<p>We had a great visit this past Friday at Destination Tulane, and has the added treat of having President Cowan lead off the session with an outstanding 45 minute discussion on Why Tulane and how to approach the final decision. He advised students to evaluate colleges based on People, Place, and Program. So what do you do when your kid falls in love with the people and place, but the program at another school is stronger...and provides a more direct career path for her? And it is not that she doesn't like the people or place at the other school....but she didn't have the opportunity to visit again and is just less sure. We are certainly getting down to the wire, and trying to help her make the decision. We will support either one. It is clear to all of us that the other school has the edge in "program." Not that she couldn't pursue her career at Tulane, but it would take more effort on her part to establish connections, exposure, etc. I asked my D if she still sees herself in this field, and she said yes. We are not pushing her towards a particular career, but following her lead and interests. At one point at the visit, she said she wished her interests were more broad...like Pre law. Then Tulane would be perfect. She came to the conclusion that she might get frustrated with the broader, more open liberal arts program at Tulane. But she really loved so many things about Tulane. Do you weigh one factor more heavily than the others? We are down to the wire here! And I think I am posting here to feel like I am doing something constructive, as I sit back and try and guide her. Advice anyone? Thanks for "listening!"</p>
<p>I guess I should explain her career interests…which other readers might be wondering about. She wants to pursue a career in arts management and arts and public policy. She had trained to be a ballet dancer, but decided she wants to pursue something off the stage…such as marketing and public affairs for a ballet company, advocacy for public funding of the arts, policy analysis and research on the impact of the arts on the economy, even copywrite law…the field is pretty broad. She has been accepted into a program at Indiana University’s school of public policy, which has a BS in Arts Management track. It combines non profit management, arts core (she would take dance at the Jacobs School…the top college ballet school), public policy, etc. They are required to do an internship with an arts organization, and the school has LOTs of contacts. They also offer study abroad programs geared towards this field. She could minor in legal studies, policy analysis, non profit mgt, or just about anything. At Tulane, we talked about her interests with the admissions counselor, who responded, “that’s really interesting. I haven’t heard about anyone combining the arts and public policy.” Yes, she could study policy and dance, and economics, political science, etc. at Tulane. But she would certainly need to be more creative and resourceful, and take lots of initiative in pursuing this field of study. I think Tulane will set her on a broader, different course. Which doesn’t bother her dad or me. But she still says she wants to pursue something directly connected to the arts. Okay…thanks again for anyone’s two cents!</p>
<p>Newstome, I am going to say exactly what you don’t want to hear, but what I feel the reality is. There is no good way to weigh one set of considerations more than the other, in this case. It is so personal, and of course your D suffers from the dilemma that so many of these incoming students do: She is only 17/18 and has little actual experience on which to base this decision. I can only say that personally I weigh the overall environment more than any particular program.</p>
<p>I say this based on some general reasoning and personal experiences with my kids. The general reasoning is essentially two-fold: The fact that at 17/18 they think they know what they want to do, but by that very fact they have not yet been exposed to various areas of study and pursuit that might have them changing their minds completely. As you have no doubt read on here, somewhere between 65-80% of students change their majors at least once, if you count what they thought they wanted coming in. Additionally, Tulane does have the program your daughter wants, it is apparently just not as famous a program as the other school.</p>
<p>Secondly, college is about a lot more than “vocational training”. This is a highly debated topic these days. How much should a university be about just finding a job and how much should it be about a great overall education in the classroom and in life. Obviously I fall strongly into the latter camp. Thus I believe most students are better off at the school and environment they think will fit them best as a person and they will be happier with the overall quality of their life for those 4 years.</p>
<p>Anecdotally, both my kids could have attended schools with programs in their intended majors (and ones they ended up staying with) that had better reputations and more offerings. But for a combination of reasons including the overall feel of the school and financial considerations, they went to where they liked the total package more. Tulane for my youngest and a different school for my oldest. What they found is that both schools still had plenty of offerings of very high quality in their majors, and that they made the right decision to go with the school that felt right to them. Most of their time is not involved in their majors. So a student really has to think about the 80% of their time that is not spent studying in their field of choice. In the end, my oldest had excellent success leveraging his Russian major into a full ride scholarship to law school (there is a lot of support out there for people immersed in critical languages such as Russian, Chinese, and Arabic), and my D is graduating in December with numerous strong prospects for short-term work in her field of China studies before she begins grad school on scholarship in the following Fall semester. It takes a bit more initiative when the school doesn’t have as strong a network as some others, but that’s not a bad thing.</p>
<p>I know this was a bit rambling and if I had more time I would tidy it up some, but hopefully you understand where I am coming from at least. I am not saying it is an easy decision, these are close calls that are highly influenced by an individual personality and values. I am sure whichever way your D goes she will be successful, and I wish her luck in reaching a decision she can really feel good about.</p>
<p>I just read your second post. I am not surprised IU has a strong program in this area, but you are also right it is a very different school. I would say, though, that Tulane has a strong arts program also and working with the business, public policy and arts faculty to put together a strong program should be quite doable. Additionally she might want to talk to the law school and find out what undergrads are allowed to take. I think they are allowed to at least audit certain classes, but I suggest talking directly to the school. I am afraid the advisors are going to not be so useful here, it will take initiative on her part for sure. BUT… New Orleans also has a strong local arts scene that I have known past undergrads to get very involved with. She could possibly even make it part of her service requirement, and that could be a very exciting experience. I think here, the difference between being in New Orleans and Bloomington could be significant.</p>
<p>Thanks, fallenchemist…I was hoping you would chime in! I suggested that she take a close look at the all the course offerings in the various related subjects, and see what a program of study might look like at Tulane. We plan to sit down tonight to review them…it is overwhelming for a high school student! And it is not that she doesn’t like Bloomington or the environment there, she is just less familiar with it and more unsure. If that makes sense. Bloomington and the IU campus has a very strong arts presence…somewhat of an oasis in the middle of the state. I could see her at either place…which doesn’t help! I know that no one on this board can give a “right” answer, but it is good to hear people’s thoughts and perspectives. Thanks so much for sharing yours!</p>
<p>i would encourage OP’s D to contact New Orleans Ballet Theatre (for example) to see if internships are available. When my d was a freshman and she was interested in fashion, she contacted NOLA Fashion Week, became a model, then an intern and still works for them now as a junior in an administrative capacity. It has nothing to do with her major, she just likes it. The same is true of a hip hop dance team she founded for disadvantaged kids in NOLA. Lots of personal experience for her in funding for the arts (if I may be so bold as to refer to hip hop as “art” 
). If OP’s D truly likes Place and People at Tulane, I would suggest that unique opportunities might be present in NOLA. I don’t know that they are, but they may be. Is she the kind of kid who would be proactive in seeking them out?</p>
<p>Good question, Vitrac…I know she is capable of taking initiative, but I can’t say she has always demonstrated doing so. And I think it is a question that she has to answer for herself…how much initiative will she take? And learning to take that initiative is an invaluable skill for her to develop. Don’t get me wrong, she is bright and a hard worker. She will still have to take initiative at IU, but the access to resources will be more direct. And that’s how I have compared the programs, one is not necessarily better…but more direct. Pros and cons with both. But that’s good to know there is a local ballet company…I will have her take a look at their website. The dance faculty said most of their service programs are around setting choreography for school groups or under served communities in NO parish. Not that she couldn’t come up with a different service project, but that seemed to be the most common one. She’d rather volunteer with advocacy, grant writing, etc.</p>
<p>Congratulations on having two great, if distinct, choices. My only two cents is that Public Pollicy is often pursued at the graduate level. I got a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard (graduated 1998), and there were several other Tulane alums in the program. Go for people and place: “program” will take care of itself at the Graduate level. (By the way, I believe that IU also has a respected Public Policy Masters.) Best of luck!</p>
<p>As Vitrac was discussing the unique things that her daughter has either initiated or become involved in, it struck me that there is the ability to do some very unique things that would allow your daughter to create a resume like no other which is typically very appealing to both employers and graduate schools. Creating her own way to pursue the field that she is interested in not only would show great initiative but would give her the opportunity to stand out in the crowd.</p>
<p>Thanks, NJDad68. Yes, public policy is more common at the graduate level. And so is arts administration. At IU she is actually eligible for a 5 year MPP, MPA, or MAA. If she chooses to go in those directions. The program is not quite as vocational and limiting as it might sound in my posts. And I agree kreativekat…she could position herself to stand out. She will just have to decide for herself (in a few days). But all of your comments will help her sort things out.</p>
<p>Anyone familiar with integrated program on politics and social policy, offered at Tulane? I think it is an interdisciplinary major that brings together sociology, political science, economics, and a few other social sciences. I’m wondering about that with a minor in dance?</p>
<p>That is the kind of thing I was getting at when I mentioned coordinating different departments. I think it is a great direction for her interests. IIRC that program is only a few years old, but Tulane has been going in the direction of more interdisciplinary majors. I think this is the one you mean: [Tulane</a> University - School of Liberal Arts - Social Policy & Practice](<a href=“http://tulane.edu/liberal-arts/social-policy-practice/]Tulane”>http://tulane.edu/liberal-arts/social-policy-practice/) I know they try to be flexible in these programs to allow the student to focus on particular, specific areas of interest to them, which in her case would be public policy for the Arts. She could probably create some independent study courses as well to get quite specific. Here is one professor that seems to have interests your D might relate to: [Tulane</a> University - School of Liberal Arts - Diane Grams’ Profile](<a href=“http://tulane.edu/liberal-arts/sociology/grams-profile.cfm]Tulane”>http://tulane.edu/liberal-arts/sociology/grams-profile.cfm)</p>
<p>Also, I just remembered how Tulane is involved in a major copyright issue for the Mardi Gras Indians and their art [Tulane</a> University - Empowers - Copyrighting Mardi Gras Indians’ Suits](<a href=“http://tulane.edu/empowers/mardi-gras-indian-copyright-issues.cfm]Tulane”>http://tulane.edu/empowers/mardi-gras-indian-copyright-issues.cfm) and also [Tulane</a> University - Mardi Gras Indians Find Support at Tulane](<a href=“http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/030411_indians.cfm]Tulane”>http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/030411_indians.cfm)</p>
<p>Doing a dance minor would be quite feasible as well. About 7 dance courses will do it, so combined with the 18 courses in the above program is 25, so that leave about 15 courses to explore other things and her foreign language. It really sounds like a great pathway for her.</p>
<p>Thanks, fallenchemist…that is the program. And thanks for sharing the bio of that professor. (Funny, she received her undergraduate degree from IU!). I have passed along all the links to my D, who now has plenty of information on the program options at Tulane. And then she will just need to go with her gut feeling! Again, thanks for all of the suggestions and links! I will keep you all posted!</p>