<p>I've submitted a project for the DHS and should I receive it, Tulane will become more attractive than it already is (24k scholarship). My one concern, though, is that Tulane isn't considered to be a "serious" school among other colleges, that it's regarded as a "party" school wherein one can receive a mediocre education. What is Tulane's reputation beyond LA, and would attending Tulane at all diminish my prospects of being accepted to a prestigious graduate/law school?</p>
<p>Well, I know that it's ranked the 51st top college in America, according to U.S. News & World Report. That's why I like it.</p>
<p>Amongst Jewish Americans, Tulane is well known, and given that some Jewish Americans are rather successful in business and law, especially the entertainment industry, a Tulane undergrad degree can help make connections. The Alumni network is far reaching, mostly concentrated in the Northeast.</p>
<p>For law school, Tulane is one of the few places in the U.S. to study civil law, and the Admiralty law program is supposedly ranked as one of the highest (i.e. it's in a port city at the mouth of the Mississippi).</p>
<p>The faculty might not be as distinguished in comparison to the faculty of higher ranked schools, but they are good for letters of reccomendation and an undergrad degree, so when you apply to grad/law school, you should be fine, assuming you yourself did well.</p>
<p>Tulane is mid-ranked, but on the upswing. The things that put it at 51 was the fact that the newer statistics weren't accounted for such as the new acceptance rate and the fact that so many juniors graduate early since there's no cap on credits after your freshman year (you can take 100 in the next four semesters if you wanted, the brightest students typically take this route, leaving the okay to not so good students to represent their graduating class). Tulane is better than your typical state schools, save the UCs. And nationally, it does get recognition for the rebuilding of New Orleans.</p>
<p>(And I'm an oddidity. I intend to transfer to USC for film; Tulane does have film studies, but it's a fledgling major, and I was undecided until now. I save a few ten k's because Tulane was free; no DHS because I didn't apply, but Presidential, and beaucoup other 'ships)</p>
<p>Hey! I'm applying to USC also. I really like movies, and I think if I go there I'll also be a film major.</p>
<p>beastieboy13, did you already apply to USC-SCA? The freshman deadline for film majors was December 1st.</p>
<p>Nope... I only applied to the office of undergraduate admissions. Crap.</p>
<p>I see that you're from Washington. I'm not too familiar with Tulane's reputation in the pacific northwest, although I hope that it's stronger than you say because I just moved to Seattle. I do know that in the south and northeast it is perceived as a very strong academic institution. Tulane is extremely well represented on Wall Street and has a very strong alumni network in the northeast due to the large number of students from the area. A good example of the respect that Tulane garners in that area is that alumni are offered membership to the Manhattan Cornell Club. Only graduates of Cornell, Tulane, Brown, Duke, Georgetown, Notre Dame, and Stanford are eligible for membership. In the south the school is perceived to be a notch below Vandy, Emory, Duke, and Rice. The name definitely draws respect though.</p>
<p>If I plan on living in NY or somewhere like that when I graduate would I be better suited with a Tulane undergrad degree or Emory/Vanderbilt?</p>
<p>I think you'd be fine with a degree from any of those 3 schools. Although Tulane and Emory definitely have stronger alumni networks in that area. Emory draws a lot of students from the northeast also.</p>
<p>Alright well I'm in at Tulane and applied to Emory.</p>
<p>I think if I get the money I'll go to Emory but I'm not sure.</p>
<p>Those were my final two schools. I got scholarship money from Tulane and nothing from Emory, so I ended up at Tulane.</p>
<p>I'm sure I'll be the same.</p>
<p>How was your Tulane experience?</p>
<p>Where would a good dorm for me be at? I'm not into a lot of partying, can NOT be around drugs much if at all..I like to get sleep..</p>
<p>I'm trying to get into honors college but I doubt I will..I don't think they let you appeal lol.</p>
<p>My experience at Tulane was really good. New Orleans is a really unique, amazing city. It definitely has its flaws, but the area around campus is extremely safe and it offers a great college experience. The cool thing about New Orleans is that it's small enough that you can get anywhere in the city either on a bike or on the street car. Audubon Park and the fly are great places to spend the weekend too.</p>
<p>I lived in Monroe freshman year and it really wasn't that bad. It was noisy on the weekends but it wasn't too bad overall and I never saw any drug use.</p>
<p>What are you planning on majoring in?</p>
<p>no idea at all</p>
<p>Okay, so for what I'm gonna say on this forum is probably going to get me shot (it's CC! haha), BUT prestige isn't everything. Tulane is a great school, but my outlook is that the name of the school can only do so much for you. More of it is about the person and their drive and willingness to work. That being said, if you plan to go to grad school, the institution that you went for undergrad barely matters at all down the road... </p>
<p>I think people on this board need to realize that while academics are important, a few USNWR rankings doesn't change the caliber of the school, or the students there. When you get down to a few schools, all with great academics, you should choose the school that is the best fit, not the most "prestigious" or highest ranked school. Keep in mind that when I say this, I mean a difference in like 20-30 spots in the rankings, not like 200. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Would attending Tulane at all diminish my prospects of being accepted to a prestigious graduate/law school?
[/quote]
That literally made me laugh. Are you kidding? That is the most ignorant thing ever. Some people go to their state school and they proceed to grad school and they do so in order to save money. Tulane is a great school (and underrated in the USNWR in my opinion), so to even question that is crazy!!!!</p>
<p>I'm sorry if I came off harsh, but I've really gotten sick of people selecting colleges for prestige and such, especially when the difference is miniscule and the only reason they choose is because of the name of the school. Look at the ACTUAL school and decide which one you like better!!</p>
<p>Ellie I agree completely. Next year (or for this current class) the admission rate is like 27%, the ranking should go into being in the top 50 (currently just outside at 51), and the average ACT is a 31. </p>
<p>That is top tier right there, you look at Emory which is ranked 20th(I think), and there is hardly any difference. The difference lies in the fact that so many students come from up north like noted above and it messes up the retention rate when they get homesick. I think the average Emory ACT score is a 32, maybe 31. The selectivity is almost the same..fastwebs (outdated stats btw) lists a 17% higher acceptance rate at Tulane, which means 44% compared to 27% for Emory.</p>
<p>However, Tulane is down to 27% acceptance. </p>
<p>In other words, schools like this are basically the same just a few stats separate them by ten or more spots easily.</p>
<p>Tulane is known as a very highly ranked research institution, if you really care about the ranking of the school, look for your specific department and see it's rankings.</p>
<p>EXACTLY! People need to find the school that fits with them best for a social climate or location or something like that, not their rankings. Choosing based on scholarship/pricing makes sense... but a stupid number? Who cares if one school is farther up, what if you don't actually enjor your time there?</p>
<p>Basically, if your thinking about Tulane, go to their website, do some research, decide if you like it and can see yourself there. Do the same for Emory/Vandy. As far as academics, they're on the same page. </p>
<p>Oh, and if it makes you feel better, in the Northeast, Tulane is very highly respected. Actually, from what I've gathered when I tell people where I've applied, it is more so than Emory (can't speak for Vanderbilt since I'm not applying there). Tulane is well respected, and I'm not Jewish and I don't live in NY! :D</p>
<p>i plan to live in the NE so that is actually making me learn more towards Tulane.</p>
<p>I don't know about the northeast, but here in the southeast where these schools are actually located it goes duke>vandy/rice/emory>tulane. Of the three in the middle, I personally prefer in the order of vandy, emory and then rice. Don't really like rice much, but I ended up at cornell, so none of this really matters to me anyways (I am on this board because a good friend is applying to tulane). Tulane is still a very good school though and I hope my friend gets in, although I don't think it is his top choice. He is looking at schools like UF, UMiami, FSU (we are from florida), SMU, and Tulane so far.</p>
<p>"Oh, and if it makes you feel better, in the Northeast, Tulane is very highly respected. Actually, from what I've gathered when I tell people where I've applied, it is more so than Emory"</p>
<p>Emory suffers from a lack of name recognition nationally. People who don't actively read the college rankings and research the universities in the south have never heard of it. I recently interviewed with a fairly well known investment bank in San Francisco and they asked me what other schools I looked at besides Tulane. The recruiter had never heard of Emory. Most of the kids at my high school had no idea what it was either. I think it comes from not having any sports programs.</p>