another incoming student with the advisor, and she was kind and helpful to this person. Whenever she would talk to me, as mentioned above, she would not display the same helpfulness or kindness to the other student. I don’t know why.
Otherwise, it was a great experience! It was super informative and I feel much more confident going to Tulane this upcoming fall. I hope the next groups feel the same way.
Thanks so much for that great outline of orientation @pulsars! My S couldn’t go to Orientation because of his summer job, so it is great to get a detailed report of what he missed and what he needs to be aware of. Sounds like you are all ready for August - I am sure you will have a great year!!
I was in group 7! Kitchen boy ring a bell?
The sessions certainly were informative and helped ease my anxiety. The students were welcoming, and the group leaders were awesome! I could have done with a bit more freedom in choosing what I wanted to and did not want to do, but oh well. Great program!
Whew - just managed to get back into my account after months of being locked out. If anyone’s gotten stuck on the POST page after logging in and knows a fix, let me know.
I was at one of the later orientations. Other people have described the schedule in detail, but basically they would alternate between a session of talking/socializing, and then a 45 minute talk about safety/sex/schedules, etc.
A couple noteworthy things:
- At one point we were given a clicker poll and asked to choose the part of college we were most worried about. The options were academic rigor, increased freedom, old/new relationships, having a roommate, and one other. It was cool to see how even the split was, and made me feel like I wasn't alone in being intimidated.
- For Honors kids who went to Top Scholars, orientation is a major plus. Technically, you already know the campus and your schedule, but it offers MUCH more time to socialize. Also, everyone you meet here is going to show up this fall, which wasn't true for TSW :(
- People trash Butler, but it's pretty much just your average dorm. I'm buying cleaning product and paper towels for the sinks, and the space in the door makes noise travel further, but otherwise it's fine.
- I've heard complaints on Yik Yak and here that everyone wants to party, which couldn't be further from the truth. I was one of the people that did want to go out, and so many people I talked to weren't interested. So yeah, every school is a party school if you want (and people did get drunk that night), but 85% of us stayed in Butler, ate pizza, and went to bed. I think some kids get intimidated by talking to strangers and so things seem strangely warped from reality.
Just to wrap up: TUNSO was great and it made me love Tulane even more, which I didn’t think was possible. Everyone I met was unique and talented, with vibrant interests. For any prospective merit-aid students, believe me that everything you could want is down there. I’m going to have a great college experience guilt-free, and I do not envy my friends paying $40k+ for Ivies.
@Parallax3 No I don’t remember anything about kitchen boy? 
I guess I didn’t get to talk to you.
My explanation was very specific. I don’t remember typing that much, but a chunk of it was unnecessary. My bad!
@StagNation I completely forgot about those activities we did! The poll was a very interesting thing to take part in. Orientation was great at Tulane.
Also, sorry for bumping this post again. D;