Personal App, Merit Aid, Chances, and Questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tulane University
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<p>Hi guys, I received the personal app in the mail recently and its kind of strange to me - almost a "too good to be true" sort of deal. I hadn't really thought about Tulane before, but as I look more into the school now, the more I like it. I downloaded their regular app and noticed it was much longer. Whats the deal with the personal app? - how do they go about sending it out to ppl?</p>

<p>It doesn't say so on the personal app, but are teacher recs/letters required?</p>

<p>Also, I know the deadline for Dean's Honor Scholarship is approaching, but are there other merit scholarships they offer at Tulane? If so, how competitive would I be for them???</p>

<p>Plan to major in cellular and molecular biology/biochemistry
Career goals: physician/medical researcher</p>

<p>My stats:
SAT I: 1440 (750 Math, 690 Verbal)
SAT II: 800 Math IIC, 770 Chemistry, 750 Writing
GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 5.075 weighted
Rank: 5 of 439</p>

<p>12 APs by graduation:
Past APs: 5 US History, 5 Calc AB, 5 Chemistry, 4 English Language, 4 European History, 3 Drawing Portfolio
Senior year APs: Biology, Physics C (Mechanics), Statistics, Calc BC, English Literature, Macroeconomics</p>

<p>8 credit hrs at community college by graduation in general chemistry I, II labs, computer programming, and general psychology</p>

<p>185 community service hrs at nursing home/rehab center (past: math tutoring and library work)</p>

<p>Piano for 10 years - top pianist in S. Florida area - 22 performance awards in entire career, 9 consecutive superiors in solo, 8 consecutive superiors in duet, 7 consecutive honors in theory, currently at highest difficulty level in both instrumental performance and music theory at state level</p>

<p>Clubs: Mu Alpha Theta (Parliamentarian, Historian), Future Med Club (VP, Pres), Science Club, Junior Engineering Tech Society, Pre-Law Club (in past)</p>

<p>work 4-5 hrs/wk at parents' chinese rest.</p>

<p>attended FSU Young Scholars Program this summer - courses in theoretical math, modern physics, comp programming, science ethics, research in F-21 Gamma Spectroscopy</p>

<p>Academic Awards: National Merit Commended, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, Outstanding Physics, FSU Young Scholar, Who's Who, UPenn Book Award, some additional school awards</p>

<hr>

<p>A little about Tulane:</p>

<p>Also, can anyone tell me what its like to study at Tulane, is it a party school, or is it more academically intense. Are the classes basically lecture or discussion and student input?</p>

<p>About the campus - it seems kind of small to me (160 acres I've read), is it a good size campus in reality?</p>

<p>New Orleans- If I'm not into the partying scene, is there other stuff to do - cultural attractions, etc... how close is Tulane to the basic necessities such as grocery stores, barbers, dept. stores, etc...</p>

<p>Is the student population pretty diverse and accepting? -or more conservative</p>

<p>Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read my long post. Please respond tho, I need your advice.</p>

2

<p>I can't really speak for Tulane, but your scores and things look pretty good. I'd say people are in the running for merit aid with an SAT of 1350 and higher. There are other merit schoarships you can get without applying for DHS; some of these are 14,000 to 18,000 renewable per year.</p>

<p>I really like the Tulane campus. It doesn't seem crowded or "too small" or anything. Right across the street is the Audubon Park which looks lovely for walking. </p>

<p>You don't have to be into the partyling seen, necessarily. New Orleans is FULL of culture. </p>

<p>I am not a student there and really can't say much more, but if you've received the personal application you should submit it! I applied online where it's called the "personal application," but I still had to pay the fee. Don't think there was a teacher recommendation but there was some portion my counselor had to fill out. I also submitted an essay anyway; I find the essay rounds out an application.</p>

3

<p>Tulane's campus is 110 acres which makes it pretty compact by massive State U standards but fairly big for an urban school. It also abuts Loyola of New Orleans and one of the prettiest city parks I have ever seen. One sort of odd thing about the campus is that it is long and fairly skinny. Apparently the property was originally a sugar plantation and they used to stretch back from the river. The area between the campus and the river is the aforementioned Audobon Park. The school is seaparted from the park by St. Charles Ave which is the grandest old avenue you will ever see. There is a trolley line running down the middle of the street that will take you downtown and to the French Quarter. It is a living relic from another age but the cars are beatifully maintained and it still gets you where you are going. It is also only a buck to ride.</p>

<p>The area surrounding the campus is mostly residential and it ranges from unbelievably upscale to something decidely not so. New Orleans is an old city and very much a socio-economic patchwork. If you are from a northern city you probably expect all urban areas consist of large ghettoes separated by parks and freeways from rich neighborhoods and suburbs. Get over it. The South and especially New Orleans is not Chicago or Cleveland or Philly or Newark. It has its own problems, culture and history not yours.</p>