I started to write my “Why Tulane?” essay today, and I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to make this essay really strong. Also, I was wondering approximately how many words people typed, as Tulane does not give a suggestion. I have written approximately 500 words so far and feel as if my essay if very strong, however, I am worried I am missing something imperative. Would love to hear from parents and accepted students!
Thanks!
500 words is probably the max you want to go. I mean 510 is no big deal, but I wouldn’t start running it to much more than 500 if you can help it.
First I will say what to avoid. Stay away from the cliche themes like “Tulane is such a great school with good academics” (that really doesn’t say anything, there are lots of great schools with good academics), “NOLA is such a fun/fascinating/unique/… city” (everyone knows this), etc. I am not saying that if a reference to these qualities slips in there for a line that is a bad thing if it sounds natural, just don’t make it your whole focus.
Instead, what is it about Tulane that is makes it fit you and you fit Tulane? Why Tulane rather than Miami, or WUSTL, or NYU, or… Again, not saying you might not choose these schools given the choice of Tulane or them, but if you were to choose Tulane over them, why would you do that? This requires some research about Tulane on your part, because if you can get specific about a certain program Tulane has, or relate something you read about Tulane back to you that would show you have something substantive about why you applied to Tulane (and of course they know you applied to a few others) instead of 100 other schools you could have applied to but didn’t. What I have been advising people to do is starting in their junior year (I know you are past that but still it could help) is to subscribe to the daily news feed Tulane provides http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/ and/or see if there are social media accounts you can follow for the area(s) you are most interested in, be it one of the five Schools (Architecture, Liberal Arts, Business, Science and Engineering, or Public Health & Tropical Medicine) or even a specific department. Maybe even a specific prof, although that would be somewhat unusual. Anyway, you get the idea. This kind of thing not only helps you learn far more about the school you are highly considering, but also has a good chance of inspiring a Why Tulane essay that is not at all generic.
This is how I would approach it, and I have been giving this advice ever since Tulane introduced this question a few years ago. Here is a piece Jeff Schiffman, Senior Associate Director of Admissions, wrote about it. http://tuadmissionjeff.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-optional-statment.html?view=sidebar I like to compliment myself and think he saw some of my posts and included those thoughts in his essay, but maybe not. 
In any case, as you can see we seem to approach the question pretty much the same way.
Hope that helps.
P.S. They didn’t have the Why Tulane statement when my D applied (and they had barely invented stone tablets when I applied), so no help there. However, I would be happy to share my thoughts with anyone as to what made it such a great place for me (and these things still apply) and what she and I have talked about from her perspective if you want to via PM.
FC has the best advice 
My son wrote about his particular major, some of the professors in that major and common interests he shares with them. He had been following them on social media for a few years and was familiar with their publications and community involvement. He also included some of the community service he had done in New Orleans and ways he planned to continue with that. He kept it under 500 words.
@fallenchemist @dolphnlvr6 Thank you both for the advice!! It was truly helpful and truly insightful!! I will “trim the fat” of my essay and take out the stuff that is too generic. Thanks!
When I wrote my essay last year, I split it into three sections: academics, service, and my connection to Tulane in general. I looked through all of the pamphlets and emails that Tulane had been sending me (I had joined their mailing list in the fall of my junior year) and made a point to connect to some of those “buzzwords” and elements that were really played up by Tulane’s marketing people. I also thoroughly researched how my chosen major works at Tulane, specifically the class offerings and the university’s approach to the subject. I did my best to highlight the areas in which Tulane and I were compatible for each other–why I would succeed there, and why they would be lucky to have me on campus. Remember, this isn’t just an essay about why Tulane is right for you; it’s an essay about why you’re right for Tulane. Sell the match to the admissions people; talk about how you and Tulane would benefit each other.
Making this essay good can make all the difference; I received a full-tuition scholarship from Tulane this past Spring and my “Why Tulane?” essay was actually quoted (more than once!) in the scholarship offer. One of my good friends (with “stats” similar to my own) threw his essay together the night before the application deadline and was rejected–not even waitlisted. Take your time and make a real connection; it will show in your writing!
And to answer your second question, my finished essay was about 450 words, and that seemed about right for me!
Good luck with your application
Now there is a dramatic example!! But as we have said a million times on here (more or less), Tulane loves genuine interest. And why not? All schools prefer it of course, but let’s face it. Tulane is really unique in some very important ways that do make the word “fit” even more applicable.
Anyway, I just felt compelled to react to such a stark anecdote. Back to programming on channel OP.
@smurphy17 Thank you so much for the help! That is an awesome story, and congrats on the full-tuition scholarship! That is awesome! I have been following Tulane’s information since the fall of my Junior year too! I plan on working on my essay for a while because I want to make sure it shines!
I unfortunately live far away and cannot visit campus. Do you think that touching on the fact that I have done a lot of research and seen a lot of the campus via the internet will benefit me or hurt me? Should I not mention the fact that I have not visited? I feel like it might be understood as I unfortunately live in the northeast.
@fallenchemist I would love to hear what you think about this too.
I wouldn’t worry about not being able to visit campus, and there is no need to mention it. Stay focused on “Why Tulane”. If it doesn’t contribute directly to that theme, cut it. I think that you did a lot of research and watched the videos will be obvious by what you say in your statement, whether you explicitly say that is what you did or not. If you do decide to include it, do it in a casual way, like “When I saw the video about the Mayan dig, I knew Tulane was a school I had to look into more”. Just be natural, the admissions people are very good at knowing who knows the school and who doesn’t. They read way too many of these things not to have a handle on it. smurphy17’s story is a strong testament to that!
@fallenchemist Thank you so much! You are literally one of the most helpful people on CC. You should be a Tulane an admission counselor!
The time you’re putting into your research will speak for itself. Visiting campus is definitely not the only way to demonstrate your interest–the campus is beautiful and New Orleans is amazing, but you can find out everything you need to know without setting foot on campus! Show in your writing how much you’ve learned and the connection you’ve made with Tulane. And keep demonstrating your interest; make sure to be there if a Tulane rep comes to your school in the fall, and strongly consider applying EA or SCEA.
And I agree, @fallenchemist you are a lifesaver. You are so helpful and so knowledgeable, and you’ve saved me from so much stress and panic!
That’s a good point, @smurphy17. And not just his school, but since he lives in the NE it is likely there will be a meeting at a hotel in his area where the Tulane rep and students/alums come and do a presentation and answer questions. It is important that he show up at that if at all possible. Even if he has already applied by the time it is in his area.
Also, just a note for all seniors that will be applying to Tulane this fall, and to parents of those students, being deferred admission in December isn’t always a bad thing! I was deferred last year which really upset me as Tulane was one of my top choices. Well as it turns out, I was later on accepted, and with a very large scholarship! Tulane gets so many EA/SCEA applications in the fall that they can’t admit everyone out of that pool. Get your application in EARLY. I submitted mine early-mid November (which obviously wasn’t early enough), I would suggest getting it done by mid October. You won’t regret your early on hard work!
When I wrote my Why Tulane essay I focused on two aspects: 1) How Tulane’s department of biomedical engineering (what I’m studying) provides one of the best educations in the field of the nation. As it has been stated, do your research. Don’t say anything that you can’t back up with facts or don’t believe. 2) I talked about how New Orlean’s culture is so vastly different from that of my home town and how living outside of my comfort zone would further open my mind and allow me to get more out of my college experience. Again, I used specifics from when I visited NOLA and Tulane.
One last thing to keep in mind is that you can send in a rewritten draft of the essay if you aren’t pleased with the initial version. I applied EA last year and got deferred. I’m guessing that this had at least something to do with the fact that my first version of the essay was very basic and cliche. I emailed my admission rep and asked to resubmit the newer version and they were happy to comply.
And just to give you a basis for length, my final version was around 550 words. They told me it was a bit on the long side but as long as everything in it served a purpose it shouldn’t be a hindrance.
Good luck on the essay and on applying as a whole! I hope you are one of the lucky few who get to attend Tulane!
So, my son DIDN’T fill out the “Optional” ‘Why Tulane…’ essay and submitted for early action already. Can he update this essay in anyway?? He’s a top 10% in a private HS, 4.12W, 2000 so no shoe in.
Yes, he can absolutely send the essay to his admission person for Texas (I assume by your name).
Actually received the Acceptance the next day before he could write the essay. Very Surprised. He doesn’t have outstanding stats. Trying to figure out what the hook was. 4 years of successful debate?!?
No, I think it is because his stats put him so squarely in the Tulane “sweet spot” @TxDad56. For the most part, the Why Tulane essay seems to be to identify those with Ivy level stats that are using Tulane for a safety. I am sure there are other things they like to see in it, but I have zero doubt that was its main purpose when they added it to the application 4-5 years ago. Sooooo many students with 34+ ACT or 2200+ SAT and 3.9+ GPA with lots of AP that were applying to Tulane but hoping for HYPS/Duke/WUSTL/etc. that would have been “disappointed” if they “only got into” Tulane. Those students often ignored the essay under the assumption their stats would be enough to get in, no problem. You should have seen the outrage on here when they got deferred in most cases.
At 4.12W and 2000 SAT, while I would never use the word shoo-in in college admissions for high level schools, I would have predicted an admission, maybe even if I had known he had not done the Why Tulane. Clearly Tulane was not a safety for him, but a great fit academically if not even a bit of a challenge, and I can only imagine they saw other factors that make them think Tulane is a very real choice for him. I would bet the rest of his resume had enough to indicate a good fit. Did he attend a local session and/or visit campus? That would certainly indicate interest.
Just a little FYI, Speaking of Debate- Tulane’s Debate Team is doing amazing- currently ranked 9th in the Nation!
@dolphnlvr6 really cool to know! I was surprised not much was publicized about the team (I did find some info today though). The team appears to be fairly new and student run.
Here is the recent short article that is being referenced. http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/102715_tulane-debate-team-wins-big.cfm
See, this is why I tell prospective students to subscribe starting as early as possible. You never know when some topic that can add a lot to a Why Tulane essay will pop up.