How are my chances looking for Tulane? I am visiting soon and I will be showing a lot of demonstrated interest.
WGPA: 3.65 (will probably be 3.8 by end of first semester senior year)
UW: 3.2
I had troubles freshman year so my gpa is kind of low.
Act: 35
I won first place at state for clinical Specialty in HOSA. I started a non profit for mental health. I am on varsity cross country. I serve on my HOSA executive board. I have done a lot of medical internships. I want to major in Public Health and do pre med at Tulane.
Your first semester grades will be critical. Your ECs are good if you play up the depth at the expense of breadth. You are very wise to demonstrate a lot of interest. Tulane appreciates that kind of enthusiasm. However I would be specific about your enthusiasm, which means that you should think about a couple of departments you’d like to major in as well as specific professors in those departments with whom you’d like to assist with their research, as Tulane prides itself on providing undergraduates with research opportunities. When you discuss academics, I strongly recommend talking about how you can take an interdisciplinary approach to your undergraduate curriculum. Discussing how you plan to contribute to the community in New Orleans through community service is also huge plus. Best of luck to you!
With a 35 ACT score and a rising GPA trend, I don’t think Tulane would reject you EA. But they might defer you over to RD to see how your first semester grades come in.
If the money and other factors would work, applying ED is your best play to maximize your admit chances.
ED has only been around at Tulane for the past three cycles, but 25% of the seats for the incoming class were filled via ED. You’d expect that number will continue to increase. Demonstrated interest (as a way to improve Tulane’s low yield) has always been big at Tulane. Applying ED is the ultimate expression of interest (and a powerful tool to improve yield).
Search the ED results threads from the last cycle to get a sense of who was getting in and/or deferred in EA vs. ED.
Your volunteer work (especially starting your own non-profit) is eye candy to admission officers. Your ECs are exemplary and your internships show a passion for a health major. I’m not sure whether or not Tulane looks at your freshman year (if they don’t, that’s great for you). Also, they want to see an upward trend (which I think you have). I’m afraid you haven’t taken a rigorous enough course load (APs and Honors), but I believe you might be able to make up for that with the rest of your application.
@swimmerboy51955 -There’s no better way to “demonstrate interest” than by applying via binding Early Decision! Tulane will probably contact your high school and ask for your first-quarter senior grades before determining your fate. But, if the grades are good, you should be pro-active and ask your counselor to send them to Tulane as soon as they are available. At most high schools, these grades come out by mid-November, so there is still time for a college to factor them into an Early Decision verdict, even when the ED deadline has passed before the grades arrive. You should also email your regional admission rep to alert him or her that the new grades are en route, just to make sure they don’t get stuck in the “to be filed” pile.
If your grades come out after Thanksgiving and yet you know you are doing really well in every class, you should email your regional rep and offer predicted grades. You should also ask if you should official corroboration of this from the teachers of your major subjects.
@swimmerboy51955 ,
You have started threads about several schools, so if Tulane is NOT your ABSOLUTE first choice, and you can afford to be full pay if need be, DO NOT apply ED. Apply EA. Your ACT is strong but your GPA is average, and especially if you apply ED, you might not get as much in possible merit $ as you might like. Visit, be in communication with your accommodation, go to a regional presentation when they are in your area, etc.