Tulane is my top choice. I love the location, the campus, everything about Tulane. I, like, really want to go there!
I’m a junior, so my parents and I have been thinking about going on college visits. My dad wants me to visit USF and I’m a bit afraid to ask my parents if we can visit Tulane as well. They get really mad at me when I mention colleges that have high tuitions–and Tulane’s is about 60k I know there is financial aid, but I don’t know if I’ll get enough to attend.
That’s assuming I even get in! I don’t think my parents will believe I can even get in, since my score/grades/extra curriculars are pretty average for Tulane. (gpa: 3.8, act: 32)
Sorry about this random post thingy. I know it’s like a chance me!/rant about my parents, but I just feel like they’ll shoot me down and I don’t even have a chance at Tulane anyway. I just really need some advice about how to go about this. Thanks guys!
Ah! I forgot to mention I live in IL, so going to Louisiana or Florida is kinda a big deal to see these schools, not just a casual college visit.
Why don’t you make a deal with your parents? You apply (It’s free.). They don’t protest. You see if you get I’m. If you get in, then you see what kind of grant money you get and what the final cost is. Then, and only then, do you make a decision.
It is likely that other posters will ask you your stats. While I understand the stats component of assessing admission chances and scholarship possibilities, there are so many independent variables that go into that assessment that I don’t even want to go there. (e.g., Tulane’s desired class size, applicant pool quality, yield [which can swing according to unpredictable factors], your demographic situation [e.g., URM, geography, uniqueness of major, etc.], your EC’s, your fit, your interest, and others). To illustrate how unpredictable the admissions game is, on this site people have reported getting in with 28 ACTs and getting deferred with 35 ACTs. At least one applicant got into Yale and was denied admission to Tulane, and another was admitted to Harvard and denied admission to Tulane. (Posted today, as a matter of fact) Others got into Tulane and were denied admission to Tulane’s peer institutions (the usual suspects, e.g., Wake Forrest, NYU, Emory, Lehigh, Case Western Reserve, and several others) and, conversely, there were many Tulane denials with admits to the peers, as well as admits to elite institutions such as Rice, Vandy, U. of Chicago, etc. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Bottom line: give it your all, show that enthusiasm for Tulane, show the committee you know the school and are a good fit, and work with your parents to get both of your needs met.
Don’t sell yourself short! You appear to be aound the 75th percentile or so for Tulane, so above average. Need to know if that GPA is weighted or unweighted, and how many AP courses (or similar) you expect to have by the end of high school.
Also, is this college tour a airplane/rent-a-car thing, or a driving trip?
3.8 is my unweighted GPA, but I have no idea what my weighted GPA is, I should probably ask my counselor soon, haha!
If everything goes as planned I’ll have taken 4 out of the 7 AP classes offered to me. Lots of honors classes will be scattered throughout my high school career if that’s what you mean by similar classes
We will probably drive down and stay in a hotel to visit the colleges we plan on.
@adequate, apologies for not noticing your stats. I agree with Fallenchemist that you should not sell yourself short and that your stats put you in good standing, but I do stand by my comments about stats not being enough of a predictor these days, as well as my comments about cutting a deal with your parents. All best!
Totally agree with NJDad on this one. I told my kid that she could apply anywhere, but the amount of aid she got would depend on whether or not she could attend. My daughter’s stats are similar to yours. I didn’t even think she would get in, but she did - along with a very substantial merit scholarship, so give it a shot! She applied in November, so that may have made a difference in the aid. She is white, but goes to a poor, urban high school - I have no idea if that had any bearing on the aid, but think it might have since I know Tulane is trying to shed its “rich kids party school” reputation. Unfortunately, because of her background, daughter is feeling reluctant to attend, and I think she may end up elsewhere.
It’s free to apply, how can it hurt!?! And, if you are unable to attend, my best advise is to contact your admissions office and express your interest and that you cannot visit Tulane. Communicating with them will really help you. Tulane is generous with scholarships and financial aid so it may work out. I say just apply; take a chance on your dreams!
If you do apply, and are serious about attending, be sure that you “demonstrate interest” – first and foremost (although not exclusively) by visiting the campus in person. And continue to show your love thereafter.
And if you do visit–send the admissions counselor for your area a handwritten thank you note. Southerners love the handwritten note. Whenever my kids do this, people are sure to comment to me how “lovely” their note was. You’ll be in competition with my junior, but I’m happy to help someone else out.
@adequate I say go for it, one of the reasons my daughter applied was because it was free, she ended up with the Presidential Scholarship, a place in the honors college and it is now one of her final 3 schools she is picking from, hers stats were similar to yours, 3.96 GPA and 34 ACT.
Another vote to go for it. My son is one of the ones who got in with a 30 ACT and 3.4 unweighted GPA. He will have 12 APs by graduation and has passed them all so far. We feel very fortunate he got in and attribute it to the enthusiasm he showed in the application process. Visit the school and also attend local events if possible. In your essay (and yes, answer them all) demonstrate your excitement and refer to things you’ve seen at Tulane and NOLA. I don’t have any other advice except to say my son is an example of someone we didn’t expect to be accepted and he was. It could happen to you. Tulane definitely looks at more than SATs and grades.
I will say that Tulane acceptance is because very picky. My friend just got his admission decision back and was put on the waitlist. He had a 34 on his act and pretty low/average EC’s. I’m currently attending. To me it seems like a lot of the admission decision is how good your high school is and your act.
I know there is financial aid, but I don’t know if I’ll get enough to attend.