Ancient alumna here with kids now in the hunt…here’s my take:
I went there when Tulane was far less selective and competitive. I always remember it having a so-so ranking.
Did I get an excellent education there? Yes.
Did I have an unforgettable college experience? Yes.
Has everything about it served me well? Yes.
Could I have had the same experience anywhere else? No.
Could I have had a different college experience elsewhere that was impactful in its own way? Of course.
Was Tulane worth the cost? Yes, though my family didn’t pay full freight - at a time when there were far fewer of folks like me there. It was still a stretch for my family to send me there.
All of that said, the gender imbalance is stark on campus now - as written about in that NY Times article. This problem seems to be everywhere, though maybe more egregious at Tulane. I’m really happy I’m Generation X. We had a blast.