<p>I was accepted to both schools. I was able to visit American University, but due to finical constraints I am unable to visit Tulane! I am looking for someone to tell me about the school of Tulane, or the city, and help me with making this decision.
I may want to be an international studies major, and then go to law school; or instead pursue pre-med. I was accepted to American as a spring student, with the option of the washington mentorship program in the fall.</p>
<p>Here is the financial breakdown:
Tulane estimated cost: $15,000 per year
American: $4,000 per semester plus $30,000 for one semester of the monitorship program. </p>
<p>This decision is difficult for me because I am afraid that if choose American, and I change my major to pre-med I will not be happy at the school.</p>
<p>Given you indecision regarding career path/major, perhaps Tulane is the better choice. Good balance in all areas you are considering, and most people think New Orleans is fabulous. It is a shame you cannot visit first though.</p>
<p>Both schools will give you a great education, though. You will be fine even if you decide pre-med at American. Pre-med isn’t a major, it is just some required courses that all schools offer.</p>
<p>I would be hesitant to enroll in a university I have never visited, but you can always transfer if you find yourself unhappy. I don’t know much about American, but New Orleans is indeed fabulous, as is Tulane.</p>
<p>I just PMd you a 4 part write up I did of Tulane. It might be helpful to you. I hope it is.<br>
I think it describes New Orleans. I also recently visited American. American is a school that highly focused on international relations, political science and internships in DC. Study abroad is huge there. It is an outward looking campus with sophisticated students eager to learn about the world. Tulane feels more like a traditional liberal arts school to me. It has more of a community feel. Even though there are professional schools, all students start in the College of Arts and Sciences. Tulane has a great emphasis on community service. I worry more about crime in New orleans esp because it’s deceivingly beautiful. Don’t think you are safe at dark just because you are in front of a 3 million dollar home in Uptown New Orleans. But you will be fine if you follow good commn sense. Every city has crime. Both schools are in incredibly unique cities.</p>
<p>DartDart, it’s not accurate that Tulane students are not focused on life beyond New Orleans. For many years Tulane has had a very established, high quality Junior Year Abroad program. It is closed to non-Tulane students, and a significant percentage of Tulane students take advantage of it. It enjoys established relationships with the best schools throughout Europe and their associated residences, so the student is assured a quality education and living experience. Tulane is also very, very strong in Latin American studies, international Relations, and several foreign languages. This is not to take anything away from American, but rather to clear up a possible misunderstanding about Tulane.</p>
<p>To be generous in interpreting what Dart said, I think he was referring to the extraordinary amount of community service Tulane students do in New Orleans. I think it is very safe to say there is no school in America whose identity and character is as tied to the major city in which it resides as Tulane is to New Orleans. Even before Katrina, the uniqueness of New Orleans was a big part of what made Tulane…well, Tulane. But since then it is that to another power of ten. So I think that is what Dart meant.</p>
<p>Having said that, NJDad is also correct that it would be a mistake to minimize the role Tulane students have been playing in Haiti, Africa, and many other areas in terms of study, community service and support, as well as the numerous study abroad opportunities of which many students avail themselves. You will find Tulane students throughout South America and Europe, as well as China, Japan, India and Russia.</p>
<p>Just visited Tulane this weekend, saw American last summer. Some lovely buildings at American but Tulane’s campus was far more attractive IMO. Also heard from MANY Tulane students that international relations/latin american studies is HUGE there for some reason.</p>
<p>Regarding study abroad, many of the Tulane kids said they had WANTED to study abroad but decided they really didn’t want to leave N.O., even for a semester. We had a laugh about that!!</p>