<p>So I put down my deposit for Tulane last week and now have to decide on a housing option. </p>
<p>For me, it is down to Butler or Residential College. I think I would prefer the honors dorm since it would house supposedly a lot of the academically-focused students -- but they might also be at the new dorm as well. </p>
<p>Residential College is supposed to be a close-knit community as well which is a plus. I don't know how I feel about Professor Dunn and his family living with students though. I probably wouldn't have much to learn from him too, him being in the Spanish/Portugese Dept, me in a techinical major. Do you think a lot of engineers will be in the residence college? Another big thing with the residential college is that the college is all new which is pretty nice. </p>
<p>What happens after freshman year, do people move out (It is supposed to be 75% freshman)? Wouldn't it be difficult to start all over and make friends again if this was the case? </p>
<p>At this point, I don't even know if I could get into residential college. But should I bother even applying (it needs an essay)? I appreciate any comments that students/parents may have on this.</p>
<p>JoyJoy - I think (not sure) that Butler is mostly Freshmen too, so I think you'll be moving likely to a different dorm 2nd year, no matter what. Did you end up visiting Tulane? S is choosing Butler, because Honors and because he liked it while there on Eng. Scholar Day. He says he'll be able to study there, won't have to leave to find quiet space. Res. College appeals to me, and I wouldn't expect that what you'd learn there would relate to engineering. The time you'd spend with Professor Dunn and family would enrich your life in other ways. New would be nice, wouldn't it? RC certainly has that all over Butler.</p>
<p>Congrats on choosing Tulane! I've been waiting to hear.</p>
<p>Is there a special application required for the residential college - like there is with leadership? I realize the students have just completed a detailed application for acceptance, but I was just wondering if the university would use additional criteria for determining the new dorm's residents.</p>
<p>alongfortheride- there is a requirement of a resume and answers to 2 questions. I think it needs to be emailed as an attachment by a certain date.
My D put the Res. College but has yet to even begin to think about the essays.</p>
<p>If I room at Residential College, would I have to move out for sophomore year? Who gets to stay? </p>
<p>What about for Butler? WHere do the students go afterwards? Do that many people move into the city? </p>
<p>jmmom,
I tried to visit Tulane but when it came down to it, I would have to pay $500 to visit NO for 8 hours and have to go to work the next day with four hours of sleep. This would also be my first time in NO, so I don't even know if I would reach Tulane in time before I had to depart NO. It just didn't seem worth it; I don't think I would have enjoyed it with all the pressure and rushing anyway. Had I planned much earlier, I would have went during spring break and took it as a type of mini-vacation, but I did not expect rampant rejections from schools higher up on my list. Anyway, I thought I could adapt to Tulane despite some negative posts on this forum. There are a couple of people transferring this year, but how bad could it be? I am actually used to taking classes at a community college, so Tulane would definately be a step up. </p>
<p>Is your son even considering the new dorm? Did he get a chance to see it on his visit? From the pictures, it looks awesome. And given there is a selection process for the RC, it is bound to have a similar student body to Butler. Plus, it has suite-style living -- personal bathrooms!</p>
<p>Joyjoy - Sorry I don't know the answers to your qx re where students go from Butler or RC for second yr. I'll ask S and post if he knows. Probably alongfor, concerneddad or any students who read can answer.</p>
<p>S didn't consider new dorm - it wasn't complete on our visit (I don't think, maybe I just missed it). He stayed with a student in Butler, had planned to ask for Honors dorm anyway, and just felt v comfortable at Butler. I would surely think that the amenity/niceness factor will be better at RC.</p>
<p>I had the good fortune to live in suites at Wellesely 2x - only downside was clean your own bathroom! (but then it is your own).</p>
<p>I hope you will love it at Tulane. Of course, there are some unhappy kids wanting to transfer - that is inevitable. But, even they seem to think Engineering avoids some of the things they didn't like (large classes...). </p>
<p>Anyway, how can you lose trying for RC if it sounds right to you? And everyone has to clear out of dorms each spring anyway, so you'll be "moving" no matter what, with friends you've made in dorm/classes/whatever. AT least that's how it usually works for most kids.</p>
<p>joyjoy: Each year you have to apply for housing. On campus housing is only guaranteed for the first year. After the first year you enter a lottery. My son was very fortunate in that he applied, and was accepted into the leadership village, and then got even luckier and got a single for next year. His roommate this year also got on campus housing for next year. Both lived in Butler and enjoyed it.</p>
<p>Joyjoy, my son was on the waitlist for housing for a brief time, but lucked out when he found out a student on his floor in Butler was looking for a roommate and had a guaranteed room in a suite in Phelps. Phelps wasn't his first choice dorm as it's not as nice as Willow or Mayer which usually go to upper classmen since they're higher in the lottery. He also didn't apply to leadership as Concerneddad's son very smartly did. However, he thinks Phelps will be fine. His suite mates will for the most part be honors students or at least serious students. He's not looking for partying roommate problems. Phelps is older, and the rooms perhaps not as deluxe, but then this is college, and he doesn't have a problem with it. He actually studies a lot at the library, has a huge number of lab classes and friends spread all over campus (and next year off campus) so his room is not the center of his life.</p>
<p>He is attending on the DSA, so part of his scholarship is the housing allowance. If you want to keep your allowance, you must remain on the waitlist until Tulane releases you to find off campus housing for the up-coming year. However, I think a majority of DSA students are accomodated. If you terminate however, the allowance is gone forever. We felt like there was no way that he could live off campus cheaply enough to make up the lost allowance money, so he hung in there and got a resolution in just a couple of weeks.</p>
<p>The bad news about Butler is they will start construction of a new dorm right next door as soon as the new residence hall is finished if not before. </p>
<p>The new residence hall has the Bubble sitting in the middle of its quad. The Bubble is a temporary structure. Not sure when it will come down but the current tenants were originally scheduled to move back to the University Center in January 2006. University Center may be a little behind schedule though and temporary structures have a history of hanging around wekk past there planned obsolescence dates. I remember the temporary buildings that were still on the Washington Mall in 1968. They were built during WWI! But the point is there may be construction or destruction next door to the new dorm too.</p>
<p>alongs~ story is common. My son's friend, and current roommate, also "hooked" with some friends from Butler that had a suite and thus even though he low priority, he has on campus housing for next year as well.</p>
<p>My son also has the DSA and has lived off campus since his sophmore year. He never received a room while staying on the waiting list that year and still received his housing portion of the scholarship. He then applied for on campus housing his junior year and again this year for his senior year, and again did not get assigned a room. I'm sure Tulane knew he wouldn't move back on campus, but they still awarded him his full scholarship. With not enough housing for the student that do want to stay on campus, I believe Tulane was happy to keep him off campus. As parents, we were happy to receive the extra money while he lived off campus for a total of 3 years. I don't know if this will continue for classes other than the class of 2006; it is my understanding that previous classes did not have this perk!</p>
<p>Pokey, didn't want to start a new thread for this. Last year, you said you thought the Tulane website was outdated. I disagreed. Then I saw the wonderful new look for the honors program, and I now agree. A new look with updated info is in order! I need something new to look at!</p>
<p>Once again, thanks for all the advice. I didn't know that all students move out of their dorm after freshman year. My main concern with RC was that I might not see my roommates again, but I guess it is the same for all dorms. </p>
<p>I am going to try for RC, and then Butler for a second choice.</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about the TIDES housing options? Do you really get that close to peers in your TIDES seminars? There is actually a TIDES engineering hall which seems pretty interesting. The brochure says that students regret not choosing this option. I don't think I would give up RC (if I got in) for it though.</p>