I just off the waitlist at WashU. It had been my first choice, but I deposited at Tulane, and now I am very torn about where to go. I am scared that Tulane will attract some ditzy, party-focused types who got good grades but aren’t truly smart. I love intellectual conversations and being around academic people who work really really hard, but I have had enough of the high school culture of stress and competition. Yet I love Tulane so much and I just didn’t really feel that spark with WashU. I haven’t visited in over a year and got in once students had already gone home for the summer, so I am not sure if it is just because I recently visited and fell in love with Tulane. WashU just feels a bit blah, mainly due to social life and the city. But maybe more just the general vibes from those I talk to. I know it is amazing and they all love it, but it doesn’t seem that they do to the same degree that Tulane kids love their school.
Pros and cons? I have $20k/year at Tulane. Not the honors program, but I am sure I can maintain a 3.6 and get in next year! WashU I only got work study, so affording it will be a challenge, but doable.
Exactly how much does the WashU name carry benefits in getting jobs vs Tulane?
I guess the essence of what I am asking is, in terms of work hard play hard- Does Tulane play too hard and work too little? Does WashU work too hard and play too little? Does either strike a perfect balance?
My son is just finishing Tulane. He found that, as I did back in the 80s, that there were tons of very smart people and a lot of serious, interesting conversation to be had. I don’t think that it will be a problem at all for you to find your niche. If you get good grades you will be off to a wonderful graduate or professional school, perhaps with a slightly greater chance to differentiate yourself from the pack than you would at Wash U. (Not many Tulanians go directly to the job market, unless you are in engineering or business, if then.). Many Tulane students are not big partiers so you will certainly find your crowd. If your heart is saying Tulane, and your ego is on board as well, I would go to Tulane and take advantage of everything it has to offer. Just make sure both your heart and your ego support whatever decision you make, as transferring is cumbersome, uncertain, and possibly expensive. Congratulations on two great choices in any event. You really can’t go wrong.
@NJDad68 said it very well. I can add that so much of ones college experience is what you help make it to be. If you go to Tulane and wait for the more intellectual, academically serious people to come to you, your odds of having that experience decrease. If you go to WUSTL and wait for the people that like to do the same things socially as you enjoy to find you, you increase your chances of being disappointed in that area. Finding the right balance at either school requires some effort on your part, but as NJDad68 says it isn’t at all hard to find very sharp and intellectually curious people at Tulane, and it isn’t that hard to find people that like to have fun and relax at WUSTL. The schools are not as different as it might seem on the surface.
The other thing I can add is that even though you are not in the Honors Program, it might be worth your time and effort to see if you can become a Tulane Scholar from the start. If that suits you and if that were to happen to work out for you, it would fairly quickly put you in a group that by interest and selection are among the brightest and most academically oriented of the incoming class. Even if you were not selected right away, you could still make a strong effort for the Honors Program and acceptance later. You might also want to consider trying to get a room in Butler, since that is the Honors dorm, but it is not limited to people that are in the Honors program. It would be a similar step in orienting you to achieve your apparent goal of being among the highest achievers in the classroom among your fellow freshmen.
Getting a top GPA in college is a lot more about discipline and taking advantage of various resources than people think. Sure, being really smart helps, but almost all students at Tulane (and WUSTL) are smart. The ones that get the top grades are mostly the ones that know how to devote plenty of time to their schoolwork and doing it on a steady and consistent basis, as well as checking in with the professor and/or TA’s regularly to make sure they are on the right track as they go, rather than waiting until the last minute. There is nothing wrong, for example, with taking a draft of a paper that was assigned and asking the prof to take a quick look at it to see if you are on the right track. I am amazed at how rarely that happens with freshmen.
I really like WUSTL a lot. It is one of my favorite schools after Tulane. It was my D’s other choice (she went to Tulane). But it does seem that you are favoring Tulane as your “gut” feeling, and so I would say that should be the deciding factor. Not to mention that it is financially more friendly to you.
Oh, and as far as your last questions, WUSTL and Tulane will be extremely similar in helping you get a job after you graduate. If you decide to go to grad school or professional school, they will be virtually identical there as well. It is how you acquit yourself during your four years of college that really make the difference in those regards. And as far as
Quite frankly you are asking the wrong questions. The schools don’t do any of those things. You will determine that aspect of your college career, pure and simple. Both schools offer plenty of opportunity for that balance, it is up to you to make it happen.
Thank you both very much!! Tulane it is I think!!
After thinking about it the past few days, I find very few negatives to going there
Woohooo!!!
Welcome to the Tulane family! You will be very happy with your decision, I am sure.