@socaldad2002 true, which is why it is ridiculous to say ANYONE - whether high or low stats - “would easily have been admitted EA.”
I know of 3 at our HS this year, one with 4.0 UW and SAT in the 1500 range, 2 others (including my son) lower but competitive … All deferred. Even with good ECs, showing interest, community service, etc. So both high stats AND medium-lower are getting deferred in large numbers. No one gets in EA “easily” at Tulane. ED is the only sure bet.
@socaldad2002 I get what you’re saying, but it seems patently ridiculous for schools to defer students who are above 90th percentile of the student body, just to protect their yield rate. It’s not “stupid” to accept those students by any means. Why even offer EA, if it’s just a ruse to funnel students to ED?
@4kids4colleges the ED rate at Tulane is 36% not 100%. ED is not a sure thing which is why no one is ever forced into ED.
I agree about the pressure that Tulane sort of gives out to apply ED. My daughter applied ED and got accepted. She’s excited to go but feels locked in and looking back wishes she had more time or the option to field other possible acceptances etc. i think it’s all about them trying to control their numbers since they over enrolled in the past.
@collegemom3717, of course ED is never a sure thing. But EA is not even in the realm of a sure thing, which is why no one is ever “easily admitted” EA. The comment about being “forced” was, I believe, to point out that removing choice from students by pushing ED so hard does not benefit the student. That is accurate IMO.
I should not have said ED is a “sure bet.” But for a high stats applicant, especially, chances are pretty good for Tulane ED (higher than many other competitive schools).
Plain and simple, yield protection. They did admit it. We know of ED acceptances with significantly lower stats than what it quoted on this thread. Apparently, Lehigh is also doing the same. There was an article in the Wall Street Journal about the push to for ED students. Tulane is front and center. They feel it is a win, win. It is tough on the student who is not 100%. Reread Tulane threads for the last couple of years. This is not new. These are still young adults trying to find their way. I also believe it is based on the school. They can probably figure out very easily who from your school uses them as a safety. Good Luck to all in the next couple of weeks.
I’m not sure why some of you think that Tulane is unique or even uses the ED system more than average. My son’s three closest friends applied to: 1 American (80% ED acceptance rate); 2. Miami (67% ED acceptance rate); and 3. Holy Cross (75% ED acceptance rate). Tulane’s is much, much lower which gave him pause. In fact, Tulane seemed like one of the few schools he was considering that didn’t play the ED acceptance game- their acceptance rate is only in the 30s. And also of course Tulane - and any other school - should defer applicants who are clearly using it as their safety school. As someone else said, the AO’s are not stupid. Why would they accept a bunch of students who are not going to accept the offer? Every school’s ranking depends upon statistics like yield, they would be foolish to not operate as a business because college admissions is a business.
Don’t believe Tulane is unique. Based upon the article, it seems to be the way schools are moving. They were open and honest and admitted that at the end of the day, he is responsible to the school. However, based upon experience with our older one, they definitely play the ED race. I feel for those students who need the time to decide where they want to go. If a higher stat kid uses their Spring breaks to visit their accepted schools, they may miss out on Tulane. I see it from both sides. I feel for the kids though as there are kids who really are not using them for a safety. Admissions are getting tougher and tougher when students are applying to 14 or more schools. Again wishing everyone the best and hoping they find their college match!
@sunset88 this is why I think an email to the admissions rep prior to decision letting them know that Tulane is a top choice (or even THE top choice) for them is so important. It goes a long way.
@collegemom9 I would like to agree with you. However, not everyone is as honest as your family. We know those who have written such an email and did not follow through. They were accepted and did not go. We were told everyone does that. Well, that is not our thought process. Our older one did write a letter and was still deferred EA. It is all a learning process and everyone will be at their “second homes” next year. It all works out in the end. 
I don’t think Tulane is doing anything that other non-HYPSM schools are doing other than also offering an EA option to attract kids who might have (unsuccessfully) applied elsewhere ED and then give them an option to convert to ED II.
@sunset88 my son was accepted and turned down the offer. He didn’t lie and say Tulane was his top choice. He said that it was “A” top choice. Which is true. If Tulane is “A” top choice or “The” top choice an email to your admissions rep makes sense to demonstrate interest. It certainly can’t hurt.In my son’s case if he hadn’t been accepted ED elsewhere Tulane would have been a very strong contender.
I absolutely agree Tulane LOVES demonstrated interest and an email cannot hurt.
I certainly don’t think that Tulane automatically defers from the EA pool. I got in and received a pretty good chunk of merit money as well
Stats
UW 3.95, W 4.08 (school requires lots of basic levels classes and is very academically rigorous so valedictorians usually have 4.3-4.4 GPAs)
SAT 1530
Lots of Extracurriculars and Leadership
Summer job for past 3 summers, pretty much 40 hours a week
Good amount of community service as well which I heard Tulane loves
I think Tulane is specifically looking for a certain type of student because I know people with the same stats that were defered but I also know people with lower stats that got in as well. So those off you saying that they require you to do ED for acceptance are just plain wrong.
*deferred
Also I hope all of you that were deferred go on to get admission in the RD round. If not, I’m sure there are plenty of other great schools that would love to have students like you!
Accepted (merit scholarship of $16,000) Neuroscience Major
Act: 33
GPA: 3.45 (UW) 4.20 (W)
29% in class (very rigorous, well known public school in Ohio)
Did not do the optional Tulane essay or meet with the admissions officer when he came to my school, had an alumni interview but it was mediocre.
AP’s : Apush:5,Lang:4,Art:3,Gov:4,Comp Gov:5,(AP Scholar With Distinction) currently taking-Stats,Bio,Lit,Psych
EX: Rowing for 5 years, cocaptain. Volunteered at a SuperPAC this summer, works 10-25 hours per week
Letters of Rec- both teachers should have been very strong letters, my manager at work wrote one as well. My school counselors was probably very generic.
Congrats to all who have been accepted and good luck to those who are still waiting. Perhaps UC Berkley can give us an idea why some lower stat applicants are accepted over higher stat students. My sister in law sent me a video file a year ago regarding UCBs new admission policy of yes, no and maybe. I don’t have a copy of the file. I do remember the basics. The prior admission system was taking too long for a reader to make small point decisions; for example was an applicant a 4.3 or a 4.5. If I remember correctly, two readers had to agree by .3 point or it had to be read by a third reader. The new system is still read by two readers who have to agree as yes or no or maybe. The university then only has to concern itself with the maybes who are now required to submit a recommendation. What they found is that recommendations can only hurt higher stat students while the lower stat students benefit with a recommendation. Higher stat students who have average to poor recommendations are not offered admission while lower stat students with average or exceptional recommendations gain admission. In Mr. Shiffman’s October 2017 admissions seminar at Tulane, he stated that if Tulane was worried about yield - they would take most from their applicants from the ED; if it was about improving their ranking with US News - they would concentrate on one variable - say first generation. Mr. Shiffman sees his role as a curator of students; selecting those with different backgrounds and talents. I personally liked Mr. Shiffman’s presentation as he was not telling students how to get into Tulane; he was telling them how to dress up their application for success - somewhere. Mr. Shiffman started his presentation saying that 80% of applicants will be denied; that it wasn’t something for which he is proud. Best of luck to all.
My D was Admitted EA. Honors and Distinguished Scholars Merit award.
ACT 33 and 3.9 UW GPA 4.2 W
@pantha33m I have seen many of your posts while reading about Tulane and wondered how your kid (son or daughter - can’t remember!) is doing this year. I wanted to private message to ask some questions but apparently I don’t have 15 posts on CC yet so it won’t allow me to. We are planning on attending the Honors weekend in March and I’m hoping to gain as much information as possible prior to that visit. Thanks for any info and maybe you can PM me and then I’m allowed to respond? Thanks!
My D (admitted EA/Honors) received an invitation today to apply to Tulane Path to Medicine (guaranteed admit to Tulane School of Medicine). Did anyone else receive this invitation? There is nothing about this program anywhere on the web page. This was in the email: “TPM is a 4+4 program that provides students, upon matriculation
to Tulane as undergraduate students, admission to Tulane University School of Medicine. This program is best suited for high-achieving students who are committed to pursuing a degree in medicine at Tulane after they complete their 4 years of undergraduate education.” Apparently application is by invitation only. I’d love to know if anyone else knows anything about this program.