<p>Yes, kids at Tulane are "normal", according to my children. I have found that Tulane is not a suitcase school; kids do stay on campus suring the weekend. Most of my son's friends, including the ones that live close, only go home for hoidays and special events at home. There is so much to do in New Orleans that there is no reason to leave.</p>
<p>Do understand that New Orleans get quite hot in the spring and fall. When we went to visit my son last week, the kids were all in shorts. In the fall my son says it is almost a waste of time to shower in the morning, as by the time you step outside you are soaked with sweat! Move in day a few years ago was terrible; especially the 10 flights of stairs to his room in Monroe (only luggage took the elevator.) </p>
<p>Tulane is a great college campus for my son, but my daughter didn't care for it.</p>
<p>One of my biggest surprises as a parent was my son's decision to stay on campus next year. He just loves all that the campus has to offer, and the easy accessability to his friends. Plus, he does not have to cook!</p>
<p>mom60, glad the hotel worked out -- the thanks should go to Mrs. Concerned, she was the one who brought it to my attention. Looks like you and your family will be in for an "interesting: SPring. Been there, done that, and will no doubt be there again in 2 years.</p>
<p>A huge proportion of the kids at Tulane are from more than 500 miles away so the school definitely doesn't empty on weekends. My son only came home for Thanksgiving and Christmas his freashman year. This tear he will come home for Easter too.</p>
<p>One thing a little different at the school is Spring break. Every other year they take the "long" break at Mardi Gras. The long break is a week. When Mardi Gras is a long break easter is just two days and when Mardi Gras is two days then Easter is a week. Next year Mardi Gras will be the long break and Easter will be short.</p>
<p>As for the weather at the start of Fall semester it is hot and sticky - especially sticky. Temperature wise it is not much worse than the Washington suburbs where we live but it is a whole new dimension of humidity. S didn't mind it though. In fact his main complaint was that the buildings were too cold. They like to crank the AC up down there. I noticed that was true all over town not just at the school. Son's major weather related complaint was that it rained alot in late Winter early Spring.</p>
<p>BTW Spring is kind of a misnomer down there as stuff blooms all year round and of course the live oaks on campus are evergreen. There are some real beauts too with even more spectacular ones across the street in Audobon Park. If you want Palms they are mostly next door at Loyola.</p>
<p>jax, the Tulane visit went well. Beautiful day to be out and about on campus. H and S had a long tour with EE dept chair who took a lot of time w them. Really nice man. S got to see what the program has to offer. Small eng dept but apparently you'd receive a lot of individual attention. Small student enrollment in EE. Saw Butler dorm - S will live there if he goes to Tulane. The new residential college dorm is under construction, as you know. H and S said the band director was a really nice guy and has taken on the task of building a program from the ground up, also as you know. Basically those were the targeted areas as S has had the campus tour, etc. He was really focusing in on EE today. I think it was very successful but S is not saying much. Just taking it all in and, I suppose, waiting to compare it to UF after the Easter break visit.
This whole process makes me very nervous and I will be so glad when it is over and done with!</p>