Re: USNWR rankings disfavoring alumni children: Tulane tends to value its enthusiastic alumni by granting their children admission, which is also hurting Tulane’s USNWR rankings. Perhaps a lot of children of alumni will, consequently, be receiving Spring Scholars offers of admission.
USNWR doesn’t care or analyze spring admit demographics. They only care about first-year FALL admits. This gives Tulane some room to admit students in the spring that they want - but that USNWR would disfavor for their rankings.
It’s sad colleges have to operate this way because of one ranking that nearly everyone acknowledges has serious shortcomings and undue influence.