<p>I'm way too old to know what its like now, of course, but I can tell you that when I did my undergrad degree at UF, few people even knew who I was by the time I graduated. That's how big and impersonal it was even back then. The contrast with Tulane is unbelievable to me. My son is already more at home and more deeply involved at Tulane than I ever was at UF even through an undergad degree and some of my graduate work. So for what it's worth...</p>
<p>Being from Florida, and going to Tulane, I can easily say I made the right choice not to go to UF. Most of my friends from high school go there, but they're mostly still friends with the same kids from high school, and I knew I didn't want that. I did, however, get exactly what I wanted at Tulane. The academics are great and as far as selectivity I think it will be interesting to see next years freshmen class, but I know Tulane will stay a prestigious school. Not to mention that this is the most fun I've ever had in my life. Tulane is great, honestly I wouldn't rather be anywhere else.</p>
<p>They had the admitted students reception here in Connecticut last night...some information from the session.</p>
<p>Last year 18,000 applications...This year 21,000 applications. However, most of the application increase was from lower caliber students (my words). If you take out the lower caliber students applications were flat or up slightly.</p>
<p>They plan to accept 6000. About the same as previous years.</p>
<p>They are planning for a freshman class about 100 students smaller than previous years (1300-1500 students).</p>
<p>i think its delusional of tulane to believe that their yield will be just as high as any other year (around 21% from your numbers)----they've had to accept way more students than the 6000 they mentioned- that's somewhere around a 28% acceptance rate----tulane's usual acceptance rate is around 45%---so the questionable future of NOLA is making them have a lower acceptance rate---i don't think so----those are some wacked up stats</p>
<p>I agree the numbers seems rosier than I would have expected....but that is what was said (or I heard wrong). </p>
<p>I would have to be the director of admissions at Tulane right now...trying to guess what the yeild will be like this year.</p>
<p>Anybody else go to the accepted students thing in their area. What do you thinkand what did they say? I agree that stats seem off. So why do you think the applicants were of a lower caliber?</p>
<p>My daughter went to the one in NYC last night and they do tell an exciting story -- the enthusiam was contagious. My d loves it. On the other hand, I'm paying the bill and I wasn't impressed with the scholarship offer (Founders, $16K) vs. the sticker price. If I had a dollar for every email they sent about the DSA ... it felt like the old bait and switch! Don't get me wrong -- we're grateful for every dollar -- but the offer was really low compared to others she's received. And, since we're only rich in the government's eyes, money talks. Luckily, she's an easy-go-lucky kid (she'd be happy at Central Swamp University) and I pretty much laid it out for her at dinner after the meeting. She gets it -- one year at Tulane will cost the same as two years at her next favorite choice. I'm a huge fan of the city and the school -- and I really want to support both -- but not at that cost. :(</p>
<p>jersey44 - I have absolutely no inside info on this, but, if you haven't already, I think you might contact Tulane and see if they wouldn't up her to the DSA ($22K/yr last year). If she applied for the DHS (full tuition) and didn't get that, I'm guessing they wouldn't budget as that is a separate application and competition. But if the DSA would do it for her, and it is her first choice, I think it's worth laying it out for them.
Just an opinion and a guess.</p>
<p>Thanks Jmmom, but I'm the worst at stuff like that. Car salesmen and the vendors on Canal Street love me. :) Even with the DHS, it's would still be considerably higher than most of her other offers. She has a ton of good choices (thanks to my CC education). As I mentioned, she's extremely happy-go-lucky (says the proud mom!). We discussed the financials over salad the other night, and she was over the disappointment by the time the main course came. I really hated to close the door, but I'm on my own with the financial side of this, and I'd really like to retire before I'm 80.</p>
<p>jersey44 - keep checking your mail box. My d rec'd a letter today increasing her Founders' Award to $18,000 per year. It is possible more will be coming to your d as well and if so, like jmmom said, it's not that huge of a leap from 18k to 22k and they may be amenable to increasing her award.</p>
<p>And I know exactly what you mean about prioritizing costs. D also just rec'd a 'likely letter' from UNC-Chapel Hill, which has always been one of her dream schools. No idea about scholarships yet. But with a full ride offer from her instate flagship and this big offer from Tulane, we are very torn. What to do, what to do.</p>
<p>Oh well! For now...we are so excited, we head to Tulane tomorrow for a campus visit! Haven't been to NO since the Super Bowl three years ago and I am anxious to get there and take a look around.</p>
<p>Never give up. My son didn't receive his scholarship offer from Chapel Hill until the last possible moment. (He's still a DSA at Tulane and very happy to be there,but still...)</p>
<p>Thanks ldmom and ctymom. Just for the heck of it, I looked at the posts for last year's kids who received the DSA and my daughter's stats were higher than many of them. (I know it's not completely stats driven, but it's the only empiracal evidence we have.) Makes me wonder if "yield insecurity" is causing them to issue more scholarships than usual, but hedge the higher quantity with lower amounts. That's unfortunate if it's the case. And why would they have a sudden change of heart and raise the amount from $16K to $18K? What's that all about?! (Not that I'm not happy for your d, ldmom, I just think it's strange! The letters have only been out a few weeks, right?) I hate games, and the whole thing (starting with the bait and switch feeling) leaves a bad taste in my mouth. </p>
<p>Major congrats on UNC, ldmom! And best wishes with the decision-making process. You're going to have a tough one on your hands.</p>
<p>Ctymom -- what's last minute? This is my first and only. Are you saying that some scholarship offers come in after the April 1 notification date? Yikes, I'll never survive!!</p>
<p>Maybe Founders is based on a percentage and when tuition went up, so goes the amount. By the way, if housing availability is such an issue now (except Freshman) then your $2000 or whatever waiver each year for dorms might be a moot point since it is for on campus housing..Yea some of the non-specifically named merit aid may come after April 1 is there is any in the end........</p>
<p>Forgive my migraine-muddled mind this morning, jersey, but I'll have to answer this way: The offer came in two days before the date HE had to respond saying whether he'd accept it. I THINK that was the end of April, right? I can't remember today, sorry. I'm sure you know. In any case, he had already accepted the DSA by then and had NO regrets. The full ride offer from a lower ranked NC school came much earlier, and he had rejected that in favor of Tulane as well. Still, no regrets, ever.</p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck!</p>
<p>Thanks ctymom. Hope your headache is better. I'm so glad about the "no regrets ever" part -- that's what's most important.</p>
<p>ldmom:</p>
<p>Did anything in the letter seem to indicate that ALL Founder's Awards are being upped to $18000? Or just some? Because I received one as well but haven't heard anything, though the extra $2000 would really help.</p>
<p>
My understanding from parents of upperclassmen is that it is <em>not</em> a moot point. If a student decides to go off campus as a personal choice, s/he forfeits the housing waiver. But if the student opts for on-campus housing and loses out in the lottery, my understanding is that s/he still receives the housing waiver $. Check it out to be sure as we have no first-hand knowledge.</p>
<p>My son did not receiving housing his sophmore year even though he applied for housing in the lottery. He ended up moving into the frat house (not my choice), which by the way was so much cheaper!! I was upset as we had counted on his $2000 housing portion of his scholarship, but low and behold we received a letter stating that Tulane was going to continue with the $2000 housing allowance!! I think this letter came after many parents complained about the loss of on campus housing. That money was enough to pay for his room at the frat house, so we made out better than freshman year. </p>
<p>Turns out that Tulane has given my son this $2000 all 4 years; well I think this year he only received $1000 due to Katrina. This years senior class was the first class to receiving the housing money while living on campus. I do not know what they have done since or will do in the future, but it is worth checking out.</p>
<p>That's interesting and new news for us, jmmom. Good to know, though I hope mine stays on campus. He's actually trying to do something that will keep him on campus for another reason, which I'll share with you elsewhere.</p>
<p>But it would be really nice if he could keep the housing allowance if he's forced off by a shortage, especially given what's likely to happen to rents. Thanks for the info!</p>