Thanks to both of you for offering to answer questions! As you know, it’s a big decision for current HS seniors. 
My daughter is seriously considering Tulane (and will be visiting for the honors weekend in March), so she’s trying to gather as much information as possible. Could you both quickly say why you picked Tulane over your other options, what your favorite part has been so far, and what you would change if you could? Broad questions, I know … but just trying to get an overall feel for your experiences so far. Thanks!!
How nice that you two are both offering to answer questions!! My daughter is only a Junior and we live in ME (but visited New Orleans last Spring and all fell in love with it). She will have great stats and will be a National Merit Finalist but will need huge merit aid in order for us to be able to consider her going here (as opposed to choosing a school that offers a full ride for her being a National Merit Finalist). We are one of those families that have zero money for college and yet will also not receive any financial aid. It is still early in the game for us but, as of right now, Tulane is her first choice. Can you tell me the difference in the Deans Honor Scholarship vs Paul Tulane …and how much they cover and the number of awards they give out? I also saw the Stamps Scholarship but assume those are even more competitive and rare? Thx!!
Welcome @HazelnutorFootball and @surfinbird34! I’m sure you’ll be very helpful to prospective Tulane students and parents.
@FrozenMaineMom Wow, your daughter is sure lucky she can depend on being smart!
@startingsoon Thank you for your questions!
While I’m sure it’s different for each student, I can tell you I chose Tulane because I felt I would get the best combination of a great education and a fantastic undergraduate experience. I knew that regardless of where I was going to school that I would be getting a good education, but it was truly all about what I felt like was going to make me the most well-rounded person: for me that was Tulane. Although it may not be for everyone, it truly is all about fit and feel, and it “felt like the right fit”. My favorite part is most certainly the city of New Orleans and all of the wonderful experiences this city has had to offer. From parades (Mardi Gras started the past couple weeks so its definitely on our minds), to festivals, to the best food you could ever have, this city truly has it all. The one thing I would change would most certainly be the lack of parking on our campus, it definitely can be difficult. The benefit is that you don’t really need a car on campus, so this usually isn’t too much of an issue, but it can be a hassle at times.
@FrozenMaineMom thank you as well!
While these scholarships are competitive for sure, they are great opportunities for students to earn merit money beyond the additional $5,000-$33,000 offered with no additional application! Both of these awards are full TUITION scholarships, with the Dean’s Honor Scholarship being project-based, and the Paul Tulane award being essay-based. The Stamps award is extremely competitive and is full COST OF ATTENDANCE (with room and board/a small stipend included). You don’t specifically apply to Stamps, but students are rather nominated from the pool of Paul Tulane Award and Dean’s Honor Scholarship applicants. Every year is different with the number of awards given, but these awards are extremely competitive and offered to our top students. All of these require that you apply either Early Action or Early Decision I.
thank you for that info on the merit aid and it was great to read about why you chose Tulane!
@startingsoon I chose Tulane because I was involved a lot of things in high school and didn’t want to have to pick just one of those to focus on. I didn’t want to just be really academic, or involved in Young Life, or in a sorority, or a cheerleader…I wanted to get to continue all of the things that I was interested in! Tulane students are really involved, most people you stop on campus have two or three things that they’re passionate about, which makes up a really cool student body. In just my house, one of my housemates is a kickboxing vegan, one has lived in five different countries, and one grew up on a Texas longhorn ranch and now works for a suicide hotline! It also checked off my basics, being a mid-sized school, students from all over the country, a campus setting in a city, and was academically challenging!
My favorite part and what I would change are similar to why I chose Tulane. I have loved getting to know all different kinds of people from different places, from different backgrounds, and with different interests. However, as I get closer to graduate, I’ve started to get a bit nostalgic about how everyone is going to move to so many different parts of the US and do so many different things. I probably won’t live in the same town as all of my college friends because we all come from different places and want to do different things. While I will definitely be able to keep in touch with them, we won’t all be going to Tulane football games every weekend anymore or Crawfest every year, which makes me sad to leave Tulane!
@HazelnutorFootball Hi! I’m committed to Tulane and can’t wait for next year! I’m a very social person but obviously academics are extremely important to me. I am interested in majoring in Legal Studies and possibly Marketing too (so double majoring). I know Tulane makes it really easy to double major and the business school requires the same core curriculum classes no matter the major, but do you find that you have a significant more amount of work than your friends? Or is it doable to double major in the business school and still go out with friends and explore NOLA as you please? Thanks!
@conflictedcollegegal6789998212 Excited that you’re gonna be at Tulane next year! While it’s definitely not frowned upon to not, I think you’ll find that most Tulane students double major, especially in the business school, so most of your friends will also be double majoring. Obviously with any school there are students who work significantly more or significantly more than others, but almost all Tulane students work hard. I’ve never found that I’m having to work way harder than everyone else to keep up with both of my majors! And I mentioned earlier that Tulane students are really involved, which means that most of us are pretty good at balancing school work, extra-curriciculars, social lives, and self-care!
Wow, thanks to the two of you for entertaining questions! A couple come to mind.
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As underclassmen, what was your experience in terms of Professors vs. teaching assistants teaching classes and providing out of classroom accessibility?
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Tulane strikes me as a place where space is at a premium with potential housing implications. What are typical underclassmen housing arrangements? Are they predominantly doubles or are there more triples, quads, etc.? I also get the impression that upperclassmen have limited on-campus housing options and are more or less forced to find off campus housing. Finally, does being in the Honors Program provide any housing advantages?
@pishicaca Oh my goodness Tulane professors are dope! I think it takes a special type of person to be a professor, and a special type of person to live in New Orleans, so the combination is unique to say the least haha. Almost every class is taught by a professor, not a TA, and the only classes taught by TA are supplemental sections to go through homework or labs and such. I’ve had so many awesome professors! I’ve had professors who are judges on the appellate court, I’ve gotten to watch my professors win trials, I’ve been invited to professor’s houses for Thanksgiving, I’ve had professors bake cookies for after our finals, and I’ve joined professors on walks in Audubon after we ran into each other. Tulane professors are not only really accessible, but they’re super interesting as well. One of my favorite professors speaks four languages, has written a few books, has her own radio show, road bikes daily, and has Metastatic breast cancer!
Tulane housing is mostly doubles, with a few singles and triples in there as well. Most of the first-year dorms are hall-style bathrooms, with the exception of Wall, the freshman honors dorm, and Greenbaum, which are both suite-style. A few of the dorms, Paterson, JL, and some rooms in Warren, have sinks in the rooms, but Monroe, Sharp, and Butler do not. Upperclassmen have several dorm options on campus, including our apartment style dorms, but most upperclassmen choose to live off campus in houses. Instead of living in apartments off campus, like most people do at other schools, Tulane students live in shotgun houses or single family homes for the most part! 90% of upperclassmen who live off campus stay within a 1 mile radius of the school though, so they are really close!
Thanks for your feedback so far! Another quick question … how do you think students who are a little introverted do on campus? My DD loves Tulane so far … the size, student involvement, community service & friendly atmosphere. Her idea of a great college experience involves hanging out with a close group of friends and exploring the city, getting involved in community service & activities, and staying up until 3am having fun, philosophical conversations with her friends. As a bit of an introvert, she also likes her “down time” where she can write, create or watch Netflix.
I know people often describe Tulane’s atmosphere as “work hard-play hard”. As current students, could you explain what that phrase means to you? It sounds like students are very social, active and involved (which is wonderful!), but I know that term is often a way to explain students who party hard/frequently as well. Could you comment on how prevalent the “party atmosphere” is on campus (given the “party school” reputation)?
My daughter loves so much about Tulane - it’s definitely one of her top choices right now. I think her main concern is that as a bit of an introvert she’ll feeI out of place surrounded by so many outgoing, social & extroverted students (especially if “every day is a party” ). She’s planning to visit again during the Honors Weekend in March, but in the meantime, I’d love to share your thoughts with her so she can weigh them as she processes her various options.
Thanks so much!
THANK you, @HazelnutorFootball and @surfinbird34! We have two questions (today… probably more soon):
We’d like to know which Honors TID or COLQ are the best, most fun and interesting. Which ones do you recommend? At some other schools, they recommend doing a first year course in the “realm” of the student’s interest, but I think doing a NOLA focused (as some are) or something really different and fun would be an option too. What do you recommend on courses and approach?
Second, any tips for how to best prepare for the 30 min meeting with an advisor during Honors Weekend? What should the student come prepared with? How should they best use that 30 min slot? I LOVE THAT THE PARENTS ARE NOT INCLUDED! Very smart.
THANKS for help on these two questions.
Thanks for the updated info, @Sally_Rubenstone. I indeed checked out the two new student posters, @HazelnutorFootball and @surfinbird34. Already read some good info. Fallenchemist has been a fabulous tipster for me over the past several months. When I came across the post from Jeff about his passing, although about a year after he died, I was quite saddened. Most of his posts are timeless, and his positivity and supportiveness of many prospective students and parents is/was remarkable. Glad that his informational posts can “live on” here on CC!
Hi!!! I have a question about merit scholarships. I received $22k a year from tulane but I need at least $30k for my parents to let me go. is there any way to ask for more money?
@proudmama2016 I am not in the honors program, and while @surfinbird34 is, the program has changed drastically since he was a freshman, so neither of us have lots of experience with the first year honors classes. However, you can look through the tour guide website https://tulane.welcometocollege.com, filter by Honors Program, and then I would recommend choosing a guide that graduates in 2021 or 2020 because they have experienced the new program. You can message any of those guides, and they would love to answer questions about Honors!
The student really doesn’t have to prepare a ton for their meeting with the advisors. The advisors are great at telling the students exactly what they need to know, and the websites for advising can be really confusing if not explained in person! Your student definitely does not need to know what exact major they are interested in, but if they want to look around and get a feel for what’s offered, in what schools, etc., that can help advisors to tell what classes they might want to take! There are some guides online that explain the Newcomb Tulane Curriculum, different requirements for different schools, etc., and while they are hard to fully understand on your own, it’s helpful to get familiar with some of the terms in them like “Outside Western Traditions” and “TIDES”, etc.
@proudmama2016 -The loss of Fallen Chemist (David Krost) was a very big one for College Confidential and for Tulane. He was extremely helpful to me when my son was going through the college search and application process four years ago and to countless others as well.
There are still times when I have a question about Tulane … or even hear some interesting Tulane news (or juicy gossip) … and my first thought is, “I have to talk to David.” He has definitely been missed, and I’m glad that his wisdom endures on CC.
@startingsoon Thank you for reaching out as well! While each student’s experience is different, that idea of “work hard, play hard” is not necessarily the case I have experienced. I would rather use the term “engaged” or “passionate” when describing Tulane students. This is engaged and passionate in whatever they may be doing, whether it is a new club they started, or going to festivals, or reading a nice book out on the quad, students definitely find their “thing” and do it to the fullest. With over 1800 students in our freshman class, we definitely have a niche for everyone. It is so easy to meet like-minded people who have the same priorities as you and Tulane does a great job of facilitating that for its students.
So to answer your question, while partying definitely does happen (we are by no means trying to deny that) it definitely gets an overhyped reputation. New Orleans itself in many ways is a party city and we love to celebrate everything: so naturally Tulane may be seen as an extension of that. Yes, we do party, but we don’t go to bourbon street every night of the week. We are truly here to get an education first (believe it or not) and everything else is secondary to that.
Hi @sss111222 thank you for your question! Congratulations on the merit scholarship you earned, that is a phenomenal achievement. Unfortunately, the Office of Admission does not have a process to re-review students and is unable to award any additional merit-aid in most cases (with the exception of students who are awarded Paul Tulane, Dean’s Honor Scholarships, or the Stamps Award). We always encourage students to apply for need-based financial aid through our Office of Financial Aid and any outside additional scholarships they may run across. I definitely encourage you to reach out to their office to see if there is any additional help they may be able to give!