My daughter has a nice scholarship to Tulane but is concerned that the party culture will be too much. She got into the honors program and could dorm with the honors students, but she is still concerned that everyone there is all about drinking every night. I have assured her that not everyone will be drinking every night…but I would love to hear from any students or parents of students about the campus culture. She will be a neuroscience major/premed. Thank you!
@twinmom71 We were just at Tulane’s honors weekend. Did you attend one of those? After spending several days on campus, including an afternoon and evening during St. Patrick’s day, I am officially declaring Tulane’s party scene as being highly overrated. If it exists then they did an awesome job hiding it while we were there. I went to a true party school for college myself, so I think I know what to look for. If Tulane’s party scene was a quarter as big as it is reputed to be then you wouldn’t have to look very hard because half the kids do live on campus. I just didn’t see it. The majority of the kids on campus did not look like the party types either. If I were you, I really would not worry…especially if she’s going to live at Wall.
I asked my daughter, who is a current freshman in Wall and never partied in high school, what she thought. She says “There is a ton of variability. Some kids literally never go out. Some go out four nights a week. I go out two out of three nights over Thursday, Friday and Saturday and most of my friends do the same.” As a parent, I will tell you there seemed to be a lot of partying at the beginning of the year when students were getting used to their new-found freedom, and I was a little concerned about it. Later it seemed to calm down as students got more acclimated to college.
@EDHDAD We went to the honors event the weekend before. I would agree…we hardly saw students! But we were there on a Sunday and Monday morning only. I also went to a huge party school in the early 90s … I would bet we could show these kids a thing or two. 
Honestly, I’m not worried but she is. Much like @momandslp said, my daughter never EVER goes out in HS, so she is just worried she won’t find her tribe…that i she doesn’t party/drink, she’ll be alone. I knew that wasn’t the case but it’s good to hear it.
EDHDAD…has your kiddo committed? Are you still considering others? Mine is so on the fence because it just didn’t feel right, but we were overwhelmed…traveled far to get there, stuck in a rainstorm, stuck on Bourbon street our first night after a late dinner and an uber wouldn’t come get us we were so in the middle of chaos… I shouldn’t have taken her to dinner in the FQ!! We also had an odd experience where in three cases the neurology staff either didn’t show up at the class or lunch or did not know we were coming to see the lab. Felt a bit disorganized but I think it will all just be a funny story to look back on when she is settled and super happy there…fingers crossed as it was our best award. Would love to hear your experience at Honors Weekend.
@twinmom71 Ah yes, the early 90’s being in a frat, life was good for me too! My son hasn’t committed yet but Tulane is his first choice. We had already booked a trip a while back to see Case Western and Miami of Ohio for their admitted students weekends so we are going to go see those in a couple weeks and then make our final choice. Tulane and Case are about the same net price for us and Miami U is about $20k per year cheaper in terms of total cost of attendance. My son does not party either, but I could see him participating to some extent in college. Our honors weekend experience was fantastic. The visit to New Orleans put our our mind at ease as parents. The school was great and the surrounding are seemed relatively safe. The employees and teachers at the school were very friendly and my son talked to quite a few students when he sat in on classes. My son is 6’4” so the thought of leaving him in New Orleans doesn’t bother me as much as it probably would with my daughter. We took the trolley to the French Quarter during the afternoon after he went to his classes and if I never go back to Bourbon Street it will be too soon. That place stinks like sewage!
My daughter was extremely worried about making friends. We sent her to one of the EXPLORE programs in August, which was a camp before school started. It was great because she ended up making her two best friends that week. Tulane is not offering EXPLORE this year, but they are doing a 5 day freshman orientation just before school starts with only freshmen on campus. I am guessing, just like EXPLORE, your kids will find some of their “people” during this orientation period. Also, the Facebook Page for incoming freshman was an invaluable way for my daughter to get to know her Wall suitemates, who hail from all over the country.
Sorry about your Bourbon Street experience, @twinmom71. My husband and I love New Orleans, we have been many times, but we stay off Bourbon Street now (we often stay at the Hotel Monteleone on Royal, just a block away). It is festival season and New Orleans has been ranked as the #1 city to visit in the world this year by several newspapers and magazines, so it is very busy now. I am hoping next year New Orleans will be a little less popular (just a little…)!
@twinmom71 I’m sorry but where did she get the impression that “everyone there is all about drinking every night?”. We know many kids who attend Tulane and they are serious students who don’t “party” any more or less than students at any other college we know of. What they are, that is different from some kids we know at other schools, is genuinely happy and in love with the school and the community. The consistently positive word of mouth is one of the many reasons we are excited our child has decided to take Tulane’s EA offer.
@pantha33m …niche has Tulane rated as the #1 party school in America. I think a lot of kids go on that sight and read student reviews. We have also talked to current and past students. The reputation is there, but so is the other factors you mentioned…happy kids who love their school and community. The #1 status probably has a lot to do with its location in New Orleans. At honors weekend we spoke with students who told us there is drinking happening every night but you can certainly avoid it and always find people to do things with. They even said Wall, the honors dorm, is so quiet some honors students choose to live in other dorms to be more a part of the action. Like others have noted, it might not be that different than a lot of other colleges, but we have heard it enough that my daughter was concerned since she is such a serious student. Maybe too serious! Good luck to your child…perhaps they will be classmates. Hoping she can get over her concerns/fears and embrace all the great stuff.
@twinmom71 I saw your other post on the neurology department and I don’t know any info on that, but based on the schools that you listed(which is an awesome accomplishment BTW) the only school that stands out as having a reputation where kids don’t party a lot is University of Rochester. In terms of finding kids that don’t party though, I’m sure there are plenty at Tulane given its size and it’s academic rigor.
@EDHDAD … thank you for confirming that. I know there are parties everywhere, and my girl is not a total stick in the mud as I make her out to be! Hahaha. But it’s good for her to hear/read it fro other parents. That’s why this site is so great. Ironically, my husband’s cousin went to Rochester as did one of my D’s friend’s brother, and both partied their fair share. My girl went to an all-girls high school and I think she’s a bit traumatized by college in general. But she is strong and independent and has lots of friends now…I’m sure she will find them anywhere!
Yes we had a very weird honors weekend experience but Ive been reading till my eyes bleed and can only find positives about Tulane’s neuro dept. Michigan, Emory and Wash U also have very unique programs but even with little awards they are all over $50k compared to Tulane at about $35k. If Tulane wasn’t good, we might find a way to do Emory (the best deal of the bunch at $53k after scholarship) but Tulane seems great. Wish I could go back to college!
@twinmom71 We have already warned our son that if any of the decisions that come out next week have those $50k types of price tags then they are not viable. We have such great offers from Tulane and a few others that I can’t rationalize spending that kind of money. We have two other kids in HS.
I go to Tulane and don’t party that much. I go out to hang out with friends but don’t drink or smoke. People want you to go out, but it really isn’t peer pressure. Some people go out 3 or 4 times a week, but most only go out 1 or 2 times (Friday and Saturday) or maybe during Wednesday’s for pitchers.
DS’s experience at Tulane was that many will party at the outset of their school career, but (a) it gets expensive, (b) the fun wears off pretty quickly and © seeing some really wasted kids and the results of their drunkenness in th bathrooms or elevators is a real turnoff.
Tulane is a college campus and those who don’t party will find each other, just like on any other college campus. The advantage of Tulane is that it is in an awesome location where there is plenty to do, music, restaurants, walks in Audubon Park to name a few!
My son was a very serious student and did not party at all. It took him awhile but he found his niche. He joined some clubs and spent a lot of time in Reilly working out, playing pick up basketball, going to concerts and festivals, participating in community service. He became an RA (Free room!) and found even more friends. One other thing you’ll see a lot is that the partiers latch on to one another fairly quickly, but those friendships don’t often last as there is little substance to them. One the novelty of partying wears off you need more in a relationship than doing shots and start looking for people who share your interests.
I’ll add my thoughts after our Destination Tulane visit last week. We had an extremely enlightening visit. It was not the 2 day honors program but we spent about 8-9 hours on campus the first day and talked to a lot of students. We went back a second day and walked the park and talked to people who lived in the nearby (beautiful) neighborhoods to talk about big safety. Then we spent 2 days in Nola. I’m exhausted
@3monkeys … so did you love it? Did you go in any of the libraries or labs? Would love to hear what the neighbors said about safety as well.
I have mixed feelings. She went to classes and spent lots of time with profs. She really really likes it but is overwhelmed. She got accepted to UMiami and invited to honors, but no merit. Then Tulane gave her generous merit but no honors. She understands the nature of college admissions but has some thinking to do. In state Umich is weighing in her as well. She’s so confused!
For me, I hate bourbon steeet but like magazine st. and uptown. She loves the jazz, history and festivals. We love the academic program at Tulane, dislike the residential life situation (but that wouldn’t be a deal breaker).
The most telling thing about security was a woman who lives in the neighborhood next to Audobon Park. In Drew Brees neighborhood. She said “I’m not going to lie, it’s not the safest city. You should think about that.” She talked a bit about crime in general and how our D would have to be super vigilant. But then she said she loves living there and raising her daughter there. So go figure. Her neighborhood has a security patrol.
The kids on campus told us that after dark there is security by each dorm. They all felt safe. So much to consider!
My original post was cut off or didn’t post right. Maybe it was too long. Basically - back to the original question on partying- we talked to many students throughout the day (not part of the official day). We met kids who invited D up to see their dorm room (dorms not on our tour). These kids were more “descriptive” than the tour guides when we asked about the party scene. One lovely girl in the honors program doesn’t party- she has a really crazy hard schedule and lots of clubs/activities. My D really hit it off with her. Other girls talked openly about “pregaming” in the dorms then parties and bars after. One Uber driver showed us the bars he drives kids too. Another group of girls warned D to be careful at frats. (Keep her wits about her). Most of what we heard is the same as other schools. D felt like she was in the middle and would find friends all along the party spectrum.
All the kids were very happy. These were random kids we met eating, walking, grabbing coffee etc. They all bent over backwards to help her and one gave her number so she could text any questions. A couple invited her to join their club sports team next year lol. We were impressed with all the students we met.
I still have a few reservations, but not about partying.
@3monkeys…thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Very helpful! And yes, we still have reservations too. In addition to the party reputation, which could be a factor at so many schools (not Emory which is in our top 3, but then again maybe if you’re looking for it?) we were concerned about the quality of the facilities. We have been on some gorgeous college campuses over the past year and in our opinion, something was off. The libraries, labs, dorms, etc ranged from not very impressive to pretty run down and dated. Maybe this doesn’t matter, but if it is an outward symbol of how they are investing in the university it was concerning. We had a rotten trip overall with weather, flights,crazy uber drivers etc, so we were sort of cranky. Did you have any concerns about buildings? My D said her library and lab were nicer than the ones we saw, and she goes to an older catholic school with 100 kids in her class. It is not shiny, new or big.
Another weird thing that happened was that in 3 instances someone from the neuroscience didn’t show or wasn’t informed our group was coming to their class…miscommunication somewhere but just not a well run honors weekend. My D is coming to terms with the fact that this is the best all around offer…honors program, big merit scholarship, neuroscience undergrad major which isn’t everywhere she’s looking, community service focused which is her thing, and 99% or more happy students. She is also possibly premed and while we’re going to the Boston U honors day tomorrow, we heard awful things about grade deflation there and she’s thinking she’ll do better at Tulane…not that it’s easy, but that it isn’t intentionally weeding kids out like some other schools. Plus BU is no money.
If your D got into UM and it’s instate, I’d take that in a New York minute. Easy for me to say!! Mine got into the honors program but I can’t justify the $62k tuition (I have twins on top of it…other headed to Northeastern, Fordham or GW, all with good merit but still over $40k in each case!) We love everything about UM except the size…but the school spirit and reputation are so phenomenal. I’ve heard great things about U Miami. We couldn’t get our kids to apply anywhere in Florida…maybe afraid the grandparents would visit?? Haha GOOD LUCK!