<p>My child applied EA a day or two before the Nov. 15 deadline and hasn’t heard anything. She has high stats much like some of the kids on here who have been deferred. She is genuinely very interested in Tulane because they have a rather unique academic program in her area of interest and because, of all her top schools, Tulane is the only one that offers merit aid. She has visited the campus, and she wrote an excellent detailed “why Tulane?” essay describing why Tulane’s program is exacty what she’s looking for. But she has not corresponded with the Tulane admission’s counselor. She attends one of the most renowned academically rigorous boarding schools in the country or even in the world. Between her studies and filling out college apps, she hasn’t had much time for correspondence. I’m wondering if at this point she should send an email to the admissions officer from her region to reiterate her interest in Tulane. She thinks that doing it now would look like an insincere grab. Would it?</p>
<p>Nope. If she speaks genuinely, it should come across as such. Communication is always(!!) better than not. It won’t hurt to reiterate the specifics of the program that makes her target Tulane as her #1, as well as pointing out the attraction of merit scholarships. People sometimes think it is crass to talk about the merit scholarships, somehow. It isn’t, it is something Tulane does for very good reasons. Recognizing it as another attractive feature of Tulane is perfectly reasonable. She should just try to keep the email fairly short, 5-7 sentences. They are busy.</p>
<p>Oooh, I got deferred today. I am actually okay with it. Applied on a whim, they could probably tell.
For anyone wondering:
ACT: 30 (35 reading, 32 writing, 25 math ( eh), 29 science)
GPA: 3.68 (uw) 4.1 (w)
6 ap’s, 3 5’s so far, honors etc.
secretary/president of school’s mock trial team, state winners, national competition participants, named an all-state team member
part of community service club, y’know, the works. </p>
<p>All in all, if I could go back, I’d probably spend a LOT more time on my application. My “Why Tulane” was so shabby, I would’ve been better off not writing it all together. Win some, lose some. :(</p>
<p>Financial aid/merit scholarship question:</p>
<p>I received the Distinguished Scholar award of 25k/year. Does Tulane calculate financial need taking into account that you already have this merit scholarship, or does it calculate your financial need and then the scholarship goes towards the family contribution?</p>
<p>anyother - Congrats on your acceptance and scholarship. The answer to your question is that the $25K is counted as an asset in addition to your normal current assets, as if you had that money in a special Tulane bank account. Bottom line, if your family has, for example, an Expected Financial Contribution (EFC) of $15K, you would still be expected to pay $15K a year. Another way to say that is that your EFC, in this example, just became $40K a year (obviously for Tulane only).</p>
<p>So while the scholarship doesn’t reduce your out of pocket cost (unless the scholarship is large enough that your EFC is greater than the payables account balance after tuition, fees, room and board are all taken into account), it would most likely reduce the amount of loans you might have to take out. If I said that right, what I am saying is that if the Total Cost of Attendance (TCA) is $60K, you would be expected to pay $40K of that from $15K of your money plus the $25K scholarship, leaving $20K to come from need based FA. If the TCA was only $40K, then you are still out of pocket $15K but there is nothing left to finance, and if TCA was $35K then you would only be paying $10K since the remainder after the scholarship is less than your original EFC. Tulane is about $60K though.</p>
<p>Just to be clear, and still assuming your EFC is $15K, that doesn’t mean that you would be asked to take out $20K per year in loans. Need based FA can involve grants that do not need to be repaid, loans and work-study. The packages offered vary depending on your particular circumstances and your academic record.</p>
<p>It all depends on your family’s financial particulars. There are nearly infinite scenarios. But I know what you are asking, and it doesn’t change your EFC at all. That really wouldn’t make sense.</p>
<p>for all those freaking out…</p>
<p>It took me a month to hear. I had the grades, community service, ec’s. recs. I had a low SAT for tulane 1850.
I showed genuine interest. I visited and wrote a killer “Why Tulane” essay. I made it perfectly clear that if accepted, I would attend.
I was accepted and I’m thrilled. My SAT score prevented me from earning any merit scholarship. I will have to take loans. I intend to try for the community service award at the suggestion of my admissions counselor. </p>
<p>Be PATIENT and if Tulane is your first choice and you haven’t made that clear to admissions, speak up now. Some people are complaining about not being accepted even though they really don’t care about attending Tulane, and some admit they didn’t demonstrate interest.
Tulane is clear that demonstrated interest is a key factor.</p>
<p>I agree with Kenny that one absolutely needs to demonstrate interest if Tulane is their first choice. But we need to remember that just like stats, this is only one factor. Some of those with great stats who were deferred perhaps would have been accepted had they just shown more interest. However, even with that demonstrated interest, some of them would still have been deferred because of other factors that we at CC are not privy too. Tulane has way more qualified applicants than they have spots, and not all can be offered admission. Someone who has lower stats(though high enough to show that they can be successful academically at Tulane) but offers talents, interests, experiences, etc that Tulane thinks will benefit the community may have a better chance of admission than someone with higher stats without these qualities. It’s an imperfect process and we will never know exactly why one person was admitted while another with seemingly similar or better stats was denied.</p>
<p>“I can agree that Tulane is clearly basing some admissions decisions on the likelihood that the student will ultimately enroll, but I don’t know on what basis you can say that they’re being “savvy” about it. Obviously with OGTMGT’s son they were not very savvy about it, and might lose a kid who’d apparently be a good addition to the school.”</p>
<p>You have to realize that TU is trying to get 1550 enrolled students out of 35,000 applications. 1450 is a disaster and so is 1650. In many ways, colleges have to fill seats in the freshman class in the same way that airlines try to have all their flights full.</p>
<p>It is also a disaster if they hit 1550 kids but then miss on their targets for net revenue/financial aid. To see how tough that situation can be for a school, just go 50 feet east of TU’s campus and see what’s currently going on at Loyola (which is experiencing an enrollment shortfall).</p>
<p>Tulane is actually recognized as a leader in the higher ed world in what is called “enrollment management”, which is the function that used to be called “admissions.” They are extremely savvy about this process, although obviously not perfect (no one could be) in every single case. The merit scholarships that get discussed so much on these boards, for example, is one of the core tools of the enrollment management process.</p>
<p>Hey guys. Just found out I was accepted and given the Founders Scholarship (22,000 a year). I would encourage everyone to apply for additional merit scholarships, even if you think your scores are low for Tulane. I have a 30 on the ACT, kind of average for Tulane, but great GPA, dual-enrolled at local community college, ecs, essays, and recommendation letters. Also, I am a homeschooled student and traveled on a good bit of trips to 3rd world countries, and want to work in international development (probably double major in economics if possible). This might have spiked their interest.</p>
<p>Anyways, even if you don’t think you have the stats for the separate application merit scholarships, you might, even if you didn’t receive an automatic scholarship. I was very happily surprised to receive this scholarship. </p>
<p>Tulane seems to look more at the whole-person then just your scores. It seems that they want to see your personality, and drive to make a difference.</p>
<p>Best of luck to everyone, and congratulations to all admitted!</p>
<p>just checked gibson, officially deferred. finally! it feels a little weird, but i’m glad i’m not obsessed with tulane like i was when i applied, because then it really would’ve hurt</p>
<p>“You have to realize that TU is trying to get 1550 enrolled students out of 35,000 applications. 1450 is a disaster and so is 1650.”</p>
<p>Depending on the mix of full-paying vs. financial aid students, both directions can be financially plus or minus for the operating budget.</p>
<p>A while back our daughter’s small school had a significant freshman over-enrollment problem when far fewer “returning” students transferred out than was (historically) expected; the immediate problem was not enough dorm beds for incoming freshmen. Some returning students had to be convinced (incentive!) to move off campus into nearby apartments.</p>
<p>Coincidentally, this happened just as Katrina hit, when some Tulane students needed to find other homes, but our school was 
unable to help, already being overfull.</p>
<p>You are right in theory, vonlost, but assuming Tulane means what it says when it comes to need-blind admissions, the mix of full pay vs. need based FA isn’t likely to vary much from year to year, except as the general economy rises and falls.</p>
<p>New poster- frequent lurker 
My dd got deferred today…32 ACT, 3.9 GPA, college credits junior and senior year, head of club, long and deep volunteer and employment activities, top academic school in area, good recs, etc.- same as many here. BUT she did not understand about single choice early action, just applied regular early action- due to need for financial aid. To her credit, she did all of her applications on her own, without any input, but I would like to help her now because I know she really had her heart set on it I also do not think she expressed enough to them that they were her first choice and she would definitely attend (at least depending on aid package.) She thinks she needs to wait to contact admissions advisor until receiving a letter from them stating “what to do next;” however, based on threads here and elsewhere, I think she needs to contact them immediately to express her interest and what might sway them to reconsider, especially before regular decision deadline (also so she can take advantage of all of the scholarship opportunites.) Any suggestions? Would an extra point make any difference if she takes another ACT or is it more likely to be that they were not sure of her committedness to them (especially since she did not do SCEA) or a possibly a weak “why tulane” essay that could be revised? Thanks for any help!!! (BTW, this is a fabulous site!)</p>
<p>Hi stlmom - Does that stand for St. Louis (MO) mom? If so, Ladue High grad here! Born and raised in Olivette.</p>
<p>So, it definitely isn’t her stats that are at issue. And while SCEA would have been better, EA is still good. Assuming all else is in order, maybe Tulane didn’t pick up on her strong desire to attend. I would simply recommend she write to her admissions officer and say exactly that, and restate why. Even expand on it some (but don’t get too wordy!). Try and be specific, such as a particular program at Tulane, be it academic or service oriented, or both. Clearly there is some reason(s) she had her “heart set” on Tulane, so make it clear what that (they) is/are.</p>
<p>An extra point on the ACT could help with merit money, assuming she gets accepted, but I doubt it will affect the actual decision as to whether to accept her. Her stats are already at the upper end of Tulane students. 32 ACT is 75th percentile for Tulane.</p>
<p>Did she visit the campus, or attend the Tulane session at the Hotel Frontenac (I am still assuming you are in St. Louis, MO)? If not and it is possible for her to visit NOLA (Southwest Airlines, cheap flights with advance planning), that would be a plus. She could arrange a sit down with her admissions person and communicate her interest in Tulane directly. But I definitely think the key is to make sure Tulane knows they are #1 for her and why. That is what will separate her from the numerous students that applied to Tulane but have other schools they are keener on.</p>
<p>Thanks newjersey17! I do not have enough posts to reply to PM! THANK YOU!!</p>
<p>Thanks! Yes, STL My mom’s a ladue grad -tho 1960!! West county, school is catholic girls at intersection of two major highways- bet you can guess - 3.9 GPA is awesome here (forgot to add NHS, 36 on reading section, etc.)</p>
<p>She did attend the Frontenac session and we did tour the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and had a quick sit down with the regional admissions advisor, who remembered her from the hotel session and from the personal visit to her school. I think she held back being too enthusiastic due to her reliance on scholarships, due to our finanacial situation, and it probably telegraphed. She applied without input and I would have stressed to her the importance of letting them know they were first! She did not apply to any other “top” schools, just typical state and a private southern school (yes, she loves the south:)) </p>
<p>And I so wish I knew about the SCEA- I believe they took from them first. She thinks she has to wait to contact the advisor until she receives her letter about “what to do next” but I think she should contact them today- someone else recommended letting them know how disappointed she was, and expressing her interest and their status as her #1 and asking what else she could do. She still has one of the two scholarships to finish and I worry that she will feel to rejected to fininsh and lose out on it, plus I would be interested to know if they reconsider before RD?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help and guidance!!</p>
<p>PS we also love RI! Have family there and have a must-do list…fried clams, dels, autocrat, pizza,…I’m hungry just thinking about it and i sooo miss the beach ;)</p>
<p>Cool. Yes, I know which school, lol. Unfortunately, and to be blunt, she should not have worried about seeming too enthusiastic because they might not give as much scholarship money. That line of thought is fairly common, but mistaken, at least when it comes to Tulane. They love enthusiasm and it makes them want to provide incentive to that student. I strongly recommend she NOT talk about how disappointed she is, they know that. In fact, perhaps she should just be honest that she realizes she didn’t communicate her desires strongly enough and now wants to correct that situation. Also, she should, if anything, redouble her efforts for the extra scholarships, it is another signal to the school how much she wants Tulane. There is no reason to wait for a letter. However, this 2011 blog posting by Jeff from admissions may help a lot: [Tulane</a> University Admission Blog - Jeff: I’ve Been Deferred. Now What?](<a href=“http://tuadmissionjeff.blogspot.com/2011/12/ive-been-deferred-now-what.html]Tulane”>Tulane University Admission Blog - Jeff Schiffman: I've Been Deferred. Now What?)</p>
<p>So take all that in, then if you still have questions and other thoughts, we are here to help.</p>
<p>“BUT she did not understand about single choice early action, just applied regular early action- due to need for financial aid.”</p>
<p>There is indeed misunderstanding in this area. As long as there is one favorite school above all others, and you’re willing to take or leave the financial aid offer, applying ED can work. The difference is with ED you have only a few weeks to decide and have only EA aid offers for comparison; with SCEA (and EA) you have until May 1 and all aid comparisons. Not all schools have ED, SCEA or EA, but many/most have one of these.</p>
<p>Son just got accepted, very relieved given the high stats kids who got deferred.
We currently have sibling already there which may have helped and we have been in contact with Ad counselor.
700 Cr, 740M, 780 W
9 honors and AP
Eagle Scout
Now, we need to see about whether merit aid will make it financially feasible. Will also apply to DHS & PTA.
tulane has been a good choice for my daughter. She is very happy there and loves NOLA.
For all those deferred, if you really care about Tulane continue to show interest as FC and others have suggested.</p>