Socio-Economic Diversity

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tulane University
1

<p>Is Tulane just a rich kid school? Is there a significant number of lower income students that go to Tulane? Does all the merit money Tulane offers come at the expense of need based aid? </p>

<p>Over spring break last year, I visited Rhodes in Memphis thinking that I would love it. The prevalence rich snobby frat boys and southern belles, however, really turned me off. I've never suspected that Tulane was similar but I've recently gotten the impression that it is.</p>

<p>Can anyone let me know if Tulane has the same problems that Rhodes has? If they do, I really can't see myself at Tulane.</p>

2

<p>Why do you assume that all the merit scholarships are being given out at the expense of poorer applicants? A typical year at Tulane is approximately $45-$50,000. Even for middle and upper middle class people, that is a significant amount of money. Are you saying that a family that is making $100,000 a year should be penalized and have to spend half of their income; more like 2/3 after taxes, so their child can go to tulane; and that only the poorer families should benefit from merit scholarships and other aid?</p>

<p>While it is definitely wrong to look down on people who aren't as fortunate as oneself, it is equally wrong to be hostile out of envy and jealousy and assume that those who are better off are automatically snobby. The truth is, there are a lot of organizations out there that have pushed class warfare to the public quite heavily over the last 40 years. The real truth is that most people who are "Well to do" have worked very hard for their wealth. They don't generally look down on those less fortunate. They pay a lot more in taxes that support social programs. And they contribute much more to the employment of others. But for some reason, some groups have many believe that people who are better off are evil. That they are snobby. When the truth is; you and only you have the potential to achieve any level of greatness and prosperity that you choose. Those who have achieved such prosperity shouldn't be penalized and punished for such hard work.</p>

<p>But, before you go accusing me of anything; I am quite far from being "Rich". Although, that is a matter of interpretation. Based on some people's income and lifestyle, a person making $50,000 a year is considered rich, which to someone else, you aren't rich unless you make $200,000 a year. Also, I am still researching Tulane and whether or not my Son might go there.</p>

<p>But, I am sure that the decision my son and I make concerning his education in college won't be determined by how rich or poor or diverse the student body is at the school. Actually, I would prefer that the majority of the student body be smarter and wealthier than my son. You achieve greater success when surrounded by those who are more successful. I believe in natural diversity; not mandated. If you've got the grades to go to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Tulane, Stanford, etc... then you should be able to find grants, scholarships, loans, etc... to be able to go. Shouldn't matter if you are rich or poor. Likewise, you shouldn't be able to go to a particular school just because you are poor and they want diversity, or because you are rich and can buy your way in.</p>

<p>Anyway, I think it's a shame that you would put off certain schools because there are "Too many" rich kids going there. Imagine the discussion if someone said they didn't want to go to certain Public universities or community colleges because it's mostly "Poor" kids. Or that they didn't want to consider a certain school because there's too many blacks there in comparison to whites. Tulane has been around since 1834 and is one of the largest research universities in the country. WHATEVER standard they have set for themselves, I hope they maintain it. I hope they never bow down to the politically correct and change or lower their standards for admission. The same goes for harvard, yale, princeton, stanford, MIT, and any other great school. They were founded long ago based on certain standards and philosophies. I hope they stay as prestigious as they always have been.</p>

3

<p>As one of the poorest mother*****ers that goes to this school, I'll agree with you that it can be quite annoying/disheartening at times when you realize that nearly everyone has more money than you.</p>

<p>I haven't let it get to me because now that we're all here, it's all a level playing field again. There're students here that went to the fanciest boarding schools that money could buy and I went to a crappy public high school, but guess what? We all ended up in the same place, so how much does that money really matter? I don't think you should really base your opinion on a school based on what everyone else's mommy and daddy did to make their kid's life better. [/rant]</p>

<p>That being said, most of my friends here are really well off and I don't see the problem with that. I spent Thanksgiving (and last Easter) at the home of one of my best friends whose father is an oil tycoon in Saudi Arabia. I dated a girl three years ago here who lived next door to Scott Boras in Newport Beach, CA. I see no problem with having some friends in high places :)</p>

<p>I don't think some of the people here realize how well-off they do have it, though; and I think that might be the problem you're talking about. I don't have a car, and I remember my freshman year there was a kid that used to drive a Maserati around campus. At the same time, I don't know if you can really appreciate it the money without knowing what it's like to not have money.
That's what I'm hoping for someday. . .and that's why I came to Tulane.</p>

4

<p>Excellent post Ecliptica. Sounds like you are doing exactly what you need to do to ensure a better and prosperous future for yourself. You're attending a fine school and have established friendships and relationships with others where the quality of the individual is appreciated instead of the quantity of their check book. Instead of resenting others for what they have, you're using their financial and social status as an example and goal for your own success. Best of luck to you. Looks like you are a well grounded person.</p>

5

<p>Right there with you, Ecliptica. My family's done the paycheck-to-paycheck routine for as long as I can remember. My best friends here come from all walks--from the same background to my best friend (whose parents do pay the full price) and whose wealth would scare me if we were at a school where that kind of thing mattered.</p>

<p>I had no idea my best friend came from money because we don't sit around talking about it--we catch movies, do our laundry, study, chill, party all the same. I'm sure that if you fixated on money and money alone you might notice that someone's purse cost more than you've ever had in your checking account, but we don't dwell on that here.</p>

<p>Some of us don't notice what we have, but almost no one notices what you might not have. My friends come from money, some money, no money, and negative money. We get along just the same and it's never been an issue because most of us don't notice and almost all of us don't care.</p>

<p>Like Ecliptica, I didn't see this kind of acceptance at a few other universities I looked at... which is why I'm glad I chose Tulane over Emory or even the large state schools I visited. You make friends at Tulane based on your interests, what you like to do, where you want to go...not on what car you might have or what your parents might do for a living. I love it here for that reason, and I don't think I would have been this happy at universities that don't have this kind of atmosphere.</p>

6

<p>"I don't think some of the people here realize how well-off they do have it, though; and I think that might be the problem you're talking about."</p>

<p>Yeap, that's exactly what I'm talking about. My family's actually pretty well off and I go to a very wealthy private school where my classmates range from some of the most charitable individuals I know to spoiled brats who don't understand how lucky they are. Sounds like Tulane's the same way, which is exactly what I expected to hear.</p>

<p>Christcorp, I see nothing wrong with inquiring about the socio-economic atmosphere of a school. I think the academic atmosphere is crippled at a school full of rich kids who have had every advantage handed down to them from mommy and daddy. The most important thing, however, that I'm trying to figure out is if Tulane's msot privalged students realize how "good they have it." I've gotten mixed signals but most of the research I've done shines a positive light on Tulane in this regard. I want a school where I'll be surrounded by people who have faced real adversity and I'm simply trying to find out if I'll get that at Tulane. I don't see why that inflames you so much.</p>

7

<p>I understand the OP's question, and I don't think there's anything wrong with asking it. Although my son went to a "crappy public high school," to quote one of the posters above, some of his classmates there would throw their change in the trash rather than be bothered to put it in their pockets at lunch time. My son would pick it up and pocket it. Now he has a DSA, need-based aid and one and a half jobs at Tulane. After two years without a car, he finally has one, though it's over twenty-five years old (His dad REALLY knows how to pick used cars! It's a gift.) He appreciates every dime we can send him and every dollar he earns.</p>

<p>At the same time, he has at times felt the difference between his values and those of some of the people he goes to school with. It took him some time to find the people he wanted to hang with. Now he's taking even more time to adjust again because he's getting really serious academically. But that doesn't mean the people he wants aren't there. Just as with the perpetual drinking/not-drinking threads that show up here, you just have to find the people who share your tastes and values--or those that don't but who are worth hanging out with anyway.</p>

<p>And try to remember also that a "better" life doesn't necessarily mean one with more money. My son's attitude is "Get rich--or don't. Who cares?" He doesn't. He's in it for the science. If you want to go to Tulane, don't let the rich kids--or the drunk kids, for that matter--stop you. Two days before Katrina, as we were trying to decide whether to leave our then-freshman son behind, we saw a girl whine at her father because she wouldn't be allowed to take all fifty pairs of shoes with her on the bus to the evac shelter if she stayed. I don't know whether she's still there or not. I'm sure my son doesn't know her at all, but he certainly does know some much more interesting people! I've met some of them.</p>

8

<p>Yea Tulane has kids from all socio-economic areas. I go to Ben Franklin High School in New Orleans, and every year, several of our students go to Tulane University, simply because its a good school. These families have anywhere from 20K-200K yearly incomes. Theres plenty of diversity.</p>