<p>My daughter is applying RD to most schools (needs $$) but applied to Tulane via the Personal Application program. She received her admission notice today and I am wondering if anyone has any thoughts about the University. I know it's not an Ivy but how good/bad is it academically? Are women admitted automatically to Newcomb College and men to Tulane College? It looks like classes are shared -- what is not shared that keeps the colleges distinct and separate? Is either of these colleges considered better than the other? And most importantly -- how are they with financial aid!</p>
<p>Are any of you planning to attend or have Tulane as your first choice? We'd appreciate any info you could share! Thanks!</p>
<p>I have a really good friend who goes to Tulane. She began earlier this year in August and she absolutely LOVES it! I am actually going to visit her during my Spring Break. She is studying business/psychology and she says the academics are really challenging. Obviously, there is also a great social scene at Tulane.. it is in New Orleans after all! If you want some other input from students and faculty of schools you should go to <a href="http://www.collegedirt.com%5B/url%5D">www.collegedirt.com</a> and sign up for a membership. there is a thing called "college comparison" and it ranks the schools in a TON of categories! I found it very informative! Good luck!</p>
<p>My son is a freshman at Tulane. If your daughter is arts and sciences, yes, women are in Newcomb. Tulane is the mens' college for arts and sciences. The professional schools like engineering and architecture must be applied to separately. Yes, classes and facilities for classes are shared. What keeps them separate and distinct is that their advisors are from their colleges. Reading a history of how Sophie Newcomb College and Paul Tulane College were combined to create the university could probably explain it in more detail. Sophie Newcomb was the first degree granting institution for women in the U.S. A senior in Newcomb was just named as Tulane's latest Marshall Scholar.</p>
<p>My son is extremely happy with the academics. He is in engineering and did a full AP curriculum in high school. He's being challenged and really likes the school. If at all possible, you should visit and spend time in the departments.</p>
<p>More background on Newcomb/Tulane from a Newcomb alumna--in the past, including when I attended, Newcomb and Tulane had separate admissions offices and requirements--and Newcomb was harder to get into. In the upper level classes, they were all mixed, but for 100 level classes, you could choose to take either the Tulane section (boys) or the Newcomb section (girls). Because the girls' freshman dorm was literally next to Newcomb Hall, where most freshman classes were held, it was much more convenient just to take the Newcomb classes. I can remember rolling out of bed 5 minutes before a class, throwing on a raincoat over my pj's and getting to class on time. The option to dress like that was also a good reason for all girl classes--there were PLENTY of other opportunities to see the guys. </p>
<p>In the student government area, there was a separate Newcomb Senate, and there were also Newcomb representatives to the Tulane Senate. My Newcomb degree is from "Newcomb College of Tulane University." Besides the larger Tulane commencement ceremonies, Newcomb had a separate graduation ceremony called Little Commencement.</p>
<p>Sometime in the 1980's, I believe, all admissions functions and administrative functions were merged, but because of Newcomb's history as a pioneering college for women, the separate Newcomb identity was kept alive in the academic and residential areas.</p>
<p>Also, a big part of my perspective comes from this girl who went to my high school. She was the perfect student, 4.0 GPA, good SATs, loved by teachers, loved by students, well-mannered, mature, language prodigy, etc. and she went to Tulane. Come next year, I hear through the grapevine that she is nearly failing out of all of her classes because she gets drunk and parties every night (french quarter can be tempting, i guess). </p>
<p>I know that the majority of Tulane is probably not like this, but it's what I think of when I hear Tulane.</p>
<p>Like alongfortheride, my son is a freshman at Tulane. To say that he loves it would be an understatement. There is not a single thing he has not liked about his experience so far, from the classes and profs (both challenging and accessible) to "Bridget" in the Bruff's Commons who makes him "special" omelets for breakfast. But, there is a party side to Tulane. The opportunities are there, perhaps more so than most cities because New Orleans is just that kind of city. But, there are also a tremendous number of things to do that do not involve getting drunk. </p>
<p>In my opinion, from what I have read and seen, where most kids get into trouble is in thinking that because there a party scene that the course work is not that challenging. They find out the hard way and become that 15% that do not survive.</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you for the info! My daughter also is looking at Wisconsin/Madison -- also known as one of the top party schools AND one of the top public universities. Maybe the joint reputation reflects a balance between hard work and having fun.</p>
<p>I think that nearly all colleges these days are "party schools" and it's going to be up to the individual if/when/how much they "party." I think that most every school my S is applying to has been called a "party school."</p>
<p>"Every college has a party scene, but a city like New Orleans is going to be a lot more tempting than most. Especially during mardi gras."</p>
<p>That's why Tulane has a Mardi Gras break. As one associate dean put it, New Orleans does love a parade. </p>
<p>And, I agree with Tabby. Parties happen everywhere and it is up to the student to decide what is important. My son knows a few kids that are looking at transferring at semester because they made a decision to party and will lose their merit aid because of GPA. It certainly is in no way unique to Tulane. I agree with a post that I read long ago from a Louisiana student that is now a freshman at Tulane. He believed that if Tulane was anywhere else in the country besides New Orleans, people would give it the academic accolades it deserves instead of assuming every student who attends there parties.</p>
<p>You really have to know how to say no to parties at Tulane. It's academically a terriffic school, and I agree it's one of the best "party schools" out there.</p>
<p>"That's why Tulane has a Mardi Gras break."</p>
<p>EVERYONE gets a Mardi Gras break. I went to school in Mandeville - north of New Orleans, over that 24 mile lake Ponchartrain - and we got Mardi Gras break! Crazy, isn't it.</p>
<p>My brother is a senior in the engineering program at Tulane. He's very happy there. His friends are mostly not in the engineering program. He works doing research at the university, and really enjoys that. He's got a position as well as a radio show at WTUL, the radio station, which is great to be involved in if you like music (I co-hosted a show this fall). For the past two years he's been able to fly to NYC for a college radio festival (only 3 or 4 from the station can go). I've always liked the school when i've visited. The campus itself is really nice, and the fact that it's in such a fun city is great.</p>
<p>Ps: My mom looooved visiting him, too. I know she'd enjoy visiting me if I end up there, next year.</p>