<p>Is anybody else going through with this? Due to the fact that I though I was set on staying in state, I had hardly considered Tulane University when I received an invite for its Personal Application option. I've received similar offers before, but Tulane was the first university that offered me this AND I have heard of before. It sounds like a pretty good deal -- no application fee, no new essay required, and automatic scholarship consideration, and it's non-binding as well.</p>
<p>I realize that I should expect some bias while posting on the Tulane board, but what do y'all think of Tulane? I am not positive if I will wind up going there, but I figure it certainly can't hurt to apply.</p>
<p>Just to give y'all an idea of my background, I am a Caucasian male, resident of North Carolina. My top pick is currently UNC-CH, and I feel that I have a strong shot at getting in -- very high GPA, strong SAT scores (800 CR, 750 W, 640 M), and I am involved in some dedicated extracurriculars. </p>
<p>You'll certainly hear both sides here, as we have a couple of posters who seem to enjoy running the school and the city down. That said, your situation is similar to that of my own son, who was also offered a scholarship to UNC-CH (also in-state) and the DSA at Tulane. He chose Tulane and has been very, very happy in his choice. He'll graduate in a total of four years with a BA and a BS, with a triple major, and he's an RA and a coach at a Tulane-associated high schools. The most important thing for YOU to do is visit Tulane. That seems to be the deciding factor for many people. It made a big difference to my son, but I think he knew from the time they offered him the DSA that he'd be attending. (Getting out of NC mattered to him, and New Orleans is about as far from NC, culturally, as one can get in this country.)</p>
<p>My best wishes to you regardless of your decision.</p>
<p>I appreciate the prompt response -- hearing from a parent who had a child in a similar situation helps a lot. I may go through with the application to Tulane on the principal that it is free, but I feel a connection with Chapel Hill that I haven't really felt with some other colleges -- UNC has become the college I compare other colleges to, in terms of which I feel would be a better fit. I would appreciate any further suggestions, though; they would mean a great deal to me.</p>
<p>QUESTION!?does this application automatically consider us for MErIT scholarships along with need-based? or do we also need to fill out the presidential schoalsrhip application?</p>
<p>You're automatically considered for all merit scholarships when you apply EXCEPT for the Deans Honor scholarship (which is full tuition). That one has a separate application.</p>
<p>My son is very interested in Tulane, but we're a bit confused about the Personal Application option. As I understand it, if he submits that application, he will receive an answer in 4 weeks from the date that Tulane receives all of his documents telling him if he is accepted or not, regardless if he applies early action or regular decision. Is this correct? If it is, why do they offer the early action option since decisions are made on a rolling basis?</p>
<p>Yeah...I was sent the personal application option as well. </p>
<p>I wasn't planning on applying to Tulane before, but now I think I'm going to. I got an offer like this from the University of Portland...only they said I'll find out in 2 weeks.</p>
<p>Does anybody know what happens if you are not accepted after submitting your personal application? Are you deferred to regular admission or are you rejected? I'm trying to determine if there are any concrete advantages to using the personal application other than saving the $55 application fee.</p>
<p>Do you think it's worth applying to Tulane for me? I received the offer for the personal application and I'm wondering why they sent it. It's not a high reach or anything for me but I know my stats are like in the 25th percentile for SATs. It's a great opportunity since it's free and everything, but I'm wondering whether it's a waste of my time. I don't want to get my hopes up or anything by applying there and thinking "hey, since I got that offer maybe I have an actual chance"</p>
<p>I suppose I am considered someone who is "anti-Tulane," which is not the case, but I think this tactic is beneath the school. Certainly they would not have solicited you except in the transparent attempt to inflate the numbers in their applicant pool, and would be delighted to show they are more "selective" as a result. That said, if you think you might wish to go there, why not apply? Again, I don't think this is particularly worthy of the university, but it's a no-loss shot for the applicant, though I wouldn't apply unless I reallly wanted to go. It's just playing into their game.</p>
<p>Sooooo, you posted to this person to discourage him/her? To disparage the university? To make yourself feel good by making someone else feel bad? Really, it's hard to tell what positive purpose that could have served.</p>
<p>Viva, if you're in the bottom 25%, then there are 25% of students attending Tulane who have scores similar to yours. That seems to suggest that you have a fair chance of being accepted. If you are interested in attending, I can't see a down side to using an application that costs you nothing. The only cost would then be visiting, which is fairly important for such an unusual school. It isn't for everyone. People who like it tend to love it. Those who don't, don't. Best wishes to you, either way.</p>
<p>Does anyone have an idea of the acceptance rates for the personal application versus the regular application, or is this the first time that Tulane has offered this option? According to the US News, Tulane accepted 18% EA and 38% RD last year. It seems as if the personal application is the best route for those students who will definitely be accepted, but it seems as if it could be a risk for those students with less than stellar stats. Does anyone know if the students using the personal application that are not accepted are deferred to the regular decision round?</p>
<p>the personal application is what all applicants use (RD or EA). there is no "regular" application. the virtually effortless and free application is how tulane trys to keep its ranking higher through means of selectivity. it has been the only application offered since katrina. before katrina it was only given out to "select" students. now tulane emails out the application indiscriminantly to every high school student in the country. you're getting the application confused within the different submission deadlines you can choose from.
so sumbit the personal app and choose the RD deadline if you want to avoid that lower acceptance rate. you'll hear back way before spring anyways even if you don't choose EA (its virtually rolling admissions now). i am clueless as to why the EA rate is so low anyways. i really have no idea why you would choose it (given the low rate and the fact that you won't hear back that much sooner or any sooner if you were to check ED and submit it at the same time you would if you were applying EA).</p>
<p>armcp, what are the EA and RD rates that you are referring to and where did you find them? I'm debating whether to go EA or RD. Can't they just defer you to RD if you apply EA?</p>
<p>yeah that's what i was saying in fewer words. submit the personal app and choose the regular deadline. since everything is rolling nowadays, submit it early if you want an earlier response. its senseless to choose the ea deadline. if you want to submit ea you can, but there are no benefits and the acceptance rate is lower.</p>
<p>i don't think the school guarantees that they will have a decision in four weeks. but certainly, if you were to apply right now for example as a rd candidate you certainly would not have to wait anywhere near as long as april, which is for sure how long you would have to wait at a normal non-rolling based school for rd. for example, i applied at the end of january and found out i was in early-mid march. their system isn't exactly rolling since there is technically an final admissions deadline in january. it's kinda of in between i guess. i recommend calling admissions if you want more specific terms. i also think the four week turnover promised online is simply yet another way of luring you to apply (along with the fee waiver, no new essay, etc.); it's most definitely not guaranteed.</p>
<p>Same experience for my DS last year. He applied to some top schools (and got in) had the free app from Tulane, thought "why not, I will send it in", got the $22k award, visited, and...we dropped him off there a few weeks ago. So far he loves it.</p>
<p>redcrimblue ... why do you think this is "beneath" TU? I think it's a wonderfully creative strategy, no matter Katrina. And not really that unusual. Of the 8 schools on my dd's short list, 4 have offered free apps. All are highly selective. </p>
<p>Many colleges and universities have determined that $50 app fees ain't a cost effective revenue generator and I'm not at all sure where the magic is in puttling lustre on collegiate reputations by the presence or cost of the app fee ... or total lack there of.</p>