<p>Does anyone know if the standard CA essay prompt response can be used for this first essay or should a unique essay be written? I realize that the second, optional prompt is truly not optional and should convince the reader why one wants to attend Tulane.</p>
<p>If the CA prompt used did not describe a significant experience or achievement, I am guessing that a new essay should be written? Thanks for any insight offered.</p>
<p>By using this online application, you are not required to submit a formal essay. However, we do ask that you write a personal statement (at least 250 words) allowing Tulane to get an idea of who you are beyond your grades, classes and test scores. If there's any information you would like the admission committee to take into consideration when reviewing your application, this is the place for it.</p>
<p>Using the space below, please write between 250 and 500 words to describe a special interest, significant experience or achievement, or anything else that has special meaning to you or had a significant influence on you.</p>
<p>(Optional) Please describe why you are interested in attending Tulane.</p>
<p>I would say that if the essay already written for the common app cannot be construed as describing something personally influential, then a new one is probably in order. As Jeff from admissions says on his blog, Admissions people are pretty good at sniffing out generic stuff, and it is a bit of a turnoff. But if what was already written for the CA is what would be written anyway because it meets the criteria, then go with it.</p>
<p>When my son applied last year he used the Universal App - it was a mistake because it took a lot longer for him to get a decision. He sent in all materials in early Sept. and did not hear back until Dec. I would suggest using the Tulane app to avoid that wait time…</p>
<p>Thank you all. The AdCom who spoke at regional Tulane Info session last weekend made the point of saying “When we say optional in college admissions, we mean you should really consider it mandatory”. So, complete agreement with jozuko that the ‘Why Tulane’ essay is required.</p>
<p>DS is also wondering about this Tulane prompt: “write a personal statement (at least 250 words) – allowing Tulane to get an idea of who you are beyond your grades, classes and test scores. If there’s any information you would like the admission committee to take into consideration when reviewing your application, this is the place for it.”
What is appropriate for this essay? Does it have to be an overarching personal statement? Does it need to be a summary of him or can it be written about only one aspect of his life or EC? In order words, taken one event or EC and expand on it to show one side of him?</p>
<p>They purposely leave it rather vague in order to allow maximum flexibility. There is no wrong direction on this, other than if he were to simply focus on his grades, classes and test scores. It can be about his main goals for college or after. It can be about an experience that had a pronounced effect on him, which is where I think you were going with the last thing you said. Something that goes beyond raw stats or boxes that can simply be checked off.</p>
<p>Basically, I don’t think they are looking to say “Wow, now I really know this person” in only 250-500 words. It isn’t an autobiography. Instead, they should come away from it saying “I feel like now I understand something about this person I couldn’t have gotten from just reading the rest of his application”.</p>
<p>I just looked back at the Tulane essays and noticed that the required topic has been changed. This was the original topic: “Using the space below, please write between 250 and 500 words to describe a special interest, significant experience or achievement, or anything else that has special meaning to you or had a significant influence on you.”</p>
<p>No, but it seems to me that anything a person would have written for the one instruction would work equally well for the other, especially since the one you describe says “anything else”. That leaves it pretty wide open.</p>
<p>Hello all! I’ve been looking up and down for a definitive answer to this question: to apply to Tulane, as is written on the application, “a formal essay is not required, however…[description of Personal Statement here!]”</p>
<p>So, is a formal essay even accepted? Is there anywhere to include it? I’m helping someone with their application and we’ve written a longer-form ~800 essay, and then a shorter form ~400 personal statement specifically for the Tulane SCEA application… But we were under the impression that both would be read, so they are complementary.</p>
<p>If there’s only room for one, we need to change it, and fast! </p>
<p>I saw you asked this twice, but I will only give my opinion on this here. While admissions has plenty to do and read, and so wouldn’t be too thrilled if everyone sent in an 800 word additional essay, if you send it to the admissions counselor responsible for this student’s region it will be considered. However, did they also do the Why Tulane essay? This is very important to do, forget the fact that it is labeled optional.</p>
<p>I don’t think there is a place to include a 3rd essay on the app, that is why you would have to send it as a separate email. Unless the essay has to do with why they want to go to Tulane, but I suspect you would have figured that out for yourself.</p>