<p>So, I'm seriously considering Tulane (really it's UT at Austin vs. Tulane now) and I wanna know if I'll fit in there. I'm not the most outgoing individual, but by no means a complete introvert, kinda middle of the road. Not really a party guy, and definitely wont be drinking at all. I'm a Pakistani Muslim and a democrat, and likely wont know a soul at the university. I mean, I've never had trouble making friends or anything, just getting kind of antsy, ya know? Also, what dorm would fit me best? I'm thinking Sharp, Monroe, or Wall (Wall's reaaaal nice). I appreciate your time and opinion.</p>
<p>See this thread</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tulane-university/842765-do-you-think-i-will-fit.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tulane-university/842765-do-you-think-i-will-fit.html</a></p>
<p>which will lead you to other threads. I would only add that it seems to me you have a better shot at Tulane that at UT, where it is so large that it is easy just to go into a shell and stay there. You can do that at Tulane too, but I think the smaller classes, the smaller campus, and the fact that it has one main dining hall makes it more likely you will find a niche that suits you. And as far as the dorm, if your goal is to have a greater chance of being “forced” to socialize, then Monroe or Sharp are the right choice. If you feel you do better in a smaller group, less pressured atmosphere, then Wall is better. Are you male or female? I am thinking you are male. You might also look at Paterson House since your a non-drinker. Paterson students agree to abstain from alcohol and tobacco, and I think it was redone this last year, so some of the rooms might have newer stuff in them. There are probably more upperclassmen in Paterson than the other dorms you mention, but that can be a good thing too. You would have to probably make more of an effort to find your group if you lived there, but maybe not.</p>
<p>I am in fact a guy. Forced socialization doesn’t sound all that bad really. I guess I have some time to think things over, but I know for sure that I want a roommate. So, I’m assuming I’ll be told about housing and all that good stuff once I for sure say that I’m coming? How does everything work? How does picking a roommate work? I truly appreciate the time and help you dedicate to this forum, fallenchemist.</p>
<p>I just want to clear up a little misconception…although the Paterson dorm is the “wellness” dorm, the students there do not abstain from tobacco or alcohol but its still a really nice dorm</p>
<p>Hi mcel - I have heard once before that is the case, that Paterson residents don’t abstain, but isn’t that part of their agreement when they choose Paterson? Maybe I should have been clearer also, I didn’t mean that they had to abstain all the time, but at the dorms they are supposed to be substance free. At least that’s what the website says. Theory and practice are often different; what’s the real story? Also, when are you heading back? My D goes back tomorrow. Maybe you two are on the same flight.</p>
<p>supaumar - Yes, once you tell Tulane you are coming you make a small deposit and that gets everything rolling. They will instruct you on dorm selection (all on-line I think). Basically you can request a roommate or they can just assign you one randomly. There are two main ways to find a potential roommate 1) Go to one of the orientation sessions in June and get to know other students committed to Tulane. With luck you find a guy or group of guys that you seem to get along with OK and see if one of them wants to room with you. Trust me, almost everyone has the same apprehension you feel about this process. If you agree, then you both tell Housing you want to room together and select the same dorms as your first and second choice. It is rare that Housing doesn’t give you what you ask for in cases like this. 2) Go online and list your characteristics and preferences with regard to roommates and dorms, and see what others have posted. There are two main sites for this, a Facebook one and one the Tulane officially uses (Roommate Click, tulane.roommateclick.com). If you see someone that you think would be a good match, you send them an e-mail or whatever or they send one to you and you “talk” it over. If things look good, you do the same thing I said about submitting your choices to Housing. finally, I noticed you said that you “know for sure that I want a roommate.” Actually there is little choice anyway, there are no singles for freshmen as far as I know, but you have the right isea anyway. Having a roommate is all part of the college experience, and a valuable one I think, even if sometimes it is very difficult.</p>
<p>Oh, and thanks for the compliment. Pleased to do it.</p>
<p>maybe I am being overly judgmental here, but judging from what I see on facebook, virtually no one wants to live in Paterson. however, it’s right up my alley… i’m essntially a hippie, not literally, but I’m into saving the environment and that sort of stuff… and the only other people (or rather, person) who has commented about wanting to live there seems completely unlike me, typing immaturely/purposely misspelling… does paterson have its fair share of average-type girls and boys with typical social lives, a bit of partying here and there, but an interest in the environment and formng a tight-knit community? or do more off-beat people flock to paterson? i know i sound SO judgmental but i would love an equally honest response…</p>
<p>You really cannot go by FB. As other parents have pointed out to me, if you did you you think all the people applying to Tulane did nothing but drink and party all the time. It is a skewed representation. From most of what I have heard, Paterson is really a pretty typical dorm with a mix of freshmen and upperclassmen, and it has a great lounge someone said. From what I further understand to the extent that dorms plan their own programs, Paterson tends to focus on healthy living issues and maybe environmental ones too. I would point out you can influence these things pretty quickly. Go on down, give yourself a few weeks to get acclimated and take in the dynamics of the people and process, and get involved. One thing I can say for sure is there will be a lot of people with the same concerns and interests as you, so you will have no trouble getting something going if you don’t find that the right group already exists. I suspect it does, though, so you can probably get involved from the start.</p>
<p>BTW, I saw your posting on another thread about choosing Tulane over Michigan. Congrats and welcome to the family!</p>
<p>I’ve decided to put Wall as my first choice and Paterson second…</p>
<p>and thanks a lot fallenchemist!!! :)</p>
<p>We all just really enjoy taking pictures going out… but if you were to stalk me you would see the Saints, research lab, cultural and intramural pictures, housing pictures and more than just partying.</p>
<p>Often I combine them 
A daquiri at a football game at the levee never hurt anyone!</p>
<p>S2 has Sharp first and Monroe 2nd. He visited the dorms and found these to be more of a fit for him. He loved the “beach volleyball” outside of Sharp.</p>