This discussion was created from comments split from: 2019 Tulane EA/SCEA Decision Thread. It is its own topic and I didn’t want it to distract from decisions being posted and related issues on the Decision Thread.
@fallenchemist
Very welcome. I do wish there was another way to thank you. If you live in NOLA, I’ll gladly buy you a beer sometime hahah, if I end up at Tulane.
Oregon is not my hometown, but I do love it. Definitely where I want to live when I get through med school. Glad you’ve had positive experiences there, as most people do. It’s a pretty majestic place.
Much appreciated brother. There’s actually only one school above Tulane on my list and that’s Claremont Mckenna. Granted, as you know, it’s extremely selective and somewhat unpredictable with their decisions. If I get into that school, I wouldn’t know which school to choose, and I was wondering if you could give me some input.
First of all, I want to be a dentist. If not a dentist, something in the medical field. Obviously premed is incredibly difficult wherever you go, but I feel as if Tulane might be a better fit for me in terms of rigor. My statistics are right around the 50% mark for Tulane. I recognize that standardized tests and GPA aren’t an exact indicator of academic capability or success in the future, but they are a large component. As the years have passed, I have progressively become more academically focused and hardworking and had I been this way at the start of high school, I know my stats would have been significantly higher. That being said I think Tulane and CMC are roughly the same ballpark of rigor, but I’m concerned whether CMC might be just a notch to high above what I will thrive in and Tulane will better suit me. It’s not that I’m scared of failing, I’m just trying to rationally and realistically weigh the pros and cons of each school with my long term goals.
Second, I like to party. I know in that sense, Tulane wins over CMC. I like to party on fridays and saturdays normally and I spend most of my other time studying, or making music. My only concern is that Tulane might be TOO much of a party school that it becomes a deficit to my academics. I have good self control, but at the same time, I know if I’m surrounded by friends who are CONSTANTLY drinking weekdays and partying, it will become a distraction and I won’t be as successful as I would be otherwise. This is especially pertinent because I’m probably going to join a frat. I know it’s all about who you associate with, but from my experience in my preppy white high school, people are either completely anti intellectual, party a lot and go to state and community colleges (not dissing either, just using stereotypes to convey what I mean, you know?) and the other type of students only ever study and sit around and watch movies together. This might be my high school but I want to be in that right balance where people prioritize academics and party when it’s not a distraction. And if anyone has input, please do respond, but don’t give me the idealistic: “It all depends on your self control and who you associate”.
Other than that, Tulane and CMC are pretty similar with regards all my other criteria other than that CMC is a bit more prestigious (from my parents opinion)
Any input (from anybody) is greatly greatly appreciated.
@oregonottoman
I can see where this would be a tough decision. I would say first of all that with all due respect to your parents, prestige can be very regional. Once you are outside of the Harvard/Yale/Stanford type of names, it is a very tricky thing. I can promise you that Tulane is more prestigious throughout large portions of the country, because CMC is hardly known in some areas at all. But the important thing for you is that as far as medical and dental schools are concerned, the schools will be virtually identically considered. Doing well at either school will be considered impressive.
Tulane has the advantage of more and higher level research in most areas, and of course has its own med school. This alone presents some opportunities for research you won’t find at CMC. You didn’t mention this in your criteria, but I thought it was worth pointing out.
So the partying. Well, it does depend on your self control and who you associate with. It isn’t idealistic, it is a cliche. And it is a cliche for a reason. But to add some substance to that simplistic statement, the way I have seen the most successful students at Tulane handle this balance is to, in fact, limit the partying to the weekends, set up study groups during the week, schedule homework and other study time as if it is a class you have to attend, and take advantage of every resource at Tulane for advice and help. I think some frats take their average GPA more seriously than others as well, but I don’t know much detail on this. But Tulane doesn’t allow Greek rush until the Spring semester, so you would have time to ask around and see what’s what. I also strongly suggest looking into the Tulane Scholars program. This will be a great way to make sure you have strong connections to the most serious students at Tulane.
I think if a student approaches life at Tulane (or pretty much any school actually) this way, they will be very successful and reach their goals. I added that part about “any school” because in reality all schools have a really healthy party scene, with a very few exceptions. it would be easy to fall into this same kind of trap at CMC as well. Tulane just gets the more famous reputation because it is in New Orleans, and there is more to do than at schools in more rural areas. The problem is that at these more rural schools, there is little else to do except drink and party hard, and so it often spirals even more out of control. So in the end it really does come down to the choices you make, which becomes much easier if you have a reasonably structured approach to balancing academics and the rest of your needs. From everything I have been told, your fellow students are very respectful when you have to say “I really have to work on this paper tonight” or “Major quiz in Calc tomorrow”. There are always distractions available, so the only thing that works is to already have a prior commitment, even if that commitment is self-generated.
Speaking as a parent with a first semester (now second) freshman son on the party aspect. The social atmosphere is big at Tulane but not all invovle alcohol which most people associate with the word “party school”. Being in too many clubs or joining too many activities can also impact studying.
Most of the students do seem to balance school and partying within the first few weeks. No matter what school you go to the fact is you are on your own for the first time and you need to learn how to manage your time (both social and academic) so even if you don’t go “party” that doesn’t mean you will be doing academic things anyway. Lots of students veg out in front of tvs or sleep without partying. But once you figure out what effort you need to put into academics to maintain your desired GPA then things run smoothly.
My son said everyone studies differently, he has a suitemate that studies 4 hours every day, another studies/homework 1-2 hours a day while he does a few hours a week. A lot depends on the student, the course load, and habits. My son will never study 4 hours a day - he can’t stay focused that long. What he did say is that there are many ways to study and he really likes the options. You can study in your room, in study rooms by yourself or in groups, at the LBC, and he also has access to the business school rooms and really likes that option. Then there is also the library but he doesn’t even know where that is on campus and doesn’t feel the need to go there to be able to study.
Balance and priorties are the key to being successful. He is on a full scholarship so he knows that if his GPA falls below a 3.0 he will come home and go to a local community college and he will be paying for it so maybe that also helps him put in the needed effort to maintain his grades. I believe he has learned to balance his “partying” with his studying so he is able to enjoy all aspects of being in college and still succeed.
Lastly if you are still worried about being able to balance things then I would suggest you NOT go into some of the more social dorms as a freshman. While every dorm has it party atmosphere some do seem to lean towards more social activites while others seem to lean towards more academic tendencies. Research your options and if possible don’t put yourself in those dorms which should help reduce temptation.
@dbcbs5 @fallenchemist
Both of you provided a lot of valuable information that I will definitely take into consideration before making my decision. With everyday that passes, I am become more sure that Tulane is the school for me. I feel as if Tulane is going to be a better fit for my long term goals than CMC will because of the vast opportunities they provide that a suburban liberal arts school might not. I will do my research before joining a fraternity - if I do - obviously and if I see that the frat distracts me from the academic and social balance I am trying to achieve, then I wont pursue one. I truly appreciate both of your inputs!