I have a D at Tulane and another D looking to apply to Brandeis. Tulane is an incredible school and New Orleans is an amazing city (especially if you like food!). Yes, there is a strong party culture at Tulane but I’m going to say it is somewhat overinflated because people automatically assume Tulane = Bourbon Street. Very few students are frequently at Bourbon street unless it’s Mardi Gras time. Like all schools, if you want to find a party, you will find it. That being said, my youngest D is not interested in Tulane and is interested in Brandeis because of the academics but quieter atmosphere.
While some don’t like the Tulane campus, we actually do and if you want to see some truly spectacular neighborhoods, head to the Garden District which is within a short distance of the campus. Also, Audubon Park is Tulane’s front yard.
One thing I will tell you to consider is weather. We are in the south and not newbies to hurricanes. But my D’s sophomore year they were in the cone of concern 6x and Hurricane Ida was an incredible blow to the community. While the NOLA community is truly one of the hardiest most resilient ones I’ve seen, it can be an eye opener for someone who is not accustomed to those types of weather patterns.
Both are great options and it’s going to be a hard choice. Just wanted to give you the perspective from a parent on Tulane (particularly of a non-partying type student).