<p>So I have narrowed it down to these two. Money really isnt to much of a factor although Tulane is a little bit cheaper. I plan on studying history and pre-med but of course that will change. Im looking for nice well rounded people to spend my next 4 years. Also I want to make sure that I am having fun and not just constantly working. I liked both campuses alot, but I have to say Wake's was nicer. Tulane however has the better city, unfort I didnt get to go into Winston-Salem. I just need some more ideas on a fit. I dont want to go an overly conservative school which I am fearing Wake is. So if anyone has anything to help me with my decision id love to hear it. Thanks.</p>
<p>tulane is much more laid back than wake-- i mean a world of difference....tulane is more open...wake is more homogenous and conservative---i've seen both campuses and i prefer tulane's--wake's is very typical academia blah blah--tulane has some truly unique architecture----but if you are a rankings fanatic Wake is ranked higher---yeah and can I add that winston-salem has no culture?</p>
<p>Wake Forest was my dream school until I realized my family couldn't afford it. My first impression was to go to Tulane for a year, run fast, and try to transfer back to Wake Forest (I was going to go to Wake to run, but I could only get a scholarship as a sophomore). Now that I'm at Tulane, I'd never leave.
Winston-Salem is not a fun place, no culture whatsoever (there's a bunch of posts on these boards about how crappy a place W-S is; search: Winston-Salem). I disagree with armcp in that I actually prefer Wake Forest's campus to Tulane's, but the environment here - the college life here - is so much better than any other school in the country. You will not find a better place than Tulane.</p>
<p>You may have heard the nickname for Wake: "Work Forest"?</p>
<p>My D had a friend who goes there....the environment is indeed much more conservative, and they do have a reputation for tough grading there. I've heard that the greek scene is also very strong and pervasive there, probably more than at Tulane. These are either positives or negatives, depending on your point of view.</p>
<p>It is true that there is probably less to do in Winston-Salem than in New Orleans.</p>
<p>It's really a personal choice. For some, Wake would be a terrible fit.
For others, Tulane would be a terrible fit. These schools are very different in terms of the overall environment and feel of the place.</p>
<p>In the end, they are both academically very strong, but the opportunities are unique at each. It comes down to what feels right given the type of person you are.</p>
<p>Keep asking questions. But go with your intuition...often that gut instinct is the right one. Good luck with your decision...both are excellent choices.</p>
<p>its ok ecliptica i guess your architecture taste is not as refined as my own..lol...plus the buildings on wake's campus are all fairly new and disguised to look old academic style or something....all of Tulane's have such a history ....even though there are negative sides to this</p>
<p>thanks, I am leaning towards Tulane. Even though parents and friends say Wake because they know of its prestige for some reason I keep leaning towards Tulane. I think the liberal, laid back atmosphere in the south is what is drawing me.</p>
<p>tulane isn't exactly liberal like oberlin liberal, but is rather ultra-liberal in comparison to wake.</p>
<p>Wake is a full 15 notches higher in prestige/educational quality than Tulane...and that was before Katrina did its damage. That already huge gap could widen in the coming years. To each their own, but I think most would choose Wake.</p>
<p>such unwaivering trust in USnews rankings--you know it is only one source.........I think Tulane's name gets out there more often....Tulane's name is much more recognizable on a national level than wake's in my opinion i guess that is unless you live in NC....plus there are alot more opportunities in NOLA than crappy winston salem north carolina---much more to get involved esp. now -plus NOLA has a much more adventurous feeling..I again would say that Tulane is much more laid back (the school has an excellant balance of comfortability and rigorous academics)---i think you would find wake to be much more elitist and tense ----oh and by the way the USnews rankings don't measure such intangibles as prestige/educational quality that is something you must truly measure up yourself when you dedicate yourself to a certain school and actaully EXPERIENCE it there......USnews puts together a measurement of selectivty, yield, the SAT scores of your peers, etc......i don't think these should be of upmost importance to you.....I got into a school ranked about 10 places higher than Tulane....but i overnighted and the EXPERIENCE was horrible....the student body was bland...and trust me the fact that the kids sitting around me had high SATs and that the peer ranking of the institution was higher was not that comforting or reassuring</p>
<p>Virtually 100% of the kids I know are happy with the college or university they are attending. Some were happy right from the start, some were unhappy for a quarter or two, but before the first year ended, they all LOVED where they were and wouldn't change for anything. We all adapt.</p>
<p>As far as college is concerned, I'm old-school. I want to graduate from the toughest, most rigorous, most respected program I can get in to. When I graduate, I want to get into a better Grad school or be in greater demand from employers. For that reason, given the choice the OP described, I would choose Wake.</p>
<p>
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Virtually 100% of the kids I know are happy with the college or university they are attending.
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<p>I truly believe that no one knows what happiness is until they experience Tulane. I remember a quote about Tulane, which sums up best what I'm thinking right now:</p>
<p>". . .Then they ask me where I went to college, and I say 'Tulane', and their excited expression turns to shame and all they can manage to get out is 'oh', because instantly they know no story they can tell can top what I have done. I do not need to say a thing, they just understand. They know that their wildest night of college is just a regular Wednesday for us. We Tulane kids are a special breed, and trust me, everyone else is jealous."</p>
<p>The thing is, nearly everyone I know at Tulane did get into "higher ranking" schools than Tulane - honestly, I don't know anyone that had Tulane as their first choice dream school. The moment I stepped foot on this campus, though, I knew I never wanted to leave. I'm staying here as long as I can. This is the happiest place on earth.</p>
<p>I have visited both places with my D, and clearly Tulane is more relaxed and diverse in terms of the student body. People seemed waaaay too serious at Wake...</p>
<p>I have a friend who went to Wake on her semester away from Tulane in the fall, and she's very happy to be back here.</p>